The Stone Tape is now available from amazon.com, either as DVD (all region NTSC) or hire. This version, sadly, lacks the commentary - Kim Newman interviews scriptwriter Nigel Kneale - but it's still definitely worth seeing, even though its scientists are sane (though arguably flawed).

My favourite mad scientist? Definitely Ernest Thesiger as Dr Pretorius. It's a sin and a shame that there's no action figure version of him, to go with my Frankenstein monster, Bride, and Fritz (no Igor from Son of Frankenstein, either... for that matter, no Dr Frankenstein!). Runners-up are Peter Lorre's Dr Gogol from the aptly-named MAD LOVE, and Dr Bunsen Honeydew from the Muppets.