TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Doctor Who - The Beginning (An Unearthly Child [1963] / The Daleks [1963] / The Edge of Destruction [1964])


RRP: £29.99
Our Price: £15.93 (subject to change)

Editorial
Special Features

Disc 1 - An Unearthly Child Pilot Episode - 25 mins Episode 1: Commentary with Verity Lambert, Carole Ann Ford, William Russell, Gary Russell Episode 4: Commentary with Waris Hussein, Ann Ford, William Russell, Gary Russell.

Pilot Episode Studio Recording (dur. 40') - unedited recording of the entire studio session for the Pilot Episode, including retakes. Commentary with Verity Lambert, Waris Hussein and Gary Russell. Theme Music Video (dur. 2' 30") - allows the viewer to hear the original full-length theme music with original 1963 title sequences elements in three different versions. Picture Gallery Programme Subtitles Subtitle Production Notes Disc 2 - The Daleks Episode 2: Commentary with Christopher Barry, Verity Lambert, Gary Russell Episode 4: Commentary with Christopher Barry, William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Gary Russell Episode 7: Commentary with Richard Martin, William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Gary Russell Extras Creation of the Daleks (dur. 18') - new featurette looking at the origins of these icon villains. Picture Gallery Programme Subtitles Subtitle Production Notes

Disc 3 - The Edge of Destruction Episodes The Edge of Destruction - 2 x 25 mins. Episode 2 - Arabic Soundtrack Extras Origins (dur. 53') - an in-depth look at the creation of Doctor Who, including rare interviews with the programme's creator, the late Sidney Newman, and new interviews with other members of the cast and production team. Over the Edge (dur. 30') - a new featurette exploring 'The Edge of Destruction', featuring interviews with cast and crew.

Editorial
Synopsis

Doctor Who - The Beginning features four early episodes. Includes the previously unreleased pilot episode and the very first episode from the long-running sci-fi TV series. Set in London in 1963, "An Unearthly Child" is our very first brush with the Doctor. Teachers Ian and Barbara follow a mysterious pupil, Susan, home one evening and find that she lives in a junkyard. Suddenly her uncle, the Doctor, appears but they suspect Susan is being held in the police box. On entering this box their lives change forever... Also includes "The Daleks" and the two-part episode of "The Edge Of Destruction".

Story 1,2,3 of the brilliant Doctor Who
Review date: 2008-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

As a now 24 year old, who as a child watched the odd couple of episodes of Sylvester Mccoy's doctor who, and was never really what you call a fan of the show, even when the new series came out i did not rush to watch them. But upon watching the 2nd series of the new who(which at times was quite brilliant, apart from love and monsters of course - dont know why some people like that episode, beyond me) i decided to indulge in some of the old who from the beginning. To which i purchased this dvd and was quite astonished how good it actually is. To my shock of thinking the new series was something special and then watching this it then gave me a totally different perception on the new series to an extent where at times the new series is very much like a soap opera with cheesy scenes and a non scary enemies. Not to give the new series to much critisism because it is at times very very good. But sadly it is nothing compared to some of the old series(and this from a person who has never been a who fan, until now, and can judge without ever seeing the old ones)

Anyway enough dribble about how the old and new series compare. This dvd is a must buy. Not just because its the very first doctor who, also because it really is a fantastic set of 3 stories. Having serials with more episodes and are longer make the stories so much better, plot wise and makes the stories more whole. Also what was suprising was how good it was in being black and white (i was very sceptical at first) it adds to the tension and makes the first few seasons very dark and mysterious which really does make it more special and what doctor who should always be like. The stories themselves are all top class:
Story 1
AN UNEARTHLY CHILD.
Basically opens with us being introduced to a mysterious person who is the doctor, and sets up the main characters and companions of the show, to then leading to the main story of the doctor and companions land in a tribe full of cannibals and have to escape. A very good story that is intended to get the audience to know the characters. (9 out of 10)

Story 2
THE DALEKS
This trully is the story that made Doctor who what it is today, i can understand why people went dalek crazy and they are the iconic enemy of Doctor who, and are used so much today. The story focuses on the doctor and companions landing on the planet skaro. Which has 2 civilizations one being the Thals and the other being the Daleks. The doctor and co come across a metal city and investigate. Which is where the daleks live, and live on causing terror. As the doctor finds out. The story is well paced and truly dark and tense. The daleks are also very menacing, compared to what they are nowadays. Which all creates a fantastic story (10 out of 10)

Story 3
THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION
This story is short and is obviously a filler story which cost little to make. But never the less it is still a very good story. In which the crew of the tardis wake up from an explosion in the tardis and have loss of memory and strange things are going on with the tardis itself. As stated a short story while not as good as the first 2 stories, but still a very enjobable one (8 out of 10)

To conclude this is a must have to start your doctor who collection. Buy it now, because trust me from a previously NON - DOCTOR WHO fan, to one, who has now started his collection, this is television at its best.

Similar Products

Reviews


How it all began.
Review date: 2008-05-14 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is how a television instiution began back in 1963. William Hartnell was an inspired choice for the part that he would play for the first three years of the show.
We begin with a good opening story. The opening episode is a real classic with two school teachers wandering why one of their pupils knows far more about science and history than she should. Their investigations, take them to an old junk yard, where, inside they discover a mysterious police box and an irascible old man. Eventually they force their way inside the box ... This episode paved the way for all that was to come.
The remaining episodes are set back in the stone age, and tell of the Doctor and his companions struggling to survive and ultimately, escape. These episodes may not match up to the first, but are still very tense and exciting. They also contain a darker element than many of the stories to come over the years.
The second story in the set sees the beginning of another television legend that continues to this day. The Tardis lands on planet Skaro, home to the beautiful pacifist Thals ..... and the Daleks! The series most popular monsters made their debut in a seven part morality tale. There were better Dalek stories to follow in subsequent years, but no one could doubt the impact of this story, which saw Doctor Who's ratings soar over the weeks. It may be a little bit long and sag in the middle, but it contains some of the shows most memorable scenes. The most notable of these being the cliffhanger to Episode 1.
The final story, `The Edge of Destruction' is a bit of a disappointment. The first episode is a good one, which builds up tension, as the Tardis crew appear to be facing real danger. Too bad that this is all spoiled with a disappointing resolution in the second episode! However, significantly, this is the first episode to hint that the Tardis is more than just a time-travel machine.
The set contains the usual array of DVD feaures icluding commentaries, interviews withcast and crew and documentaries charting the making of the programmes. The first disc contains the original pilot episode. It is very similar to the opening episode of an unearthly child, but has a few subtle differences. You may note, in particular, as the Tardis takes off, there is a much more different, electronic sound, compared to the one that we have become used to. Then on the third disc, we have an abridged soundtrack of the lost story `Marco Polo.' This is accompanied by a series of still shots and gives us an insight into what this adventure would have been like.
There were better stories to follow over the years, but nevertheless, these are still worth watching. As someone said many years later: "After all, that's how it all started!"


In the beginning there was...
Review date: 2008-02-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

An Unearthly Child: dark, moody and compelling. A little bit OTT in places but this was 1963. Ian and Barbara are so well realised and who would have believed the police box would become such an icon. It's hard to imagine the viewer reaction to the TARDIS back then, being as familiar as we are with it now.

Hartnell is great in the role, and I actually find the fact that he occasionally fluffs his lines quite endearing. The pilot episode is very interesting and probably shows that Newman was right in his insistence that a lighter tone was introduced to the reshoot.

The Tribe of Gum has always worked well for me, the first show was always about introducing the characters and Gum does this well. I love the fact that the cavemen look unclean and the travellers look like they've been to hell and back by the end of it. I also like the fact that the Doctor is able to see that the cave people are not to hot on thinking, while Ian and Barbara treat them as contemporaries. There are so many firsts in this episode, first time inside the TARDIS, first time out etc.

The Daleks needs no introduction; a tad slow paced for today's viewers but a classic job and to some the reason for Dr Who's longevity. I really would have liked the Daleks from Genesis to resemble these machines but that is by the by. On the plus side Hartnell is never bettered than his performance in this show, fluffs and all!

The Doctor really wasn't such a likeable character back here; he hadn't quite developed his strict code of ethics.

Inside the Spaceship has been rather derided over the years, we all know its history and as such I think it's quite admirable, also we get to see more of the ship's interior. Hartnell goes a bit AWOL in the last scene it's true, but in some ways this show becomes the glue that binds the travellers together and as such is worth viewing.

There really are some cracking extras on this box set, along with some informative commentaries make this release a must for fans old and new.


a pure classic
Review date: 2007-12-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

just a classic, an unearthly child is a very worthwhile story to watch even though some of the acting was poor. 7/10

the daleks was the best of the sixties, maybe the best until the new series, best voices too. 10/10

the edge of destruction is a very intense for the time and still convinces me. 7/10

Good First Impression
Review date: 2007-11-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

I first got this boxset after becoming an avid Doctor Who fan, I wanted to find out more and see every Doctor in action in at least one story... so when I discovered this I thought it would be the ultimate oppurtunity to see the beginning of the show I love and see Hartnell at his best. And how right I was! This boxset comprises of three excellent stories, with an excellent Doctor and TARDIS crew. The dynamic is completely different to the show we know and love today, so don't expect anything like David Tennant's era. The stories grabbed my attention and refused to let go. the extras were good and provdided a good insight into the birth of Doctor Who. If you're an avid fan like myself and want to learn more of the roots of Who, I would recommend this.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
William Hartnell
Carole Ann Ford
Jacqueline Hill
William Russell

Creators:
William Hartnell (Primary Contributor)
Carole Ann Ford (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503188221
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2006-01-30
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 346 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-03-12
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional