Doctor Who - City of Death | Dr. Who, Tom Baker | "What a wonderful butler, he's so violent!"

Doctor Who - City of Death | Dr. Who, Tom Baker | Geniuses at work: Tom Baker, Douglas Adams, and more...

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Doctor Who - City ...

	Doctor Who - City of Death Dr. Who, Tom Baker 20th Century Fox, 1998 average customer review:based on 54 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

"What a wonderful butler, he's so violent!"

This Tom Baker adventure is one of the most original and satisfying Doctor Who stories that has ever been my pleasure to enjoy. It looks wonderful, it is obvious the cast are all having fun, and the story has a terrific blend of humour and seriousness. It is co-scripted by Douglas Adams, which is an automatic sign that there is going to be a certain degree of zaniness in the story - which there certainly is, but not as convoluted as his previous Who effort, "The Pirate Planet". "City of Death" is more down to earth (putting it very loosely!), but it certainly has moments edging on the bizarre, including the central premise, which sees all human learning and endeavour as simply an alien being's means to an end (although not new to Doctor Who - see "The Daemons" and "Image of the Fendahl" among others - but given a more oblique edge). The chief plot device is the Mona Lisa and the attempts of the alien, Scaroth, to steal it. In my humble opinion, the idea of an alien intending to steal the Mona Lisa in order to achieve his goals (which, incidentally, will result in the human race never having existed) is such a wonderful diversion from the standard "alien invasion" plot; in fact, so wonderful that it verges on genius! The Doctor/Romana II combination of Tom Baker and Lalla Ward is at its peak here - in this story it is obvious they are such an ideal team, and probably the best indicator that an off screen relationship was developing between these two actors. The guest list in "City of Death" is also astounding. The brilliant Julian Glover excels as the alien Scaroth (and his various segments), especially so as the final chronological segment, Count Scarlioni. The Count is an elegant villain, charming, disarming and not without a sense of humour. This is Glover's second of two performances in Doctor Who (his first was as Richard the Lionheart in the William Hartnell tale "The Crusade") - what a pity he did not star more times in the programme! The Countess is portrayed by the beautiful Catherine Schell (of Space 1999 fame), who plays up the role tremendously - a glamorous lover/sidekick to the villain, naively unaware that her husband is an alien (perhaps stretching the plot a bit far, but this is Douglas Adams, after all!) Tom Chadbon's Duggan, the dim-witted but amiable detective who joins up with the Doctor and Romana, is another memorable character. Even the lesser roles, such as Professor Kerensky and the butler Hermann, are distinguished. A cameo appearance from John Cleese and Eleanor Bron at the end is the icing on the cake! The story has the honour of being the first Doctor Who adventure filmed outside of the UK - it was made in Paris, and adds to the glamorous feel. The first episode, to its (slight) detriment, is a bit of a travelogue - the Doctor and Romana's walk through the streets of Paris as Duggan follows them IS overindulgent, but because the story is so wonderful, this can be forgiven. "City of Death" is a charming story. It is intelligent, while at the same time enjoyable simply as a great adventure. There are also brilliant moments of dialogue, with many memorable exchanges between the characters. It is certainly a breath of fresh air, and the standout tale from a troubled year of Doctor Who.

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Geniuses at work: Tom Baker, Douglas Adams, and more...

If you are a Doctor Who fan, "City of Death" is absolutely the one to show your doubting friends. If you're not a Doctor Who fan, then this is the one to see first. It's a magnificent extravagance of style and substance, delivered with more panache than you can hurl an egg at.

Tom Baker and Lalla Ward star as Time Lord and Time Lady, stuck in Paris with a slow-witted private detective (Tom Chadbon) who is doing his sorry best to keep the Mona Lisa from being stolen. Stolen by whom...?

Thuggish bodyguards, a sinister but oddly charming Count (Julian Glover), and a hapless scientific genius called Kerensky individually conspire to confuse, tease, kidnap, and threaten our three heroes as they uncover a plot that involves the fate of the human race in a deadly but somehow uplifting way.

Baker is at his deranged, delightful best, and the script is co-written by Douglas "Hitch-Hiker" Adams, on top form.

Just when you think it couldn't possibly get any better, there a surprise cameo appearance by... but that would be telling. "City of Death" has it all -- cake, icing, the lot!

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Excellent Science Fiction; Duggan Rules!!!

This is perhaps one of the best Doctor Who stories in the show's long history. Excellent Story, Excellent dialogue, Excellent...blah, blah, blah. I sing it praises!!

The best aspect of the story is perhaps the hit-first-ask-questions-later cop, Duggan. Who else but Douglas Adams could create such a funny and beloved, if albeit violent, character like him? Personally, I'm surprised the BBC didn't start a spin-off show starring him.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, page 8, 9, 10, 11

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