Written by Robert Holmes, Sydney Newman, and Donald Wilson
Directed by Barry Letts

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series which has been around off and on since 1963. The main character is just known as “The Doctor” and is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. This means he travels through time to various places. One of his favorite places to visit is Earth. Typically, he has a companion traveling with him, usually female, sometimes male, sometimes one of each. He travels in a time machine known as a “Tardis” which is disguised as a British Police booth.

A Time Lord can regenerate if fatally wounded, which has accounted for all the different actors who have played The Doctor throughout the years. In this episode, he is portrayed by Jon Pertwee. He is traveling with Jo (portrayed by Katy Manning).

The TARDIS lands in what appears to be a ship traveling on Earth. The Doctor and Jo believe this after seeing boxes marked for Singapore around them. The Doctor isn’t quite so sure, and it would seem the appearance of a dinosaur off the side of the ship reinforces the idea that they aren’t on Earth, only a place that looks like it. When he learns the ship is the S.S. Bernice, a ship that disappeared in 1926 and was never heard from again, he is even more convinced that they are not on Earth.

This story connects nicely with what was shown in the opening. Two aliens, Vorg and Shirna (portrayed by Leslie Dwyer and Cheryl Hall) arrive on Inter Minor with a miniscope in their possession. This device keeps miniaturized creatures inside and simulates an environment familiar to them. Vorg and Shirna are denied entry to the planet by the tribunal which screens new arrivals. It would appear that Inter Minor is inhabited by a bunch of germophobes concerned with being contaminated by the miniscope and the creatures contained within. Although they seem to be merely exercising their powers, the real reason is quite nefarious as they intend to release some of the creatures contained in the miniscope to wreak havoc on their planet and set the stage for a coup.

Once the Doctor and Jo make their way back to the TARDIS on board the ship, they watch what appears to be a giant hand reach in and scoop it up! Once outside the miniscope for a time, the TARDIS returns to its normal size. The Doctor manages to find a way out, all the time dodging the dinosaur-like creatures, but must return for Jo. The problem is the miniscope has been damaged and is overheating, leaving the two stranded inside with the temperature rising.

Carnival of Monsters has what Doctor Who is known for. It looks kitschy and cheap and creates a lot of drama. The costuming is hysterical, particularly the tribunal of screeners on Inter Minor and Shirna as the assistant to the master of the miniscope. Every time she entered the screen I wanted to crack up laughing. It’s also important to note that two actors who will have recurring roles in the series first appear here, although not in those roles. Michael Wisher is the alien Kalik here and will return to portray Davros, the creator of the Daleks. Ian Marter is one of the crew of the ship the Doctor and Jo land on, and he will return to portray one of the Doctor’s companions, Harry.

The acting is very good. Jon Pertwee was one of the Doctors before I began watching the show, but I’ve gained a new appreciation for his work in the role through repeated viewings. Katy Manning is surprisingly good as Jo. Many of the companions were written rather weakly, especially early in the series. Here she is much more than a wilting violet and is quite capable of handling what’s thrown at her and being convincing about it. The guest cast is surprisingly good as well, and there’s a reason some of the actors were drawn on for roles in the future.

The effects are laughable. The dinosaur-like creatures look more like something my kids would create using Popsicle sticks in an art class. I know the actors didn’t have them to react to, and that’s probably a good thing because I think the reaction would be laughter. Doctor Who is known with affection from fans for the cheap look it had early on, but these creatures are a new low. The use of many of the miniatures here is actually pretty good, so there’s some taking the good with the bad. It’s also one of the earliest uses of the color separation overlay process which eventually led to the use of the bluescreen in so many science fiction productions.

The DVD release has a ton of extras including commentary from Katy Manning and Director Barry Letts. It’s been restored quite well and the picture is excellent as is the sound.

Carnival of Monsters isn’t a place to introduce someone to Doctor Who. Although it’s good, it’s also something that is appreciated more once the classic series has already charmed you. I think most who haven’t yet seen the series would look at it and wonder how anyone could like it just to the cheap, kitschy look of the series. Get past that and there’s a pretty decent story and good acting.



SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Commentary with Producer & Director Barry Letts and Katy Manning
• Extended & Deleted Scenes
• Director’s Amended Ending
• Five Faces of Doctor Who
• Delaware Opening Titles
• Visual Effects Test Film
• Photo Gallery
• Information Text
• Behind the Scenes
• TARDIS-cam No. 2
• Who’s Who