Unrestored 60's Doctor Who episodes on iPlayer

[Deleted]

The following 1960's Doctor Who episodes are on their original, unrestored, form on iPlayer

• The Reign of Terror 2, 3, 6
• The Crusade 1, 3
• The Daleks' Master Plan 2
• The Celestial Toymaker 4
• The Underwater Menace 2, 3
• The Moonbase 4
• The Faceless Ones 1,3
• The Ice Warriors 1, 4, 5, 6
• The Wheel In Space 3
• The Invasion 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
• The Krotons 1, 2, 3, 4
• The Space Pirates 2

Nothing wrong with it personally, but I was wondering if they accidently upload the unrestored episodes instead of the restored versions or was this on purpose?

[Scot Ferre]

When I watched some episodes on the US BritBox, the Krotons and Arc of Infinity stuck in my mind as being poor quality. Hmm.

[barneyhall]

Nov 1, 2023 16:40:30 GMT @angelamezquita said:

The following 1960's Doctor Who episodes are on their original, unrestored, form on iPlayer

• The Reign of Terror 2, 3, 6
• The Crusade 1, 3
• The Daleks' Master Plan 2
• The Celestial Toymaker 4
• The Underwater Menace 2, 3
• The Moonbase 4
• The Faceless Ones 1,3
• The Ice Warriors 1, 4, 5, 6
• The Wheel In Space 3
• The Invasion 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
• The Krotons 1, 2, 3, 4
• The Space Pirates 2

Nothing wrong with it personally, but I was wondering if they accidently upload the unrestored episodes instead of the restored versions or was this on purpose?

Now this is a topic we can have a good natter about!!

When you say unrestored do you mean worse quality than the dvd? Interesting that stuff that's had a recent plblue ray release isn't there, with the exception of the crusade but I can see that being a story that'll be wanting for any restoration love with it being one of the more controversial ones. How do the pertwees fair? Especially season 7 that hasn't had a recent release (except spearhead)

[markperry]

I suppose it's similar to the various dvd documentaries where most times they use the unrestored/any copy available as a source.

Interesting it must imply there must be more copyright drama's with the first episode of The Reign Of Terror missing.

[barneyhall]

Possibly,but it wouldn't shock me if it's a mistake. I can't see why just ep1 would have rights issues and the not the rest. All classic who is a lot of content not a surprise if an episode or 2 goes missing for a few days.

[David Gillespie]

The sound on Guests of Madame Guillotine has to be heard to be believed. My bootleg VHS sounded better than that.

I’m really happy to see some of these to be honest. Day of Armageddon has the original end credits which were remade for the DVD.

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2023 21:46:59 GMT David Gillespie said:

The sound on Guests of Madame Guillotine has to be heard to be believed. My bootleg VHS sounded better than that.

I’m really happy to see some of these to be honest. Day of Armageddon has the original end credits which were remade for the DVD.

Did they used the Suppressed Field version from Cyprus or the Stored Field version from Sierra Leone?

[davetudor]

Nov 1, 2023 17:50:59 GMT Scot Ferre said:

When I watched some episodes on the US BritBox, the Krotons and Arc of Infinity stuck in my mind as being poor quality. Hmm.

Those two stories have always been poor quality. 

(Joke: I actually quite like 'The Krotons'.)

I've not really watched any of the new content yet, other than flicking through 'The Time Meddler' in 'Tales from the TARDIS'. I don't have the Blu-ray yet in order to compare, but this did not strike me as being higher quality than the DVD. However, I really was just flicking through it and I am genuinely grateful that this is all so accessible. 

[Qasim Yusuf]

Nov 1, 2023 21:46:59 GMT David Gillespie said:

The sound on Guests of Madame Guillotine has to be heard to be believed.

Just had a look at it now. The picture looks weird too. I think I can even see the edge of the monitor that the camera would have been pointed at to make the telerecording.

[anthonybartley]

Is it possible that the restored versions have been re-copyrighted, meaning they would need to pay the restoration team to use them? Hence the cheaper option of just putting up the older copies instead?

You can take a film from 1901 - create a new scan of the film reels - and claim the copyright for that specific transfer. It's happened to Georges Méliès 'A Trip to the Moon' (1902) - so I doubt Dr. Who would be exempt from this kind of practice.

Although, let's be realistic here, it's probably just a slip up in the technical department.

[barneyhall]

Tbf I'd have no problem with them saying the unrestored stuff is free to watch, if you want better quality buy the dvd/blu ray. In fact its a good business model tbh.

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2023 11:02:44 GMT Qasim Yusuf said:

Nov 1, 2023 21:46:59 GMT David Gillespie said:

The sound on Guests of Madame Guillotine has to be heard to be believed.

Just had a look at it now. The picture looks weird too. I think I can even see the edge of the monitor that the camera would have been pointed at to make the telerecording.

Is it the same with RoT 1-3?

[Qasim Yusuf]

Nov 2, 2023 14:58:21 GMT @angelamezquita said:

Nov 2, 2023 11:02:44 GMT Qasim Yusuf said:

Just had a look at it now. The picture looks weird too. I think I can even see the edge of the monitor that the camera would have been pointed at to make the telerecording.

Is it the same with RoT 1-3?

Episode 1 looks like it's the restored version but the rest of them are unrestored. The monitor isn't visible in any of the other episodes aside from episode 2 so I think it was just a badly done telerecording. Still doesn't explain the distorted audio though, since it sounds normal for all the other episodes.

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2023 15:11:05 GMT Qasim Yusuf said:

Nov 2, 2023 14:58:21 GMT @angelamezquita said:

Is it the same with RoT 1-3?

Episode 1 looks like it's the restored version but the rest of them are unrestored. The monitor isn't visible in any of the other episodes aside from episode 2 so I think it was just a badly done telerecording. Still doesn't explain the distorted audio though, since it sounds normal for all the other episodes.

Well, that answers it. It looks like they used the unrestored Suppresed Field versions of RoT Episodes 2, 3, and 6 that were recovered from Cyprus in 1984.

[barneyhall]

Awwh see I knew ep 1 of ROT would turn up eventually. Its curious that the orphaned episodes of stories that they have animated arnt on there. And it's curious power of the daleks is in black and white (which is my personal preference) but most the other stories seem to be the colour animations. Still it's all free do can't be ungrateful just interesting choices and no pattern to them.