BBC Archive

[johnstewart]

I got roped in to watching the new product really. The way its made is probably a commercial in house way now regardless of Producer. What I would say is I think there is a slight Psychological approach now Steve Moffat has taken over. The first story is probably an RTD leftover. I think it will progress.

I think if I had my way though everything would still be like MOONBASE and FURY FROM THE DEEP production wise. But nowadays mostly Technology - rather than the other content is the reigning content.

[davemachin]

I took to Matt Smith a lot more than I did to Tennent initially. The only problem with him I had was that he mumbled / gabbled a lot and I didn't catch much of what he said. He needs to watch this in future. All in all it was a promising first episode but please, as everyone else seems to be saying too, slow the pace a bit and please please please please cut out 75 per cent of the music. It isn't needed, is annoying and does not add anything at all to the drama. I'll carry on watching with interest to see how things develop though.

Dave

[johnstewart]

Quite an interesting personality I thought.

This Saturdays is hotting up - touch of ACE OF WANDS to it looks like.

[Deleted]

I had the same problem as Dave, which was Smith mumbling his lines quite a bit (although I liked his interpretation of the doctor generally very much). It's all very well for him to try and come across how most people under 25 speak but if it stops the dialogue from being understood by the viewer, you surely have to draw a line there!

[johnstewart]

Mar 20, 2010 12:14:31 GMT @davemachin said:

It's really strange how certain missing stories seem to gain or lose more credibility over the years. Back in the eighties the ones that people most wanted to see again were the two Troughton dalek stories, Tomb of the Cybermen and Web of Fear. It was as if nothing else was ever made, though I wouldn't particularly disagree with those being the key missing Troughton stories. Others like Fury From the Deep seemed just a distant forgotten memory until the discovery of that short (and very excellent) clip some years ago. It's modern reputation seems only to be based on this short sequence though as the amount of people that remember it first hand must be limited.

I can remember seeing some of the Troughton stories but not others, for some reason. Probably down to the fickleness of kids and my attention being diverted by some other fad at the time! The point I am making though is that the missing stories can't all have been classics (I would not expect The Highlanders, Underwater Menace, Enemy of the World or even The Moonbase to be that special for instance, if they suddenly turned up complete). That is too much to expect and I am sure that the reputations of those ones such as Evil, Web and Tomb is based on something real. The surviving episodes do seem to bear out the theory and, for me, Tomb also lives up to it's reputation. Although I know many people were let down by it when it reappeared in the flesh, I was not one of them.

A bit o/t, I know!

Dave

I recall on the subject of FURY at the time the telesnaps were published in DWM (c 93 - 96) both they and WEB OF FEAR suffered a similar problem. Where either the seaweed creature or web appeared the large areas of white had caused the stills camera to bleach out; leaving little detail. In the web you could see the detail of the film source they had processed in negative; either cells dividing ( looking like 'bubble wrap'); or a set of curtains wving out of focus.

The weed creature costume could be seen thrashing about in the foam so it was good the censor clips turned up. Frustrating the finale shots with the corridor later found only include the set up. I had a clear memory of the film shot onto the corridor when the weed begins to surge down it in episode 6. This was then run backwards for the retreat when repelled by Victorias amplified screams.

Rumours abound that a shot of the beach with Debora Watling waving goodbye exist on super 8 but this has still not come to light.

I can recall; like WEB the first episode was quite full and engaging.

Frustrating that only episode 1 of that exists as I clearly recall the cliffhanger of 2 with a friend watching. This was similar to INVASION where the mad cyberman is coming one way down the tunnel then a group of others the other way; trapping the TARDIS crew.

In WEB the yeti were coming one way; and the web as described coming the other. Mum had bought us these little chocolate Teddy Bears wrapped in gold and red coloured foil as a present.

[johnstewart]

Feb 11, 2010 9:08:22 GMT Colin Anderton said:

From several different comments made over the years, I get the impression that there are still large areas of the BBC archives that remain unchecked. I know the paper records are fairly complete, but I'm referring to actual video and film material.

Is it possible that one day an announcement might be made that huge chunks of video and film material are being opened up for the first time in decades - or is the BBC archive almost completely explored now?

Living in hope (particularly where the space programme is concerned)!

Colin.

I think; though it might be obvious; Colins referring to the kind of thing that turned up the 'DALEK MASTERPLAN' episode 1 - 2 inserts and ADAM ADAMANT LIVES - 'D FOR DESTRUCTION'. In both cases they were always there but mislabelled (the latter was a 35mm T/R for transmission).

I should add a few years back a friend was working researching at the BBC. I had found an entry on INFAX for a 'Harry Secombe show' dated 1972 that appeared to exist. It featured Beryl Reid.

It also had Peter Skellern performing 'You're a Lady'. As this is not represented on TOTP I asked if he could possibly ascertain whether it definitely existed and passed the given programme number on.

He was able to view a 'viewing copy' but instead the item on that catalogue number was not as described. He said it appeared to be inserts rather than a complete show for what looked like a late 1970s show 'Harry Secombes world of music'.

I don;t know if the error in cataloguing was reported; but it does bring to attention that there still may be unchecked material in the Archive which isn't as described on the log number.

[johnstewart]

Apr 7, 2010 7:48:26 GMT @laurencepiper said:

I had the same problem as Dave, which was Smith mumbling his lines quite a bit (although I liked his interpretation of the doctor generally very much). It's all very well for him to try and come across how most people under 25 speak but if it stops the dialogue from being understood by the viewer, you surely have to draw a line there!

I guess you were referring to the garbled approach (900 words per second). As Tennant did that a lot, I thought it might be just continuity to the previous Doctor.

He doesn't seem to be doing it in the second show.

I didn't have so much a problem with that as the fact the start and end of the first show retained some of the not so good RTD elements.

The soapy approach; and that awful constant music.

The middle though I thought good; regardless of the storyline approached in a more psychological way. The music changed here too and became more dissonant. This is the problem the actual music not only there all the time but its very corny too. Almost like 'The Snowman' meets a cod Ennio Morricone. (Though I like Morricone). I always thought the colder synthesiser type sound from the old days suited the show.

Thought the barking man was a disturbing idea for kids; and handled in a slightly adult way too.

So the new series is promising but very flawed. Hopefully it will iron out as it goes.

[Deleted]

Yesterday certainly ironed out the flaws! Superb! I'm actually excited about the programme again in a way I never was with the RTD interpretation. It's like a different beast entirely; more natural pace, creepy, dark aspects, very little unwanted music or camp aspects and a story that had a structure to it.

Viva Moffatt!

[davemachin]

Wasn't it great? I was not expecting that at all. The first story was promising but seemed to still be bridging the old style with the new one. A change was happening though. This week the change has gone much further.

All Dr.Who needs to work is a sense of atmosphere and menace and this one had those things. The smilers were a great concept, as was the whale. The thing I couldn't believe most though was the complete lack of the sub-Star Wars music forcing it's way into every corner of the episode! At the end, I was jumping up and down and felt the need to text friends and enthuse, something I was never ever moved to do during the whole of the Russell T.Davies era. All the camp and kitsch has gone in one swoop too, which pleased me so much. I don't think this story is the best we'll see yet but it's a huge step in the right direction.

The combination of Moffatt and Smith is a dream ticket in my view. This is how the programme should have been made all along. I can't wait for next Saturday.

Wowwowwow.

Dave

[Kev Mulrenan]

Apr 11, 2010 19:15:03 GMT @laurencepiper said:

Yesterday certainly ironed out the flaws! Superb! I'm actually excited about the programme again in a way I never was with the RTD interpretation. It's like a different beast entirely; more natural pace, creepy, dark aspects, very little unwanted music or camp aspects and a story that had a structure to it.

Viva Moffatt!

I'm enjoying it too.

My fears that Matt Smith was too young have yet to be proved.

I liked the character of Amy's boyfriend; hope he appears later on. The dialogue between those two amused me.

Yes it's great to have less soapy politically correct RTD stuff. Instead of scoring points, the quality of the writing and the stories does the talking!

[davemachin]

I was also fed up with the trend of yet another young doctor, Kevin, but I am happy that my fears were misplaced. He is really good in the role and I am taking to him far quicker than I did to David Tennant (although he was good himself). I like it when my preconceptions are overturned! Moffat has merely done what the rest of us have been saying should be done all along. Namely take away the soap opera camp, the excessive tacky music etc. If you put in their place good stories (never Davies' strong point), a real sense of creepiness and menace and you suddenly have a great programme! It just needed a slight tweak to make it that but Davies clearly wasn't capable as he had five years and it never quite got there during his reign.

Dave

[Kev Mulrenan]

Apr 14, 2010 9:47:34 GMT @davemachin said:

I was also fed up with the trend of yet another young doctor, Kevin, but I am happy that my fears were misplaced. He is really good in the role and I am taking to him far quicker than I did to David Tennant (although he was good himself). I like it when my preconceptions are overturned! Moffat has merely done what the rest of us have been saying should be done all along. Namely take away the soap opera camp, the excessive tacky music etc. If you put in their place good stories (never Davies' strong point), a real sense of creepiness and menace and you suddenly have a great programme! It just needed a slight tweak to make it that but Davies clearly wasn't capable as he had five years and it never quite got there during his reign.

Dave

Good points made here.

I do find the music a little intrusive at times.

I think the music gets too much prominence and quite frankly I found the idea of a Dr Who at the Proms night frankly silly.

[Rich Cornock]

this is getting a bit off topic and maybe better in the Dr Who section!

[Deleted]

So, hands up who'd like to see the archives offer up Blake's 7, Doomwatch and Out of the Unknown on their internet site...

[johnstewart]

Apr 14, 2010 21:37:39 GMT @doomwatch said:

So, hands up who'd like to see the archives offer up Blake's 7, Doomwatch and Out of the Unknown on their internet site...

I'd have OOTU - long overdue that one.