Doctor Who - Lost In Time (DVD)

...turn to colour. A new Doctor in the form of Jon Pertwee hit our screens, in a new style show and of course in colour. But within the same decade someone at the BBC decided that Black and White television would never be enjoyed again, they also wanted to clear space for new viewing material to be stored. So along with other popular shows such as Hancock's Half Hour, and Steptoe and Son the BBC destroyed hundreds of canisters of film. In this inferno ...
...BBC began cataloguing the remaining Doctor Who stories. Before Jon Pertwee became Doctor Who and colour was introduced 50 stories of between 1 and 12 episodes per story had been made and only 24 of the stories were complete. They even discovered that even some of the colour Jon Pertwee stories had been destroyed by accident. In the biggest quest since the Holy Grail a search was launched the search was for the missing Doctor Who stories.
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In 1970 Colour Television had become more than just a passing fad, Colour televisions were becoming affordable for many families (although in my family we never got a colour television until 1987). With this upsurge of colour television purchases it seemed only apt that one of televisions best known shows should turn to colour. A new Doctor in the form of Jon Pertwee hit our screens, in a new style show and of course in colour. But within the same decade someone at the BBC decided that Black and White television would never be enjoyed again, they also wanted to clear space for new viewing material to be stored. So along with other popular shows such as Hancock's Half Hour, and Steptoe and Son the BBC destroyed hundreds of canisters of film. In this inferno of destruction more than half of the previous two Doctors work was destroyed.

No sooner had the fire taken place than regrets were felt around the offices of the BBC, they had little idea of what had been destroyed or even if anything had. So the BBC began cataloguing the remaining Doctor Who stories. Before Jon Pertwee became Doctor Who and colour was introduced 50 stories of between 1 and 12 episodes per story had been made and only 24 of the stories were complete. They even discovered that even some of the colour Jon Pertwee stories had been destroyed by accident. In the biggest quest since the Holy Grail a search was launched the search was for the missing Doctor Who stories.

Lost in Time is in part a story of that search, because each episode on the DVD set although not making up a whole story was once deemed lost. It shows some of the progress they have made although other stories such as Tomb Of The Cybermen lost for 20 years also exist but in their full form.

I need to explain the story/episode scenario for you first, in 2005 each Doctor Who story was a self contained story with the exception of 3 stories that were split across two episodes. Back in the 1960's a story that could be told nowadays in 45 minutes could have been told over 4 weeks or even longer. The episode format was 25 minutes per episode instead of the 2005 format of 45 minutes per show. This did not mean that the shows of the 60's were not as good, far from it. A longer running length of each story allowed for character building, it also allowed for menace. Every episode ended with a cliff-hanger with the exception of the final episode of a story, but sometimes even they had cliff-hangers.

On to the DVD I have listed the special features of the DVD's in with the contents of Each DVD so they are not listed at the end like most reviews.

Disc 1 - The Hartnell Years

The Crusade episodes 1 & 3

The Tardis and its crew arrive in Palestine in the 11 hundreds; a massive war is in full effect due to religious issues. Barbara one of the Doctor's assistants is kidnapped in a Saracen ambush, the Doctor and the rest of the crew struggle to reclaim her.

In the special features section introductions and story fill in's are provided to bridge the gap between the missing episodes.

In the Audio section soundtracks to Episodes 2 & 4 is available.

The Daleks Masterplan Episodes 2, 5 & 10

The Daleks Masterplan is considered one of the biggest offences of the BBC's purge on Black & White content. The story split over 12 weeks showed a story of an intergalactic meeting in which all the planets agreed to form a unity, sort of like the European Union (if you call that unity). The Daleks of course are not best pleased by this and decide they must cause havoc at this meeting destroying all chance of this alliance. This story was not only the longest story until two decades later and The Trial of a Timelord, but it also hosted a series of dramatic occurrences. Renegade timelord The Meddling Monk played by carry on star Peter Butterworth returned, and two of the doctors assistants died during the story an event that did not happen again until 1981's Earthshock.

In the special features there is footage of other missing episodes in the story. But barely a few minutes of film, hope still exists that because three episodes were found the remaining 9 may also turn up.

Audio Commentary by Peter Purves is available during Episode 2.

The Celestial Toymaker Episode 4

The Doctor and his two assistants are trapped in a game kind of similar to the 1970's TV series the Adventure Game. They must solve riddles and go through physical tests to get to the end of the game and reclaim the Tardis. However on reaching the end will the Toymaker let them go. The episode only featured Hartnell for a few seconds due to his very poor health.

Special Features:-

Surviving clips of The Smugglers, and location film from the same story.

Surviving clips of Episode 4 of The Tenth Planet. The Tenth planet is another major offence in the eyes of Doctor Who fans, the forth episode was loaned to Blue Peter and then it disappeared. The reason this is so frowned upon is that it's the final story to feature William Hartnell as the Doctor, and its the first story to feature the Cybermen (These metal monsters make Daleks look like Avon Ladies they return to Doctor Who in May and July 2006). Luckily most of the Regeneration scenes from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton still exist.

A series of cine camera filming from the William Hartnell era.

Disc 2 - The Troughton Years

The Underwater Menace Episode 3

The Doctor and his assistants visit a strange City where a madman is carrying out strange and very dangerous projects. It turns out that the crew have arrived in Atlantis just before it falls into the sea.

There are a series of clips in the special features section.

The Moonbase Episode 2 & 4

On the surface of the Moon a group of Scientists are attacked by an Army of Cybermen and their pets the Cybermats. This story featured the first time the Doctor referred to his crew as Companions, the politically correct people insisted on the change.

In the special features section an audio only option is available so you can here episode 1 & 4.

The Faceless Ones Episode 1 & 3

The Doctor and his companions arrive at Gatwick airport where a series of disappearances has taken place, and when some of those who have gone missing re-appear there memories have been erased. The story features Pauline Collins who was possibly to become a companion in the second series of Patrick Troughton's era, she declined the role but returns to Doctor Who in 2006 as Queen Victoria. The story was the last to feature popular companions Ben and Polly.

The Evil Of The Daleks Episode 2 Featuring Audio Commentary

The Doctor and Jamie gain a new assistant when they discover the Daleks can travel back in time with the hope of changing history. The Evil of the Daleks was due to be the final story to ever feature the Daleks, with the entire Dalek race being destroyed at the end, they returned five years later.

In the Special Features section:-

The last remaining clips and a trailer for The Power of the Daleks.

Surviving Clips of The Highlanders

Surviving clips of The Macra Terror

Cine Film footage of Patrick Troughton's time as the Doctor

The Last Dalek 8mm footage featuring audio commentary showing the last remaining Dalek from Evil Of The Daleks desperate bid for escape.

Disc 3 - The Troughton Years Disc 2

The Abominable Snowman Episode 2 with audio commentary

The Tardis Crew arrive in the Himalayas where a strange orb controls the killing force of vicious killer Yeti's. Filmed in fact in Scotland this story was the most expensive story (to that date) to make due to the vast amounts of location time and fur required to complete filming.

There are a series of clips in the special features section. A rather spooky location filming is also contained; the music that accompanies the film makes it look like an American crime scene documentary.

The Enemy Of The World Episode 3

The Doctor and his companions arrive in a parallel universe where The Doctor plays an evil dictator. The good character need to try and convince the Evil ones to change their ways. The story was said to be Patrick Troughtons favourite as he loved being bad.

The Web Of Fear Episode 1 with audio commentary

The Doctor and his companions arrive in a dead and derelict London, over-run with the killer Yeti's seen in the Abominable Snowman. In the story the Yeti hid and lived in the London Underground.

There are a series of clips in the special features section.

The Wheel In Space Episodes 3 and 6

On a giant floating space station The Cybermen are planning an Invasion of Earth but between them is the wheel. The Doctor and Jamie also gain a new travelling companion. The Cyberman had dominated much of Patrick Troughton's reign in fact over a third of his era had featured them.

There are a series of clips in the special features section.

Episode 6 features an audio commentary

The Space Pirates Episode 2

A series of thefts in space cause a Commander to abandon his present mission to investigate them. The Tardis Crew investigate and become separated in the feud. In my opinion this is the worst addition on the box set.

There are a series of clips in the special features section.

Also in the Special Features Section:

Doctor Who - The Missing Years, a documentary about the lost episodes and how the search process is progressing. The documentary features many scenes recently discovered and tales of their discovery.

Surviving Clips, film trims and colour film shot during the making of Fury from the Deep.

A group of Doctor Who fans and Film Restorers have worked carefully to preserve the images and where possible clean them up. As a result many of this the prints are in fantastic condition and the poorer prints you except as its just a treasure to see them.

It was nice to see some of these lost gems; you get a real feel for the production values of the 1960's. Somehow they just did not look quite as cardboard like as the shows of the 70's and 80's.

There is nearly 8 hours of content on this DVD set and it's all great to watch. You can get this DVD box set from Blah for £23.99 or Ebay from £19.99.
 

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