One thought on “Doctor Who – Reign of Terror [DVD]”
…impressive, evocative of not only the broadcast episodes but the historical period… An eclectic, well-balanced array of studio commentary contributors certainly makes for an fascinating `listen’, all of whom are charmingly coerced by the most genial of hosts, Toby Hadoke – a man in tweed Trilby who has a rapier-like encyclopaedic mind from which instantly are retrieved DOCTOR WHO facts & (obscure) figures that satisfyingly contribute – in retrieving the previously time lost anecdotes.The contributors range from actors & guest actors, production staff and, in a first of its kind, (professional) fans whose aim is to continue the search for `lost TV episodes’, and this diversity of opinion sets this DVD release apart from others.Carole Ann Ford – the first DOCTOR WHO companion, Susan Foreman – is joined by Production Assistant, Timothy Combe, Neville Smith (D’Argenson), Jeffry Wickham (Webster), Caroline Hunt (Danielle), Ronal Pickup (Physician), Patrick Marley (Soldier), and, from `archive hunters’, Paul Vanezes and Phillip Morris.Toby Hadoke on revisiting DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR: It was 49 years ago; how does it feel?Carole Ann Ford: Horrible.Neville Smith: I’ve never seen it. I was working on something else (when it was first broadcast).Carole Ann Ford: One of my favourite ones, I must say. Lots of dressing-up in this one which was very nice. I prefer the history ones compared to the sci-fi ones.Neville Smith: (My character) went nowhere rally. A dead end. Well, (he) was murdered. A pity that the original script idea wasn’t done but it would have been an hour long.On the main cast, Carole Ann Ford: An unlikely quartet but we gelled very much so.On incongruities, Timothy Combe: Here’s a French boy who speaks perfect English.Carole Ann Ford: …and he understands perfectly.Fact: DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was a replacement for a story based around the Spanish Armada written by David Whittaker.Neville Smith recalls the time has undergoing an apprenticeship, under the guiding wing of William Hartnell, in completing THE TIMES crossword puzzle, and how Hartnell was mildly aggrieved that he had become almost `typecast’ as a `working class’ bruiser. Smith says that the lead actor said, “I’m not a rough Cockney that I’m often taken for. I’m a proper actor.”Carole Ann Ford: I think that he was winding you up. He didn’t take himself that seriously.Timothy Combe recalls the moment when, having changed Rehearsal Room location, Hartnell refused to drink Camp Coffee (an instant coffee liquid concentrate invented in 1876) and insisted on `…fresh coffee…”Toby Hadoke discussed that for Director, Henric Hirsch, DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was to be his only BBC production as he found the pressure of director “…quite stressful…” and, later in the commentary, Timothy Combe reveals how this stress manifested during the filming of the six part adventure. (It is known that episode four’s filming was transferred to another Director due to the stress, but it seems that the identity of this person remains open to debate (it is either John Gorrie or Mervyn Pinfield).As Webster, guest actor, Jeffry Wickham, re-tells the account that, following a `liquid lunch’ (read: alcoholic) he was recalled to the studio following his character’s death for an additional scene. However, this recording `pick-up’ was not without a minor mishap.On acting to `nothing’, except to a sound effect of scuttling vermin), Carole Ann Ford: I do very good rats. I’m a very good `ratter’.On Toby Hadoke’s seemingly `sad’ existence as a DOCTOR WHO fan, Carole Ann Ford (said with affection): When are you going to get a life?On the studio lighting (by Howard King), Timothy Combe: He was prepared to give light and shade.In a refreshing `twist’ of studio commentary, Hadoke interviews/converses with guest actor, Ronald Pickup, to accommodate the fact that episode four has been `lost’ from the BBC Archive. Skilfully, this conversation avoids being a `luvvie-fest’ that would be appropriate only for `actor types’, delivering a fascinating insight into a world that I have no experience of (read: acting, theatre and television).Ronald Pickup: (I’m) very surprised to be a part of DOCTOR WHO culture. It was my very first job. Literally, before I did any theatre. So, out of the blue I was employed the week I left (RADA – the London-based acting school). I sat there (in the script read-through) if I’d die and gone to heaven. Seeing all those famous faces, particularly with whom, as I kid, I’d grown-up with.On William Hartnell, Ronald Pickup: Very special actor. A `character’ actor. Very pleasant. Very charming.Fact: Pickup was paid the sum of £31 for his five days on DOCTOR WHO. His is in contrast to the weekly salary of William Hartnell’s £210. The value of £31 in today’s (2012) value is…
…impressive, evocative of not only the broadcast episodes but the historical period… An eclectic, well-balanced array of studio commentary contributors certainly makes for an fascinating `listen’, all of whom are charmingly coerced by the most genial of hosts, Toby Hadoke – a man in tweed Trilby who has a rapier-like encyclopaedic mind from which instantly are retrieved DOCTOR WHO facts & (obscure) figures that satisfyingly contribute – in retrieving the previously time lost anecdotes.The contributors range from actors & guest actors, production staff and, in a first of its kind, (professional) fans whose aim is to continue the search for `lost TV episodes’, and this diversity of opinion sets this DVD release apart from others.Carole Ann Ford – the first DOCTOR WHO companion, Susan Foreman – is joined by Production Assistant, Timothy Combe, Neville Smith (D’Argenson), Jeffry Wickham (Webster), Caroline Hunt (Danielle), Ronal Pickup (Physician), Patrick Marley (Soldier), and, from `archive hunters’, Paul Vanezes and Phillip Morris.Toby Hadoke on revisiting DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR: It was 49 years ago; how does it feel?Carole Ann Ford: Horrible.Neville Smith: I’ve never seen it. I was working on something else (when it was first broadcast).Carole Ann Ford: One of my favourite ones, I must say. Lots of dressing-up in this one which was very nice. I prefer the history ones compared to the sci-fi ones.Neville Smith: (My character) went nowhere rally. A dead end. Well, (he) was murdered. A pity that the original script idea wasn’t done but it would have been an hour long.On the main cast, Carole Ann Ford: An unlikely quartet but we gelled very much so.On incongruities, Timothy Combe: Here’s a French boy who speaks perfect English.Carole Ann Ford: …and he understands perfectly.Fact: DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was a replacement for a story based around the Spanish Armada written by David Whittaker.Neville Smith recalls the time has undergoing an apprenticeship, under the guiding wing of William Hartnell, in completing THE TIMES crossword puzzle, and how Hartnell was mildly aggrieved that he had become almost `typecast’ as a `working class’ bruiser. Smith says that the lead actor said, “I’m not a rough Cockney that I’m often taken for. I’m a proper actor.”Carole Ann Ford: I think that he was winding you up. He didn’t take himself that seriously.Timothy Combe recalls the moment when, having changed Rehearsal Room location, Hartnell refused to drink Camp Coffee (an instant coffee liquid concentrate invented in 1876) and insisted on `…fresh coffee…”Toby Hadoke discussed that for Director, Henric Hirsch, DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was to be his only BBC production as he found the pressure of director “…quite stressful…” and, later in the commentary, Timothy Combe reveals how this stress manifested during the filming of the six part adventure. (It is known that episode four’s filming was transferred to another Director due to the stress, but it seems that the identity of this person remains open to debate (it is either John Gorrie or Mervyn Pinfield).As Webster, guest actor, Jeffry Wickham, re-tells the account that, following a `liquid lunch’ (read: alcoholic) he was recalled to the studio following his character’s death for an additional scene. However, this recording `pick-up’ was not without a minor mishap.On acting to `nothing’, except to a sound effect of scuttling vermin), Carole Ann Ford: I do very good rats. I’m a very good `ratter’.On Toby Hadoke’s seemingly `sad’ existence as a DOCTOR WHO fan, Carole Ann Ford (said with affection): When are you going to get a life?On the studio lighting (by Howard King), Timothy Combe: He was prepared to give light and shade.In a refreshing `twist’ of studio commentary, Hadoke interviews/converses with guest actor, Ronald Pickup, to accommodate the fact that episode four has been `lost’ from the BBC Archive. Skilfully, this conversation avoids being a `luvvie-fest’ that would be appropriate only for `actor types’, delivering a fascinating insight into a world that I have no experience of (read: acting, theatre and television).Ronald Pickup: (I’m) very surprised to be a part of DOCTOR WHO culture. It was my very first job. Literally, before I did any theatre. So, out of the blue I was employed the week I left (RADA – the London-based acting school). I sat there (in the script read-through) if I’d die and gone to heaven. Seeing all those famous faces, particularly with whom, as I kid, I’d grown-up with.On William Hartnell, Ronald Pickup: Very special actor. A `character’ actor. Very pleasant. Very charming.Fact: Pickup was paid the sum of £31 for his five days on DOCTOR WHO. His is in contrast to the weekly salary of William Hartnell’s £210. The value of £31 in today’s (2012) value is…