Bigger on the Inside (2009)

Bigger on the Inside (2009)

19 minutes

This documentary feature examines the interior of the TARDIS and how it has evolved since it first appeared. A mixture of people who are fans of the show and worked on the show offer their opinions of the various ways in which the interior changed over the years. Tom Baker is the only actor interviewed. 

Now and Then: The Locations of the Masque of Mandragora (2010)

8 minutes

This documentary shows where all the outdoor scenes were shot. It uses a map to show where in Portmeirion scenes were set, followed by shots of the town as it existed in 2010, and then finally shots from the show of the same locations. There is a narrator who explains everything but there are no interviews.

The Secret of the Labyrinth (2010)

The Secret of the Labyrinth (2010)

This documentary is about the making of the Masque of Mandragora. It was shot in Portmeirion, Wales as were the exterior shots for the Doctor Who story. There are four actors and four members of the crew interviewed for the documentary. The actors are represented by Jon Laurimore (Count Federico), Gareth Armstrong (Giuliano), Tim Pigott-Smith (Marco), and Antony Carrick (Captain Rossini). The crew who appear on camera in the documentary are Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer), Rodney Bennett (Director), Chris D'Oyly-John (Production Unit Manager), and Barry Newberry (Designer).

Portmeirion is also the location where The Prisoner TV show was filmed, several years before The Masque of Mandragora. Philip Hinchcliffe said he got the idea for doing a story along these lines after seeing The Maque of the Red Death (1964). They shot the location in a very tight way to avoid allowing anything to appear on screen that didn't belong. Designer Barry Newberry talked about how he was influenced by Renaissance paintings when he decorated the interior sets.

This documentary is a nice addition to the DVD. It is only 26 minutes long but they pack quite a bit into it in the way of stories about the making of The Masque of Mandragora. It's a shame that they couldn't get the actor who played Hieronymous for this documentary.

Beneath the Masque

This 9-minute feature about The Masque of Mandragora is very much done in jest. It is very silly. I thought it was fun but not to be taken seriously.

Doctor Who (1963) 14.01.04

The Masque of Mandragora - Part 4

The Doctor escapes after Count Federico is vaporized by Hieronymous. He returns to find Sarah, Giuliano, and Marco still prisoners. Captain Rossini is about ready to kill them but his men defect to Giuliano's side once they learn that the Count is dead.

The Doctor gets some supplies (an armored breastplate and some wire) and prepares to confront Hieronymous. The Brethren have surrounded the palace and killed anyone who opposed them. Giuliano isn't sure about whether he should still have the masque (dance) that was planned for that evening but the Doctor says he should.

Doctor Who (1963) 14.01.03

The Masque of Mandragora - Part 3

The Doctor shows up just in time to help Giuliano keep Count Federico's men from killing him. The brethren, the Cult of Demnos show up and start fighting with the Count's men. The Doctor and Giuliano take off into the catacombs.

Sarah is taken to Hieronymous. He hypnotizes her and gives her a poisoned brooch and instructions to use it on the Doctor. Giuliano and the Doctor find Sarah unconscious in the catacombs. They aren't sure what she was doing there but they take her with them.

Count Federico goes to see Hieronymous, who foretells the Count's death. Federico is not amused.

Doctor Who (1963) 14.01.02

The Masque of Mandragora - Part 2

The Doctor escapes from the executioner's sword into the catacombs beneath San Martino. He rescues Sarah from the Cult of Demnos which was getting ready to sacrifice her. The Doctor and Sarah get out of there just as the cult is getting a visit from the Mandragora Helix. It offers the leader of the cult great power and control of the Earth if he will obey. Hieronymous agrees to the terms.

The Doctor and Sarah are captured by guards who take them to Giuliano. The young duke shows the Doctor the body of a man that was found by the city gates, badly burned. The Doctor tries to explain helix energy to the duke but doesn't get very far.

Doctor Who (1963) 14.01.01

The Masque of Mandragora - Part 1

The TARDIS gets sucked into the Mandragora Helix. The Doctor lands the TARDIS. The Doctor and Sarah investigate but quickly leave when they are threatened by a sentient bit of energy. They make their way back to Earth and land in 15th century Italy.

The Duke of San Martino has just died. Giuliano, the Duke's son, suspects foul play but he has no proof. Count Federico, Giuliano's uncle, covets the dukedom but he bides his time and conspires with Hieronymous, a seer, to do away with his nephew.

Sarah gets abducted by men in dark robes. The Doctor is apprehended by Count Federico's men. Both are sentenced to death.