Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (Story 91)
by David Maloney
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Actor: Christopher Benjamin, John Bennett, Louise Jameson, Tom Baker, Trevor BaxterDirector: David Maloney
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 142 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-10-07
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Video / Warner Bros.
DVD Reviews of Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (Story 91)
DVD Review: Legendary Legedermain!
Summary: 5 Stars
It goes without saying that "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" would go on a short list of the "Best episodes ever" of DR. WHO. It is necessary to add, however, that it is better even than that: it may be the best episode ever shot during Tom Baker's 7-year tenure as the Doc. And that's sayin' somethin'.
Six-part episodes were a rarity on DR. WHO. I remember only four during the Baker period. "Genesis of the Daleks", "The Seeds of Doom", "Talons" and "The Invasion of Time." All but the last were classic, five-star outings. What separated "Talons" from the other gems was that it was the swan song of series producer Philip Hinchcliff, whose trademark style was to blend the series' sci-fi premise with liberal elements of classic horror. "The Brain of Morbius", for example, was nothing but FRANKENSTEIN by allegory; likewise, PLANET OF EVIL brought us a sci-fi version of DR. JEKKYL AND MR. HYDE (mixed, of course, with homages to FORBIDDEN PLANET). "Pyramids of Mars" aped the mummy pictures of Hammer Studios. So I guess it was only a matter of time before Hinchfliffe & Co. tackled the Big Bads of classic, gothic horror: DRACULA and the great unsolved mystery of Jack the Ripper (with a whole lot `o Sherlock Holmes thrown in for good measure).
"Talons" finds the Dr. and Leela materializing in highly atmospheric Victorian London - all fog and gaslight-shadow. The Doc, in a pathetic attempt to civilize his savage companion, has decided to take her to the theater. Of course, no sooner have they landed than they become embroiled in a murder mystery: a cabbie, investigating the disappearance of his young bride, has been murdered by a band of Chinese thugs. The Doc discovers the hit-men are members of the Tong of the Black Scorpion, a vicious criminal organization, and links the missing girl to the nearby Palace Theatre. Encountering a friendly forensic pathologist, Dr. Litefoot (Trevor Baxter), the Doc begins to investigate the Tong, the murder, the Theater, and the apparent connection of a performing magician, Li-Sen Chang (John Bennett) to all three.
Without spoiling anything, the Doctor discovers that - as usual - what he has seen is only the tip of a large and nefarious iceberg involving horrible murders, cult worship, and a god-impersonating, time-travelling war criminal, who is part Dr. Moriarty, part Dracula, and all evil.
If the plot sounds a bit convoluted, it isn't. The disparate threads are gradually and skillfully interwoven by director David Maloney establishes the same darkly sinister mood he did in the terrific "Genesis of the Daleks." The writing, as always combines drama, tongue-in-cheek humor, deliberately unintelligible scifispeak (wonderfully delivered by Baker as his clueless companions look on), period slang, and some superb dread-inducing soliloqiues - especially as the Doc discovers the unspeakable fate of the missing girls.
Furthermore, the characters are wonderful and brilliantly cast. In addition to the charming Litefoot, who plays the role of Dr. Watson to Baker's Holmes, and the sinister yet sleekly elegant Li-Sen Chang, there is a wonderful performance by veteran actor Christopher Benjamin, as the pompous, cowardly and yet inherently loveable Palace manager, Henry Gordon Jago. Unfortunately the actor's name escapes me, but his performance of Weng-Chiang/Magnus Greel, delivered largely from behind a creepy, stylized mask, ranks this fellow up with the greatest of all the Dr. Who villains (Doc: "A hundred thousand deaths can be laid at your doorstep." Greel: "Enemies of the state! They died in the interests of science!") And let's not forget the cackling, homicidal midget cyborg-thing, Mr. Sin (every villain needs a Peking Homonculous).
It's always good to go out on a high note, and Hinchcliffe couldn't have finished any higher than he did here. In "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" he helped create an episode that was not merely a classic of the series, but a period classic for all times. Six stars.
Description of Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (Story 91)
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