The Beginning DVD Boxset

The Beginning DVD Boxset

Information

Number of DVDs: 3
DVD Number: BBCDVD1882
Certification: 12
Duration: 325 minutes
Release Date: 30 Jan. 2006

Synopsis

Doctor Who – The Beginning box set includes the first three Doctor Who adventures (comprising of 13 episodes) plus the untransmitted pilot episode. Includes:

An Unearthly Child

Unearthly Child cover

A Time Lord from another civilisation, The Doctor has travelled through time and space bringing thrilling cosmic adventures to millions of fans forover 35 years. Now the most familiar mystery figure in science-fiction, the traveller from another world and a distant future first captured a generation of viewers on November 23rd 1963. With the much missed William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the Doctor, this original uned classic adventure returns us to the days when he first seized our imaginations and begged the question “Doctor Who?” Visiting Britain in 1963 The Doctor’s grand-daughter has become a pupil at an ordinary school. A strange amalgam of teenage normality and uncanny intelligence she whets the curiosity of two teachers who becom inextricably involved in The Doctor’s strange travels. Proving that time goes round in circles The Doctor blasts them back to a pre-civilized age of the Great Cold where tribal leaders battle for supremacy in a race to make fire. Thrown into the cave of skulls The Doctor and his companions soon realise that their lives depend on two alternatives: making fire without matches or escaping through the forest of fire.

Originally transmitted 23/11/63 – 13/12/63

Episode entry

The Daleks

The Daleks cover

The infamous daleks made their first ever appearance in this classic black and white Doctor Who episode now digitally remastered. The TARDIS has brought The Doctor and his companions to the planet Skaro where they meet two indigenous races. The Daleks are malicious mutant creatures encased in armoured travel machines, the Thals are beautiful humanoids with pacifist principals. Despite the Thal’s peace loving ethos, The Doctor must convince them to fight The Daleks or risk annihilation. This, The Doctor’s struggle with his most dangerous foes enters into the science fiction pantheon, heralding the start of “Dalekmania”

Originally transmitted 14/12/63 – 25/01/64.

Episode entry

The Edge of Destruction

Edge of Destruction cover

After their skirmish with The Daleks, the TARDIS crew hurriedly leave the planet Skaro in an attempt to return to contemporary England, home to schoolteachers Ian and Barbara. However, an explosion renders both of them, plus the mysterious doctor and his granddaughter Susan, unconscious – and when they awake, all four sense that something is very wrong indeed. Aggression, paranoia and a feeling of despair have gripped them all – no one seems to trust the other and, bit-by-bit, The Doctor’s trusted ship seems to be breaking down around them. But is it? Has the TARDIS finally tired of its inhabitants, or is there a more logical, more rational explanation for everyone’s behaviour and the ship’s bizarre course of action? Also included is the pilot of the story

Episode entry

Special Features

An Unearthly Child

Commentaries

Episode 1 – An Unearthly Child: Commentary by William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Verity Lambert (Producer), Gary Russell (Moderator).

Episode 4 – The Fire-maker: Commentary by William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Waris Hussein (Director), Gary Russell (Moderator).

Pilot Episode Studio Recording: Commentary by Verity Lambert (Producer), Waris Hussein (Director), Gary Russell (Moderator).

Pilot Episode Studio Recording

An unedited 35-minute recording of the entire studio session for the un-transmitted Pilot Episode, including studio clock and all the retakes. [Can be viewed with an optional commentary by producer Verity Lambert and director Waris Hussein. (35’39” | 4:3 | 1963)

Pilot Episode: An Unearthly Child

An edited 25-minute version of the un-transmitted Pilot Episode. A look at how all the studio recorded material would have best fitted together if this version had been chosen as suitable for transmission as the programme’s opening episode. (25’06” | 4:3 | 1963)

Theme Music Video

An opportunity to hear the full-length version of the original theme music, coupled with the original 1963 title sequence visual elements. Can be viewed in three differing versions – mono, stereo or 5.1 sound mixes. Doctor Who Theme Composed by: Ron Grainer; Realised by: Delia Derbyshire, BBC Radiophonic Workshop; Graphic Designer: Bernard Lodge; Remix Producer: Mark Ayres. (2’37” | 4:3 | 2006)

Comedy Sketches

A selection of four short sketches, mostly themed around the early years of Doctor Who. From Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen) and David Walliams (Little Britain) come three sketches from the BBC’s Doctor Who Night in 1999: The Pitch of Fear, The Web of Caves and The Kidnappers. Meanwhile, The Corridor Sketch offers a glimpse at how the early Doctor Who may have looked with a different actor in the title role. (3’45” | 16:9 | 1999)

Photo Gallery

A selection of rare and previously unpublished photographs from the recording of this story are included. Thanks To: Barry Newbery, BBC Photograph Library, Doctor Who Magazine, Derek Handley, Tony Clark. Special Sounds: Brian Hodgson. (6’03” | 4:3 | 2005)

Production Subtitles

Text commentary by Martin Wiggins providing cast details, script development and other information related to the production of this story.

The Daleks

Commentary

Episode 2 – The Survivors: Commentary by Verity Lambert (Producer), Christopher Barry (Director), Gary Russell (Moderator)

Episode 4 – The Ambush: Commentary by William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Christopher Barry (Director), Gary Russell (Moderator)

Episode 7 – The Rescue: Commentary by William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Richard Martin (Director), Gary Russell (Moderator)

Creation of the Daleks

A documentary looking at the genesis of the monsters which would quickly become icons in their own right. From Terry Nation’s script, through to the visual design of the creatures and their unique rasping voices, the concepts behind The Daleks are explored. With contributions from Sydney Newman, producer Verity Lambert, director Richard Martin, designer Raymond Cusick, sound designer Brian Hodgson, original Dalek voice David Graham, and original Dalek operator Michael Summerton. Interviewers: Richard Molesworth, Andrew Beech; Camera: Une Herzer; Sound: Angus Anderson; Photographic Research: Derek Handley; Colourist: Andrew Parkinson; Special Sounds: Brian Hodgson; Music: Tristram Carey; Producer: John Kelly. (17’11” | TBC | 2005)

Production Subtitles

Text commentary by Martin Wiggins providing cast details, script development and other information related to the production of this story.

Photo Gallery

A selection of rare and previously unpublished photographs from the recording of this story. Thanks To: Barry Newbery, BBC Photograph Library, Doctor Who Magazine, Derek Handley, Tony Clark. Special Sounds: Brian Hodgson. (5’33” | 4:3 | 2005)

The Edge of Destruction

Doctor Who: Origins

A fascinating documentary detailing the creation of Doctor Who. Looking at the factors that led to the birth of the programme, it includes a rare interview with the programme’s creator, the late Sydney Newman, and new interviews with producer Verity Lambert, directors Waris Hussein and Richard Martin, actors William Russell (Ian Chesterton) and Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), title sequence designer Bernard Lodge, and TARDIS sound effect creator Brian Hodgson. Narrator: Terry Molloy; Additional Voices: David Harley; Archive Sources: BBC Film & Television Library, BBC Photo Library, BBC Written Archives, Canal Plus Image UK, David Whitaker Estate, Waris Hussein, Muffin The Mule (C) Maverick Entertainment Group PLC; Archive Research: Andrew Martin; Photographic Research: Esther Barry, Derek Handley, Marcus Hearn, Doctor Who Magazine; Thanks To: Richard Bignell, John Kelly, Ralph Montagu, Paul Vanezis; Colourist: Andrew Parkinson; Sound: Angus Anderson, David Mason; Camera: Une Herzer; Editor/Associate Producer: Steve Broster; Writer/Producer: Richard Molesworth; Executive Producer: Steve Roberts. (53’51” | 16:9 | 2006)

Over the Edge

A look at the production of the Edge of Destruction, featuring interviews with producer Verity Lambert, directors Frank Cox and Richard Martin, designer Raymond Cusick, and actors William Russell (Ian Chesterton) and Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Keith Barnfather and Jeremy Bentham. Sound: Angus Anderson; Camera: Une Herzer; Special Thanks To: Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Richard Molesworth; Editor/Assistant Producer: Adi Denney; Producer/Director: Ian Levine. (29’23” | 16:9 | 2006)

Inside The Spaceship

Members of the original cast and crew talk about The Doctor’s unique time and space ship, the TARDIS. Sound: Angus Anderson; Camera: Une Herzer; Special Thanks To: Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Richard Molesworth; Editor/Assistant Producer: Adi Denney; Producer/Director: Ian Levine. (10’15” | 16:9 | 2006)

Masters of Sound

A look inside the BBC Radiophonic Workshop through interviews with the musicians and technicians who brought composer Ron Grainer’s Doctor Who theme to life using electronic music. Features interviews with Dick Mills, Brian Hodgson, Verity Lambert and the late Delia Derbyshire. Thanks To: Mark Ayres, Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Andrew Pixley, Chris Ratcliffe. Camera: John Adderley, Pete Tyler, Dave Hicks; Vortex FX & Sound Editor: Alistair Lock; Editor/Director: Kevin Jon Davies; Producer: Steve Roberts. (12’24” | 4:3 | 1993/2006)

Marco Polo

A condensed 30-minute version of the fourth ever Doctor Who story, a seven-part historical adventure which saw the TARDIS crew meet Marco Polo and Kubla Khan. Although completey missing form the BBC’s archives, a tantalising glimpse of this lost story is given with the use of an off-air recording of the soundtrack, plus off-screen stills and production photographs. Tele-Snaps: John Cura; Photographs: BBC Photograph Library, Barry Newbery; Thanks To: Tony Clark, Richard Landen, David Holman, Dean Rose, David Miller, Waris Hussein, David J. Howe, Doctor Who Magazine; Producer: Ralph Montagu; Audio Restoration: Mark Ayres; Editor: Derek Handley. (31’25 | 4:3 | 1964/2006)

Photo Gallery

A selection of rare and previously unpublished photographs from the recording of this story and Marco Polo. Thanks To: Barry Newbery, BBC Photograph Library, Doctor Who Magazine, Derek Handley, Tony Clark. Special Sounds: Brian Hodgson. (5’09” | 4:3 | 2005)

PDF Materials

A selection of Radio Times billings for the first three stories – An Unearthly Child, The Daleks and The Edge of Destruction – plus the full script for the first ever episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, by Anthony Coburn.

Arabic Soundtrack

Doctor Who was widely sold abroad in the 1960s – often dubbed into a foreign language. The final episode of this story is presented with an option to view it with an Arabic soundtrack.

Production Subtitles

Text commentary by Martin Wiggins providing cast details, script development and other information related to the production of this story.

more covers

Region one coverRegion four cover

Reference

First Doctor page | Susan page | Barbara page | Ian page | Daleks page | BBC DVD Index page | Go back home

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