Doctor Who - The Beginning on DVD (1963)

A customer from Birmingham, UK , 16/02/2006

Although 'An Unearthly Child' and 'The Daleks' have already been released on VHS, they are worth looking at again as they've been restored and are nice clean bright copies. However, it is the extras which make this release worth seeing. With 'an Unearthly Child' included is the original unedited version of the first episode and short short comedy sketches by Mark Gatiss, plus a theme music video. In 'The Daleks' there is a very interesting documentary about the origins of the daleks. The third DVD in the set, 'The Edge of Destruction,' is only two episodes and is rather claustrophobic, being set in the Tardis only. One extra on this disk is a special 30 minute story of the 'lost' Marco Polo story. Overall, if you are interested in the early days of Dr Who, this is worth renting.

  15 out of 15 people found this review helpful

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Helen from Cardiff, Wales , 07/07/2006

If you're a fan of Tom Baker, you wont know what's hit you. This isn't the eccentric, bohemian, Doctor; this guy has an attitude - and it's not always pleasant.

Seriously well written and fresh 40 odd years on; as a child of the Star Wars age I didn't give a damn that the TARDIS walls were painted fabric, the actors just enthralled me.

An essential for any sci-fi, not just a Whovian.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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JAMIOUSE from PILMOOR, YORK [Highly rated reviewer] , 22/12/2006

The first three stories of Sci-Fi history. When Doctor Who first started the BBC didn't know if it would work or not. All these decades later it's popular than ever. This is a great set for those who have never seen the origins of the programe. Witness the Daleks for the first time! This is Doctor Who as it was, wobbly sets, dodgy special effects and William Hartnell forgeting his lines. It's classic and well worth watching.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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David King from London, UK [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/09/2007

Good to see how Doctor Who started. The Doctor is Susan's grandfather (not uncle as the synopsis wrongly states), although he does seem to be quite a different character to the later Doctors, which is to be expected to some extent, but here the Doctor seems rather arrogant at times. Fortunately his granddaughter Susan is more sensible and towards the end of the story, the Doctor seems kinder and nicer.

Also included on the DVD are some short comedy sketches from other programmes, all related to Doctor Who. One includes a reported played by Nicholas Briggs, currently the voice of the Daleks and Cybermen, and at the end, an appearance by an actor who appeared many times in Doctor Who (you have to watch it to found out who).

Worth watching this DVD if you are a Doctor Who fan, and despite the limited budget and special effects, the story is worth watching.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Helen from Cardiff, Wales , 07/07/2006

If you're a fan of Tom Baker, you wont know what's hit you. This isn't the eccentric, bohemian, Doctor; this guy has an attitude - and it's not always pleasant.

Seriously well written and fresh 40 odd years on; as a child of the Star Wars age I didn't give a damn that the TARDIS walls were painted fabric, the actors just enthralled me.

An essential for any sci-fi, not just a Whovian.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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David King from London, UK [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/09/2007

Good to see how Doctor Who started. The Doctor is Susan's grandfather (not uncle as the synopsis wrongly states), although he does seem to be quite a different character to the later Doctors, which is to be expected to some extent, but here the Doctor seems rather arrogant at times. Fortunately his granddaughter Susan is more sensible and towards the end of the story, the Doctor seems kinder and nicer.

Also included on the DVD are some short comedy sketches from other programmes, all related to Doctor Who. One includes a reported played by Nicholas Briggs, currently the voice of the Daleks and Cybermen, and at the end, an appearance by an actor who appeared many times in Doctor Who (you have to watch it to found out who).

Worth watching this DVD if you are a Doctor Who fan, and despite the limited budget and special effects, the story is worth watching.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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