At last some proper Doctor Who! And I don't mind colour versions either. The original might not be in colour but then neither was it a cartoon! So anything to enhance the viewing pleasure whilst the real things is still missing is a great thing.
I am hearing reports that the S19 bluray set has errors on it.
Apparently one of the special features has sound completely out of synch with the audio.
What absolute and total incompetence if true. You'd think that after the kerfuffle with the first set, BBC Studios would go through the second set with a fine tooth comb. And they haven't. Astonishing, really.
The cover art and special features of the animated version of the missing Doctor Who adventure The Macra Terror, releasing on DVD, Blu-ray, special edition Steelbook and digital download on 25th March 2019, have been revealed.
Originally broadcast in four weekly parts from 11th March to 1st April 1967, and starring Patrick Troughton, Anneke Wills, Michael Craze and Frazer Hines, no full episodes of this serial are known to have survived on film. Fortunately for fans, a complete audio recording of all four parts still exists. Now, 52 years later, the four episodes will be brought back to life through the power of animation, available on disc and digital download, in both colour and black and white, from 25th March 2019.
Anneke Wills says, Back in 1967 “There's no such thing as Macra!” was the cry; and for many years after there was no such thing as “The Macra Terror”. Now, thanks to the magic of animation, we can see the story come to life again. I can't wait to see this adventure and how gratifying to have a little more of Ben and Polly’s time with the Doctor available to be seen by new generations. The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions arrive on a human colony in the far flung future. The colony appears to be a giant recreational complex - a holiday camp for rest and relaxation. Everyone looks happy and carefree but all is not as it seems. The colony has been infiltrated and brainwashed by a race of giant parasitic crab creatures called the Macra.
The Macra have only returned once since, 40 years later, coming face to face with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) in the 2007 episode Gridlock.
Paul Hembury, Executive Producer, BBC Studios says, After the success of Shada, we were very excited by the possibility of further animations. We are therefore delighted to be able to bring fans these missing episodes in a completely new form. Special features for the DVD and Blu-ray release include:
Audio Commentary: Toby Hadoke presents an audio commentary track on all four episodes of ‘The Macra Terror’, featuring cast and crew from the original 1967 production - Frazer Hines (Jamie), Terence Lodge (Medok), Anthony Gardner (Alvis), Maureen Lane (Majorette) and director, John Davies. Commentary produced by John Kelly and recorded in London on 4th January 2019.
Episode Reconstructions: Surviving film frames, fragments of existing footage and set photographs are brought together with the original unedited audio to reconstruct a presentation of the original now lost live-action production of ‘The Macra Terror’, as seen by viewers of BBC 1 in 1967. Produced by Derek Handley. Available to watch with or without an optional narration track read by Anneke Wills.
Bonus Mini-Episode: A ten-minute animated short, built around an otherwise lost Doctor Who episode from 1968 starring Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines. Directed by AnneMarie Walsh. Animation Test: Prior to the project being formally commissioned, this short animation test (of a scene from episode 3 of ‘The Macra Terror’) was produced in March 2018, to investigate the feasibility of mounting the production in full.
Animatics: A selection of scenes showing how the new animated production of ‘The Macra Terror’ went from initial storyboards to final animation. Storyboard art by Adrian Salmon.
Animation Gallery: A gallery of artwork from the development, pre-production and animation of the new animated version of ‘The Macra Terror’, including character art from Martin Geraghty and background paintings from Graham Bleathman, Colin Howard and Lydia Butz.
Teaser Trailer: A short teaser trailer animated by Rob Ritchie, produced to promote the announcement of a new production of ‘The Macra Terror’ in December 2018.
Alternative Black and White presentation: The full four-part animation is also available to view in an alternative black and white format on disc 2.
1992 Audio Presentation: In 1992, the BBC Audio Collection released ‘The Macra Terror’ on audio cassette, in a special release narrated by Colin Baker. It was the first time that the story had been made commercially available by the BBC and that audio-only release is included here in full. Surviving Footage: Less than two minutes of original footage still exist from the 1967 production of ‘The Macra Terror’. These film fragments have been painstakingly restored and digitally remastered for this release, with considerable improvements made to the overall picture quality and resolution of this unique footage. Film restoration by Peter Crocker.
Behind the scenes film: In 1967, during pre-production of ‘The Macra Terror’, film cameras visited the visual effects workshop in Uxbridge where work was underway on construction of the Macra props. Special effects props and models from other Doctor Who stories can also be seen in the workshop, including parts of a Cyberman from ‘The Tenth Planet’ (1966) and an aeroplane from ‘The Faceless Ones’ (1967). This footage is accompanied by a new audio commentary track from Doctor Who visual effects designer and BBC visual effects historian, Mike Tucker, explaining some of the effects techniques and props featured in the film.
Censored Scene: A reconstruction of a scene from episode 2 of ‘The Macra Terror’ that was heavily re-edited by censors for the episode’s Australian television transmission in November 1967. Title sequences: ‘The Macra Terror’ saw the debut of a new title sequence for Doctor Who - the first time the programme had made such a change. The title sequence is presented here in full, remastered in HD and in a number of alternative versions.
Photo gallery: A collection of 36 photographs taken during the production of ‘The Macra Terror’ in 1967, featuring original design department set photographs and Radio Times publicity images. All presented in HD.
Production Paperwork: A full set of original camera scripts, studio schedules, floor plans and other materials are available to view by accessing disc 2 via your computer’s DVD or Blu Ray ROM drive.
Additional extras exclusive to Steelbook: Gridlock: The Macra returned to Doctor Who in 2007, in this episode starring David Tennant and written by Russell T. Davies
Audio commentary: Julie Gardner, Travis Oliver and Marie Jones discuss the making of 'Gridlock' in this audio commentary track from 2007.
Doctor Who Confidential – Are we there yet?: A documentary looking at the making of the 2007 story, 'Gridlock'.
I am reading reports this morning, that, for the third time in a row, the latest Blu set has errors on it.
As you know, the S12 set had some significant issues. The S19 set had minor issues. On the S18 set, it's more minor issues:
Something wrong with the sound mix on The Leisure Hive. Also, the music dub on The Leisure Hive is wrong. To quote Gareth Roberts, 'It’s the soundtrack version, which is the version before the final dub on the transmitted version. Missing some bits and bobs, has some extra bits and bobs.' On the opening credits of all four episodes of Meglos, the writer Andrew McCulloch is credited as
'Andrew McCulloGh'
And yes, that is a capital 'G'.
These are all minor issues, but that they're happening on every blu-ray set, suggests the BBC needs to have a look at their internal processes. It's embarrassing that it continues.
BBC Studios have annnounced that the next release in their Doctor Who: The Collection will be the tenth anniversary series of advantures, starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor:
In 1973, Doctor Who celebrated its tenth anniversary with a very special story reuniting the first two Doctors – William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton – with Jon Pertwee’s then-current Doctor. The Three Doctors kicks off an explosive, colourful series of adventures across all of time and space as the Doctor and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) encounter the rogue Time Lord Omega, the terrifying Drashigs, the noble Draconians, fearsome Ogrons, deadly Daleks and slithering giant maggots. Season 10 also includes the final appearance of Roger Delgado as the Doctor’s arch nemesis The Master, plus adventures alongside Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and UNIT.
The six disc Blu-ray collection includes all five of the stories comprising this season, plus a bonus disc of extras. As well as features previously available on the DVD releases, the set will include:
A brand new feature-length documentary examining the Third Doctor’s Era, with archival contributions from Jon Pertwee, Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks plus all-new interviews with Katy Manning, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, presented by Matthew Sweet.
Updated special effects and surround sound mix for Planet of the Daleks.
Five new instalments of Behind the Sofa, featuring Katy Manning, Richard Franklin (Captain Yates) and John Levene (Sergeant Benton), along with 21st century Doctor Who panel Phil Collinson (Producer/Executive Producer), Pete McTighe (Writer) and Joy Wilkinson (Writer).
Looking for Lennie, a documentary investigating the life of director Lennie Mayne.
Keeping up with the Jones’, which sees Katy Manning with Stewart Bevan (Cliff Jones) pay a return visit to the Welsh locations from The Green Death.
Plus: a repeat omnibus of The Green Death unseen since Christmas 1973, rare Panopticon convention footage, Blu-ray trailer, HD photo galleries plus scripts, production files and rare documentation provided as PDFs.
The set will also include Death Of The Doctor, which featured Katy Manning reprising her role as Jo in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Doctor Who: The Collection: Season Ten is due to be released on Monday 8th July 2019 (the day after what would have been Jon Pertwee's 100th birthday)
A number of DVD titles that have been unavailable in the United States are to have "made-on-demand" re-releases via the BBC Shop.
The first batch of five titles consist of The Time Meddler, The Krotons, The Three Doctors (special edition), Planet Of The Spiders and The Sun Makers, and are released on the 25th June.
The next batch of five follow a couple of weeks later on 9th July, consisting of The Invasion of Time, Frontios, The Mark Of The Rani, The Happiness Patrol and The TV Movie special edition.
BBC Studios has announced that The Faceless Ones will be the next animated Doctor Who release.
The release follows the success of The Power of the Daleks, Shada and The Macra Terror. The Faceless Ones will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and as an exclusive steelbook next year.
The Faceless Ones is the mostly missing eighth serial of the fourth season in Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from April to May 1967. Starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, the story concerns a race of identity-stealing aliens known as the Chameleons.
The story is the last to feature Michael Craze as Ben and Anneke Wills as Polly.
Only two of the six episodes are held in the BBC film archives with snippets of footage and still images existing from the other four. Off-air recordings of the soundtrack also still exist, making the animation of a complete serial possible once again.
The six new animated episodes are being made in full colour and high definition and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2020. The DVD/Blu-ray release will also include surviving archive material from the original 1967 production.
Apparently a noticeboard in a HMV store has Doctor Who Season 23 (Trial of a Time Lord) Blu-Ray down for release on September 16th.
That would tie in with Colin Baker and Mark Strickson's comments at Collectormania 26 in Birmingham last weekend that they've recorded extras for it. Also Colin and Sylvester were doing some filming in North Wales last month.
And yes, I did say Mark Strickson. The blu-ray production teams like to use out-of-season companions in the extras!
BBC Studios have announced that the next instalment in their collection of remastered Blu-ray Doctor Who boxed sets will see the Doctor on trial as Colin Baker's last season is released on 23rd September 2019.
In 1985, Doctor Who was taken off the air for an 18 month hiatus. When it returned, it was with an ambitious fourteen-episode adventure, The Trial of a Time Lord. The epic story saw the Doctor on trial for his life, with the court examining his adventures with companion Peri (Nicola Bryant) and looking to his future escapades with new companion Melanie (Bonnie Langford). This season saw the return of popular villain Sil, along with the Master, the towering robot Drathro and the plant-based Vervoid monsters. With the Inquisitor (Lynda Bellingham) overseeing the proceedings, it was the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) who proved the greatest threat, hiding his own sinister motives for wanting the Doctor’s downfall.
The six disc Blu-ray collection includes all four of the stories comprising this season, features previously available on the original DVD releases, plus a range of new material:
Extended edits - of all fourteen episodes Terror of the Vervoids - four-part standalone edition with updated effects Immersive 5.1 surround sound and isolated scores - on all 14 broadcast episodes* Behind the Sofa - new episodes with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Bonnie Langford, Mark Strickson, Frazer Hines and Matthew Waterhouse The Writers’ Room - Eric Saward, Philip Martin, Christopher H Bidmead & Waly K Daly discuss the ‘Lost’ Season 23 The Doctor Who Cookbook Revisited - brave cast members tackle their original recipes from the 1980s official cookbook The Doctor’s Table - join Colin Baker and friends for dinner In Conversation - Matthew Sweet chats to companion Bonnie Langford Plus: unseen studio footage, rare archive treats, convention footage, Blu-ray trailer, HD photo galleries, scripts, costume designs & more in the PDF Archive.
It's a strange choice, as this season was made entirely on videotape - no film at all - so there can't be any improvement in picture quality. I'd have left this one until last and done Colin's first season instead.
I've resisted all the Blu rays so far. Hate the presentation. I feel I can wait while they come down in price, with better packaging. Having most of it on dvd means I can take the chance of it not being re-released. Which is highly unlikely of course. And as we keep saying, the majority of Who ain't going to be improved significantly enough.
And the Trial season is when it started to go downhill rapidly. I see they've bulked out the package with delights like 'Dinner with Colin and Friends', and tv cookery programme style efforts with the cast using the official Doctor Who cookbook!
I've resisted all the Blu rays so far. Hate the presentation. I feel I can wait while they come down in price, with better packaging. Having most of it on dvd means I can take the chance of it not being re-released. Which is highly unlikely of course. And as we keep saying, the majority of Who ain't going to be improved significantly enough.
And the Trial season is when it started to go downhill rapidly. I see they've bulked out the package with delights like 'Dinner with Colin and Friends', and tv cookery programme style efforts with the cast using the official Doctor Who cookbook!
My oh my. Still to those who want it ENJOY!
I, like you, am satisfied with my DVDs.
It's amazing how many people are agonising over these new sets. As if they've never been released before!
It's the collector thing. I mean, we don't have to fall for every single breadcrumb they throw at us. As nice as it would be to see these extras, my main reason to go again would be to miniaturise the whole thing since the quality isn't really that better.
And as the march against everything physical carries on I don't think it's that wise an investment at the prices they're charging. At least not to watch Nicola Bryant bake a cake..
