Dr Who B+W releases (07) query

[johnstewart]

Is there to be a Troughton and Hartnell DVD release this year ?

Don't mind if no one in the know wishes to disclose titles or dates.

[Joe Haynes]

Yep a great hartnell story 'the Time Meddler' will be released in march Hopefully. Also im sure there will be a Troughton release at the end of the year.

[B Thomas]

Oh god... not "The Dominators", is it?

[Joe Haynes]

bevanwthomas said:

Oh god... not "The Dominators", is it?

well i would be happy with that release. But The War Games would be much better

[B Thomas]

You'd be happy with "The Dominators"? I don't know - I think I'd rather see even "The Space Pirates" found than have to watch this turkey again...

[Daniel O'Brien]

I haven't seen 'The Dominators' for years but I remember it as very dull: boringly plotted, poorly acted and indifferently staged. The Quarks were quite entertaining but even Brian Cant couldn't muster any enthusiasm for the script. I know it was a troubled production and this certainly shows in the end result. Maybe a re-evaluation is in order but I'm in no hurry.

'The War Games' is much more impressive - if overlong - and 'The Krotons' is at least fun...

[johnstewart]

joenirvana said:

Yep a great hartnell story 'the Time Meddler' will be released in march Hopefully. Also im sure there will be a Troughton release at the end of the year.

Thanks for this Joe - March? Does that mean next year?

I have now heard the BBC were planning THE CHASE for this year; or has there already been a Hartnell I missed.

'Dominators'? Funny choice. I think I would have opted either for a new version of the ICE WARRIORS - VHS package; VidFired; or money spent on a proper; VidFired TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN in priority preference.

I think the BBC would tackle DOMINATORS before WAR GAMES as the latter would cost more to restore.

I think WAR GAMES is under rated; but at the time it was not a classic; it has been generally perceived as an overlong non Monster story.

Both DOMINATORS and THE KROTONS were considered at the time to be sideline Troughton stories; compared to say THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN and TOMB.

[Andy Howells]

Personally, I'm grateful of any Patrick Troughton, I recently transferred a collection of my old tapes (UK Gold and official) to DVD and if I had to have The Dominators, Krotons or War Games against some of the rubbish that went out in the late 80's I'd have those any day of the week.

The great thing about these is that the extras make these a worthy purchase and that includes any offcuts from missing episodes that turn up.

[johnstewart]

I agree that the merits of the 'non top ten' Troughtons have had to be reassessed over the years due to the absence of the latter.

Particularly underated is the quite adult story 'Faceless ones' which at the time was too talky and subtle for young children to appreciate.

However I still think most would like to see the near complete classics or classics to which the VidFire process was not previously used as priority.

I.E. 'Ice Warriors' or 'Tomb of the Cybermen' VidFired.

However I'm worried that possibly cuts in the budget mean that no Troughton release; possibly also due to restoration costs seems forthcoming this year.

It would be a pity if they'd changed to once every two years now in view theres not that much left to release.

[Joe Haynes]

johnstewart said:

I agree that the merits of the 'non top ten' Troughtons have had to be reassessed over the years due to the absence of the latter.

Particularly underated is the quite adult story 'Faceless ones' which at the time was too talky and subtle for young children to appreciate.

However I still think most would like to see the near complete classics or classics to which the VidFire process was not previously used as priority.

I.E. 'Ice Warriors' or 'Tomb of the Cybermen' VidFired.

However I'm worried that possibly cuts in the budget mean that no Troughton release; possibly also due to restoration costs seems forthcoming this year.

It would be a pity if they'd changed to once every two years now in view theres not that much left to release.

Theres a Cut in budget? do you mean the BBC if so then that would not affect the DVD releases because there part of 2 entertain.

i know what you mean about troughton releases but im pretty sure we will not see The Ice Warriors until the end of the range in 2012. As for Tomb, well i think its fine as it is. Maybe at the end of the range it should be put on the market all Vidfired up.

Saddly all we have left to release is 2 poor stories and a rather good story.



Oh btw Time medler will be out in Feb! ;D

[Greg H]

I actually dont mind 'the dominators'. It is a bit of a cheese fest for sure, but frankly I feel lucky to watch whatever Troughton, all things considered. I dont mind the krotons either, a much maligned story, but I think its quite good really.
Basically, imo there is no such thing as a bad Troughton episode from the evidence that exists!
I couls percieve the release schedule slowing right down though, due to the lack of material. Looking forward to time meddler!!!!!

[robb]

would releasing the ones that we dont have yet on DVD in chrolological order help ?

[johnstewart]

gh said:

I actually dont mind 'the dominators'. It is a bit of a cheese fest for sure, but frankly I feel lucky to watch whatever Troughton, all things considered. I dont mind the krotons either, a much maligned story, but I think its quite good really.
Basically, imo there is no such thing as a bad Troughton episode from the evidence that exists!
I couls percieve the release schedule slowing right down though, due to the lack of material. Looking forward to time meddler!!!!!

Perhaps I judge DOMINATORS on feelings from the time. Todays audience may want to bear in mind Haisman / Lincoln sold the rights to 'TV COMIC' in advance of the BBC 'Quarks' appearance. I don't think I ever got over the aggressive self contained race of the strip being demoted to servant robots on screen.

All the Troughtons in hindsight have some merits. WHEEL IN SPACE is not the best Cyber story; but I recently contemplated its first use in the series of very real looking in space action; hardware and suits. Compared to Hartnell that is.

Even SPACE PIRATES; a dull comedic yarn with poor villains has really outstanding model work. Remarkable for its time.

P.S. 'TOMB' is good but mark my words recalling the original; an often blurred or grainy telerecording is no patch on what actually went out. Be nice to get closer.

[Robert Manners]

bevanwthomas said:

Oh god... not "The Dominators", is it?

On a positive angle though it would be nice to see this story with its returned Australian censorship clips reinserted as well as better prints been used as the VHS release in 1990 has many faults due to the source prints used at the time. I often find much of the work done by the Restoration Team on latter colour episodes is a little bit more than is needed however with this release I am sure they could really go to town for use all and produce a version like we saw in the late 1960’s.

[Richard Bignell]

johnstewart said:

Perhaps I judge DOMINATORS on feelings from the time. Todays audience may want to bear in mind Haisman / Lincoln sold the rights to 'TV COMIC' in advance of the BBC 'Quarks' appearance.

Entirely the opposite is true!

BBC Enterprises allowed TV Comic to use the Quarks in the Doctor Who strip, which appeared around the same time The Dominators was being broadcast. Haisman and Lincoln were incensed that their creation has been used without their permission, which led to a lot of legal wrangling between the two parties and the writers declaring that they wouldn't work on the programme again.

Richard