Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang

Name: Doctor Who: The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, TV Movie
Released: 1977-04-02
Duration: 150 min
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter, John Bennett

1977·Action·2h 30m

7.1

★

Death stalks the fogbound streets of Victorian London: young women are going missing, horribly mutilated bodies are found floating in the Thames and criminal gangs terrorize the innocent. At the heart of this tangled web sits the mysterious Li H'sen Chang, sorcerer and hypnotist, and his grotesque sidekick Mister Sin. The Doctor dons deerstalker hat and cape to seek out the sinister force lurking in the shadows of the metropolis, for the Talons of Weng-Chiang are reaching out to shred the human race.

Directed by David Maloney

time travel

Cast

Tom Baker

The Doctor

Louise Jameson

Leela

Christopher Benjamin

Henry Gordon Jago

Trevor Baxter

Professor Litefoot

John Bennett

Li H'sen Chang

Deep Roy

Mr. Sin

David McKail

Sergeant Kyle

Conrad Asquith

PC Quick

Dudley Simpson

Conductor (uncredited)

Vincent Wong

Crew

David Maloney

Director

Robert Holmes

Writer

Dudley Simpson

Original Music Composer

Philip Hinchcliffe

Producer

Robert Holmes

Script Editor

Roger Murray-Leach

Production Design

Dick Mills

Special Sound Effects

Delia Derbyshire

Theme Song Performance

Popular Reviews

10 reviews

lachlan

7.0★ · 03/03/26

This is the first classic who episode i’ve seen, and despite having to get used to the weird pacing and low budget, it was actually pretty enjoyable. Tom Baker’s a great doctor as well.

Lost half a star for all the racism though, the yellowface is horrific.

Zack Bowen

8.0★ · 04/01/25

Would be TOP TIER doctor who if it wasn’t racist

Marisol Yablokova

5.0★ · 01/31/25

youre telling me River lived a hundred years after humans started a war with F-ING HOMUNCULI, which they had raised as toys for their children🫣

Professor Litefoot uses the word "queer" a little bit too often for a person who has FOURTEEN seasons of audiodramas with his "bestie" (I actually firstly found out about them not from the episode, but the story "Albie's Angels" where 8th Doctor asked them to take care of his companion's gay brother and his boyfriend, so THEY ARE ALLIES, LOVE THEM🎉❤️‍🔥🩷)

Ben Wyatt

8.0★ · 01/26/26

Nathan wust

9.0★ · 05/09/24