| For all the Whos in Whoville (sorry, wrong Doctor), this vintage Doctor Who adventure from the venerable British series' inaugural season is a must-own collectible. For the uninitiated, Doctor Who is television's longest-running science fiction series and it has gained a cult following that rivals those of Star Trek and Star Wars. Dr. Who, portrayed here in his first incarnation by William Hartnell, is a Time Lord who travels the cosmos in a spacecraft called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), whose exterior looks like a police call box. Originally broadcast in 1964, The Keys of Marinus is a six-episode arc that features the doctor's original traveling companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, history teacher Barbara Wright, and the doctor's granddaughter, Susan, who is given to screaming at the first sign of peril. Hartnell's doctor is a sprightly curmudgeon who relishes adventure and mystery, which he finds after the group lands on Marinus, an island of glass surrounded by a sea of acid. Doctor and company are compelled to retrieve four microcircuits that are the keys to the Conscience of Marinus, a computer that has eliminated evil from the minds of men (except apparently the evil Yartek and his web-suited Voords, who want to seize the machine). Their quest takes them most memorably to "a planet of the most contented people" (beware the brainwashing powers of the "mesmerent"), another world overrun by plants, and finally a city where Chesterton, framed for murder, is considered guilty until proven innocent--by the doctor, of course. As is characteristic of this series, the special effects are a hokey hoot and the actors sometimes step on each others' lines. Hartnell vacationed during production and is absent for two episodes. But this is a surprisingly prophetic cautionary tale: it may be good to heed the doctor's prescient observation that "man was not made to be controlled by machines." If you have yet to make an appointment with the doctor, perhaps the episodes featuring Tom Baker--the fourth and most popular of the doctors--are a more accessible introduction. --Donald Liebenson |
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 Keys an Ian and Barbara story |
| Review Date: August 22, 1999 |
| Reviewer: , |
| When I watched the first episode, I couldn't stop laughing at the low production values. But after that, it became an excellent story. I enjoyed, partly for the thrilling story, and partly for how it shone the spotlight on Ian and Barbara, and they did well. The cliffhangers had be wondering what would happen next. I was also amazed at the suprisingly adult scene when the trapper Vasor tried to rape Barbara during Episode 4. This story had you in it, whether it was Ian and Barbara strggling to find the key before they are killed by the living jungle, or when their rope bridge breaks and they are trapped on a ledge with some unthawing monsters. The best story in the Hartnell era |
Around The Planet in 6 Episodes
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| Review Date: January 18, 2003 |
| Reviewer: Robert Torres, New Port Richey, FL United States |
| It is quite difficult to write an adequate review for this particular adventure, considering that it is a wonderful adventure, but the TARDIS crew are constantly moving from one place to another within the confines of these 6 episodes. But it is definitely a very ambitious quest type of adventure, with the Doctor and company being blackmailed into helping Arbitan retrieve the four micro circuit keys that would reactivate the Conscience of Marinus, in order to stop a group of alien terrorists, the Voords, from subjegating the planetary populace with the machine. Their first stop takes them to Morphiton, a place where people seem to be the most friendly and content in the universe. But it is soon revealed to be a charade, as it is clear that strange disembodied brains have subjegated the people into slavery. But soon they are defeated, retrieve the key and are joined up with Altoss and Sabetha, a young couple that were on the same quest, but came under the influence of the powerful brain creatures. Their travels take them to a living jungle, and to an artic landscape, then to the city of Millenius, where their laws are that a person is guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around. And soon Ian is framed for a crime of murder and theft, in which the good Doctor comes to his aid to solve the mystery, in true detective like style. I like this particular portion as it displays a brief courtroom drama type scenario, which is always a good thing. Finally, their adventure brings them back to the island, where they find Arbitan dead, and the Voords in charge. But they soon trick the creatures into destroying the machine that would have allowed them to conquer Marinus, just before the Doctor and company travel on to their next adventure. I definitely recommend this to any and all Dr. Who fans. |
Classic
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| Review Date: October 19, 2004 |
| Reviewer: C. Balogh, U of I |
I was a bit weary before I watched this episode, because I heard mixed reviews, but I was amazingly impressed with this story. I don't watch Dr. Who for the set designs or props, but for the character and story. Usually the story is outrageously chataclismic or absurd, and thats what I like about the different directions the Doctor takes in the Tardis. There are no limits with the Doctor, he can go anywhere and do anything really (because come on, very rarely does he fail). However, this takes some imagination, especially when looking back all the way to the 60s in some cases.
Here, though, I found a classic Doctor Who adventure story creatively written by Terry Nation of The Daleks. We land on a glass strewn island surrounded by acid, which is insane. How crazy is that, honestly, poor Susan almost went for a paddle in it! And unlike later seasons, the sense of awe and discovery is still fresh in all the characters, each constantly amazed by their ever changing surroundings. Ususally I find it hard to sit through 6 episodes, but when each episode takes us to a unique, and original location, it felt like a great old time movie. The sets aren't as fantastic as the plot, but did anyone ever really think they were, even back when it first aired? I don't think realism is really the point of Doctor Who. Try using your imagination. Immerse yourself in the original storyline and plot twists, and you'll have one of the best Doctor experiences ever. |
Fun story on a limited budget
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| Review Date: February 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Callahan, Sterling, KS USA |
Given one and only one sentence to describe "The Keys of Marinus", it would have to be: a fun entry in British science fiction mounted on a budget of approximately two and a half school plays.
And if that description doesn't throw you off, you'll probably enjoy it. It has better writing than most American TV shows produced at the time, as well as American movies. Dramatically, it lies halfway between the heaviness of "Battlestar Galactica" and the ironic humor of "Burn Notice". The acting is quite good, with notable performances by William Hartnell (The Doctor), Jacqueline Hill (a strong heroine for the 60's), William Russell (knight in shining armor without an ego to match), Francis de Wolff (the guy you hope doesn't come to your door at 3am), Donald Pickering (the prosecutor you don't want at your trial) and Stephen Dartnell (dictator in-waiting with brains as well as ambition). The action is... well, if you are a fan of Old Time Radio, where you are forced to imagine how exciting everything is... you're more than ready.
If black and white bothers you, stay the heck away. If noticeably low budgets cause you to use your remote faster than a gunslinger can sling a Remington, buy something else.
But if you're in the mood for some vintage popcorn-for-the-brain from the UK, this might be the DVD for you. |
Great concept.
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| Review Date: May 5, 2002 |
| Reviewer: Junglies, Morrisville, NC United States |
| I enjoy writing these reviews as I am able to look back to when I originally saw these stories as a child in England when they were broadcast the first time. Looking at them now with the constant reminders of the advances in technology on and off the screen it is easy to forget how revolutionary this series was at the time. This story was one of my particular favourites. Originally broadcast in April 1964 this was the second story to be set on an alien world. The show's creators clearly wanted to pack in as much science fiction as they possibly could and this is particularly true of this six part adventure. When the Tardis materialises on a beach it does not take too long for the intrepid travellers to discover that the sea is made of corrosive acid and the sand is made of glass. The Voords are reminiscent of Eygptian jackals and alas it is the aliens who are the bad guys. Marinus has an overall concept which is then sub-divided into four sub-plots. In the first, the Doctor and his companions arrive at a part of the planet where it seems that every whim or desire can be fulfilled. The truth, however, is much different, and they discover that the brains of alien creatures have outgrown the need for physical bodies but still require physical activity to be done by brainwashed Marinian slaves. The second segment of the show drew on the notion of sentient plant life while the third was sited in ice-caves. The fourth involves the trial of Ian for a murder he did not commit and where the Doctor is his advocate. Finally the story comes full circle as they return with new friends to the start of the journey to discover that things are not as they seem. In a sense, the story does not work as the sub-plots are not that substantial. In another sense, this story is the mould that is followed much later in the 'Key to Time' stories where it is handled much more adroitly. The 'Keys of Marinus' does contain some good ideas and certainly kept the young audience glued to the set throughout the six week run. This really was a great concept at the time and I know that I had a great time watching it. |
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