To be honest, as I enviably am, BBC AUDIO's DOCTOR WHO THE LOST TV EPISODES COLLECTION ONE 1964-1965 has not only one of the longest product titles in the history of the universe but is the best antidote to the noisy, clichéd, non-stoppable and trashy (at times, let's be honest) DOCTOR WHO SERIES 5 broadcast.
Like that popular UK brand of decorator's quick-drying varnish in a tin, this collection of CLASSIC SERIES adventures does/is what it exactly says on the presentation box/tin:
Let the TARDIS take you back to the early days of Doctor Who with these five thrilling adventures starring William Hartnell as the first Doctor. Now re-mastered, with additional linking narration, the adventures can be enjoyed once more.
The stories chosen for this first of four planned collections are, as the title states, "lost TV episodes". Younger fans of the series may not be aware but several episodes of DOCTOR WHO no longer exist in "moving picture" format as originally broadcast either in the 1960s or even the 1970s. Some television programmes, including DOCTOR WHO, were never considered worthy of re-broadcast or even stored permanently in the BBC film archive, let alone a plan decades later to transfer them to a playback format such as VHS* cassette tape or, later still, to DVD. The BBC film archive was frequently "cleansed" to remove items no longer wanted and to make space for new material. DOCTOR WHO serials were, literally, dumped.
Over the years, the BBC has actively sought from UK fans and from foreign broadcasters copies of the series for restoration and release.
Yes, of course, some fans may have bought the original releases of the five stories several years (as late back as 2001) ago however with the re-mastering we can hear our favourite Time Lords and his fellow companions crystal clear (with thanks to Mark Ayres for a consummate restoration of the existing audio material) for the first time with added content such as re-edited interviews (William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, and Maureen O'Brien), PDF material of the original camera scripts for DOCTOR WHO - MARCO POLO, and a map showing the journey taken throughout the serial.
The content boxset is 12 CDs with an overall running time of 10 hours 45 minutes and represents excellent value at £69.99 (at the time of writing Amazon.co.uk stock the item at £33.47 - an equivalent of £2.79 per disc
).
Recommended to all fans - young and old.
MARCO POLO
It's February 1964 and the DOCTOR WHO production team's first real foray into contextual Earth history (yes, the first story, 100,000BC, was set in the past too but it only coincidental with its "brush with history") following the success of the truly science fiction classic THE MUTANTS (aka THE DALEKS). The premise of the drama series was to not only entertain but to be educational, and MARCO POLO, whilst taking a limited liberties, retains much of the factual evidence of the 13 th century explorer. A precise of the Venetian's travels can be read here.
The TARDIS materialises at the Roof of the World, Central Asia, in 1289. There they meet Marco Polo and his fellow travellers, on their mammoth journey across the Pamir Plateau and through the Gobi desert to Peking. Unfortunately for the Doctor, his Ship proves to be of immense interest to Polo, who sets his mind on presenting it to the mighty Kublai Khan on arrival at his court.
But Polo isn't the only one with designs on the TARDIS. The war-like Tegana will go to any lengths to steal the magical blue box - lengths which endanger the lives of all the travellers. When the Doctor meets Kublai Khan himself, his precious Ship is his only collateral in a high-stakes game of backgammon - and Khan is a master of the game...
This seven-part story a priceless gem that all fans, whether those who have just discovered the Doctor & TARDIS since 2005 and those who have been, quite frankly, addicted to the series from the very beginning (or somewhere between). MARCO POLO demonstrates that a story can unwind gently, authoritative, creatively, with wit & charm and yet remain as thrilling & rewarding for the (viewer back in 1964) listener.
The inclusion of new material such as the original studio camera script is a true gem as is the previously released "map". On the bonus disc, actor William Russell (Ian Chesteron) recalls the filming of this story in the confines of the BBC's Lime Grove studios.
THE REIGN OF TERROR
Ending the first momentous "season" of DOCTOR WHO - THE REIGN OF TERROR returns to a historical setting as the Doctor and his TARDIS crew become embroiled in the 18 th century's French Revolution. With linking narration from Carole Ann Ford, this story delicately weaves murder, intrigued and light-hearted humour (provided by write, Dennis Spooner) to deliver one of the series' most iconic of serials.
The TARDIS brings the Doctor and his companions to Robespierre's Paris, where they discover the French Revolution to be in full swing. Separated from each other, the group find themselves caught up in history as they struggle to stay alive and find their individual way back to the TARDIS.
THE CRUSADE
With a change within the main cast seeing the departure of Carole Ann Ford's Susan (referred to as the Doctor's granddaughter), Maureen O'Brien (Vicki) is fortunate to perform within DOCTOR WHO's "classic" stories. Written by David Whittaker and directed by Douglas Camfield, DOCTOR WHO - THE CRUSADE is essential listening. As simple as that. Wonderfully cast (Julian Glover as imperious King Richard "the Lionheart", Jean Marsh as his sister, Joanna, and as El Akir, Walter Randall), a succulent script that drips like honey from a it's comb, and exquisite performances from all of the regular main cast.
DOCTOR WHO does not - perhaps, has never got - any better than this.
The TARDIS materialises in the middle of a holy war between King Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen leader, Saladin, in 12th Century Palestine. As the Doctor, Vicki, Ian and Barbara explore their surroundings, they are suddenly caught up in a Saracen ambush and Barbara is kidnapped. For the time travellers, intrigue and espionage ensue as they once again become involved in living history.
A newly-knighted Sir Ian of Jaffa makes haste to find and rescue Barbara, whilst the Doctor finds it difficult to stay out of trouble in the court of the King...
GALAXY 4
I doubt that in 1965 anyone working on this story would have dreamed that some 45 years later that it's "humanoid-shaped monsters", Drahvins, would be remembered. Yet they were in DOCTOR WHO SERIES 5's climatic conclusion, THE BIG BANG, as a part of the vast alliance against the 11 th Doctor. GALAXY 4 is a little remembered, often derided story that commenced the drama series third "season" and it is easy to (hear) see why.
When the TARDIS lands on an arid planet, it seems as though the whole place is desolate and lifeless. But then the Doctor, Steven and Vicki discover two crashed spaceships: one contains the Drahvins, a race of stunning beauty, the other contains the hideous Rills.
It is moral tale of "don't judge by appearances" or ".a book by its cover", and you may not feel that it would transfer to a pure audio track as the original broadcast story focussed upon the visual differences between the Drahvin and the Rill races. However, the linking narration, provided by Peter Purves, is precise and accurate that you wholly empathise with the oppressed.
THE MYTH MAKERS
Along with CLASSIC SERIES story, THE MASSACRE, I have "affection" for THE MYTH MAKERS. There is an honesty about Donald Cotton's account of a small sliver of the Trojan War, highlighting the legendary creation of the "Trojan Horse" (at the hands of the Doctor). The story is criticised for being overly humorous but there is genuine threat, danger and chaos in addition to an incidental music score by Humphrey Searle that drives these themes forward like a well-organised military force.
When the TARDIS arrives on the plains of Asia Minor, not far from the besieged city of Troy, the Doctor is hailed by Achilles as the mighty god Zeus and taken to the Greek camp, where he meets Agamemnon and Odysseus. Forced to admit that he is a mere mortal - albeit a traveller in space and time - he is given just two days to devise a scheme to capture Troy.
Once again, the linking narration from Peter Purves is not overly obtrusive but guides the listener through the sometimes chaotic action.
THE BONUS DISC
Re-mastered and augmented with music cues, this is a assimilation of previously released interview with the original cast of DOCTOR WHO (1964-1965); William Russell, Carole Ann Ford and Maureen O'Brien.
On William Hartnell's performance, William Russell: He was always looking for comedy. He had a magician's quality about him. We were all committed to the stories and we played them for all they were worth. Bill remained my "number one" Doctor.
On writer, David Whittaker, William Russell: Very thorough but a little remote from the actors. He kept his place.
On Verity Lambert, William Russell: She was a wonderful Producer. I remember she ticked-off Bill once but he took it like a "pro" that he was. She was exceptional.
On filming THE AZTECS, Carole Ann Ford: .the studio was so hot that the "water sprinklers" came one and we all drowned.
On THE REIGN OF TERROR, Carole Ann Ford: Strangely enough, it is the music that takes me back. We had stressful moments but on the whole we had fun. They gave me the model for the set of the story and I kept it for years.
On television and DOCTOR WHO, Maureen O'Brien: I'd never seen DOCTOR WHO. I didn't own a television; I despised TV. But I wanted to be with my husband who worked in London.
On the fame related to DOCTOR WHO, Maureen O'Brien: I couldn't cope with it.
*The first DOCTOR WHO story to be released for viewers to watch at home, either as a VHS cassette, BETAMAX cassette or LASERDISC, was REVENGE OF THE CYBERMEN in October 1983.
