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Doctor Who: The Aztecs | 
| Actors: William Hartnell, Carole Ann Ford, William Russell (ii), Jacqueline Hill, Keith Pyott
Studio: BBC / Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 24.98
Buy New: CDN$ 15.40
You Save: CDN$ 9.58 (38%)
New (15) Used (1) from CDN$ 15.40
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 13842
Format: Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DE1719D
ISBN: 0790773457
UPC: 794051171924
EAN: 9780790773452
ASIN: B00007G1U8
Theatrical Release Date: September 29, 1975
Release Date: March 4, 2003
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new Item, factory Sealed. Buy direct from the U.S. and save! We only ship airmail to Canada (7-15 days).Caiman, les prix qu'on aime! Tous nos produits sont neufs. Envoi par avion des Etats-Unis (7-15 jours).
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| Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.com
The Aztecs is the first Doctor Who DVD devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series' initial season (1963-64), so it should be a valuable addition to any fan's collection. It's also a very enjoyable historical drama that pits the Doctor against flesh-and-blood antagonists rather than aliens or robots. In the four-part serial, the Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan, and her teachers Barbara and Ian find themselves in Mexico during the height of the Aztec civilization. There, Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of a dead priestess, and she decides to use the ruse to put an end to the Aztecs' human sacrifices. However, she is challenged by the current high priest, which puts Susan and Ian in grave danger, and the Doctor must step in to save his friends and prevent Barbara from altering history. Longtime fans and novices alike will enjoy this rare opportunity to view an early Doctor Who adventure. --Paul Gaita
Additional Features
The Aztecs needed considerable digital restoration before it could be released on DVD. That process was undertaken by the Doctor Who Restoration Team (which also worked on the previous Doctor Who DVD releases) and is the subject of a documentary entitled Restoring "The Aztecs." It's accompanied on the disc by two longer featurettes: Remembering "The Aztecs," which features interviews with actors John Ringham (who played Tlotoxl), Walter Randall (Tonila), and Ian Cullen (Ixta); and Designing "The Aztecs," in which production designer Barry Newbury reveals a wealth of never-before-seen production photos. There are also two commentary tracks: one with producer Verity Lambert and actors William Russell (Ian) and Carole Ann Ford (Susan), and the other a text-only information track. The most unusual supplemental feature is an optional Arabic-language version of episode 4, "The Day of Darkness," which was provided by a collector from Morocco. The extras are rounded out by a short feature about the Aztecs from a 1970 episode of the British children's series Blue Peter; six lines of dialogue from the serial randomly laid in as voice-overs; and an odd animated short titled "Making Cocoa," which also uses dialogue from the serial. There's also a gallery of biographical sketches for each of the principal performers. --Paul Gaita
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Oldest Doctor Who DVD story released so far. Excellent. January 25, 2004
N. Chodoba (Torrington, CT USA)
The Aztecs was the 6th storyline of the first doctor, William Hartnell. This was one of the Historical Doctor Who episodes, and a fascinating one at that. Watching this story, you can see the appeal of the doctor. He goes everywhere in and out of time and space. He has knowledge that only a time traveller of his caliber could possess. He wants to learn as much as he can about the places and people he visits. In this particular show the Doctor and his companions travel back into earth's time to when the Aztec culture was flourishing. It is a great story, and makes me wish that the oldest historical Dr. Who storyline: "Marco Polo" had survived. The DVD quality is excellent, and if someone wants to watch it with the quality it was originally aired, then they would need a Tardis in order to do that. But the rest of us who regret the fragility of the first two doctors' stories (over 1/3 are presumably lost forever), a disc like this is most welcome. "The Dalek Invasion of Earth" and "Tomb of the Cybermen" are also fantastic. Here is hoping that more of the first two Dr.s are released on DVD in such a respectful way!
Get behind the scenes with the commentary October 13, 2003
This is really a wonderful disk. I particularly enjoy watching it with the second subtitles on. The subtitles tell you a lot about the production of the episode, the research they did for the episode, and what other episodes characters appeared in. It gives you all of the insight you want without interfering with the story the way voice over commentaries can.It is rare we get anything this early in the Dr Who cycle on our PBS station, so it is great to be able to watch this any time I want.
 Preservation please, not restoration. August 10, 2003
Paul A Brennan (San Jose, CA USA)
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Aztecs is one of the all-time Dr Who masterpieces. However, this dvd version fails. The episodes have been painstakingly "restored" to "look as it would have done in 1964". However, no one in 1964 had high-definition televisions, and so this glossy adjustment looks absolutely nothing as it would have done at its original broadcast. Dr Who has here been given a crystal-clear clarity that it is simply not meant to have. Consequently, it is robbed of its atmosphere. Instead of a trip to old Mexico filled with suspense and intrigue, what we see are actors in a studio. The illusion is ruined, and with it, its beauty. The Aztecs is a fantastic bit of magic, but this dvd is just a tragic bit of plastic.
It's bad enough there are so many episodes of Dr Who missing. Can we please refrain from tampering with the ones we do have? Dr Who is perfect as it is. "Improvement" is not necessary and can only end in this kind of disaster. All we want is completeness, a series uncut, so we can judge the show for ourselves and enjoy it in our own way.
If you haven't seen The Aztecs, you must. But I implore you - buy the videocassette instead.
Great Doctor Who DVD, a "Must Have" July 7, 2003
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
"The Aztecs" is considered by many to be the First Doctor's finest episode. Having seen it many years ago on public TV, at the time I thought it a bit dull. But I have I to report that this DVD is one of the best Who discs to date.
First off, using some fancy new restoration program, the Aztecs now looks as it was originally transmitted all those years ago. Suddenly, the whole thing comes to life. Now I love the story. You can appreciate the actor's performances so much better. The story of the restoration is one of the documentaries on the DVD.
There are also a ton of extras including interviews with the actors who portrayed the Aztecs and the set designer.
This is a "Must Have" for any Who enthusiast. I hope they give the same treatment to "An Unearthly Child" some day.
Vintage Who May 11, 2003
Jason Bachand (Connecticut)
Whovians, rejoice! The Aztecs is another impressive addition to the growing Doctor Who DVD library. This classic 1964 adventure features the original cast lineup in top form, including one of William Hartnell's best performances as the Doctor. The disc features a wealth of great extras, most notably interviews and entertaining commentary by surviving cast members. The real star of this disc, however, is Doctor Who's legendary Restoration Team, who have once again worked their dazzling magic to make this adventure look as good as it did when transmitted. Amazing!The Aztecs is highly recommended as an essential part of your Who collection.
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