BBC Worldwide DVD & Blu-ray releases - March 2014

BBC Worldwide has sent Telly Tech the details for its DVD and Blu-ray releases in March 2014. These are reproduced below, along with links to the titles on Amazon and BBC Shop. Please note that non-BBC programming is released under the 2ǀentertain label.

Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond [DVD]
Release Date: 3 March
RRP: £15.31
Amazon
BBC Shop

London, 1939: Ian Fleming, played by Dominic Cooper, is an irresponsible playboy living in the shadow of his dead war hero father, his successful author brother and his domineering mother. When the Second World War breaks out, Ian suddenly finds himself with a chance to shine – to prove his worth – with a job in Naval Intelligence. Packed with lust, romance, humour, jeopardy and explosive action – and set in Britain, France, Germany and Jamaica – this is the fascinating story of the man whose own life and adventures were the inspiration for one of the most iconic spies in modern literature – James Bond.

Death in Paradise Series Three [DVD]
Release Date: 10 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

After the success of Series One and Two, Death in Paradise returns for a third run of murder and mystery on the fictional island of Saint-Marie, but with a shocking twist of events – DI Richard Poole, played by Ben Miller (Primeval, Armstrong & Miller) is murdered! DI Poole’s tragic death ushers in the arrival of new detective, DI Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall (My Family, Love Actually). Battling their grief and determined to catch the killer of their friend, Camille (Sara Martins), Fidel (Gary Carr) and Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) are joined by DI Humphrey Goodman to help them get to the bottom of Poole’s death. Unfortunately, Humphrey’s naturally bumbling and accident-prone ways mean he doesn’t make a great first impression...

Outnumbered Series Five [DVD]
Release Date: 17 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

Starring Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner, Outnumbered enters its fifth and final series! Those cute little kids from the hit family sitcom are now teenagers, causing even more havoc for their beleaguered parents Pete and Sue, who continue to battle through life both within and outside of their hectic household. Sue has a brand new office job and, predictably, struggles to maintain an aura of composure with her three growing offspring to contend with back home, while Pete is besieged by unreliable technologies. Their eldest son Jake is sporting a new tattoo – of sorts – and is getting behind the wheel to learn to drive. Tone-deaf Ben is set to take the lead in his school play – a musical version of Spartacus. While Karen, once the baby of the family starts secondary school and, unsurprisingly, soon finds herself arguing with just about everyone, including her new head teacher. The Outnumbered Series 1-5 DVD box set will also be released on 17 March, priced £51.05.

Series 1-5: Amazon
Series 1-5: BBC Shop

Call the Midwife (Series Three & Christmas Special) [DVD]
Release Date: 17 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, Call the Midwife follows Nurse Jenny Lee and the midwives from Nonnatus House convent as they provide the best possible care to the expectant mothers of Poplar. Series Three sees Chummy, PC Noakes and baby Freddy back in the East End; Sister Bernadette – now known as Shelagh since leaving the convent – preparing for her wedding to Dr Turner; and Jenny facing some tough personal and professional challenges. At Christmas, when an unexploded World War II bomb is found under a warehouse close to Nonnatus House, the nuns and dozens of local families find themselves homeless. Later, Dr Turner finds himself in a race against time to immunise children against polio, and when a Royal visitor comes to the East End, Chummy persuades them to open the new Community Centre.

Series 1-3: Amazon
Series 1-3: BBC Shop

Inside No 9 [DVD]
Release Date: 17 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

Following their BAFTA and British Comedy Award-winning horror comedy series Psychoville and the phenomenally successful League of Gentlemen, writer/creators/performers Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith return with Inside No 9, a sinister six-part anthology comedy series for BBC Two. Half a dozen truly spooky tales starring Reece and Steve themselves, but also featuring a great array of British comedy talent, such as Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) and Tim Key (Mid Morning Matters, Alpha Papa). Each story is set in its own world with stories that will be as entertaining as they are scary.

David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities Series 1&2 Box Set [DVD]
Release Date: 24 March
RRP: £25.52

In David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, Sir David Attenborough shares the stories of some of the most extraordinary creatures that have bewildered and continued to intrigue him – from the peculiar patterns of a zebra’s stripes to the evolutionary quirk of the egg-laying platypus. Each episode explores the stories behind two natural curiosities, linked together by a common theme. Sir David’s gift for storytelling combined with wonderful images of the animal subjects seen in a distinctive way creates a compelling natural history series with a difference.

The Musketeers [DVD/Blu-ray]
Release Date: 24 March
RRP: £25.52 DVD / £30.63 Blu-ray
DVD: Amazon
DVD: BBC Shop
Blu-ray: Amazon
Blu-ray: BBC Shop

BBC One’s swashbuckling new drama The Musketeers will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 10 March 2014 and is a must-have for fans of the hit series or those who missed it. This ten-part adaptation of Dumas’ masterpiece tells the story of an elite group of soldiers who protect their Royal Masters at any cost. As they are propelled across seas and battlefields from masquerade balls to a remote convent, the Musketeers defend the honour of the Queen and the life of Constance Bonacieux, d'Artagnan's true love.

Da Vinci’s Demons Series One [DVD/Blu-ray]
Release Date: 31 March
RRP:  £25.52 DVD / £30.63 Blu-ray
DVD: Amazon
DVD: BBC Shop
Blu-ray: Amazon
Blu-ray: BBC Shop

The secret history of Leonardo da Vinci’s tantalising life is a portrait of a young man tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He is a heretic intent on exposing the lies of religion. An insurgent seeking to subvert an elitist society. A bastard son who yearns for legitimacy with his father. He finds himself in the midst of a storm that has been brewing for centuries. A conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future. His aspirations are used against him by the opposing forces of the time – luring him into a game of seduction where those who despise his intellect need him most. Leonardo must take up the fight against foes who use history to suppress the truth. A hero armed only with genius, Da Vinci stands alone against the darkness within, and the darkness without. Facing an uncertain future, his quest for knowledge nearly becomes his undoing as he explores the fringes of his own sanity.

Moone Boy Series Two [DVD]
Release Date: 31 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

Returning for a second series, critically acclaimed Moone Boy is written by and stars Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids, Friends with Kids) as Sean Murphy, the imaginary friend to hapless 12-year-old, Martin Moone. Moone Boy is a hilariously funny and warm comedy based on Chris O'Dowd's life growing up in 1980s Ireland, laced with contemporary music and beautiful animation. A Series 1&2 box set will also be released on 24 March, priced £30.63.

Series 1&2: Amazon
Series 1&2: BBC Shop

Stella Series Three [DVD]
Release Date: 31 March
RRP: £20.42
Amazon
BBC Shop

After her love life rollercoaster ride of Series Two, Stella (played by Ruth Jones) has renounced men and embarked on a new nursing career. With all her children and grandchildren plus a dog now living at home, Stella’s house is bursting at the seams – just as she likes it! But an encounter with a new neighbour rocks the already chaotic boat… in more ways than one. Stella Series 1-3 comes out on 31 March as well and will cost £38.80.

Series 1-3: Amazon
Series 1-3: BBC Shop

Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series – changed DVD/Blu-ray cover and info

BBC Worldwide have announced additions to the content of the Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series DVD and Blu-ray box set in the UK, the most significant of which is the previously absent 2011 Christmas Special:

BBC Worldwide releases all thirteen blockbuster episodes from Doctor Who Series Seven and the 2011 and 2012 Christmas Specials on Blu-ray and DVD on 28 October 2013. In addition, the set contains exciting bonus features including behind-the-scenes featurettes, Doctor Who at Comic Con, specials The Companions and Doctor Who in the US, and more. These latest adventures test the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) and prove that even a madman with a box needs help sometimes.

Say farewell to the Ponds all over again. Meet the enigmatic Clara for the first time – and the second, and the third. Face enemies new and old, follow the Doctor to the one place he should never go, and learn the secret to a really great soufflé. With a cliffhanger ending that will leave fans breathless, this set arrives just in time to catch up before the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special on 23 November, and the Doctor’s regeneration in this year’s Christmas Special.

In The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, the 2011 Christmas Special, the Doctor proves that sometimes wishes really do come true when his mysterious gift leads Madge Arwell and her two children to a magical wintry wonderland. Then, in the first part of Series Seven, the Ponds (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) make their final voyages with the Doctor. They save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in the Wild West and are even kidnapped by the Doctor's oldest foe. But when they arrive in Manhattan the Weeping Angels are waiting for them – and the Doctor has to say goodbye to his companions forever.

The 2012 Christmas Special, The Snowmen, brings the Doctor a new friend (Jenna Coleman) in Victorian London – but has he already met her before? And will she be able to pull him from his mourning in time to save London from the chilling menace that threatens it? The final eight episodes of Series Seven see the Doctor and his new companion battle monsters on distant alien planets, become trapped in a Russian submarine with a deadly passenger, chase terrifying ghosts, and come face-to-face with an army of upgraded Cybermen. When his friends are kidnapped, the Doctor and Clara are forced to visit the fields of Trenzalore, where the question that must never be answered is finally asked… and the Doctor uncovers the secret of the Impossible Girl.

The incredible list of guest stars includes John Hurt (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Warwick Davis (Willow, the Harry Potter films), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), David Warner (Titanic, TRON), Dougray Scott (Hemlock Grove, Ever After: A Cinderella Story), Ben Browder (Farscape), David Bradley (Game of Thrones), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife, The Woman in Black), the mother-daughter duo of Dame Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones) and Rachael Stirling (Women in Love, Snow White and the Huntsman), and the voice of Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings films). The episodes are written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, as well as Neil Gaiman, Mark Gatiss, Neil Cross, Chris Chibnall, Toby Whithouse and Stephen Thompson.

Additional content includes:

Behind the scenes featurettes for every episode (except The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe)

Additional featurettes include: The Making of the Gunslinger, Creating Clara, Rain Gods, Clara and the TARDIS, Inforarium and Clara’s White Christmas

Other featurettes including: Olympics: Good as Gold (UK only), Last Days of the Ponds, Pond Life, The Science of Doctor Who, The Companions and Doctor Who at Comic Con

Prequels to episodes: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, Asylum of the Daleks, The Snowmen (The Great Detective, Vastra Investigates and Demons Run: Two Days Later), The Bells of Saint John and The Name of the Doctor (She Said, He Said and Clarence and the Whispermen)

Audio commentaries for episodes: The Snowmen, Cold War, Hide and The Crimson Horror

The official BBC Worldwide statement on the additions to the box set is as follows:

Originally the decision was taken not to include The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe on the box set as it had previously been released as a standalone product. However after listening to feedback from our fans we have decided to include the episode and its prequel on the set. The price of the set will not change as a result of the change of contents.

The Complete Seventh Series will be released on 28 October 2013 in the UK, with an RRP of £51.05 (DVD) and £57.18 (Blu-ray).

Thanks to BBC Worldwide

[Updated] Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series – Blu-ray/DVD cover and info

IMPORTANT:
This article has now been superseded by a newer press release from BBC Worldwide, making additions to the content of the UK box set.

This morning, BBC Worldwide sent Telly Tech the cover art and details for the forthcoming Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series box set, due for release on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK this October.

BBC Worldwide releases all thirteen blockbuster episodes from the seventh series of the iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who on Blu-ray and DVD on 28 October 2013. In addition, the set includes the 2012 Christmas Special, and exciting bonus features including behind-the-scenes featurettes, Doctor Who at Comic Con, specials The Companions and Doctor Who in the US, and more. These latest adventures test the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) and prove that even a madman with a box needs help sometimes.

Say farewell to the Ponds all over again. Meet the enigmatic Clara for the first time – and the second, and the third. Face enemies new and old, follow the Doctor to the one place he should never go, and learn the secret to a really great soufflé. With a cliffhanger ending that will leave fans breathless, this set arrives just in time to catch up before the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special on 23 November, and the Doctor’s regeneration in this year’s Christmas Special.

In the first part of Series Seven, the Ponds (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) make their final voyages with the Doctor. They save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in the Wild West and are even kidnapped by the Doctor's oldest foe. But when they arrive in Manhattan the Weeping Angels are waiting for them – and the Doctor has to say goodbye to his companions forever.

The 2012 Christmas Special, The Snowmen, brings the Doctor a new friend (Jenna Coleman) in Victorian London – but has he already met her before? And will she be able to pull him from his mourning in time to save London from the chilling menace that threatens it? The final eight episodes of Series Seven see the Doctor and his new companion battle monsters on distant alien planets, become trapped in a Russian submarine with a deadly passenger, chase terrifying ghosts, and come face-to-face with an army of upgraded Cybermen. When his friends are kidnapped, the Doctor and Clara are forced to visit the fields of Trenzalore, where the question that must never be answered is finally asked… and the Doctor uncovers the secret of the Impossible Girl.

The incredible list of guest stars includes John Hurt (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Warwick Davis (Willow, the Harry Potter films), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), David Warner (Titanic, TRON), Dougray Scott (Hemlock Grove, Ever After: A Cinderella Story), Ben Browder (Farscape), David Bradley (Game of Thrones), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife, The Woman in Black), the mother-daughter duo of Dame Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones) and Rachael Stirling (Women in Love, Snow White and the Huntsman), and the voice of Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings films). The episodes are written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, as well as Neil Gaiman, Mark Gatiss, Neil Cross, Chris Chibnall, Toby Whithouse and Stephen Thompson.

Additional content includes:

Behind the scenes featurettes for every episode, plus The Making of the Gunslinger and Creating Clara.

Other featurettes including: Doctor Who in the US, Last Days of the Ponds, Pond Life, The Science of Doctor Who, The Companions and Doctor Who at Comic Con.

Prequels to episodes: Asylum of the Daleks, The Snowmen (x3), The Bells of Saint John and The Name of the Doctor (x2).

Audio commentaries for episodes: The Snowmen, Cold War, Hide and The Crimson Horror.

The Complete Seventh Series will be released on 28 October 2013 in the UK, with an RRP of £51.05 (DVD) and £57.18 (Blu-ray). Please note that the 2011 Christmas Special The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe is not included in the UK version of the set (it does appear in the North American one), and nor is its prequel which was previously announced.

Thanks to BBC Worldwide

Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. – Blu-ray Review

The second of the two 1960s films starring Peter Cushing arrives on Blu-ray...

DALEKS' INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.

BLU-RAY

RRP: £19.99

BBFC: U

Released by: StudioCanal

Release date: 27 May 2013

Click on the screenshot thumbnails below to access full HD images.

"They've bombarded us with meteorites, subjected us to cosmic rays, smashed our cities, destroyed whole continents of people – and some of us they've turned into living dead"

Doctor Who’s second (and, to date, final) outing on the big screen came in 1966, with the release of Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. Again starring Peter Cushing as Dr Who, this sequel to the previous year’s Dr Who and the Daleks is even more ambitious than its predecessor. The Daleks are back with a deadly plot, and this time around, the action is coming to Earth…

Unlike the first film, Invasion Earth makes use of a pre-titles sequence (in the correct place – at least one prior DVD release has moved the scene to after the opening credits), depicting London Special Constable Tom Campbell (Bernard Cribbins) trying and failing to stop a burglary at a jewellery shop. Right from the off, this scene demonstrates a key fact about Invasion Earth: it is considerably more action-oriented than the first film. There are explosions, fights and stunts, and while they were present in the preceding film, there is a greater quantity of them here, meaning that Invasion Earth doesn’t feel as ‘talky’ as the film that came before it. Indeed, one stunt proved to be dramatic on- and off-screen, as stuntman Eddie Powell broke his ankle while performing a fall.

Just as Dr Who and the Daleks was based on the BBC serial The Daleks, this film is based on the Daleks’ second appearance on the small screen, 1964’s The Dalek Invasion of Earth. In my review of the first film, I discussed the differences between the universes of the film and television versions in general, and Invasion Earth also differs in some ways from the specific serial it is based upon. Whereas the original story features the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara, the film replaces the latter two with Tom and Dr Who’s niece Louise (Jill Curzon), who appear alongside Dr Who and his granddaughter Susan (Roberta Tovey). Additionally, the monstrous Slyther from the TV story is absent from the film (many would say that this is a good thing), though the fundamental story remains very similar, albeit with a different take on the conclusion. The time travellers lose access to TARDIS in exactly the same way as they do on TV, a classic plot device of Terry Nation – who wrote the original story – and the iconic cliffhanger moment of a Dalek emerging from beneath the water of the Thames is also repeated for the film. Although, the question remains of what exactly it was doing down there!

This is altogether a more impressive spectacle than the first film, with TARDIS bringing the travellers to London in the year 2150, but it’s a very different city to the one we recognise. Much of it lies in ruins, and there is a great deal of mystery about what has happened and why London is so deserted. Whereas the first film was largely limited to a few locations, Invasion Earth takes place on a massively larger stage, as the time travellers and a group of resistance fighters have to make the perilous journey from London to Bedfordshire, where the Daleks’ mysterious plan is unfolding. All of the principal cast get something to do (certainly more so than in the first film) and it’s great to see a lot of location work here, something which was almost entirely absent from the previous film. The cinematography is excellent, with amazing use being made of the widescreen Techniscope format by director Gordon Flemyng and cinematographer John Wilcox. Dr Who and Tom’s search through a warehouse is very atmospheric, with Flemyng and Wilcox making the most of the set. Another notable scene is one in which we explore the Daleks’ control centre – you can really get a sense of depth, as the shaky camera moves around the large space. At one point it focuses on a Dalek on the other side of the room and follows its movement; while this sequence stands out as being quite unusual in the wider context of the film’s cinematography, it is a very creative idea and one of the film’s most memorable moments.

The music in Invasion Earth is composed by Bill McGuffie, with electronic elements provided by Barry Gray. It really evokes the period in which the film was made, and also sounds a bit similar in places to the score of the original TV story, with its percussion sounds underlining certain scenes within London. The main theme music is a different composition to that in Dr Who and the Daleks, and it has a drastically faster pace. This is appropriate given how much more exciting and set-piece oriented this film is. Although primarily orchestral, the electronic elements are a nice touch. Overall, the music represents what this film is: science fiction, sixties style.

Cushing’s portrayal of Dr Who (a human alternative to the TV series’ Time Lord) is much along the same lines as in the previous film, with all of the same values and characteristics present here. An eccentric, kind and extremely clever inventor, he has all of the principles of the small screen Doctor, even though he is essentially a different character. There’s something about Cushing which just seems right for the role, as he works on every level in the part. It’s amusing how readily Dr Who allows Tom, a complete stranger, on-board TARDIS (although he did enter by accident) – they swiftly become friends, and Cribbins is absolutely wonderful throughout the film as Tom’s disbelief soon turns to wonder and then curiosity. In my review of Dr Who and the Daleks, I said that Cushing is the person who made that film so special. In this case, I’d suggest that it is Cribbins, as he is just a joy to watch. One very memorable scene features him having to pretend to be one of the Daleks’ robotised slaves, and Cribbins really goes for it.

Tovey returns to her role as Susan, and she is as fantastic here as she was in the first film. Again, the relationship between Susan and her grandfather is lovely, and it really shows through in the actors’ performances. In fact, Cushing apparently said that he would only return for a second film if Tovey came back as well, which is a really touching story. Although, Susan is separated from Dr Who for a large amount of the running time, as she has to make her own journey with rebel leader Wyler (Andrew Keir). This builds on Dr Who and the Daleks, in which Susan bravely volunteers to make a dangerous journey on her own, and Tovey’s scenes with Keir in this film are a highlight. Curzon works well alongside Cribbins, and for a while the pair must face danger in their own part of the plot. Invasion Earth is arguably skewed more towards Dr Who, Tom and Susan, but as Louise, Curzon gets more to do than Jennie Linden did in the first film.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Restoring Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (HD 1080/50i) is a short featurette about the film’s restoration for this Blu-ray. The beginning is very similar to the start of the equivalent feature on the Dr Who and the Daleks Blu-ray, with an explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of Techniscope. This time though, the topic is expanded slightly, with discussion of Flemyng’s skilled use of the format. This is followed by interviews with some of those responsible for the restoration at Deluxe, with a quick glimpse at how the clean-up and grading was dealt with. This is a highly interesting (albeit brief) item, and it’s great that the people who made the film look and sound as good as it does have had a chance to appear on-screen and talk about their work.

A new interview with Bernard Cribbins (HD 1080/50i) appears. At just over four minutes long, it’s a shame that this item isn’t a bit longer, but it’s still great to hear Cribbins’ memories of the production. He explains that he had worked with Cushing before, and shares some memories of the late actor (whose centenary is this year). My favourite of the stories he recalls involves the cast ending up giggling uncontrollably, resulting in a stern telling off from Flemyng. Cribbins also talks about his audition for the part of the Fourth Doctor on TV (which eventually went to Tom Baker) – this is a nice reminder that while the films inhabit a different universe to the one we are used to, it’s all ultimately part of the same thing. The sound on this interview is somewhat on the quiet side (which is also the case with Gareth Owen’s interviews on both this release and that of the previous film), but that doesn’t spoil a lovely little interview with a legend of the industry.

The new interview with Gareth Owen (HD 1080/50i) is around the same length as the Cribbins feature, and it is a bit stronger than the corresponding item on the Dr Who and the Daleks Blu-ray. The author of the book The Shepperton Story explains that this film was created in an attempt to capitalise upon the success of the previous one, although it ran into some problems during production; Owen expresses his belief that Cushing was “slightly underused” in the finished film due to the actor being written out of some scenes because he was unwell. The feature concludes with Owen discussing some of the reasons why a third film didn’t happen, and he reads a “favourable” tabloid review which really isn’t very favourable at all, demonstrating how vitriolic the critical reaction was at the time.

A new Stills Gallery (HD 1080/24p) shows some images relating to the film. This is by no means the most comprehensive gallery ever, but it does show some interesting shots (of the model Dalek saucer, for example), in addition to a variety of promotional publications. Finally, the original theatrical trailer (SD 576/50i) is included. It shares one of the oddities seen in the Dr Who and the Daleks trailer, namely referring to the Daleks as “men of steel”, but it is nevertheless fun to watch. The audio leaves something to be desired, as there are no less than four dropouts in the soundtrack, but this does at least allow for comparison with the HD restoration – something which is also true of the picture quality.

AUDIO/VIDEO

Invasion Earth’s mono audio is presented as a lossless LPCM 2.0 soundtrack. Generally, the audio is very satisfying considering the age of the source material, with clear dialogue and strong, immersive music. There is one scene in which I noticed that the audio becomes more muffled, quite noticeably so compared to the surrounding material. But luckily, things get back to normal pretty quickly. Compared to the unrestored audio which can be heard on the trailer (which is plagued with dropouts), the restored audio on the main feature really is a revelation.

The source for the video is a 35mm interpositive produced from the original Techniscope negatives. This is presented at 1080/24p in its correct aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC. The technical advantages of shooting with Techniscope come at the expense of picture quality. Whereas an ordinary 35mm film frame occupies four perforations on the film, Techniscope pictures only use two. This means that when the film is blown up to any significant size (either a cinema screen, or as in this case, a 1080p HD transfer), it becomes quite grainy. Thankfully, this grainy aesthetic that is a part of the Techniscope process is preserved on this Blu-ray, without any overzealous attempts to ‘improve’ the picture. Because of the limitations of the Techniscope process, the picture quality of this Blu-ray isn’t comparable to a lot of 4-perf 35mm film transfers that are available on the format, but nevertheless, the benefits of HD are very apparent. Something which seems to be inherent in Techniscope footage is that scenes with high-key lighting look quite a lot better than those with low-key lighting, so daytime scenes in Invasion Earth are where the most impressive shots can be found. The darker scenes occasionally have a blue or green tint to them, and the black levels are variable. Sometimes blacks are very deep, while other times dark scenes have a murky grey feel to them. So, the darker shots are quite inconsistent (which is almost certainly because the Techniscope process itself isn’t as well-suited to that sort of material), but it is the daytime scenes which truly shine on this Blu-ray. I’d say that this release looks better in this regard than the Blu-ray of Dr Who and the Daleks – perhaps that’s because of the naturalness of the location filming, rather than the more artificial nature of the studio-bound scenes which prevailed in the first film. But whatever the reason, more brightly-lit material has a stunning vibrancy to it considering the source materials, and is more consistent in its clarity than Dr Who and the Daleks, which varies more on a shot-by-shot basis. The colour grading is accurate to the original intentions of the filmmakers (the interpositive used for this transfer already had colour grading applied to it), and it has a very naturalistic feel to it while still conveying the bold, Technicolor selling point of the film. The restoration has resulted in a very clean, stable presentation; of course, there is a blemish in the film every now and again, but this doesn’t detract from how lovely the film looks overall.

Below are comparisons between the 2006 Optimum DVD and the 2013 Blu-ray – above is the DVD release and below is the Blu-ray. For the best comparison, open each image in its own tab and flick between the two.

Please note that this Blu-ray is locked to Region B. Anyone who imports it to another region should ensure that their region-free equipment supports 50i content, as this is the format the menu and certain extras are presented in.

SUMMARY

After this one, no further big-screen films based on Doctor Who were made. The critical reception was dire, and unlike the first film (which still managed to be a roaring commercial success), the press reaction probably put a dent into the box office takings of Invasion Earth. Maybe the novelty had worn off – whereas Dr Who and the Daleks sold itself primarily through being in colour and widescreen, perhaps this was a trick that only worked once. It’s a huge shame that the films didn’t continue – if the first film was great then this one is amazing. The narrative is far grander, and we can only guess at what might have been forthcoming had the idea continued. It would have been interesting to see a film starring Cushing as Dr Who which didn’t have Daleks in, although the box office prospects might not have been spectacular. But now we’re entering the realm of infinite what-ifs. Looking at Invasion Earth as a whole, it is largely a thrilling viewing experience, head and shoulders above the first film with fine performances from the cast and amazing direction and cinematography. Where the extras are concerned, it would have been better if they were a little longer (especially the Cribbins interview), but they are still enjoyable and complement the film nicely. The restoration does the best it can with the source material, and while the darker scenes aren’t brilliant, the daytime ones are absolutely worth the price of the Blu-ray. All in all, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. is a stunning conclusion to an alternative world of Doctor Who, and it’s never looked as good as this.

8 OUT OF 10

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Thanks to StudioCanal

Dr Who and the Daleks – Blu-ray review

The first ever Doctor Who feature film comes to Blu-ray for the first time...

DR WHO AND THE DALEKS

BLU-RAY

RRP: £19.99

BBFC: U

Released by: StudioCanal

Release date: 27 May 2013

"We could be anywhere in the universe, and at any time. Rather exciting, isn't it?"

Full HD size

Back in 1965, something remarkable happened. A year and nine months (to the day) after Doctor Who arrived on the BBC as a new Saturday evening science fiction series, it made the jump onto the big screen (and into colour) for the first time, as Dr Who and the Daleks arrived in cinemas in the UK on 23 August 1965. The film was a bold departure from what was being done on television, while still clearly showing some of its roots.

Full HD size

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. It had been some time since I last watched the DVD, and I recalled this, the first of the two films starring Peter Cushing as Dr Who, as being somewhat lacking compared to its sequel. But you know what? I was pleasantly surprised – I really enjoyed it. It helps that there’s such charming warmth to the whole thing. From the very first scene with Dr Who and his granddaughters Barbara (Jennie Linden) and Susan (Roberta Tovey), there’s something really cosy about the film. This is emphasised by the comedy that comes in the form of Ian (Roy Castle), who quite literally falls through the front door when he arrives.

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There are a number of differences between the universe of this film and the universe of the Doctor Who TV series. Most profoundly, Dr Who is a human inventor as opposed to ‘the Doctor’, who is a Time Lord. Additionally, Barbara is his granddaughter as well as Susan, and Ian is Barbara’s boyfriend – on television, Ian and Barbara are schoolteachers of Susan, who we can infer is also a Time Lord. Finally, rather than being an organic life form in its own right, TARDIS (note the lack of the definite article) is simply a machine which has been invented and constructed by Dr Who. In the light of all this, it sounds as though this film is totally removed from the BBC series, and it is indeed very different. Yet, it feels very similar in some respects, probably because Dr Who and the Daleks is based directly upon the second-ever Doctor Who TV story, 1963/4’s The Daleks (the first story to feature the Doctor’s most celebrated adversary).

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The biggest selling point of this film upon its release was that it was the very first time that Doctor Who as a franchise was ever seen in colour in any medium, and director Gordon Flemyng capitalises upon this in his composition of the shots. When the travellers arrive in the petrified jungle of an alien world, we are treated to atmospheric blue and green hues which really sell their surroundings as a dead planet. This means that there is a very effective contrast with the city of the Daleks, which is where the Technicolor really kicks in, with warm, bright colours prevailing. This is somewhat out of keeping with the concept of the Daleks, who are surely far more suited to a cold, metallic environment (which is what we would have seen in the original TV serial if it hadn’t been in black-and-white), but you can see why the makers of this film chose such a warm palette to take advantage of shooting in colour.

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The set design in the film is generally pretty good. The Dalek city is a labyrinth of corridors with an impressive central control area, including a large wall-mounted control panel which vertically rotates. Curiously, the Daleks seem to have a penchant for lava lamps! The exterior entrance to the city also has a surprise in store for later in the film. The petrified surface of the planet is suitably menacing, and you get the impression that it is absolutely vast – during the climbing sequence for example, which is expanded with painted imagery which, while not looking ‘real’, stylistically works perfectly within the context of the film. The only real weak link as far as the sets go is the interior of TARDIS, which isn’t anywhere near as good as its TV equivalent. There is no central console, and it just looks like someone has dumped a load of electronics inside a garage. That said, the police box exterior is gorgeous, and was in fact the inspiration for the Matt Smith version which appeared on TV in 2010.

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It could be said that Cushing’s portrayal of Dr Who is like a less temperamental version of William Hartnell’s Doctor. Their dress sense is not dissimilar, and Cushing slips in a few “Hmm”s. But Dr Who is certainly a far more approachable character. Take, for example, the scene in which he meets Ian for the first time, and then try to imagine it playing out so nicely with the First Doctor! 2013 marks the late Cushing’s centenary and he really is wonderful in this film. Dr Who is a friendly, eccentric, slightly absent-minded genius, and Cushing interacts wonderfully with his fellow cast members. But equally, Cushing tones down his performance in moments of peril, and he is always believable. The character he plays is not the Doctor, and so Cushing isn’t a part of the list of Doctors we’ve grown used to. But he absolutely makes the two Dalek films.

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Susan is drastically different in the film compared to the TV series, as she is far younger on the big screen. Tovey is brilliant, and there is an obvious connection between her and Cushing. One way in which Susan is similar to her TV equivalent, though, is in her scientific knowledge – she seems to know a great deal about how TARDIS works. It’s fitting that it is Susan who needs to make the dangerous journey from the Dalek city back to TARDIS alone at one point, because it gives Tovey the chance to dominate the screen and showcase Susan’s brave and adventurous qualities.

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As Ian and Barbara, Castle and Linden have an interesting dynamic. Unlike the other three main characters, Barbara never really gets anything significant to do, but it’s fascinating to see them as a couple in a relationship in the film, which is very different to the TV series. Castle steals the screen, bringing the moments of comedy to life perfectly without overdoing it. Unlike Cushing and Tovey, Castle and Linden did not return in the sequel, but it’s difficult to imagine Dr Who and the Daleks working without them.

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It had a production budget of roughly £180,000, which is equivalent to something close to £2,513,000 as of 2013. Obviously, this couldn’t in any way be considered a high budget, but it was nevertheless more cash than the TV series had to play with. The effect this has is that everything is scaled up from how it appears in The Daleks on TV – the city is bigger, the Daleks are bigger and the forest is bigger, but this doesn’t diminish the magic of the film. At the end of the day, it is a fun, family-friendly romp. It would have been better if it had told an entirely new story rather than being a remake of something that had been seen on television a couple of years previously. But it was released five years before Doctor Who went into colour on TV, and forty years before it began to be shot in widescreen. Dr Who and the Daleks remains a fun, bold and humorous production to spend eighty-two minutes with.

SPECIAL FEATURES

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Restoring Dr Who and the Daleks (HD 1080/50i) takes a look at the high definition restoration of the film for this Blu-ray. Structured around some impressive CG Dalek graphics, we are treated to a whistle-stop demonstration of the techniques used to improve the audio/visual quality. The featurette begins with a brief explanation of the Techniscope process, before various people involved with the restoration explain and demonstrate their work. This is a fascinating insight into the work involved in preparing Dr Who and the Daleks for Blu-ray release.

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New to this release is an interview with Gareth Owen (HD 1080/50i). Owen is the author of the book The Shepperton Story, and he talks here about how the film was born as a result of the phenomenon that was the Daleks, the reason it was made under the name AARU rather than Amicus Productions and why John Lennon was photographed with Daleks and featured in newspapers, among other things. Aside from one irksome moment when Owen says that the TV series had “wobbly scenery, wobbly acting”, this is a fairly interesting item, as he talks about some of the most notable aspects of the production in turn.

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Dalekmania (SD 576/50i) is a 1995 documentary directed by Kevin Davies. When it appeared on the 2006 Optimum DVD, the beginning was cut off for some reason, but it is fully intact here – it features Michael Wisher (who played Davros, creator of the Daleks, in the 1975 story Genesis of the Daleks, as well as providing Dalek voices in a number of stories) as a rather creepy cinema commissionaire.  This is a wonderful opening, and it thematically resembles the opening sequence of 30 Years in the TARDIS, a 1993 BBC documentary which Davies was also responsible for. The documentary focuses on the two Dalek films (hence its inclusion here), with a number of cast members appearing on-camera. Everyone seems to look back fondly at them, with Tovey recalling how Flemyng gave her a shilling every time she got her lines right in one take during production of Dr Who and the Daleks, for example. Terry Nation, the man who created the Daleks, also appears via archive interview footage. Reflecting on the films, he says that he developed the idea of having a hierarchy of Daleks denoted by the colour of their casings – a concept which bears a strong resemblance to the New Dalek Paradigm introduced in 2010. This is a great documentary, but perhaps it goes on a bit too long – at just under one hour long, maybe it could have been tightened up a little. It’s roughly a 50/50 split between coverage of the two films, with just over half of the documentary focusing in particular on Dr Who and the Daleks. It shows its age in some places, particularly near the end when there is reference to the films being available soon on video in widescreen, but it makes for an enjoyable (if slightly overlong) watch.

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A pre-existing commentary with Linden and Tovey, moderated by Jonathan Sothcott, is included. It’s a nice discussion, with Linden and Tovey reminiscing about how they got involved with the film and their memories of their fellow cast members. It does sometimes drag a bit, because it doesn’t always manage to sustain itself, but thankfully Sothcott is on hand to keep it going more than it might otherwise have done. A new Stills Gallery (HD 1080/24p) runs to over two minutes, and contains a number of photos and posters related to Dr Who and the Daleks. It’s very simple in terms of its presentation, but it does what it says on the tin.

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Finally, the original theatrical trailer (SD 576/50i) appears, which is great fun to watch. It has a special Cushing/Dalek voiceover, and although there are a couple of oddities in it, such as its description of the Daleks as “men of steel” and its proclamation that viewers will be “so close you will feel their fire” – strange when you consider that these Daleks shoot something more closely resembling fire extinguishers! – it’s a brilliant curiosity. They don’t make trailers like this any more…

AUDIO/VIDEO

The mono audio has been encoded as a lossless LPCM 2.0 track, derived from an optical soundtrack. Dropouts and other glitches have been repaired during restoration, resulting in the best possible sound quality. Dialogue is clear, and Barry Gray and Malcolm Lockyer’s music sounds amazing.

A 35mm anamorphic interpositive has been transferred, presented here at 1080/24p and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC. Dr Who and the Daleks was shot using the Techniscope process, which results in each frame only occupying two perforations on the 35mm film, as opposed to the usual four. This has obvious budgetary advantages in terms of using less physical film, but it also has drawbacks when it comes to quality. So, don’t go into this expecting the sort of quality you see with some other 35mm films on Blu-ray. This one looks fantastic, but the level of sharpness and detail you might see elsewhere just isn’t achievable here due to the source materials. If that sounds concerning, don’t worry too much – you can still tell that this is a high definition transfer, though exactly how much detail there is in the image varies. As often seems to be the way with these things, it is the facial close-up shots which usually look the best. But beyond this, the well-lit scenes tend to look better than the darker ones. Thankfully, the restoration has been very sympathetic, and there is still a nice (but not overwhelming) amount of grain in the image – there has not been any over-enthusiastic DNR here. There is the occasional blemish, but overall this is a very clean and stable presentation. The grading is in keeping with the intent of the film-makers, and the colours always have a great vibrancy to them while remaining naturalistic. Due to the nature of the film and how it was shot, there is a limit to what can be done with Dr Who and the Daleks. But in my opinion, this Blu-ray release is definitely justified, as this is the best it has looked on any commercial release to date.

Below are comparisons between the 2006 Optimum DVD and the 2013 Blu-ray – above is the DVD release and below is the Blu-ray. For the best comparison, open each image in its own tab and flick between the two.

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Please note that this Blu-ray is locked to Region B. Anyone who imports it to another region should ensure that their region-free equipment supports 50i content, as this is the format the menu and certain extras are presented in.

SUMMARY

I was very pleasantly surprised by how well Dr Who and the Daleks stands up; it’s certainly better than I remembered. It’s great as an alternative approach to the world of Doctor Who, and while the changes made to the formula mean that it doesn’t match the quality of the TV series it originates from, there’s barely a dull moment. Barbara arguably pulls the short straw in terms of getting something meaty to do in the storyline, but all of the cast turn in a strong performance. While this high definition Blu-ray presentation doesn’t bring with it any jaw-dropping revelations like some archival releases have in the past, it’s most certainly a step up from any prior version. The new special features are quite brief, but taken as a whole, this release has a decent extras package, with my personal highlight being the insight into the restoration process. StudioCanal has done a great job with an overlooked gem of Doctor Who’s history.

7 OUT OF 10

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