Doctor Who (TV Series) Pyramids of Mars: Part One (1975) User Reviews

"Mummies are embalmed eviscerated corpses & don't walk." Classic Doctor Who.

[poolandrews · 7/10 · 10 July 2007]

Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars: Part 1 starts in Ciaro where Egypologist Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard) breaks into the centuries old tomb of Sutekh where a great evil is still present waiting to be unleashed... The Doctor (Tom Baker) & Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) arrive on Earth in the year 1911 inside a priory owned by Scarman where he keeps various Egyptian relics, one of Scarman's friends Dr. Warlock (Peter Copley) is worried about him as Scarman hasn't been heard or seen in weeks & confronts the mysterious Egyptian Namin (Peter Mayock) who claims to have permission to be there from Scarman himself. However a fight breaks out & Namin shoots Warlock, the Doctor & Sarah Jane manage to overpower Namin & rescue Warlock for the time being as Namin uses several living Egyptian Mimmies to locate & capture them...

Episode 9 from season 13 this Doctor Who adventure was originally aired here in the UK during October 1975 & was the third story from Tom Baker's second season as the Doctor although it was the first filmed, directed by Paddy Russell this is a classic story in all senses of the word. The script is credited to Spehen Harris although it's common knowledge that what writer Lewis Griefer wrote was almost totally rewritten by script editor Robert Holmes & the only things which were kept were the title & setting hence the bland pseudonym of Stephen Harris, anyway this borrows heavily from classic Gothic horror with it's loud organ music, the idea of ancient Egyptian tombs containing evil, the idea of bandage wrapped Mummies coming to life & menacing the cast, old curses, demons & that classic & evocative early 20th century period setting which many Hammer horror films were notable for. Of course there's a sci-fi slant on things as whatever is going on is somehow connected to Mars but it all works pretty well to make an entertaining & intriguing opening episode.

This one actually looks pretty good, the Mummies are quite creepy as even with the tight BBC budget the makers couldn't screw them up. The scene at the end when the black robed figure walks along & large puffs of smoke radiate from each footstep is a neat touch! The special effects have been OK so far although the sarcophagus lids look a little light considering they are meant to be stone!

Pyramids of Mars: Part 1 is a great way to open a great story, it's considered by many to be a classic & who am I to argue with that? A must for fans & those looking for some creepy sci-fi horror.

Well-written Who story with bags of atmosphere

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 29 November 2014]

Review of the Complete Story:

THE PYRAMIDS OF MARS is a four-part Tom Baker story that proves to be one of the actor's strongest DOCTOR WHO outings. It's a simple but well delivered narrative that uses as its storyline the theory that Egyptian gods might well have been alien visitors from distant planets. THE PYRAMIDS OF MARS ably overcomes the limitations of the small budgets given to WHO in the 1970s to become a classic story from the era.

The tale sees Baker and companion Elisabath Sladen (non-irritating, might I add) touch down at an English country house in 1911. They uncover a dark tale of obsessed Egyptologists and alien menace, the latter portrayed through dated but effective computer effects. There's plentiful action in each episode, with all of the peril you could hope for and some great cliffhangers.

The main enemies in this adventure are the Mummies, hulking robotic brutes who are some of the most simple and yet physically impressive of the show. There's also some fun to be had in the casting of Michael Sheard (GRANGE HILL) in a supporting role alongside veteran actor Archard who chews the scenery as the bad guy. Good fun indeed and a must for the fans.

Good Story Even If It's Slightly Over Rated

[Theo Robertson · 8/10 · 30 March 2011]

Slight Spoilers To All Four Episodes

Pyramids Of Mars is one of these stories that consistently gets a placing in the top five best stories from the classic period of DOCTOR WHO . It's certainly well made but just lacks that little something that stops it from being a genuine masterpiece from the show . If you disagree think about director Paddy Russell's reputation in fandom . She is never mentioned in the same breath as Douglas Camfield , David Maloney or Graeme Harper .

Pyramids should never be described as being bad in anyway however . It's just that it's indicative of how the production team of the period borrowed ideas and imagery from other sources most notably classic horror movies and this has Hammer horror movie writtn all over it , so much so you expect Peter Cushing as a kindly English gent to walk in to every scene

Submitted by Lewis Greifer Pyramids was set on present day Earth where a scientist called Fawzi had invented a new type of food grain that is possible to grow on the moon only to have the a news conference attacked by an alien called Sebek and has Mummy hordes with the Doctor finally tracking down to his base underneath an Egyptian pyramid . It's interesting to note that while such a storyline would have been impossible to realise in 1975 the production team of NuWho wouldn't have much of a problem bringing this type of epic action adventure to screen . As it stood Greifer original story was binned and Holmes brought in a more traditional - cheaper - storyline hence the credited pen name of Stephen Harris

It's interesting to see how the budget is spent . Much of the story features location filming which means there's a rather small cast with speaking parts . It does make for a more claustrophobic type , quite literally as the manor house and surrounding countryside cut off by a forcefield with the robotic Mummies hunting down anyone who stands in their way . It's also a tale where the Doctor explains in detail the alternative possibilities of what will happen if he refuses to stop the plans of the alien " God " Sutekh

In all this is a very good story with lots of scary bits indicative of the vision the production team brought to the show in the mid 1970s . I wouldn't go as far as saying it's in my top five of all time or even top ten but it's still 4 solid episodes of my all time favourite show

Contender for best Doctor Who story ever - dark, thrilling and astonishingly high quality in all aspects!

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 10/10 · 25 November 2014]

Review of all 4 episodes:

One of the finest Doctor Who stories of all time without doubt, this is pure genius throughout.

An Egyptologist, Marcus Scarman, enters an Egyptian tomb in 1911 and is taken over by a powerful being. This being, Sutekh was a God to the ancient Egyptians but it is later revealed that the Egyptian Gods including Sutekh and his brother Horus were actually ultra-powerful alien beings called Osirans. Sutekh is evil and exceptionally powerful. He wants to destroy all intelligent life because he considers any such life a potential threat. He was imprisoned thousands of years before by Horus and the over 170 other 'Egyptian Gods' (actually Osirans) who united their powers to defeat him. Sutekh now begins to use Scarman to enable him to finally escape. The Doctor and Sarah arrive in 1911 England where Scarman is returning to his home. They must stop Sutekh or the Earth and every other world faces destruction.

Sutekh is one of the best villains in Doctor Who. The power and evil shown by him is scarily impressive, The Doctor appears genuinely in fear of him saying he is the most powerful, dangerous foe he has faced. This menace helps create tension and excitement for the audience. The sinister realisation of Sutekh himself is brilliant and Gabriel Woolf plays the part incredibly effectively. Those in his power also carry out some tremendously scary and effective scenes of evil. There are so many magnificent scenes in this story and the effects are extremely well done, adding to the impact of many scenes.

One great example of the impressive effects is the smoke emitting from boots and gloves of the creepy black-clad servant of Sutekh as he kills another servant no longer considered useful. The Mummy robots are effective. Explosions and even reverse explosions are brilliantly done as is a fire at the end.

The story itself is genius and the dialogue is marvelous, with so much intelligence and interest imbued in every scene. This is mostly down to the great Robert Holmes, script editor for this greatest era and writer of many great stories. The script was originally submitted by Lewis Greifer but was considered unworkable. We clearly have Greifer to thank for some of the great ideas but Holmes did extensive rewrites of the script and has created a work of genius. He adopted the pseudonym of Stephen Harris, not wanting to take credit for a story he had adapted from someone else's idea.

The acting matches the quality of the material with every main part being played perfectly. Bernard Archard is perfect as Marcus Scarman and every other supporting part is played to the best standard. Michael Sheard as Laurence Scarman is a particularly interesting, endearing and wonderfully acted part whilst that character is also used to bring out some great insight into The Doctor himself. The dark side of The Doctor is explored fully in this story and light is shed on how he balances care for individuals with an ability to weigh up the 'bigger picture' of what is at stake. There are superb character based scenes across all 4 episodes.

There is also a chilling, imagination capturing scene when The Doctor goes forward to 1980 to show Sarah what the Earth will be like if they left without stopping Sutekh. This scene is to prove that Sarah's knowledge (and the audience's mindset) that the world was not destroyed in 1911 does not mean Sutekh cannot succeed. The Doctor shows Sarah, and us, that history can change depending on the actions or lack of action of The Doctor and/or Sutekh. This is a scene of massive importance in bedding the whole series in some logical context.

Another incredibly good aspect in this story is the exposition. Never in any TV show have motives, actions and events been so effectively and intelligently explained whilst still keeping you entirely captured within the drama. Writers of every show, including modern Doctor Who should take note of the clever and subtle methods of keeping the audience informed and up to speed without clumsy or unrealistic explanations.

Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen are perfection. The mixture of darkness and sparkling personality demonstrated by Baker as The Doctor is majestic. Lis Sladen is strong, independent, brave and never a weak, screaming damsel in distress. Her interaction with The Doctor and with Laurence Scarman is fabulous.

The whole adventure is enthralling in every way. This is a real front-runner to be the best story of all time and it is set within season 13, which for me is one of the best seasons ever. This is very top standard 10/10 classic from start to finish.

One of the best

[maf17 · 7 September 2011]

I'd rank this in my top 5 favourite Who stories of all time. It's a pity there weren't more Egypt-themed stories, because the mystery of Ancient Egypt is just cherry-ripe for such as the Doctor to explore. Good, tightly scripted story, not too many cheesy special effects, even the mummy-bots looked suitably menacing, and great acting, especially from Gabriel Woolf, whose voice was just superb, totally mesmerizing and just dripping with evil. Honey soaked in poison is the best way to describe his well-modulated and sibilant tones. In the history of Who, I think only Valentine Dyall as the Black Guardian manages a more sinister voice. I've seen this one at least a dozen times and it never loses its appeal. Very highly recommended.

Something's interfering with time Mr Scarman.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 8 October 2019]

Gothic horror at its very best, Pyramids of Mars stands up today as a wonderful piece of TV. Part 1 is a tremendous opening episode, within minutes you are drawn into the story, there is no setting the tone, or meandering introduction, bang! The production values are terrific, all of the sets are beautiful, the tomb in particular looks amazing.

I have a fascination with Egyptian mythology, the possibilities for storytelling are immense, and this story begins incredibly well, so creepy. We have tombs, decorations, even walking mummys, all of which look terrific. The budget was put to incredible use, nothing looks cheap.

Terrific cast, we have Sarah in a sacrificial white dress, Tom making The Doctor wonderfully alien, a menacing Bernard Archard, and a convincing performance from Peter Mayock as Namin.

It is no surprise that many regard this as a top five story, it's a classic. Pyramids of Mars starts in style. 10/10

But mummies do walk

[dmcderm · 10/10 · 11 May 2018]

From the moment Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard) steps into the inner chamber to his doom, to the moment where the Doctor send the chillingly smooth-talking Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) off to his, we're treated to a tightly scripted, marvelously acted episode with great atmospherics, and Sarah Jane in a gorgeous Edwardian gown. It doesn't get much better than this.

The Tardis, having been thrown off course by the time tunnel of Sutekh, the Egyptian god of evil, turns up in the right place -- UNIT HQ -- but about sixty years too soon. Trapped by his brother Osiris, Sutekh avails himself of Marcus to try to build a missile to destroy the power source built by his brother to keep him imprisoned. Once freed, his intentions are to destroy not only the Earth, but countless other worlds. His revenge would be massive.

The story itself is not deep. Sutekh's riposte to the Doctor that your evil is my good is about as philosophical as this episode gets. It doesn't much matter. When even the smallest part, the poacher played by George Tovey, is as sharply-acted as Tom Baker's lead, you know you've got a good one on your hands.

Whodat?!?

[Ospidillo · 8/10 · 27 January 2008]

I am reviewing all 4 parts here as that is the way that this film comes on DVD.

The title of this entry is somewhat deceiving because ninety percent of the action transpires on a picturesque English estate and, inside the appurtenant Manor House. Just a little footage is shot in a replicated Egyptian tomb and the remainder in a very coolly fabricated Martian cave, the latter being near the end (was I being redundant there???). In any event, there IS plenty of action (a frequent failing of Doctor Who episodes).

Basically, the story is that Sutekh (Satan to us) has been entombed by the Egyptian God Horace for thousands of years but the intervention of an English archaeologist led to The Evil One's chance to escape captivity. So, Sutekh takes over the archaeologist's body and travels back to his huge estate to set up camp where he needs to transport his "being" to Mars to destroy the Eye of Horace which holds him in captivity.

Just as Sutekh gets rolling on this endeavor, Doctor Who and his sidekick, Sarah, swoop in with the TARDIS and the two proceed to complicate matters for old Sutekh, who is neither amused nor the first bit pleased with the Time Lord's interference with his plans. And don't let the hefty "mummies" fool you when you first see them -- they're actually evil, but groovy, robots, the sinister minions of Sutekh the Terrible.

This entry is well-done with plenty of great cinematography and is supported by a solid and coherent story. Elisabeth Sladen stars as Sarah and the great Tom Baker as Doctor Who. This BBC production is 97 minutes in length, with an aspect ratio of 4:3, and is listed as "Story No. 82," airing originally from 10/25/75 through 11/15/75. It was written by Stephen Harris and directed by Paddy Russell.

I've watched a ton of Doctor Who and this is certainly one of the better ones that I've ever seen. A good selection for either Doctor Who fans or casual sci-fi enthusiasts.

Entombed Raiders...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 29 June 2022]

Voluptuous mummy's that might now be called milfs (mummified insidious lurchers to fear), help summon some kind of inelegant sylph, the Doctor's disturbed, there's someone interred, just keep an eye out for a catacombed gilf (god-like irate lunatic fiend).

Ancient Astronaut Theory

[JamesHitchcock · 9 November 2021]

The sixties and seventies saw the growth of what has become known as "ancient astronaut theory", the idea that in ancient times the Earth was visited by beings from other planets. According to some versions of this theory, all human religion derives from these visits because the scientifically advanced aliens were regarded as gods by the humans they met. The best-known ancient astronaut theorist was the Swiss writer Erich von Däniken whose book "Chariots of the Gods?" became a best-seller after its publication in 1968.

Von Däniken's work, and that of other ancient astronaut theorists, has generally been dismissed as flawed by mainstream archaeologists and historians, but that has not stopped science fiction authors from making use of it. In the Doctor Who serial "The Dæmons", for example, the Third Doctor explains that that Daemons are real, but extra-terrestrial beings and not supernatural entities. They have been visiting Earth over the centuries but have been mistaken by humans for gods and devils; they have powers which seem supernatural to the uninitiated, but there is always a rational, scientific explanation for them.

"Pyramids of Mars" sees the Fourth Doctor confronted by an adversary belonging to an alien race who have become regarded as gods- the once-powerful Osirans who provided the inspiration for the Ancient Egyptian pantheon. The idea of a story with an Egyptian theme may have been inspired by the hugely popular Tutankhamun exhibition held at the British Museum in 1972; the plot may owe something to various horror films involving Egyptian mummies.

As so often happens, the Doctor's TARDIS goes off course, although it only goes off course as regards the dimension of time. As regards the three spatial dimensions it remains perfectly on course. The Doctor was intending to return to UNIT's headquarters in England in the year 1980; instead he ends up in the year 1911 in the grounds of the now-destroyed country house which once stood where the headquarters now stand. (The serial was first broadcast in 1975, but Sarah Jane states that she is from the year 1980. The scriptwriters seem to have envisaged the Doctor's "contemporary" adventures taking place several years into the future).

In 1911 the house belonged to the distinguished Egyptologist Professor Marcus Scarman. During excavations in Egypt, Scarman inadvertently stumbles upon the burial chamber in which Sutekh has been imprisoned for millennia. The evil Sutekh, known to the Egyptians as their god Set, is the last survivor of the Osirans, and has been imprisoned ever since being defeated in a power struggle with his brother Horus, who imprisoned him in a tomb in Egypt. (Horus, and the rest of the Osiran race, appear to have died in the interim). In order to escape, Sutekh needs to destroy a jewel in a pyramid on Mars which controls the lock on the entrance to the tomb. The Doctor and Sarah Jane work desperately to prevent his escape, knowing that once free he will use his immense power to destroy all life on Earth and many other planets.

The early years of Tom Baker's tenure as the Doctor included some of the most interesting and original stories in the history of the series- "Genesis of the Daleks", Planet of Evil", "The Brain of Morbius", and "Pyramids of Mars" is another to add to the list. Baker and the lovely Elisabeth Sladen are on top form, and Gabriel Woolf makes a suitably frightening villain. It might be thought that the role of Sutekh, who wears a mask so we cannot see his face and who spends most of the story immobilised, would not offer much for an actor to get his teeth into- most of the heavy lifting is done by Sutekh's robot mummies- but Woolf is able to suggest his character's menace through his voice alone. The Ancient Egyptian theme and Edwardian setting also make this a highly atmospheric series. One of the better ones.