Doctor Who - The Creature From The Pit [1979]

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Primary Contributor : Tom Baker

Product Details

Actor : Tom Baker
Format : PAL
Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 5014503726621
Product Group : Video
Release Date : 2002-07-15
Running Time : 97minutes
Studio : 2 Entertain Video

ASIN : B000067A8Q

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

The 1979 Doctor Who adventure "The Creature from the Pit" finds Tom Baker's fourth Doctor in decidedly tongue-in-cheek mode on the planet Cloris, a world where metal is in such short supply its possession means power, and where a very large green alien is annoyed at being kept prisoner in a pit. As so often the Doctor gets caught between two feuding parties, here the power-crazed Lady Adrasta (Myra Frances) and her court, and a bunch of Pythonesque bandits led by John Bryans. This motley crew reveal the influence of script editor Douglas Adams, while more fun is to had from Baker's interaction with the astrologer Organon, played by Geoffrey "Catweazle" Bayldon in a role which recalls Adams' Slartibartfast from The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

At four episodes a thin story is over-stretched, the finale seems tacked on, and the shoddy creature effects are more remarkably phallic than anything in the same year's cinema release, Alien. On the plus side, Lalla Ward in her third story grows nicely into her role as Romana, David Brierley takes over from John Leeson as the voice of robot dog K-9 and the set design and costumes are well up to the show's late-70s high standards. Not a patch on the immediately preceding "City of Death", but an entertaining Whovian pantomime nonetheless. --Gary S Dalkin

Customer Reviews

flipping impressive stuff actually.... (2007-08-17)

this story is one of the many produced by Graham Williams that fans claim to be rubbish and stupid and overlly comical. Well, sorry but youre all very wrong.let me list all the good points of this story:great jungle sets and great wolfweedsgreat pit setsgreat actors and great characters, although Lady Arasta is killed off a bit too soon. Shes so nasty, and there arent that many nasty ladies on doctor who and its nice to have a change.and Lalla Ward again gets to have some great scenes!oh, and the whole plot is believable and straightforward.the cliffhanger to part one is a rare unexpected ending too, the doc doing some we might be thinking as stupid and dangerous...is that enough good points do you think? well, its enough for a doc fan like me. actually to be honest i feel tom's last two seasons as the doctor were his strongest. so there!

Oh down memory lane (2003-11-08)

I was given TCFTP by a colleague after we got talking about the old Dr Whos. And did it live up to my memories all those years ago??

Yes and no.

What sweeps the Who adventures along is the story adn for the first two episodes this is fabulous. I love the idea of human sacrifice to a monster at the bottom of a hole. And the whole ceremony and living in fear of being thrown to this monster is wonderfully exotic and alien. But as the story progresses it loses menace, and by the end we are back in space with another complicated climax. It starts wonderfully, but loses it in the last episode.

Best things: Lady Adrasta The Wolfweeds The murderous Karela Creeping around the pit scared of the monster Tom Baker and Lalla Ward

Worstbits: The special effects of the monster (at one point itlooks like the Dr is savaged by a large green blanket) The bandits (who were terrible jewish miser stereotypes)

Overall: I enjoyed it, and despite rubbish special effects it has brought back my love for the genre. I've started collecting again..

An unfortunate rarity (2003-09-27)

The Creature from the Pit is an unfortunate rarity in the world of Dr Who. Not only is it bad, but its good, as well. Some elements of the story are plus points: Tom Baker's witty, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, Princess Astra's balanced pantomine villain, and the actual plot itself are good. However, it scuppers itself with true lows: the creature itself is awful (even by doctor who's standards), but most horrifically the voice of K9 has changed. I would've accepted a different actor, but changing the personality for one or two stories is a big mistake. I don't recommend this title unless you are a fan building the collection - anyone seeking an entrance to the world of Doctor Who best choose one of the classics. Its a shame, for the title itself "THE CREATURE FROM THE PIT" is brilliant. Oh well.

A Mediocre Dr Who Adventure (2002-07-25)

"Creature From The Pit" is not Doctor Who at its best.The direction,story and underground locations are imaginative but this adventure is let down by the obviously low budget.The creature, who is the main focus of the story,looks very fake.That said the real reason to see this adventure is the humour which is genuinely clever and witty and almost spoofs the genre at times.Romana asking the Lady Adrasta about the thing lurking in the pit is told:"we call it the creature" To which she replies,"that's original".Tom Baker is his usual quirky and entertaining self and fans of his Doctor will want to buy this, though it is a decidely mediocre entry in the canon.

Creature from the Pit: An undervalued story (2002-07-22)

A much undervalued Dr Who story, Creature from the pit is the perfect addition to any fan's collection. With many quick one liners, especially in the opening scenes, this story shows the problems with greed, and the benefits of trading goods you have a surplus of to those that require them. This video is worth getting if only to see how bad "The Creature" is!!

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