‘The Happiness Patrol’ DVD

May 7, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Releases, Sylvester McCoy

On the planet Terra Alpha it’s a crime to be miserable. Such people disappear. Quickly. Having heard disturbing rumours, the Doctor and Ace arrive to put things right…

'The Happiness Patrol' DVD

 

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“I can hear the sound of empires toppling…”

With

Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor
Sophie Aldred as Ace

Dates

Episode 1 – Wednesday, 2 November 1988
Episode 2 – Wednesday, 9 November 1988
Episode 3 – Wednesday, 16 November 1988

Season

25

Writers

Graeme Curry

Presentation

  • Single disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 74 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary with Sophie Aldred (Ace), Graeme Curry (Writer), Andrew Cartmel (Script Editor), Dominic Glynn (Composer), Chris Clough (Director), and moderated by Toby Hadoke (“Moth’s Ate My Doctor Who Scarf”).
  • Happiness Will Prevail – Cast and crew look back at the making of ‘The Happiness Patrol’.
  • When Worlds Collide – Analysing the story’s political ideologies.
  • Isolated Musical Score.
  • Deleted and extended scenes.
  • Radio Times billings.
  • Production Information Subtitles.
  • Photo Gallery.
  • Coming Soon trailer for ‘Death to the Daleks’.

Interesting

Helen A is a thinly-veiled caricature of British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

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‘Dragonfire’ DVD

May 7, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Releases, Sylvester McCoy

On the planet Svartos, the Doctor and Mel unexpectedly encounter an old friend – Sabalom Glitz. Joined by Ace, a teenage waitress with a love for explosives, the group ventures off to find the fabled Dragonfire treasure.

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“Think about me when you’re living your life, one day after another, all in a neat pattern. Think about the homeless traveller in his old police box, his days like crazy paving.”


With

Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor
Bonnie Langford as Mel
Sophie Aldred as Ace

Dates

Episode 1 – Monday, 23 November 1987
Episode 2 – Monday, 30 November 1987
Episode 3 – Monday, 7 December 1987

Season

24

Writers

Ian Briggs

Presentation

  • Single disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 73 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary with Sophie Aldred (Ace), Edward Peel (Kane), Ian Briggs (Writer), Andrew Cartmel (Script Editor), Dominic Glynn (Composer), Chris Clough (Director), and moderated by Mark Ayres.
  • Fire and Ice – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story.
  • The Doctor’s Strange Love – Comedian Josie Long, and writers Joe Lidster, and Simon Guerrier, analyse ‘Dragonfire’ as fans of the show.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes.
  • The Big Bang Theory – New Series Special Effects Supervisor, Danny Hargreaves, compares the effects of 1987 with those used today.
  • Isolated Musical Score.
  • Radio Times Billings.
  • Production Information Subtitles.
  • Photo Gallery.
  • Coming Soon trailer for ‘Death to the Daleks’

Interesting

Transported to IceWorld by a time storm, Ace’s real name (Dorothy) is an homage to another famous character whisked far away from home by a tornado.

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‘Ace Adventures’ DVD boxset

May 7, 2012 in 2012, Boxset, Classic Series, Releases, Sylvester McCoy

`Doctor Who – Ace Adventures’ DVD boxset cover.

`Doctor Who – Ace Adventures’ DVD boxset cover.

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This boxset includes ‘Dragonfire’, and ‘The Happiness Patrol‘.

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‘Nightmare of Eden’ DVD

April 2, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Releases, Tom Baker

A hyperspace collision between two spacecraft results in dangerous dimensional instabilities that threaten the safety of everyone aboard both ships. Not only that, but when the Doctor, Romana, and K-9 arrive they discover strange creatures roaming the corridors, creatures that should only exist on the distant planet of Eden. It’s a race against time for the Doctor as he sets out to discover the link between Professor Tryst’s CET projection machine and the strange occurrences on the ship.

`Doctor Who – Nightmare of Eden’ DVD cover.

`Doctor Who – Nightmare of Eden’ DVD cover.

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“Interfere! Of course we should interfere. Always do what your best at, that’s what I say.”

With

Tom Baker as the Doctor
Lalla Ward as Romana
David Brierley as K9, Mk.II

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 24 November 1979
Episode 2 - Saturday, 1 December 1979
Episode 3 - Saturday, 8 December 1979
Episode 4 - Saturday, 15 December 1979

Season

17

Writers

Bob Baker

Presentation

  • Single disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, Colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 100 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary - with Lalla Ward (Romana), Peter Craze (Costa), Bob Baker (Writer), Colin Mapson (Effects Designer), Joan Stribling (Make-Up Designer), and moderated by Toby Hadoke (“Moth’s Ate My Doctor Who Scarf”).
  • The Nightmare of Television Centre - A look back at a somewhat troubled production.
  • Going Solo - Bob Baker talks about ‘Nightmare of Eden’.
  • The Doctor’s Strange Love - with comedian Josie Long and writers Joe Lidster, and Simon Guerrier.
  • Ask Aspel - Lalla Ward appears on the popular BBC TV children’s show.
  • Radio Times listings.
  • Programme subtitles.
  • Production information subtitles.
  • Photo gallery.
  • Coming Soon trailer for ‘Ace Adventures‘.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.

Interesting

Patricia Quinn, here playing Belazs, is better known for her role as Magenta in the cult movie ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show‘.

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‘The Dæmons’ DVD

March 26, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Jon Pertwee, Releases

In the peaceful village of Devil’s End something very strange is happening. A professor is preparing to open a nearby burial mound while a local white witch prophesies death and disaster. Meanwhile, the new vicar looks suspiciously familiar and he is using black magic to conjure up an ancient Dæmon. Can the Doctor, Jo and UNIT stop an old enemy before he succeeds?

`Doctor Who - The Daemons' DVD cover.

`Doctor Who - The Daemons' DVD cover.

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“Jenkins…chap with wings, there. Five rounds rapid!”

With

Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who
Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 22 May 1971
Episode 2 - Saturday, 29 May 1971
Episode 3 - Saturday, 5 June 1971
Episode 4 - Saturday, 12 June 1971
Episode 5 – Saturday, 19 June 1971

Season

8

Writers

‘Guy Leopold’ (Barry Letts and Robert Sloman)

Presentation

  • Double disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 122 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary – Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Richard Franklin (Captain Mike Yates), Damaris Hayman (Miss Hawthorne), and Christopher Barry (Director).
  • The Devil Rides Out – Cast and crew talk about the making of the story.
  • Remembering Barry Letts – A look at the life and work of Barry Letts.
  • Location Film – A mute amateur 8mm film shot in the village of Aldbourne during the location filming.
  • Colourisation Test – The original colourisation test version of episode one from 1992.
  • Tomorrow’s World – An article on the technology used in the restoration.
  • Programme subtitles
  • Production information subtitles
  • Photo gallery
  • PDF material – Radio Times listings
  • Coming Soon trailer for ‘Nightmare of Eden’.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

Interesting

BBC3 makes a surprise appearance in this story, 32 years before it began broadcasting for real!

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Site updates

March 25, 2012 in Latest

 Getting there gradually! See items completed in the list below.

Site updates

Over the coming months I am planning on adding some specific content to this website. This will include the following items:

  • DVD Reviews.
  • A list of every Doctor Who serial, with clickable links to take you to the relevant post.
  • A gallery of DVD covers.
  • A complete list/database of all Doctor Who DVD extras, sorted by disc and by category.
  • The addition of all previous DVD releases.

Obviously, this amount of work is going to take a little time so bear with me – it will all be worth it in the end!

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‘The Face of Evil’ DVD

March 5, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Releases, Tom Baker

The Doctor’s previous actions come back to haunt him as he battles a psychopathic computer with delusions of grandeur, and gains a new companion when he befriends Leela, fierce warrior from the tribe of the Sevateem.

`Doctor Who - The Face of Evil' DVD cover.

`Doctor Who - The Face of Evil' DVD cover.

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“Now drop your weapons, or I’ll kill him with this deadly jelly baby!”

With

Tom Baker as the Doctor
Louise Jameson as Leela

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 1 January 1977
Episode 2 - Saturday, 8 January 1977
Episode 3 - Saturday, 15 January 1977
Episode 4 - Saturday, 22 January 1977

Season

14

Writers

Chris Boucher

Presentation

  • Single disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 96 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary – Louise Jameson (Leela), Leslie Schofield (Calib), David Garfield (Neeva), Mike Elles (Gentek), Harry H Fielder (Assassi), Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer), and John McGlashan (Film cameraman). Moderated by Toby Hadoke (‘Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf’).
  • Into the Wild – Cast and crew talk about the making of ‘The Face of Evil’.
  • From The Cutting Room Floor – A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film shoot.
  • Tomorrow’s Times: The Fourth Doctor – Presented by Wendy Padbury.
  • Doctor Who Stories: Louise Jameson – The actress talks about her role on the programme.
  • Swap Shop – Louise Jameson talks to Noel Edmonds.
  • Denys Fisher Toys Advert.
  • PDF material - 1976 Typhoo Tea Doctor Who Promotion.
  • PDF material – Radio Times billings.
  • Production information subtitles.
  • Coming soon trailer for ’The Daemons‘.

Interesting

An early idea for the title of this story was ‘The Day God Went Mad’.

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‘The Robots of Death (Special Edition)’ DVD

February 13, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Releases, Tom Baker

As the crew members of a sandminer start to disappear, the newly-arrived Doctor and Leela are blamed. No one will believe them when they say that the servile robots onboard are the culprits – robots which tend to the crew’s every need. It’s up to the Doctor and Leela to expose the truth before anyone else dies.

`Doctor Who - The Robots of Death (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

`Doctor Who - The Robots of Death (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

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“You’re a classic example of the inverse ratio between the size of the mouth and the size of the brain.”

Part of the ‘Doctor Who – Revisitations 3′ DVD boxset

With

Tom Baker as Doctor Who
Louise Jameson as Leela

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 29 January 1977
Episode 2 – Saturday, 5 February 1977
Episode 3 – Saturday, 12 February 1977
Episode 4 – Saturday, 19 February 1977

Season

14

Writers

Chris Boucher

Presentation

  • Single disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 99 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

  • Commentary #1 - Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer) and Chris Boucher (Writer).
  • Commentary #2 - Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Pamela Salem (Toos), and Michael E Briant (Director).
  • The Sandmine Murders - Cast and crew look back at the making of the story.
  • Robophobia - Toby Hadoke takes a humorous look at the history of robots.
  • Studio sound - Example of a studio scene before the robot voice effects were added.
  • Model shots - Black-and-white time-coded recording of the original model insert film.
  • Studio floor plan - Interactive view of the studio layout via the original floor plan drawings.
  • Continuity - Off-air continuity for the first episode’s original transmission plus mute continuity slide.
  • Radio Times listings.
  • Production information subtitles
  • Photo gallery.
  • Coming soon trailer for ‘The Face of Evil’.

Interesting

The secondary control room of the TARDIS makes its final appearance in this story.

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‘The Three Doctors (Special Edition)’ DVD

February 13, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Jon Pertwee, Releases

As a massive power drain threatens to put an end to the Timelord race, the Doctor must join forces with his previous incarnations in an attempt to prevent Omega, a renegade Timelord trapped in a universe of anti-matter, from crossing into our universe and wreaking his revenge against those who he feels abandoned him millennia ago.

`Doctor Who - The Three Doctors (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

`Doctor Who - The Three Doctors (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

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“So you’re my replacements? A dandy and a clown!”

Part of the ‘Doctor Who – Revisitations 3′ DVD boxset

With

William Hartnell as Doctor Who
Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who
Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who
Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 30 December 1972
Episode 2 – Saturday, 6 January 1973
Episode 3 – Saturday, 13 January 1973
Episode 4 – Saturday, 20 January 1973

Season

10

Writers

Bob Baker and Dave Martin

Presentation

  • Double disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 97 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Special Features

Disc One

  • Commentary – Katy Manning (Jo), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), and Barry Letts (Producer).
  • Morris Barry introduction - The director’s introduction from the 1993 VHS release.
  • Pebble Mill at One – Monsters invade the Pebble Mill studios!
  • Blue Peter – Jon Pertwee visits the Blue Peter studios.
  • BSB highlights – Excerpts from BSB’s 1990 ’31 Who’ weekend.
  • ‘The Five Faces of Doctor Who’ trailer.
  • BBC1 trailer – recreated from audio recording.
  • 40th anniversary trailer.
  • PDF material – Radio Times billings.
  • Production information subtitles.
  • Coming soon trailer for ’The Face of Evil’.
  • Easter Egg – Clean title sequence for season 5.

Disc Two

  • Happy Birthday to Who – Cast and crew look back on the making of the story.
  • Was Doctor Who Rubbish? – Four fans mount a defence of the programme.
  • Girls, Girls, Girls (The 1970s) – featuring Caroline John (Liz Shaw), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), and Louise Jameson (Leela).
  • Photo gallery.
  • Easter egg – Animated visuals used as backgrounds during the documentary interviews.

Interesting

The TARDIS sports a newly-designed  interior set from this story onwards.

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‘The Tomb of the Cybermen (Special Edition)’ DVD

February 13, 2012 in 2012, Classic Series, DVD, Patrick Troughton, Releases

The Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria arrive on the planet Telos just as an archaeological team uncovers an underground cavern – an underground cavern that holds the last vestiges of the cyber-race. However, not all the humans are here to study and observe, as Cybermen start to revive from their centuries-long slumber…

`Doctor Who - Tomb of the Cybermen (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

`Doctor Who - Tomb of the Cybermen (Special Edition)' DVD cover.

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“I used my special technique…keeping my eyes open, and my mouth shut!”

Part of the ‘Doctor Who – Revisitations 3′ DVD boxset

With

Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who
Frazer Hines as Jamie
Deborah Watling as Victoria

Dates

Episode 1 – Saturday, 2 September 1967
Episode 2 – Saturday, 9 September 1967
Episode 3 – Saturday, 16 September 1967
Episode 4 – Saturday, 23 September 1967

Season

5

Writers

Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis

Presentation

  • Double disc release.
  • Reversible DVD cover.
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.
  • Region 2 & 4, colour, PAL UK.
  • Aspect ratio – 4:3.
  • English, Mono soundtrack.
  • Feature length – 95 minutes (approximately).
  • English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
  • Audio navigation.

Interesting

One of the working titles for this story was ‘The Ice Tombs of Telos’.

Special Features

Disc One

  • Commentary #1 – Deborah Watling (Victoria), and Frazer Hines (Jamie).
  • Commentary #2 – Bernard Holley (Haydon), Shirley Cooklin (Kaftan), Reg Whitehead (Cyberman), and Victor Pemberton (Script Editor); moderated by Toby Hadoke (‘Moths ate my Doctor Who Scarf’).
  • Morris Barry introduction - The director’s introduction from the 1993 VHS release.
  • Title sequence - Tests and build-up elements for the Patrick Troughton title sequence.
  • Late Night Line-Up - Behind the scenes at the BBC Visual Effects department to interview Jack Kine.
  • The Final End - The Evil of the Daleks is mostly missing from the BBC archives. A small taste of the climactic battle . . .
  • The Abominable Snowmen audio trailer.
  • Production information subtitles.
  • Coming soon trailer for ’The Face of Evil’.

Disc Two

  • The Lost Giants - Cast and crew look back on the making of the story.
  • The Curse of the Cybermen’s Tomb - Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr Debbie Challis examine the ancient Egyptian origins to the story
  • Cybermen (Extended Edition) – A history of the Cybermen, presented by Matthew Sweet.
  • The Magic of VidFIRE - A look at the technology behind the VidFIRE process.
  • Sky Ray advert - 1960s Doctor Who-themed promo for Walls Sky Ray ice lolly.
  • Photo gallery.
  • Radio Times listings.

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