AllMovie

The current unavailability of the entire first-season Dr. Who story arc "Marco Polo" is perhaps the most frustrating of the many gaps in the series' chronology. Written by John Lucarotti, this seven-part adventure began on February 22, 1964, with the episode titled "The Roof of the World." The TARDIS ends up in 13th century China, high atop the snowy slopes of Pamir Plateau. Here, the Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and his traveling companions Ian and Barbara (William Russell, Jacqueline Scott) come face to face with Venetian explorer Marco Polo (Mark Eden) and his entourage, including duplicitous warlord Tegana (Derren Nesbitt) and highborn Lady Ping-Cho (Zienia Merton). Given no other choice, the crew of the TARDIS joins Marco Polo's journey to visit Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.