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From Amazon.co.uk
When Doctor Who was revived for its modern day adventures back in 2005, its interesting choice of first monsters to bring back was the Autons. These mannequin-like beasts have since returned again, yet their pedigree goes right back to the 1970s, when they first did battle with Jon Pertwee’s incarnation of the Doctor. And it’s those encounters that the Mannequin Mania box set brings together.
You get two stories for your money, here. Terror Of The Autons also throws The Master into the mix, and it’s a cracking yarn, with plenty of imagination and some significant attempts to scare. But Spearhead From Space is better. Pertwee’s first story, it’s an alien invasion story of real skill, and the Autons from the off make compelling monsters. Pertwee was, inevitably, still finding his feet in the role here, and the effects don’t date well, but it’s a smashing adventure nonetheless. Do note that it’s already been released as a standalone disc, though.
What you also get, of course, is a smashing collection of extras, as is usually the case with the BBC’s classic Doctor Who releases. The love and care put into the added features is an example to many, and it’s an exhaustive package you get for your money. As such, Mannequin Mania is, rightly, really quite hard to resist. --Jon Foster
Product Description
The Third Doctor must face terrifying plastic Autons and the evil Master in these two classic 1970’s adventures.
Terror of the Autons: The Master arrives on Earth in his TARDIS, camouflaging it as a horse box in a Circus. He immediately contacts the Nestenes and assists them in mounting a second invasion of Earth. The Doctor and his new assistant, Jo Grant, have to tackle the Autons, the Master and a large number of deadly daffodils.
Spearhead from Space: Newly regenerated, the Doctor returns in the first colour tv adventure. Exiled by the Time Lords to Earth, he finds himself working with UNIT to investigate an apparent meteor shower connected to strange events at a local plastics factory. The factory is manufacturing mannequins with a sinister purpose..
Terror of the Autons: The Master arrives on Earth in his TARDIS, camouflaging it as a horse box in a Circus. He immediately contacts the Nestenes and assists them in mounting a second invasion of Earth. The Doctor and his new assistant, Jo Grant, have to tackle the Autons, the Master and a large number of deadly daffodils.
Spearhead from Space: Newly regenerated, the Doctor returns in the first colour tv adventure. Exiled by the Time Lords to Earth, he finds himself working with UNIT to investigate an apparent meteor shower connected to strange events at a local plastics factory. The factory is manufacturing mannequins with a sinister purpose..
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Spearhead from Space
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1970's Spearhead From Space has always been one of the truly great moments in Doctor Who, and for me this is one of my top 10 favorites. From the start of 1970 to the end of 1979 Doctor Who reached its zenith and became the classic show we all love today. Patrick Troughton's last serial "The War Games" is no doubt a timeless classic but recorded very low viewing figures for the time, so the producers had quite a rough time getting the 900 year old chap on his feet again. I agree with Terrance Dicks in that Doctor Who was granted a stay of execution because the BBC were starting to broadcast in colour for the first time and the money that was coming in from the television licenses was clouding their evil judgement on possible cancellation. Thankfully, the BBC did not cancel the show and its still going strong over 48 years later.
Jon Pertwee gets a great first story here and probably the best debut ever for a Doctor. Firstly, the colour really helps, I know some people love black & white but you must admit that colour is luxurious. Furthermore, the location filming is fantastic, basically the whole 100 minute feature was filmed on location because of some BBC strikes that were going on. The filmic look really adds to the atmosphere of the serial and sells it better than videotape ever could. Furthermore, Dudley Simpson's incidental music for Spearhead from Space is some of his greatest, the atmosphere he induces from the score is impressive to say the least and really adds to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Nicholas Courtney's first appearance since 1968's "Invasion" is brilliant, I always loved the Third Doctor / UNIT era of the programme and Nick is one of the main parts of that fantastic nostalgic time.... Read more ›
````````````````````
1970's Spearhead From Space has always been one of the truly great moments in Doctor Who, and for me this is one of my top 10 favorites. From the start of 1970 to the end of 1979 Doctor Who reached its zenith and became the classic show we all love today. Patrick Troughton's last serial "The War Games" is no doubt a timeless classic but recorded very low viewing figures for the time, so the producers had quite a rough time getting the 900 year old chap on his feet again. I agree with Terrance Dicks in that Doctor Who was granted a stay of execution because the BBC were starting to broadcast in colour for the first time and the money that was coming in from the television licenses was clouding their evil judgement on possible cancellation. Thankfully, the BBC did not cancel the show and its still going strong over 48 years later.
Jon Pertwee gets a great first story here and probably the best debut ever for a Doctor. Firstly, the colour really helps, I know some people love black & white but you must admit that colour is luxurious. Furthermore, the location filming is fantastic, basically the whole 100 minute feature was filmed on location because of some BBC strikes that were going on. The filmic look really adds to the atmosphere of the serial and sells it better than videotape ever could. Furthermore, Dudley Simpson's incidental music for Spearhead from Space is some of his greatest, the atmosphere he induces from the score is impressive to say the least and really adds to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Nicholas Courtney's first appearance since 1968's "Invasion" is brilliant, I always loved the Third Doctor / UNIT era of the programme and Nick is one of the main parts of that fantastic nostalgic time.... Read more ›
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Doctor Who was in a perilous state at the end of Patrick Troughton's tenure. Ratings had been in decline - so much so that few of Troughton's stories even survive intact - and there was a strong possibility that if a new series didn't improve matters, there wouldn't be another.
Spearhead from Space is in many ways quite a unique story in the original series history, not only introducing the Third Doctor but also tweaking the format of the show remarkably successfully, with producer Derrick Sherwin using the more Earthbound Quatermass as his model while adding more action to turn it into more of an adventure series. It also has a unique look, and not just because the show made the leap from black and white to colour for the first time. While TV shows were traditionally shot largely on tape for studio interiors and 16mm film for exteriors, a BBC strike meant that Spearhead was shot entirely on film and on location. As well as giving the show a much more cinematic and adventurous look, this also ensured that after proper restoration this probably looks the best of any story from that era, with pin-sharp definition and superb colour on the remastered DVD that is a visible improvement on the previous release.
The Quatermass influence is particularly noticeable in the first half of the story. Like Quatermass II, it begins with meteorites being guided to a specific part of the English countryside where they are collected for a sinister purpose in a secret establishment, although it largely drops the government conspiracy angle that saw Nigel Kneale's invaders taking over the halls of power and using the Official Secrets Act to keep prying human eyes away.... Read more ›
Spearhead from Space is in many ways quite a unique story in the original series history, not only introducing the Third Doctor but also tweaking the format of the show remarkably successfully, with producer Derrick Sherwin using the more Earthbound Quatermass as his model while adding more action to turn it into more of an adventure series. It also has a unique look, and not just because the show made the leap from black and white to colour for the first time. While TV shows were traditionally shot largely on tape for studio interiors and 16mm film for exteriors, a BBC strike meant that Spearhead was shot entirely on film and on location. As well as giving the show a much more cinematic and adventurous look, this also ensured that after proper restoration this probably looks the best of any story from that era, with pin-sharp definition and superb colour on the remastered DVD that is a visible improvement on the previous release.
The Quatermass influence is particularly noticeable in the first half of the story. Like Quatermass II, it begins with meteorites being guided to a specific part of the English countryside where they are collected for a sinister purpose in a secret establishment, although it largely drops the government conspiracy angle that saw Nigel Kneale's invaders taking over the halls of power and using the Official Secrets Act to keep prying human eyes away.... Read more ›
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another Doctor Who DVD box set, with one cardboard box containing two individual stories. Each in their own individual dvd box. So you can take them out and put them on your shelves in broadcast order, should you so desire.
Both stories feature Jon Pertwee as the Doctor. Both are four parts long and on single discs. And both see the Doctor battling the Nestene consciousness. An alien life form that can make plastic come to life in the form of deadly mannequin like creatures called the Autons. It's aim: colonising other worlds. Earth is it's next target.
Spearhead from Space has been released on DVD before, but this is a new edition. With a better picture quality and more extras than the previous one.
Since it's packaged with Terror of the Autons, buying a new edition of a story you may already have is going to be your only way to get the latter on DVD.
If you object to that, it's your choice.
If you're not familiar with Spearhead from Space, then: It was Jon Pertwee's first in the role. And a radical new start for the show as it entered the 1970's. Shot entirely on film, it sees the Doctor exiled to Earth and forced through these circumstances to work for the U.N.I.T., who protect the Earth from alien invasion. The Nestenes have arrived on Earth at the same time as the Doctor, and he has to help his new allies fight back.
Pacier and more down to Earth than the show had been before, it benefits enormously from being shot on film, and has some superbly iconic images via the actions of the Autons. Most notably shop window dummies coming to life. A superb start to a new era for the show, it's a classic story.
The dvd has, as mentioned, a better picture quality than before.... Read more ›
Both stories feature Jon Pertwee as the Doctor. Both are four parts long and on single discs. And both see the Doctor battling the Nestene consciousness. An alien life form that can make plastic come to life in the form of deadly mannequin like creatures called the Autons. It's aim: colonising other worlds. Earth is it's next target.
Spearhead from Space has been released on DVD before, but this is a new edition. With a better picture quality and more extras than the previous one.
Since it's packaged with Terror of the Autons, buying a new edition of a story you may already have is going to be your only way to get the latter on DVD.
If you object to that, it's your choice.
If you're not familiar with Spearhead from Space, then: It was Jon Pertwee's first in the role. And a radical new start for the show as it entered the 1970's. Shot entirely on film, it sees the Doctor exiled to Earth and forced through these circumstances to work for the U.N.I.T., who protect the Earth from alien invasion. The Nestenes have arrived on Earth at the same time as the Doctor, and he has to help his new allies fight back.
Pacier and more down to Earth than the show had been before, it benefits enormously from being shot on film, and has some superbly iconic images via the actions of the Autons. Most notably shop window dummies coming to life. A superb start to a new era for the show, it's a classic story.
The dvd has, as mentioned, a better picture quality than before.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Only the Keeper to beat
What a lovely story. WHat a lovely production. It's like a late Shakespeare - Winters Tale or Cymbeline, possibly with a dash of All's Well and MND. Read more
Published 2 days ago by D. F. S. Notepad
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Dummie's Guide To Doctor Who
Don't be put off by the slightly jokey title of this collection, it features two of the show's most memorable stories featuring the Autons, plastic shop window dummies animated by... Read more
Published 22 days ago by TARDIS Mechanic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Auton's alert!
Yes a real treat being an original Dr Who fan,--I m still in the opinion that Jon Pertwee's Auton 1st adventure was so very good--great story;--- the Auton service robots stalking... Read more
Published 1 month ago by nicholas wade N.WADE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doctor Who - Mannequin Mania ( 2 Disc Set )
Recovering from his regeneration, the Doctor begins his exile to Earth by battling Autons! The Master, a renegade Time Lord, breaks into a museum and steals a Nestene energy... Read more
Published 2 months ago by kk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whoops!
After receiving this I realised I had already bought it!
Nevertheless, the restorations is, as usual, top quality and the extras (or VAM as they are now referred to! Read more
Nevertheless, the restorations is, as usual, top quality and the extras (or VAM as they are now referred to! Read more
Published 3 months ago by William S Lowery
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mannequin Magic - BUY NOW
I throughly enjoyed both storys in this boxset, I was too young for the Pertwee era (Tom Baker was my Dr) and now playing catch up, I must admit I can understand why Mr Moffat... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Barry Lincoln
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mannequin alert!
Husband so happy with this dvd, I am so frightened still watching this dvd. Cannot walk by shops like I used too!!
Brilliant service as always.
Brilliant service as always.
Published 5 months ago by pippin1
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jon pertwee auton story
Now where to start on this classic auton boxset. well how about the first pertwee story spearhead from space now this is a special edition version with new remastered picture... Read more
Published 7 months ago by pertweesmith11
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect nostalgia
These dvds were bought as a little piece of tv history. Although some of the storylines seem overly simple now, and do not impress the younger generations, they are worth buying if... Read more
Published 8 months ago by LeeAnn
2.0 out of 5 stars
dismal stuff
Getting to the end of Tom Baker's time as The Doctor, there's clear signs of the show having entered a downward spiral. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Green Shadow
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