Tom Baker Movies

This obscure film is directed by five well-known cinematographers. "Apathy" is directed by Carlo Lizzani and concerns a New York rape victim whose cries for help fall on deaf ears. Bernardo Bertolucci directs "Agony." Members of the Living Theater mime death scenes. In "The Paper Flower Sequence," directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, a man carries a paper flower through Rome. Part four is directed by Jean-Luc Godard, a tedious segment where two people watch some actors give a boring performance. The last story is directed by Marcello Bellochio. Students at a Roman university engage in dialogue with members of the Establishment. While the stories averages 20 minutes each, this gang-directed effort quickly fell into cinematic oblivion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Peter Davison takes over as Doctor Who in "Castrovalva," the opening adventure of the series' 19th season. Escaping from the planet Logopolis with his companions, the Doctor gradually discovers that his latest regeneration has not been entirely successful. While seeking refuge until the transformation is complete, the Doctor, Tegan (Janet Fielding), and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) are separated from Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), who has fallen into the clutches of the Doctor's old nemesis, the Master (Anthony Ainley). Written by Christopher H. Bidmead, "Castrovalva, Episode 1" originally aired on January 4, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "City of Death," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) team with private eye Duggan (Tom Chadbon) to find out why Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover), who has everything a man could want in life, is so determined to steal DaVinci's Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Besides, the Count already possesses six other Mona Lisas -- all of them originals. Catherine Schell co-stars as Countess Scarlioni. First telecast October 6, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 2" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "City of Death," Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover) -- aka the notorious art thief Scaroth -- has vanished into the past, with the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and detective Duggan (Tom Chadbon) in hot pursuit. Unless the Doctor can stop Scaroth, the entire Time Continuum will be cataclysmically disrupted. Catherine Schell appears as Countess Scarlioni, while comic actors John Cleese and Eleanor Bron make uncredited cameo appearances as a pair of looney art dealers. First telecast October 20, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 4" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Four years after its "official" demise as a weekly series, Doctor Who briefly resurfaced in the form of a two-part, 14-minute special. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series' birth, Part One of "Dimensions in Time" was shown as a segment of the BBC's Children in Need Telethon. The plot proper pitted five of the Doctor's seven incarnations -- played by surviving series stars Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy -- against renegade Time Lady Rani (Kate O'Mara), who hoped to determine the outcome of the universe's evolution. This cliffhanger was resolved on November 27, 1993 with Part Two of "Dimensions in Time," shown as a six-minute component of the series' Noel's House Party. It was truly an "interactive" effort, with the home viewers calling in their suggestions for the outcome. Also appearing were several cast members of the popular British soap opera Eastenders (one of whom was selected by popular vote to "save" the Doctor). Written by John Nathan-Turner and David Roden, "Dimensions in Time" represented the Doctor's last TV appearance until the 1996 two-hour "revival" film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Full Circle," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) have been trapped in E-space, marooned along with several other space travelers on the planet Alzarius. Confined to a crippled starliner during an atmospheric emergency, the Doctor soon discerns a dire threat to the wellbeing of the castaways -- namely, the morphing Marshmen. Written by Andrew Smith, "Full Circle, Episode 2" was originally telecast on November 1, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Full Circle," the Doctor (Tom Baker) has discovered that the marooned passengers of a crippled starliner have had it within their power to escape Alzarius for centuries. The trouble is, the passengers are unaware of this -- or rather, they don't seem to want to be aware. Will the Doctor be able to realign their thinking, and thereby wrest himself free of E-Space so that he can answer an urgent summons from his fellow Time Lords? Matthew Waterhouse joins the regular cast as the Doctor's new companion Adric. Written by Andrew Smith, "Full Circle, Episode 4" was originally telecast on November 15, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "Genesis of the Daleks," the crew of the TARDIS is diverted in space and ends up materialized on Skaro, the homeworld of the dreaded mutant Daleks. The good news is that the Doctor (Tom Baker) and his friends have traveled so far back in time that the Daleks have not yet been created. The bad news is that it is up to the Doctor to prevent that creation, a task which may bring his own life to a sudden and violent conclusion. First telecast on March 15, 1975, "Genesis of the Daleks, Episode 2" was written by Terry Nation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Genesis of the Daleks," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and his friends are still stranded on the war-ravaged planet Skaros, sometime in the distant past. Their principal nemesis is Kaled scientist Davros (Michael Wisher), who alone possesses knowledge of the mutation process that will eventually create the dreaded Daleks. Welcoming this disastrous metamorphosis, Davros intends to use whatever means possible to prevent the Doctor from destroying the Daleks before they can be unleashed on the universe. First telecast on March 28, 1975, "Genesis of the Daleks, Episode 4" was written by Terry Nation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "Genesis of the Daleks," the Doctor (Tom Baker) at last has the means to destroy the mutant Daleks created by evil genius Davros (Michael Wisher). Suddenly, however, the Doctor begins to ponder the long-range consequences of his actions. Can it be possible that the universe would be even worse off should the Daleks not survive? A satisfying if not entirely happy ending caps Terry Nation's teleplay for "Genesis of the Daleks, Episode 6." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Image of the Fendahl," the Doctor (Tom Baker) is among those scrutinizing a recently excavated, 12-million-year-old skull. It doesn't take long for the Doctor to recognize the skull as an artifact of the Fendahl, a malevolent mythological figure from his home world of Gallifrey. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Fendahl is very much alive, and has infested itself in the body and soul of innocent Thea Ransome (Wanda Ventham). Written by Chris Boucher, "Image of the Fendahl, Episode 2" first aired on November 5, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Image of the Fendahl," the malevolent mythological Gallifreyan figure Fendahl has taken over the minds and bodies of black-arts practitioner Maximillian Staehl (Scott Frederick) and his followers. The Doctor (Tom Baker) struggles to prevent these new "Fendahleens" from wreaking havoc and destruction throughout the universe. His only weapon: a small but potent supply of rock salt. Robotic dog K-9 (voiced by John Leeson) makes a cameo appearance. Written by Chris Boucher, "Image of the Fendahl, Episode 3" first aired on November 19, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Logopolis," the Doctor (Tom Baker) tries to repair the TARDIS' chameleon circuit by traveling to the planet Logopolis, a world ruled by mathematicians. Unfortunately, his calculations are sabotaged, and as result, both he and the TARDIS begin to shrink into nothingness -- the first stage in what turns out to be the total breakdown of the Universe's structure. First telecast March 7, 1981, "Logopolis, Episode 2" was written by Christopher H. Bidmead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide