Revisitations Box Set: Volume 2 - Artwork

Wednesday, 23 March 2011 - Reported by Marcus
2|Entertain have released the artwork for the forthcoming DVD release Revisitations Box Set - Volume 2.

The box set is the second of a series comprising stories that were released near the start of the DVD range and now re-released with new restoration and added extras.

Featuring three stories, Seeds of Death, Carnival of Monsters and Resurrection of the Daleks and starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor and Peter Davison as the fifth Doctor, Doctor Who: Revisitations 2 will be available on DVD in the UK from 28th March 2011.

All episodes are newly remastered, utilising advances in technology and technique, and are supported by an expanded collection of bonus features.
 
The Seeds of Death

Starring Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who, with Frazer Hines as Jamie, and Wendy Padbury as Zoe
Written by Brian Hayles
Directed by Michael Ferguson

Broadcast: 25th January-1st March 1969


It is the 21st Century and Earth is totally dependent on T-Mat, a revolutionary form of instant travel. When the system breaks down the Doctor and friends make a hazardous journey to the relay station on the moon only to find that it has fallen into the hands of the Ice Warriors who plan to invade Earth. Can the Doctor outwit the evil Ice Warriors and destroy the fungus in time to save a dying world?
 

Special Features

Disc One:
  • 6 x 25 min monochrome episodes with mono audio.
  • Commentary – with actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, director Michael Ferguson and script editor Terrance Dicks.
  • Audio Trailer (dur. 0’ 45”) – an off-air amateur recording of the original BBC1 trailer for the story.
  • Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.
  • Programme Subtitles
  • Subtitle Production Notes
Disc Two:
  • Lords of the Red Planet (dur. 28’ 31”) – a look back at the creation of the Ice Warriors and their re-appearance in the ‘The Seeds of Death’. With actors Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines, director Michael Ferguson, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Bobi Bartlett and TV historian Richard Bignell. Narrated by Katherine Mount.
  • Sssowing the Ssseedsss – (dur. 24’ 05”) – Ice Warrior Sonny Caldinez, Ice Lord Alan Bennion and make-up designer Sylvia James recall their experiences of bringing the Martian warriors to life.
  • Monster Masterclass (dur. 3’ 44”) – director Michael Ferguson talks about his experiences directing some of Doctor Who’s most famous monster stories.
  • Monsters Who Came Back For More! (dur. 16’ 26”) – Nick ‘Voice of the Daleks’ Briggs and Doctor Who Magazine’s assistant editor Peter Ware take a look at the reasons why monsters often return for further adventures.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 4’ 30”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story.
  • TARDIS Cam no.6 (dur. 0’ 57”) – a model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.
  • PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.

2|Entertain released a small preview of the documentary on The Seeds of Death, Lords of the Red Planet; this can be viewed in our earlier article about the item.

Carnival of Monsters

Starring Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Robert Holmes
Directed by Barry Letts

Broadcast: 27th January-17th February 1973


The Doctor and Jo take the TARDIS on a test flight and arrive on a cargo ship, the SS Bernice, that appears to be crossing the Indian Ocean in 1926 but is in fact trapped inside a miniscope — a banned peepshow of miniaturised life-forms — on the planet Inter Minor.

Special Features

Disc One:
  • 4 x 25 min episodes with mono audio.
  • Commentary 1 – with actress Katy Manning and director Barry Letts.
  • Commentary 2 – with actors Peter Halliday, Cheryl Hall and Jenny McCracken, script editor Terrance Dicks, sound effects designer Brian Hodgson. Moderated by Toby Hadoke.
  • Episode Two – Early Edit (dur. 29’ 44”) – a longer early edit of the second episode, featuring the subsequently rejected ‘Delaware’ version of the theme music. It is presented here completely un-restored.
  • Behind the Scenes (dur 1’ 48”) – on the studio floor and inside the gallery during production of the story, courtesy of a film crew from the BBC’s ‘Looking In’ documentary.
  • Visual Effects Models (dur. 8’ 41”) – an expanded version of this feature, including unused model shots, trims and tests.
  • ‘Five Faces of Doctor Who’ Trailer (dur. 4’ 10”) – a trail for the 1981’s repeat season, which saw many of Doctor Who’s classic stories – including ‘Carnival of Monsters’ - repeated for the first time in many years.
  • Director’s Amended Ending (dur. 1’ 18”) – for the ‘Five Faces’ repeat of the story, director Barry Lett’s took the opportunity to re-edit the ending to remove a shot of a very obvious ‘bald cap’ which he had always felt spoiled the show.
  • CSO Demo (dur. 3’ 07”) – director Barry Letts was very keen on the possibilities offered by the use of Colour Separation Overlay to place actors into fantastical model sets. In this BBC training film, he demonstrates the technique for fellow directors.
  • TARDIS Cam no.2 (dur. 0’ 45”) – a CGI model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.
  • Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.
  • PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.
  • Programme Subtitles
Disc Two:
  • Destroy All Monsters! (dur. 23’ 11”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Katy Manning, Cheryl Hall and Peter Halliday, director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, assistant floor manager Karilyn Collier and visual effects assistant Colin Mapson. Narrated by Marc Silk.
  • On Target with Ian Marter (dur. 16’ 08”) – actor Ian Marter played Andrews in this story before more famously playing companion Harry Sullivan in Tom Baker’s first stories. He was also a writer and novelised many previous Doctor Who adventures for the Target book range. With actors Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Nigel Plaskitt, script editors Terrance Dicks and Gary Russell.
  • The A-Z of Gadgets and Gizmos (dur. 11’ 22”) – a tongue-in-cheek look at gadgets and gizmos in Doctor Who over the years. Narrated by Paul Jones.
  • Mary Celeste (dur. 18’ 01”) – just as the SS Bernice disappeared from the Indian Ocean in the story, many real-life ships have mysteriously disappeared too. A trio of maritime experts discuss some of these events, including perhaps the most famous maritime mystery of all time, the strange case of the Mary Celeste. With the University of London’s Prof. Roger Luckhurst, Merseyside Maritime Museum’s Ian Murphy and the National Maritime Museum’s John McAleer.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 2’ 55”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story, plus photos from the commentary session and Frank Bellamay’s Radio Times artwork.

Resurrection of the Daleks

Starring Peter Davison as The Doctor, with Janet Fielding as Tegan, and Mark Strickson as Turlough
Written by Eric Saward
Directed by Matthew Robinson

Broadcast: 8th-15th February 1984


The Doctor and his companions captured in a Time Corridor, and are forced to land on 20th Century Earth, diverted by the Doctor's oldest enemy - the Daleks.

It is here that the true purpose of the Time Corridor becomes apparent: after 90 years of imprisonment, Davros, the ruthless creator of the Daleks, is to be liberated to assist in the resurrection of his army. But not even the Daleks forsee the poisonous threat presented by their creator. Indeed, who would suspect Davros of wanting to destroy his own Daleks - and why?

Only the Doctor knows the truth. But will he be capable of descending to Davros' level of evil in order to stop him?

Special Features

Disc One:
  • 2 x 45 min colour episodes with original mono audio and optional Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
  • Commentary with actor Terry Molloy, writer Eric Saward and visual effects designer Peter Wragg, moderated by Nick Pegg.
  • Casting Far and Wide (dur. 32’ 16”) – Actor and comedian Toby Hadoke interviews five of the jobbing actors who worked on the story about their careers and their experiences on the show. With Roger Davenport, Del Henney, Leslie Grantham, Jim Findlay and William Sleigh.
  • On Location (dur. 18’ 32”) – producer John Nathan-Turner, director Matthew Robinson and writer Eric Saward return to London’s Shad Thames to reminisce about the story in its major filming location.
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes (dur. 7’ 03”) – extra material from early edits of the episodes.
  • Breakfast Time (dur. 7’ 56”) – Janet Fielding and John Nathan-Turner interviewed on the BBC’s breakfast show, including an item about the show’s music and sound effects featuring Malcolm Clarke and Brian Hodgson.
  • Trailer (dur. 0’ 31”) – a BBC1 trailer for the original transmission.
  • The Last Dalek (dur. 8’ 33”) – a behind-the-scenes look at the Ealing studios filming for 1967’s epic Dalek story, ‘The Evil of the Daleks’, courtesy of an 8mm film shot by BBC designer Tony Cornell. With narration by BBC visual effects designers Michealjohn Harris and Peter Day.
  • TARDIS Cam no.4 (dur. 0’ 41”) – a model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.
  • Isolated Music - option to view the episodes with isolated music scores.
  • Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.
  • PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.
  • Programme Subtitles
  • Subtitle Production Notes

Disc Two:
  • 4 x 25 min colour episodes with original mono audio and optional Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
  • Commentary with actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, director Matthew Robinson.
  • Come In Number Five (dur. 56’ 27”) – a retrospective of Peter Davison’s tenure as the fifth Doctor. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, producer John Nathan-Turner, executive producer Barry Letts, director Fiona Cumming, script editors Christopher H Bidmead, Eric Saward and Antony Root, BBC Head of Series and Serials David Reid and new series head writer Steven Moffat. Presented by David Tennant
  • Tomorrow’s Times – The Fifth Doctor (dur. 12’ 17”) – the ongoing series looking at the press reaction to Doctor Who through the years reaches the fifth Doctor’s era. Presented by Frazer Hines
  • Walrus (dur. 1’ 21”) – an oddity from the BBC’s archives. A Welsh woman comes face to face with a Dalek, who is determined to make her speak in a monotone
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 5’ 16”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story
  • Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.
  • PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.
  • Programme Subtitles
  • Subtitle Production Notes
(Revisitations Box Set - Volume 2 is available to pre-order from our Amazon Shop)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Preview: Lords of the Red Planet

Friday, 18 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
2|Entertain have released a short video on their YouTube channel previewing Lords of the Red Planet, a feature on the upcoming re-release of the Patrick Troughton adventure The Seeds of Death, part of the Revisitations 2 boxed set due on the 28th March.

 

2|Entertain / @ClassicDW, via YouTube

A look back at the creation of the Ice Warriors and their re-appearance in the 'The Seeds of Death'. With actors Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines, director Michael Ferguson, script editor Terrance Dicks.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Preview: The Final Curtain

Saturday, 5 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
2|Entertain have released a short video on their YouTube channel previewing The Final Curtain, a feature on the upcoming release of Planet of the Spiders, the final adventure of the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee).
 

2|Entertain / @ClassicDW, via YouTube

Cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Jon Pertwee and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks. More available on the Planet of the Spiders DVD

The DVD is currently expected to be released on DVD during April.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

French DVD Releases

Friday, 4 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
France Télévisions Distribution have announced the release of new editions of Series 1, 2, 3 of Doctor Who on DVD, plus the release of Series 4 and the Specials. These will all be released on 15th June exclusively at French retail chain FNAC.

The press release is below (in French and translated into English):

Doctor Who en DVD : rééditions et exclusivité le 15 juinDoctor Who on DVD: exclusive re-issues on 15th June
France Télévisions Distribution s’est associé à la FNAC pour monter une exclusivité sur les coffrets DVD de la série culte britannique « Doctor Who ».France Télévisions Distribution have partnered with FNAC to produce exclusive DVD sets of British cult series "Doctor Who".
Les coffrets 4 DVD des saisons 1, 2, 3 réuniront chacun 13 épisodes de 45 minutes et seront réédités dans un nouveau packaging. Ils seront disponibles en exclusivité dans les magasins FNAC à partir du 15 juin.4 DVD boxed sets of Series 1, 2 and 3 will each contain 13 episodes of 45 minutes, and will be re-issued in new packaging. They will be available exclusively from 15th June
Le coffret 4 DVD de la saison 3 comprendra également le Christmas Special 2006 « Le mariage de Noel » avec Catherine Tate (60 minutes).The 4 DVD boxed set of Series 3 will also include the 2006 Christmas Special The Runaway Bride with Catherine Tate (60 minutes).
La saison 4, quant à elle inédite en DVD, sera également disponible le 15 juin dans un coffret 4 DVD et reprendra le fameux Christmas Special 2007 avec en guest star Kylie Minogue dans « Une croisière autour de la Terre » (72 minutes).The exclusive DVD of Series 4 will also be available on 15th June in a 4 DVD boxed set and includes the famous 2007 Christmas Special with guest star Kylie Minogue in Voyage of the Damned (72 minutes)
Les coffrets des 4 saisons comprendront tous la version française et la version originale sous-titrée.The boxes will contain the French version of all four series, and the original with subtitles.
Enfin, un coffret de 2 DVD réunira 5 épisodes spéciaux. Ces épisodes longs (4 x 60 minutes et 1 x 75 minutes) rendent hommage au comédien principal des saisons 2 à 4, David Tennant, qui a quitté la série et introduisent le nouveau Doctor Who. Dans le casting se trouvent deux guests exceptionnels : Timothy Dalton et Michelle Ryan (Merlin, Bionic Woman).Finally a 2 DVD boxed set contains 5 episodes. These extended episodes (4 x 60 minutes, 1 x 75 minutes) pays tribute to the main actor of series 2-4, David Tennant, who leaves the series and introduces a new Doctor Who. In the cast are two outstanding guests: Timothy Dalton and Michelle Ryan (Merlin, Bionic Woman)
Ces 5 coffrets DVD seront donc en vente exclusivement à la FNAC au prix de 24,99 euros pour les coffrets 4 DVD et 19,99 euros pour le coffret 2 DVD.The five DVD sets will be for sale exclusively at FNAC, priced at 24.99 euros for the 4 DVD sets and 19.99 euros for the 2 DVD set.

You can follow France Télévisions Distribution on Facebook.






FILTER: - France - International Broadcasting - Europe - Blu-ray/DVD

The Reign of Terror, Vengeance on Varos added to DVD release schedule

Friday, 4 March 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Two new titles have been announced by 2|Entertain for the Doctor Who DVD schedule.

This afternoon saw the company reveal that First Doctor story The Reign of Terror would be released sometime next year. This will be the first incomplete story to be released on DVD since The Invasion back in 2006, with episodes four and five still missing from the BBC Archive. It is currently unclear whether this story would receive the same CGI animation reconstruction for the missing episodes like the Troughton tale, a telesnap reconstruction like the VHS release of The Tenth Planet back in 2000, or some other form, with the company merely stating via their @ClassicDW Twitter feed that:
.. REIGN OF TERROR! To be released as complete as can realistically be achieved. Likely late 2012.

During this evening DrWho Online revealed that the other release to the schedule is the Sixth Doctor adventure Vengeance on Varos, which forms part of the Revisitations strand of previous DVDs receiving a makeover and new lease of life. The announcement of the story follows on from 2|Entertain canvassing for opinion on a potential release when DVD schedules were published by Doctor Who Magazine in January.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

"Ace" boxed set in the works

Sunday, 27 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
2|Entertain have announced a new boxed set via their @ClassicDW Twitter feed:
The Ace Box commissioned and in production.
Whilst no other details have been revealed at present, it seems likely that the set will be themed around the Seventh Doctor's sidekick, Dorothy "Ace" McShane.

At this late stage in the release schedule, there are only three other stories featuring the character that have yet to come out on DVD: Dragonfire, Ace's introductory story; The Happiness Patrol, with Helen A, Fifi, and the Kandyman; and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy with the Psychic Circus and the Gods of Ragnarok.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Ark tops UK TV chart

Sunday, 20 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Official Charts have been published for this week, and the "TV on Video" chart reveals the William Hartnell adventure The Ark, released last Monday, has entered the charts straight in at number one, knocking off the two popular Vampire genre series from the top spots, The Vampire Diaries and True Blood.

1.NEWThe Ark (BBC)
2.NEW30 Rock - Series Four (Playback)
3.2The Vampire Diaries - Complete Series One (Warner Home Video)
4.1True Blood - Complete First Season (Warner Home Video)
5.NEWNot Going Out - Series Four (Playback)

The Doctor's Christmas adventure, A Christmas Carol (released 24th January), remains in the chart at number 37, down five places from the previous week.


The Official Charts Company has compiled the United Kingdom's media charts since 1998, which are sourced from over 4000 retailers. The charts are updated every Sunday at 7:00pm.




FILTER: - Specials - Ratings - Blu-ray/DVD

Frontios in June

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor WhoThe June Classic DVD release will be Frontios, the Fifth Doctor story first shown in 1984.

The show has been confirmed by Warner Home Video for release in North America on June 14th, with a UK release expected shortly before. The story includes a commentary with actors Peter Davison, Jeff Rawle and John Gillett, as well as script editor Eric Saward and special sounds designer Dick Mills.

Also available on June 14th will be the North American release of the first story for the Seventh Doctor, Time and the Rani. The story was released in the UK last September.

2|Entertain have confirmed via their twitter feed, that the classic Third Doctor story, The Daemons, has now been officially commissioned and is in production. It is expected sometime in 2012

For full details of the global DVD release schedule see our product page.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Mara Tales: DVD release details

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The two tales featuring the Mara are to be released in the United Kingdom by 2|Entertain on the 7th March 2011 (see here for the North American release date). Details for the two stories in the Mara Tales boxed set, Kinda and Snakedance, are listed below.

2|Entertain released a trailer online last year to promote the set, featuring some of the new special effects that have been especially created for the two tales; this can be viewed in our earlier article about the DVD.
 
Kinda

Written by Christopher Bailey
Directed by Peter Grimwade
Broadcast: 1st-9th February 1982

 
On a beautiful, paradise planet, Deva Loka, its inhabitants, the Kinda, are a gentle and seemingly primitive people. On the surface, a perfect place to colonise. But if it is so perfect, why are the colonisation team disappearing one by one?

Unaware of this, the Doctor and his companions choose to rest on Deva Loka. Enchanted by the beautiful Chimes, "the place of dreams", Tegan sleeps and falls prey to the Mara, a malevolent force out to steal her mind. But just what are its ultimate evil intentions?

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Adric are captured by the surviving colonisation team's officers, Sanders and the unstable Hindle. When Sanders disappears, Hindle collapses into a world of paranoid delusions and suddenly the security of the entire base is at risk.

Can the Doctor rescue Tegan from the Mara and defeat it - before it pushes Hindle over the edge? And who is the mysterious blind woman who appears in visions? Will she help the Doctor or ultimately impede him...

Special Features
  • Commentary - stereo. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Matthew Waterhouse and Nerys Hughes.
  • Dream Time (dur. 34’ 05”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Janet Fielding, Nerys Hughes, Simon Rouse and Adrian Mills, director Peter Grimwade, writer Christopher Bailey, script editors Christopher H. Bidmead, Eric Saward and Antony Root, designer Malcolm Thornton, new series writer Robert Shearman.
  • Peter Grimwade - Directing with Attitude (dur. 22’ 57”) – a look at the Doctor Who career of writer and director Peter Grimwade. With Peter Grimwade, actors Janet Fielding and Nerys Hughes, writer Christopher Bailey, script editor Eric Saward, production assistant Margot Hayhoe, designer Malcolm Thornton, production secretary Jane Judge, script consultant Ian Levine, and Target Books editor Nigel Robinson. Presented by Mark Strickson.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes (dur. 14’ 36”) – a fascinating collection of deleted sequences taken from timecoded domestic videotape copies of the story’s early edits.
  • Optional CGI Effects Sequence – option to view episode four with the original giant puppet snake replaced by a CGI snake
  • CGI Effects Comparison (dur. 1’ 34”) – a side by side comparison of the original puppet and new CGI snake shots.
  • Trails & Continuity (dur. 4’ 13”) – BBC trails and continuity announcements from the story’s original transmission.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 4’ 42”) - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
  • Isolated Music – option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

Snakedance

Written by Christopher Bailey
Directed by Fiona Cumming
Broadcast: 18th-26th January 1983

 
Surely Tegan must have made a mistake when she set the TARDIS' co-ordinates, because the Doctor certainly hadn't intended landing on Manussa? But upon learning that Manussa was once home of the Sumaran Empire, the Doctor knows that their arrival has been no accident but has been orchestrated by a hostile force - a force which is rapidly gaining control of Tegan's will.

By first infiltrating Tegan's subconscious mind, through strange and disturbing dreams dominated by the image of a huge snake's skull, this force - the Mara - is planning on as a vehicle for its return to power on the planet Manussa.

So just as Manussa prepares festivities to commemorate the destruction of the Sumaran Empire by the ruling Federation, it seems that the Legend of the Mara could be about to come true. According to this Legend, the Mara was never destroyed by the Federation but merely banished.

Furthermore, the Legend claims that the Mara will return in a dream - a precursor to its gaining control of all their minds... It is clear to the Doctor that the first steps in the Mara's return have already been taken...

Special Features
  • Commentary - stereo. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton.
  • Snake Charmer (dur. 24’ 37”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, director Fiona Cumming, writer Christopher Bailey, script editor Eric Saward, designer Jan Spoczynski, and new series writer Robert Shearman.
  • Deleted Scenes (dur. 3’ 05”) – scenes from the original ending of episode four, courtesy of a timecoded recording kept by producer John Nathan-Turner.
  • In Studio (dur. 6’ 12”) – a rare glimpse inside the studio during recording of effects sequences for the story, including the infamous ‘farting Mara’!
  • Saturday Superstore (dur. 14’ 16”) – Peter Davison guests on the Saturday morning children’s show, where he plays cricket with Mike Read and John Craven and takes questions from callers.
  • Photo Gallery (dur. 5’ 21”) - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
  • Isolated Music – option to watch the story with the isolated music score.
  • Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.


(Mara Tales is available to pre-order from our Amazon Shop)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Peter Davison

Sun Makers goes Solo

Friday, 28 January 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor WhoFollowing the announcement of the delay to the DVD release of Ambassadors of Death, 2|Entertain have confirmed that the original idea of a Solar System Box Set has been abandoned.

The release of the 1977 Fourth Doctor story, The Sun Makers will go ahead as planned with the story being released in the same slot, but as a stand-alone story.

For full details of the global DVD release schedule see our product page.




FILTER: - Tom Baker - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD