Product Details

• Actors: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison
• Writers: Sydney Newman
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: June 27, 1995
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303482643
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,162 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am the Master... and you will obey me!, December 29, 2001

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Who - Terror of the Autons [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I am the Reviewer, and you will read this. You will read this... you will read this...

One year after the events of Spearhead From Space, the Doctor has to deal with the Autons again, because a surviving Nestene energy unit that the Brigadier loaned to a museum has been stolen by his arch-enemy, the Master. The Master, a Time Lord like the Doctor, plans to use the globe and a radio telescope to broadcast a signal to invite the Nestenes to victory where they failed before. He also commandeers a plastics factory run by the weak-minded Rex Farrell. Anyone whom he can't hypnotize, he dispatches in ruthless ways, as he does with Mr. McDermott and Mr. Farrell's father. The Doctor, meanwhile, gets a new assistant, the clumsy but adorable Jo Grant, and is drawn into the crisis upon hearing of a raid on a radio telescope research center. Thus begins the opening story of Season Eight, Terror Of The Autons, a classic of classics.

The scene of a Time Lord in a suit, bowler hat, and brolley appearing in mid-air with the noise of a materializing TARDIS borders on the surreal. He and the Doctor trade barbs, but the newcomer is here to warn him about the Master.

Katy Manning, as the cute, blonde, clumsy, and kooky Jo Grant, made her debut here and she's one of the reasons why the Pertwee era is my favorite in the series' history. The miniskirts would come much later, but this is a taste of this season and the ninth and tenth seasons. She accidentally ruins one of his experiments, and the Doctor, who calls her a "hamfisted bun vendor," for that mistake, demands that the Brigadier get rid of her. Jo proves herself worthy by procuring some much-needed parts for him. She eventually becomes one of his longest serving and most beloved assistants.

Roger Delgado is a suave villain and throughout his appearances, I found it hard to hate him. He was charming unlike Anthony Ainley's slimey and odious rendition. Pity he came out in only eight stories and died in a tragic car accident in 1973, thus barring any possible returns to Who.

The troll doll, which raised the ire of viewers, is an ugly thing, which makes it all the more menacing as it stalks the elder Mr. Farrell. The scene of fake policemen (Autons) ordered by the Master to kill the Master and Jo also got angry complaints from Scotland Yard. Gosh, how I love controversial programs, and those that portray policeman (even fake ones), as villains. Yes, I'm still judge the police over the Rodney King, Malice Green, and Amadou Diallo incidents.

It's interesting how our overwhelming dependence on plastic was made plainly clear, and how we'd be in a death trap if anything plastic could come to life and kill us. Strangled by my headphones, impaled by a flying CD,... and I hate to think what the toilet seat would do.

This is also the second of three stories whose colour episodes were lost and had to be recreated using a black and white PAL, a colour NTSC version, and synchronizing the two. The video has a film-like quality as a result, and gives it a nostalgic 70's look.

One of my favorite Who stories of all time, not only because of the return of the Autons, but the debut of Katy Manning as Jo Grant and Roger Delgado as the Master. Richard Franklin also makes his debut as Captain Mike Yates and a possible love interest for Jo, a concept that was never realized. And the late Michael Wisher, best known as Davros, makes his Who debut in this story.

I am the Reviewer, and you will watch this story... you will watch this story... watch this story...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jon Pertwee at his best!, February 16, 2000

By 

Bret M. Herholz (Worcester, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Who - Terror of the Autons [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Terror of the Autons is not only my favouite story of the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who, but it is also my favourite Doctor Who story of all time. The story not only brings back the Nestine Autons, but it also marks the first appearance of the Doctor's "best enemy". The Master. The Doctor, with the help of UNIT must figure out a way to stop the Master from channeling the entire Nestine Invasion fleet to Earth before it's too late. Jon Pertwee's performance as the Doctor is dead posh and the scenes between him and Roger Delgado (the Master) are such a treat to watch. Although all the Doctor/Master stories I've seen thus far have been nothing short of great, this one is the first and by far, the best out of all of them. A must have for not only fans of Jon Pertwee, but fans of Doctor Who in general.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "There's going to be some complaints about THAT...", September 30, 2000

By 

Brian May (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - Terror of the Autons [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This Jon Pertwee tale has a notorious reputation - it is the story that brought Dr Who its first big controversy. Depicting murderous policemen, dolls and daffodils, it sparked outcry, outrage and was even discussed in parliament. Oh, how it was corrupting the kiddies of Britain! They would be too scared of going to bed with their teddy bears or approaching a police officer! Cue Mary Whitehouse, who would later bring forth her tirades against the evil, godless programme, crusading as an ambassador for all that's good and nice. (Mrs Whitehouse always brings out this reviewer's sarcastic side!) Today such a story would not raise a single eyebrow - it really shouldn't have way back in 1971. It wasn't until the 1980s that violence became a real problem for Dr Who - the Jon Pertwee era is in fact one of the most "cleanest" periods of the show when it came to violence - death was always bloodless, "laser gun" style. However, I will concede that "Terror of the Autons" DOES has disturbing images. The idea of daffodils coming alive and suffocating people is one of them. One of the story's most memorable and vivid scenes is when McDermott is slowly smothered by the plastic chair. The Autons walking about in their freakish carnival masks is another. However, this is a credit to Robert Holmes, one of the series' best writers. For isn't that the purpose of science fiction? To stretch our imaginations and present outlandish scenarios? They may be disturbing, but they leave an impact on the viewer. That is what "Terror of the Autons" achieves overall. The story is basically a sequel to the excellent "Spearhead From Space", the first Nestene/Auton story. It is basically the same story told again; it is not terribly original, and in my opinion inferior to its prequel, but is told on a grander scale. It introduces the "UNIT family", with assistant Jo Grant, UNIT officer Mike Yates and the Master all making their first appearances. While "Spearhead From Space" was basically a horror tale, with a cold, creepy feel to it; "Terror of the Autons" is an action oriented remake. It has terrific moments, some great suspenseful scenes and quiet linking moments that in no way slow down the story. It also brings out more of the childishness and arrogance of Jon Pertwee's Doctor (his verbal tirade against the civil servant Brownrose is so uncharacteristic of the Doctor as we have known him). A few complaints: the CSO effects look truly awful (especially inside the Farrels' kitchen); the solution is rushed and a bit too convenient. However, it is an extremely pacy, fast moving story. It's not as good as the first Auton story and lacks originality, but it has its moments that make it an enjoyable story in its own right.