In the House Of The Dragon

OK, I’ll admit, I’m a fan of “Doctor Who”; notoriously so, in fact.

I’m not the worst I’ve met, though; but I’m enough of a fan to — if I’ve a quiet afternoon, and a lot of ironing to do — to put on something of a classic in the DVD player.

And that ‘House of the Dragon’ title is taken from one of the classics of the Tom Baker era, “The Talons of Weng-Chiang”.

One that was first shown in February of 1976 and written by then “Doctor Who” script editor, Robert Holmes; generally agreed to be one of the powerhouse writers for the original series. And that’s in spite of the formulaic of some his stories could follow; a hideously deformed scheming madman in an underground lair, uses villainous servants to regain their former power.

“Caves of Androzani” — possibly Peter Davison’s finest, as well as his last outing — does it, as one or two others. Including “The Brain of Morbius”, originally penned by Terrance Dicks, but given something of an extensive going over by Holmes …

Pretty much that same recipe … but with very different spices and toppings.

One of his hallmarks was introducing an ‘odd couple’; Dibber and Glitz cropped up in “The Mysterious Planet”, Chessene and Shockeye, in “The Two Doctors” …

And Litefoot and Jago, in “Talons of Weng-Chiang”; quite possibly two of the more memorable examples, I think; I know a few of my fellow fans agree.

Both are integral to the plot, as well. The opening scenes of the first episodes see the Doctor intent on taking new companion, Leela — played by Louise Jameson, probably better known as “EastEnders” character, Rosa di Marco — on a theatre trip. In Victorian England, I should add. On their way, they’re attacked by members of what is later revealed to be members of something called The Tong of The Black Scorpion.

Professor Litefoot — Trevor Baxter — is introduced to the Doctor and Leela as a result of this; he’s the police pathologist who examines the one Tong member arrested as a result; who died in police custody as a result of scorpion venom, administered by one of the story’s villains, stage magician, and scheming scoundrel, Li H’sen Chang.

Rather than police brutality, I hasten to point out; not that British police ever indulge, of course.

Back to the plot, though, that brings me to the other half of the Litefoot/Jago partnership; Li H’sen Chang is, as I’ve already mentioned, a stage magician, working at, and using as cover, the Palace Theatre.

Managed by Mr Henry Gordon Jago; played with blustering Victorian brilliance by Christopher Benjamin.

And that’s where Robert Holmes managed to pull out of his hat, to turn “Talons of Weng Chiang” from what could have bee a formula, into the second most frequently named fan favourite.

Eminently quotable lines …

And the references that Holmes liked putting into his scripts.

And in the latter case, there’s a lot …

The simple fact the two main villains of the piece — Li H’sen Chang, and his boss, Weng Chiang, revealed, at the last, to be 51st* Century war criminal, Magnus Greel — and the Tong Of the Black Scorpion itself, are indirect references to every “Fu Manchu” story written. The Palace Theatre setting, and Greel’s usage of the cellar — the CELLAR … ! — homage’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” Even “Pygmalion” manages to get a look in, with the the “Doctor Who” production office intention — never followed though, alas — of developing a Professor Higgins/ Eliza Doolittle relationship between the Doctor and Leela.

~≈∂≈~

Now this isn’t the best classic “Doctor Who” that got made.

Not compared to “Genesis of the Daleks”, it isn’t.

But — in spite of the understandable objections raised by TVOntario’s Chinese viewers about racial stereotyping — the combination of rock-solid acting on the part of the cast, the — for the original series — very high production values, and Robert Holmes eminently quotable writing and plotting, make this story the second most popular in the show’s history.

I also know that it’s a screaming tragedy that Robert Holmes died in 1983; I, personally, would have loved to have seen how a contribution from him would’ve shaped up, in the new series.

Mind you, having seen most of Stephen Moffat’s contributions, so far, I think there’s a suitable replacement, coming along …

~≈∂≈~

The net result?

Well …

I’m going to leave you with a couple of YouTube clips from “Talons of Weng Chiang”; here, and here.

And urge you to have a look, for yourself.

Cast
The Doctor	Tom Baker
Leela	Louise Jameson
Jago	Christopher Benjamin
Li H'sen Chang	John Bennett
Mr. Sin	Deep Roy
Professor Litefoot	Trevor Baxter
Weng-Chiang	Michael Spice

Crew
Director	David Maloney
Producer	Philip Hinchcliffe
Writer	Robert Holmes
Script Editor	Robert Holmes
Title Music	Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Delia Derbyshire
Incidental music	Dudley Simpson

* I’m not to sure, here, if it’s intended, but there’s references in “Talons of Weng-Chiang”, to Time Agents. Whether that’s the same Agency that a certain Captain Jack Harkness later belongs to, is debatable. But …