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82) PYRAMIDS OF MARS

25 October - 15 November 1975

Average Viewing Figure: 10.7M

Plot

Marcus Scarman an English Archaeologist inadvertently unleashes an evil presence from Egyptian mythology

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Bernard Archard (Marcus Scarman), Michael Sheard (Laurence Scarman)

Peter Copley (Dr Warlock), Peter Mayock (Namin), Gabriel Woolf (Sutekh), Michael Bilton (Collins), Vik Tablian (Ahmed)

George Tovey (Ernie Clements), Nick Burnell, Melvyn Belford, Kevin Selway (Mummies)

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Uncredited Cast

Tony Alless, Oscar Charles (Egyptian Labourers)

Crew

Stephen Harris (Writer), George Gallaccio (Production UInit Manager), Peter Grimwade (Production Assistant)

Ron Grainer (Title Music), Bernard Lodge (Title Sequence), Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music), Dick Mills (Special Sound)

Barbara Kidd (Costume Designer), Jean Steward (Make-Up), Ian Scoones (Visual Effects Designer), Rod Koplick (Studio Lighting)

Brian Hiles (Studio Sound), John McGlashan (Film Cameraman), Andrew Boulton (Film Sound), MAC Adams (Film Editor)

Robert Holmes (Script Editor), Christine Ruscoe (Designer), Philip Hinchliffe (Producer), Paddy Russell (Director)

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Uncredited Crew

John Hills-Harrop (Assistant Film Sound Recordist), Sid Marker (Grip), Ian Brindle (Film Ops Manager)

Val Hodgkinson (Director's Assistant (Location)), Kevin Rowley (Assistant Film Cameraman), Phyllis Page (Booking Assistant)

Nansi Davies (Contract Assistant), Ron Brown (Sound Recordist), Nigel Meakin (Camera Assistant), Des Stewart (Armourer)

Carolyn Greaves, M. Wade (Make-Up Assistants), Harry Bradley (Technical Manager), Dave Jervis (Inlay Operator)

Janet Radnekovic (Production Unit Manager), James Gould (Vision Mixer), Judith Long (Design Assistant)

Caroline Rogers (Director's Assistant (Studio)), Colin Reid (Senior Cameraman), Ray Ingram (Costume Assistant)

Paul Braithwaite (Assistant Floor Manager), James Burge (Floor Assistant)​

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Stargrove Manor, East End, Hants

  • Television Centre: Puppet Theatre

  • Television Centre: Studio 3

  • Television Centre: Studio 6

Number of Production Days: 5

Deaths

  • Marcus Scarman [crumbles to dust in seconds]

  • Laurence Scarman [strangled by Marcus Scarman]

  • Dr Warlock [killed by an Osiran Service Robot]

  • Namin [killed by Marcus Scarman]

  • Sutekh [ages to death]

  • Collins [killed by an Osiran Service Robot]

  • Ernie Clements [crushed by Osiran Service Robots]

  • Mummies [destroyed during the story's events]

Production Days

  • 13 Days between Tuesday 29 April - Tuesday 3 June 1975

Production Errors

  1. The hand of a stagehand can be seen on Sutekh's throne when Sutekh stands for the first time 

  2. The design of Marcus' tie continually changes all the time. The stripes go from the right to left, and vice versa 

  3. The Doctor's tie changes from orange to brown throughout the serial

  4. When Sarah Jane is attacked in the lodge, a mummy smashes the Marconiscope to pieces causing an explosion. However, in the next shot, the Marconiscope is in one piece 

  5. At the 12:22 mark during part four, a man is standing in the darkness behind the door

  6. Sarah Jane says the eye of Horus reminds her of the City of the Exxilons. However Sarah was never in the city, perhaps The Doctor showed her a picture or something

  7. Coincidentally Sarah Jane put on a Victorian dress, after landing reasonably close to the Victorian era 

Working Titles

  • Pyramid of Mars

Verdict

A fine example of the Doctor Who renaissance. The story takes a mixture of mythology and science fiction and blends them together to create a fine period piece where danger is around every corner. The production is filled with excellent production values and too many memorable moments to count. Taking first place is the ravaged Earth in 1980s although short in length proves that travelling with The Doctor may not always result in victory. A small workable cast, a beyond brilliant villain (all thanks to Gabriel Woolf’s booming voice), and silent sinister mummies are all just small examples of what makes this serial so special. The first episode is both intriguing and unsettling as the story begins to unfold and continues to deliver right to the very end. The visuals and models shine, and the ending is one in which ties the whole thing together. *****​

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