Doctor Who, the Crusade (Dr Who BBC Audiobooks) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Book Description

Series: Dr Who BBC Audiobooks | Publication Date: May 2, 2005

The Doctor and his companions encounter King Richard the Lionheart in this classic remastered soundtrack adventure with linking narration by William Russell. The TARDIS materialises in the middle of a holy war between King Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen leader, Saladin, in 12th Century Palestine. As the Doctor, Vicki, Ian and Barbara explore their surroundings, they are suddenly caught up in a Saracen ambush and Barbara is kidnapped. For the time travellers, intrigue and espionage ensue as they once again become involved in living history. A newly-knighted Sir Ian of Jaffa makes haste to find and rescue Barbara, whilst the Doctor finds it difficult to stay out of trouble in the court of the King...This classic adventure, only two episodes of which survive in the BBC film archive, stars William Hartnell as the Doctor, William Russell as Ian, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara, and Maureen O Brien as Vicki. Amongst the guest cast are Julian Glover as Richard, with Jean Marsh as his sister Joanna. This CD release also features William Russell re-living his memories of recording the television serial.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: BBC Audiobooks (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563523220
• ISBN-13: 978-0563523222
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,116,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Starts out great, but then disappoints., March 13, 2009

By 

Jero Briggs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Who, the Crusade (Dr Who BBC Audiobooks) (Audio CD)

Like "The Moonbase", I do not have the audio CD of this story, but I do have the scripts of all the episodes as well as the complete "Lost in Time" Collection on DVD which includes the two surviving episodes as well as the audio of the two missing episodes.

This is a very well produced serial with great sets, great acting and directing, but the story fails to keep you interested after the first episode. The first episode is great with a lot of action in it and even just a little bit of comedy when the Doctor is looking for 12th century clothes to wear. Barbara is kidnapped by the Saracens and the Doctor, Ian, and Vicki must join forces with Richard the Lionheart in order to get her back. The first episode leads you to believe that this will be an epic historical adventure, but then the thing starts to fall apart in Episode 2. With very little action in it what so ever and mostly becomes a drama with very little happening until the final moments of Episode 4 when Ian rescues Barbara, and the Doctor and his companions have to sneak back to the TARDIS. I am glad that Episode 1 was found considering that it is the best episode in the lot, but the other surviving episode, Episode 3, has to be the worst. If another episode were to survive, I would rather it be the fourth one. Even the second one would have been better than the third. At least that one was a little better. In all, I would not recommend this one unless you are planning to buy the "Lost in Time" Collection on DVD or the VHS release of "The Space Museum" which includes this story on it. Otherwise, stay away from it.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad! Well-rehearsed! Glad to hear it all! :), August 22, 2005

By 

Neburo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who, the Crusade (Dr Who BBC Audiobooks) (Audio CD)

I listened to the cd's that accompanied the video cassette. Not bad for a half-missing story! I normally wouldn't listen to audio because Doctor Who for me is only a visual experience, but on this occasion I decided to listen because it was only 2/4 episodes...

I heard the actors in the missing video footage episodes instead and you can tell it was well-rehearsed. I had a fairly good idea of what was going on and I enjoyed it.

There's is an emotionally charged story where the doctor are caught in the middle of the war between King Richard the Lionheart and Saracen rule Saladin, 12th century Palestine.

The link-up with the next story is pretty good -- on the video. :) It was really neat the way they did it back in the 1960's Doctor Who.

Probably a lot of people would not buy this CD because they can just watch 2/4 episodes. But with that video you get to enjoy both experiences... and you still enjoy it both ways! :) But thanks to the New Zealand man who found the first episode! God bless him! :)

Well done on the creators of the story and the people who recorded in that era too! Cheers! :)