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Doctor
Who: Origins (53'51")
A lavish documentary on the birth of the series, not only looking at the
production directly but also giving it a solid historical grounding.
- Marcus Hearn explains a little about the way the BBC was operating in
the early 60s, beginning to see themselves as being more than "radio with
pictures". Sydney Newman (archive footage from 1984) tells us how he became
involved with the company at that time and Lambert offers her thoughts on
Newman's introduction.
- Hearn then speaks of the Drama Group and Donald Wilson's involvement.
- Richard Martin and Lambert enthuse about the changes Newman brought with
him, and Newman himself explains how he come to know Wilson and why
the need for Doctor Who arose. Lambert then explains Donald Baverstock's
involvement.
- Newman tells us his original concept for the character of Dr Who.
- Martin remembers Rex Tucker with fondness, and gives him credit for
getting him involved in the genesis of Doctor Who.
- Newman explains further the concept of the characters and initial
setting and also the original opening story about giants.
- Martin, Waris Hussein and Lambert give their thoughts on Mervyn Pinfield
and the Lime Grove studio they had to use.
- Lambert then joins the scene, and explains her initial thoughts on the
show. Hearn also offers more of his knowledge, and Newman tells us why he
picked Lambert.
- Hussein talks about his introduction to the job of directing the first
story and Lambert about hiring David Whitaker.
- Discussion turns to the casting, with Hearn providing some of the names
considered for the Doctor - Hussein and Lambert explain some of the thinking
behind these names.
- Lambert and Hussein remember William Hartnell's and Jacqueline Hill's
first reactions and William Russell and Carole Anne Ford their own.
- The theme tune comes under scrutiny, as Lambert tells us her initial
concept (and archive footage of Desmond Briscoe explains the BBC Radiophonic
Workshop) and her eventual approaching of Ron Grainer. Hodgson recalls the
creation of the TARDIS takeoff sound and Lodge the visuals for the opening
credits. Archive footage of Delia Derbyshire teaches us how electronic music
is created and Hodgson remembers hearing it for the first time.
- Martin and Lambert talk about Rex Tucker eventually leaving.
- Russell and Ford remember when they, Hartnell and Hill met each other.
- Hussein recalls everyone sitting down to discuss how to approach the
show's first episodes - Russell has a somewhat more energetic memory of
those events.
- Russell speaks of his awe with the TARDIS set but he, along with Lambert
and Hussein, remember the pressures they were under.
- Hussein and Lambert tell us about Newman's reactions to the pilot, and
their rare chance to re-record.
- Lambert on being told off for spiralling design costs but using that to
twist the BBC's arm into commissioning new episodes.
Clips used are cropped into 4:3
Discussing the origins of Doctor Who were Carole Ann Ford, Brian Hodgson,
Waris Hussein, Verity Lambert OBE, Bernard Lodge, Richard Martin, William
Russell, Marcus Hearn
Narrator: Terry Molloy
Additional Voices: David Harley
Archive Sources: BBC Film & Television Library, BBC Photo Library, BBC Written
Archive, Canal Plus Image UK, David Whitaker Estate, Waris Hussein, Muffin the
Mule (C) Maverick Entertainment Group PLC
Archive Research: Andrew Martin
Photo Research: Esther Barry, Derek Handley, Marcus Hearn, Doctor Who Magazine
With thanks to Richard Bignell, John Kelly, Ralph Montagu, Paul Vanezis
Colourist: Andrew Parkinson
Sound: Angus Anderson, David Mason
Camera: Une Herzer
Editor and Associate Producer: Steve Broster
Written and Produced by Richard Molesworth
Executive Producer: Steve Roberts
BBC Worldwide (C) BBC MMVI
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Over
the Edge (29'22")
An in-depth look at the making of the story, with contributions from
original cast and crew, and the fans.
- Richard Martin explains the tension behind the scenes as
this time and cost saving story. Verity Lambert tells us why
David Whittaker and herself came up with the plotline they did.
- Keith Barnfather talks about the friction between the
characters and Waris Hussein about series B and D going over
budget.
- William Russell on his character's development and Martin
and Brian Hodgson on the development of them all.
- Russell is joined by Carole Ann Ford to discuss the
characters between them, which Lambert, Russell, Frank Cox and
Martin then go into further, especially with regards to Susan.
- Richard Landen and Barnfather remind us how shocking the
story was to the fans at the time - Lambert accepts the scissors
were too much.
- Lambert, Martin and Cox explain that they the latter being
tried out on the second episode, hence the director split.
Jeremy Bentham and Barnfather debate the differences.
- Cox tells us he's always used stock music, Martin enthuses
over the sound team, and Hodgson and Bentham offer their
thoughts on the work.
- Russell expresses his dissatisfaction at the story's
resolution while Landen and Barnfather focus more on the
labelling of the Fast Return Switch. Cusick and Lambert try and
remember the reasons why. Ford recalls herself and Hartnell
trying to work out which switch was which.
- The planet Quinnis comes under discussion with thoughts from
Cox, Landen, Lambert, Barnfather and Bentham all giving it far
too much thought.
- Barnfather, Landen and Ford discuss the relationship between
Susan and the Doctor.
- Peter Anghelides debates with himself over the various
merits of Hartnell's final soliloquy. Cox confides in us that
Hartnell wasn't great with his lines, but Lambert, Russell and
Barnfather defend him on the basis of this scene.
- Barnfather points out that the story's focus is on showing
us the TARDIS' intelligence while Martin wishes that the melting
clock could not have melted on screen. Ford recalls the scenes
with wonder. Landen and Bentham also discuss how difficult it
was to get across the idea with limited budget.
- Brief discussion of the TARDIS' power as seen in The Parting
of the Ways by Lambert, Barnfather and Angelhides.
Clips used are pillarboxed into 16:9, except The Parting of the Ways and Boom
Town which are presented in full OAR.
Sound: Angus Anderson
Camera: Une Herzer
Special Thanks to Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Richard Molesworth
Editor & Assistant Producer: Adi Denney
Produced & Directed by Ian Levine
BBC Worldwide (C) BBC MMVI
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Inside
the Spaceship (10'13")
A segment on the TARDIS prepared for the prior documentary, but cut for time and
ultimately included on the disc as a separate feature.
- Carole Ann Ford and William Russell discuss the backronym
for TARDIS.
- Ray Cusick talks about Peter Brackachi's interior design and
Verity Lambert about being surrounded by such wonderful talent.
- Waris Hussein admits he didn't like the set, Ford describes
it as "glowing" and Richard Martin talks about the sparseness of
the TARDIS before Inside the Spaceship.
- Cusick covers the "sleeping machines" and Lambert remembers
their relationship with Shawcraft, who made the TARDIS "work".
- Martin, Ford and Frank Cox on the ever expanding aspects of
the TARDIS and its hi-techness.
- Hussein, Cox and Ford remember Studio D at Lime Grove with
horror.
- Brian Hodgson on the TARDIS takeoff sound and how it was
created.
- Martin recalls the design meetings and demanding a ceiling
for the TARDIS.
- Lambert finishes by confirming her love for the design.
Clips used are pillarboxed into 16:9.
Sound: Angus Anderson
Camera: Une Herzer
Special Thanks to Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Richard Molesworth
Editor & Assistant Producer: Adi Denney
Produced & Directed by Ian Levine
BBC Worldwide (C) BBC MMVI
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Masters
of Sound (12'23")
A look at the creation of the theme tune, using unaired footage from the 1993
documentary 'Thirty Years in the TARDIS'. Interviewed are Brian Hodgson, Dick
Mills, Delia Derbyshire, Verity Lambert. A clip from the 26/11/68 edition of
'Tom-Tom' is also used to show the Radiophonic Workshop as it looked in the 60s,
which also interviewed Delia Derbyshire.
Many Thanks to Mark Ayres, Derek Handley, Ralph Montagu, Andrew Pixley, Chris
Ratcliffe
Cameras: John Adderley, Pete Tyler, Dave Hicks
Vortex FX & Sound Editor: Alistair Lock
Editor & Director: Kevin Jon Davies
Producer: Steve Roberts
Dedicated to the memory of Delia Derbyshire, Ron Grainer
BBC Worldwide (C) BBC MMVI
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Marco
Polo (31'25")
A cut-down version of the audio to the fourth story, married with telesnap
images, followed by an advert for the CD version.
Tele-Snaps: John Cura
Photographs: BBC Photograph Library, Barry Newbery
Thanks to: Tony Clark, Richard Landen, David Holman, Dean Rose, David Miller,
Warris Hussein, David Howe, Doctor Who Magazine
Producer: Ralph Montagu
Audio Restoration: Mark Ayres
Editor: Derek Handley
BBC Worldwide (C) MMVI
Gallery (5'08")
7 b/w photos of Inside the Spaceship, 1b/w photo of Marco Polo and 56
colour/colourised photos of the latter story.
With thanks to: Barry Newbery, BBC Photograph Library, Doctor Who Magazine,
Derek Handley, Tony Clark
BBC Worldwide (C) MMV
Commentary
None, due to the strained budget of this box-set.
PDF Documents
Radio times billings for the first 13 episodes of Doctor Who, and the script
for the pilot.
Production Subtitles
By Martin Wiggins
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30/01/2006: UK - 2Entertain - BBCDVD1882(C) - Part of "The Beginning" BBCV1882
