The final, 155th, story of the original “Doctor Who” series, “Survival”, is out on DVD on 16th April as a two-disc set. The BBC are promoting this as the fortieth release from the classic series, on this format, although story wise it’s actually the 43rd. “Lost in Time” contained no complete stories while the Hartnell set and forthcoming Anthony Ainley box both contain three apiece. And the 40, or 43, also includes the 1996 TV movie which some would argue isn’t part of the original run even though the DVD was marketed as though it is. It just depends on your point of view. I’m sure, sometime in the future, new “Doctor Who” will be reissued as though it belongs with the original series, maybe in the event of a further revival. It’s interesting, though, how time changes perception of how these things are distinguished.
In light of the recent budget release of the two-part story “The Sontaran Experiment”, I wondered how the BBC would now deal with three-parters considering, in terms of length, “Ghost Light” doesn’t represent value for money in comparison with the eight-part Troughton story “The Invasion”! The answer is simple, loads of extras. I was lucky in purchasing that McCoy story as part of a BOGOF (buy one, get one free) offer but as its companion was the six-part “Genesis of the Daleks”, even then, length wise, “Ghost Light” is still poor value. It’s a terrific story though so, in this case, quality overruled quantity and, besides, I had to have it as I was at University with one of the night maids - in the cast! That probably sounds a bit naughty so let me put your minds at rest. She trained as a musician and played flute in some first performances of my compositions. If you’re reading this, Vivienne, I still have the tapes!!
“Survival” was the last broadcast story but not the last to be made. That was “Ghost Light” and so, in one sense, my friend has the honour of appearing in the last ever original “Doctor Who” story alongside the legendary Sylvia Syms. But, in the eyes of the viewing public, Anthony Ainley’s swansong, and perhaps his best performance in the role of the Master, was the proper close of a terrific 26-year run. And, this release complements this month’s release of his first three stories. I have to admit, I would’ve preferred “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy”, from the Sylvester McCoy era, as this would’ve completed my favourite quartet of his stories, adding to the three already available. Same director (Alan Wareing), same location, better story. No matter, the last episode of “Survival” does boast a brief appearance by a very young Adele “bad cat man” Silva, now better known for her part in soap opera “Emmerdale”. And, as she also contributes to a two-part documentary on the story, by way of celebration, below is a six-picture gallery in which she looks a little older! Vivienne, by the way, is the redhead in the picture above, back left, under the word THE.
4 comments:
I will be so happy when I've a chance to view and understand DR WHO. I am most curious. A friend has promised to loan me his DVD collection next month. Still am puzzled why I can't borrow any this month. Whatever.
But, soon I shall understand this thing everyone keeps chatting about!
Hi Matty,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I’d be interested to know which ones you watch and what you make of them. As with all series, some stories are better than others. If you get to see one with the Daleks, and you’ll know them when you see them, then that’s a pretty good place to start as they are core to the series’ popularity. I really envy you coming to the show for the first time. I hope you enjoy them, whenever you get to see them!
Yes, welcome to Matty the Dr Who, erm...virgin! For want of a better expression. Okay, how about...acolyte? That's better.
We look forward to hearing your feedback on the show Matty, when you finally get round to watch those DVDs your mate has been sholding on to!
Time Warden - that's interesting that "Survival" is the 43rd release - you've obviously been keeping track. Which means the Beeb have now released almost a third of the entire programme on DVD! Of course, some of the Hartnell / Troughton episodes no longer exist (a great shame) so I guess that reduces further the list of remaining releases.
I've never been a massive fan of the Sly McCoy era to be honest, although perhaps I should check out some of his stories again some time. I remember I was at uni when the final stories were being shown and by that stage had "gone off" the programme. "Time and the Rani" I found absolutley appalling and that put me off big time. Not to mention the casting of Bonnie Langford as a companion! Dreadful!
However perhaps it's time for a reappraisal. I have read in many places that the last season saw an upward trend in quality which is encouraging. And apparently Anthony Ainley was excellent in "Survival" having hammed it up way too much in previous adventures.
It's also really encouraging that we can expect more DVD releases throughout the year with the "vanilla" DVDs accompanying the ones with more special features. However even the vanilla ones are of note. I watched "Sontaran Experiment" DVD the other weekend and really enjoyed it. Great location work, scenes and performances from the cast, if a little rushed and the Sontaran robot was pretty laughable! But good stuff overall. And the "Built for War" documentary was well put together too.
But for me one the best "Who" DVD releases yet is just about to occur ... "The Keeper of Traken", "Logopolis" and "Castrovalva" in one box set!! Yaaay!! The latter two stories rank as two of my favorite ever Dr Who adventures. Although some critics find them slow and ponderous, I love Christopher Bidmead's writing. He writes intelligently for his characters. And "Logopolis" is a great swansong for Tom Baker, with a strong performance from the man himself, haunted by the presence of the ghostly Watcher, hovering on the sidelines. I love the Paddy Kingsland incidental music in both stories too.
Okay I'll shut up now!
I only started collecting the DVDs, in earnest, last year so I drew up a rough plan of action regard purchasing them. Reason being, I already have many of the titles on VHS. Strange thing is, I went for all my favourites, despite having most of them already, rather than plugging the gaps! It is a real shame over the missing episodes, the irony being that the BBC have, most likely, made more money because of that fact than they would had the series remained intact. I, for one, would queue round the block should “Fury from the Deep”, in the unlikely event of rediscovery, find its way onto DVD!!
I would strongly encourage a re-evaluation of the McCoy era. The upward trend in quality began with the penultimate season, I would say, specifically “Remembrance of the Daleks”. I would especially recommend “The Curse of Fenric”, a classic vampire tale (despite the last episode seeming a little rushed) with overtones of Norse mythology, “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy”, which boasts a better werewolf transformation sequence than in “Tooth and Claw”, and “Ghost Light”, definitely complex (but rewarding) and not impenetrable, as some might have you believe, and with a terrific cast.
I think some critics find “Logopolis” and “Castrovalva” “slow and ponderous” because this was when Chris Bidmead was trying to put the science back into science fiction. An admirable idea, but I suspect the mathematical element puts some people off the same way techno babble does potential “Star Trek” viewers. I think “Frontios” is his best story and is the Davison I’d most like to see released on DVD, especially as I missed the VHS and haven’t seen it since 1984! I already have the soon-to-be-released Ainley trilogy, on tape, so confess to a slight bias.
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