UK DVD releases update for second quarter

Wednesday, 8 February 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
The BBC and 2|Entertain have given further details about the forthcoming DVD releases of The Dæmons, Nightmare of Eden, and the Ace Adventures box set comprising Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol.

The Dæmons
Release date: 19th March 2012 (brought forward from 26th March) (available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman (as Guy Leopold)
Directed by Christopher Barry

Broadcast: 22nd May - 19th June 1971

In the peaceful village of Devil's End something very strange is happening. A professor is preparing to open a nearby burial mound and a local white witch foresees death and disaster. Meanwhile, the new vicar looks suspiciously like the Master and he is using black magic to conjure up an ancient Dæmon. Can the Doctor, Jo and UNIT stop their old enemy before he succeeds?
 

Special Features
  • Commentary
  • The Devil Rides Out - Cast and crew talk about the making of the story.
  • Remembering Barry Letts - A look at the life and work of Barry Letts.
  • Location Film - A mute amateur 8mm film shot in the village of Aldbourne during the location filming.
  • Colourisation Test - The original colourisation test version of episode one from 1992.
  • Tomorrow's World - An article on the technology used in the restoration.
  • Radio Times listings
  • Programme subtitles
  • Production information subtitles
  • Photo gallery
  • Coming Soon trailer
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality
Nightmare of Eden
Release date: 2nd April 2012 (available for pre-order)

Starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, with Lalla Ward as Romana and David Brierley as K-9
Written by Bob Baker
Directed by Alan Bromly and Graham Williams

Broadcast: 24th Nov - 15th Dec 1979

Two spacecraft fuse in a hyperspace collision, and with the dimensional instabilities threatening everyone aboard, it's fortunate the Doctor, Romana, and K-9 arrive to help. But when a crew member is found clawed by a ferocious creature, it seems there's something even more frightening stalking the corridors. But what can this have to do with a zoologist, Professor Tryst, his CET projection machine, and a planet called Eden?
 

Special Features
  • Commentary - with actors Lalla Ward (Romana) and Peter Craze (Costa), writer Bob Baker, effects designer Colin Mapson and make-up designer Joan Stribling. Moderated by Toby Hadoke
  • The Nightmare of Television Centre - A look back at a somewhat troubled production with three of the behind-the-scenes crew who worked on it
  • Going Solo - Writer Bob Baker talks about Nightmare of Eden
  • The Doctor's Strange Love - with comedian Josie Long and writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier
  • Ask Aspel - Lalla Ward's appearance on the popular BBC TV children's show
  • Radio Times listings (DVD-ROM)
  • Programme subtitles
  • Production information subtitles
  • Photo gallery
  • Coming Soon trailer
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

Ace Adventures Box Set
Release date: 7th May 2012 (available for pre-order)

In the classic-era stories Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol, Ace joins the Seventh Doctor aboard the TARDIS and is soon battling a biomechanoid and liberating a world where just feeling sad can get you shot!
 

Dragonfire

Starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, with Sophie Aldred as Ace

Written by Ian Briggs
Directed by Chris Clough

Broadcast: 23rd Nov - 7th Dec 1987

On the planet Svartos, the Doctor and Mel unexpectedly encounter an old friend – Sabalom Glitz. Joined by Ace, a teenage waitress with a love for explosives, the group ventures off to find the fabled Dragonfire treasure.

 

Special Features
  • Commentary
  • Deleted/extended scenes
  • Trivia subtitles
  • Video and audio restoration
  • Radio Times billings (PDF)
  • Making-of documentary
  • Photo gallery
  • Danny Bang - documentary
  • The Doctor's Strange Love - documentary
  • Coming Soon trailer

The Happiness Patrol

Starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, with Sophie Aldred as Ace

Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough

Broadcast: 2nd - 16th Nov 1988

On the planet Terra Alpha, the population constantly displays happy smiles. Anyone feeling remotely glum disappears. Quickly. Having heard disturbing rumours, the Doctor and Ace arrive to topple the entire regime.

 

Special Features
  • Commentary
  • "Ace" wishes Blue Peter Happy Birthday - archive clip
  • Isolated score
  • Deleted/extended scenes
  • Trivia subtitles
  • Video and audio restoration
  • Coming Soon trailer
  • Radio Times billings (PDF)
  • Making-of documentary
  • Photo gallery
  • Politics In Doctor Who - documentary


A reminder to our readers that the Revisitations 3 DVD box set, comprising special remastered, repackaged and reappraised editions of The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Three Doctors, and The Robots of Death is released on 13th February 2012 and is available for pre-order. The special features for each story are as follows:

The Tomb of the Cybermen
  • Morris Barry introduction - The director’s introduction from the 1993 VHS release
  • Title sequence - Tests and build-up elements for the Patrick Troughton title sequence
  • Late Night Line-Up - Behind the scenes at the BBC Visual Effects department to interview Jack Kine
  • The Final End - The Evil of the Daleks is mostly missing from the BBC archives. A small taste of the climactic battle . . .
  • The Abominable Snowmen audio trailer
  • Coming Soon trailer
  • Production subtitles
  • The Lost Giants - Cast and crew look back on the making of the story
  • The Curse of the Cybermen's Tomb - Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr Debbie Challis examine the ancient Egyptian origins to the story
  • Cybermen - Extended edition of a history of the Cybermen
  • The Magic of VidFIRE - A look at the technology behind the VidFIRE process
  • Sky Ray advert - 1960s Doctor Who-themed promo for Walls Sky Ray ice lolly
  • Photo gallery
  • Radio Times listings
The Three Doctors
  • Commentary
  • Happy Birthday To Who - A brand-new look at the making of this anniversary story
  • Was Doctor Who Rubbish? - Raising a defence against criticism of the classic series
  • Girls, Girls, Girls – The 1970s Katy Manning, Caroline John (Liz Shaw) and Louise Jameson (Leela) on being a 1970s Doctor Who girl
  • Pebble Mill At One - Archival interview with Patrick Troughton and visual effects wizard Bernard Wilkie
  • Blue Peter - Jon Pertwee introduces the Whomobile
  • BSB highlights - Cast and crew discuss The Three Doctors
  • The Five Faces Of Doctor Who - The full trailer for the 1981 repeat season, which included The Three Doctors
  • BBC1 trailer
  • 40th anniversary trailer
  • Radio Times listings
  • Production subtitles
  • Photo gallery
  • Coming Soon trailer
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound


The Robots of Death
  • Commentary 1 - Original release commentary
  • Commentary 2 - New commentary with actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson and Pamela Salem (Toos), plus director Michael E Briant
  • The Sandmine Murders - Cast and crew look back at the making of the story
  • Robophobia - Toby Hadoke takes a humorous look at the history of robots
  • Studio sound - Example of a studio scene before the robot voice effects were added
  • Model shots - Black-and-white time-coded recording of the original model insert film
  • Studio floor plan - Interactive view of the studio layout via the original floor plan drawings
  • Continuity - Off-air continuity for the first episode's original transmission plus mute continuity slide
  • Radio Times listings
  • Programme subtitles
  • Production information subtitles
  • Photo gallery
  • Coming soon trailer
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound




FILTER: - UK - Tom Baker - Jon Pertwee - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Sylvester McCoy