Doctor Who - The Space Museum/The Chase [DVD]

 

 

Create your own review

This is a very good classic Doctor Who package. Fans have often said bad things about these two stories. I think they're great and make a nice change from serious classic B&W Doctor Who. They're very easy to watch and unlike other stories don't require firm, hard concentration. 2|Entertain have really upped the quality of the extras included. There's been a noticable jump up in the quality of the extras - and there's a lot of them. Unlike previous Classic Who releases we don't get cast and crew prattling on and on and on about tedious little details that would send even the most die hard fan into a coma. The extras on this release have been kept tight and to the point, they're interesting, enjoyable and informative. I particularly enjoyed the silent colour film featuring Shawcraft Models - who made most of the props and monsters (including the Daleks) in the 1960's. The picture quality of the episodes themselves look absolutely amazing, the restoration seems to have been undertaken with great care. The restoration team behind the remastering of these classic stories now have almost 20 years experience restoring old TV shows. The technology is improving all the time - and it shows with this release, which as I said before - looks better than anything before.

Neither story's a classic but they both have their moments. Space Museum starts off brilliantly with an excellent concept (well worth revisiting) the tardis crew slip a groove or jump a track in time, arriving in their personal future like ghosts unable to touch or interact with others. This is expertly laid out as they see themselves as exhibits in a Space Museum. Yes I know that's a spoiler but I think that much info would be on the disc cover. Moments like the simple effect of reversing a shot of a glass being dropped so it's jumping back into Vicki's hand somehow works and is creepy. A Dr Whodunnit (sorry)as they must find out how they end up that way & what can be done to avod it is set up as they properly arrive at an earlier time at the episode's end.
There's a backdrop of planet Xeros colonised by the warlike Moroks just to site their forgotten museum. The Moroks have bouffant wigs that would give Pertwee a run for his money & are rather well fed but that may be to convey that they are a race past their prime. Richard Shaw is v good as Lobos giving more than there is in the script. The rebel Xerons look like teenagers in space with mad eyebrows-watch for a young Jeremy Bulloch!
Eps 2-4 what started out so well becomes a run around and the story keeps taking 1 step forward then 1 step back e.g. having usefully established that not knowing what may cause their fate going back to the Tardis is not an option, the fact they don't know if they're avoiding or causing their fate is re-stated too often. Almost like saying the story's all rather pointless. I'm intrigued by Robert Shearman "defending the Museum" among the extras though.
There's fun to be had though as Vicki attempts to lead a revolution, Billy Hartnell impersonates a Dalek + makes a mind probe churn out nonsense and a shock discovery makes Ian believe their fate is coming to pass.
We jump right into the Chase which does exactly what it says on the tin as the Daleks decide once & for all they need to sort this Doctor fellow out and hunt him down in their own time machine which was called a DARDIS in the script (Dalek & Relative Dimensions in Space?)though that was dropped by recording.
The crew become aware of the situation courtesy of a device from the museum which is like 4th dimensional freeview and as well as Dalek plans it screens The Gettysberg Address, Shakespearean secrets and The Beatles doing Ticket to Ride (#1) which causes classic teacher trying to look hip dance moevments from Ian.
They are pursued through a House of Horrors with robots of Frankenstein, Dracula and a woman who shrieks a bit, The Mary Celeste-solving the mystery of course & the Empire State Bulding (before we knew of the Daleks' work with contractors there. Empire State sequence is our 1st glimpse of companion to be Peter Purves-here playing an irritating American tourist who takes the mickey out of the Daleks but they oddly don't exterminate him.
Fans of 60's aliens get a desert planet (it's a Terry Nation script so it's moniker is ARIDus!) with amphibious looking natives (watch for a young Hywel Bennett) and a silly Mire Beast. With their impeccable sense of the dramatic, the Daleks repeat their River Thames stunt rising up out of sand (coughing guts up).
The conclusion takes place on planet Mechanus where ther are carnivorous mushrooms and the Mechanoids which are wonderful spherical servo robots who've developed their own will. They fight the Daleks in a marvellously cut and directed battle that belies the small numbers.
It's all rather silly but better fun than Museum & a shame plans to make a Peter Cushing film of it never got off the ground. The Daleks are fun but almost in self parody mode and hatch a plan to use a robot double of the Doctor. What makes this look such a bad plan is the casting of Non-Hartnell look alike Edmund Warwick as the robot Doctor who doesn't even convince in longshot!
Regulars all get some good stuff to do epecially the departure of Ian & Barbara, plus the introduction of Peter Purves'Steven. Steven Taylor works fine as a bitter astronaut marooned with the Mechanoids- even if he oddly does a Dame Edna Everage voice when calling a Mech "My fat little darling!" Okay something of an exaggeration, but he does deliver the line oddly.

Extras include; for Space Museum, "Defending the Space Museum" is billed as a "robust" defence of the story. This is some strange new usage of "Robust" as Rob Shearman actually says what many reviewers have said; great 1st episode but less good to follow albeit with good moments. He does make an interesting point that this is a story written as a comedy but not directed as one.
"My Grandfather William Hartnell" is a sadly brief interview with Jessica Carney (maybe a future moderator for commentaries?) but a charming piece anyway. Spoof piece "A Holiday for the Doctor" is a fun look at the absences of the Doctor in 60's stories when the lead wanted a break, Ida Green being a great creation. Saving the best til last the commentary with William Russell & Maureen O'Brien, joined by writer Glynn Jones is the most fun Hartnell commentary yet and marks the emergence of a new classic commentary star with Peter Purves moderating. Peter has done his home work and coaxes very funny stories out of them all about Hartnell's line fluffing, old school director Mervyn Pinfield's overuse of 4 shots, how rubbish the Moroks are and info on how the script changed from the original. Peter Purves acts as moderator again with Maureen, William plus director Richard Martin on the Chase and that's in similar vein.
"Cusick in Cardiff" sees the legendary designer visit the home of new Who treated with respect by current design gurus. He's quite pleased with the new Daleks and the Tardis. "Shawcraft the Original Model makers " looks at the builders of early monsters and covers their work pretty well and is marvellously supplemented by vintage colour super 8 film of their studios. , "Last Stop White City" covers Ian & Barbara too quickly to have much detail and there's a sort of 2 part documentary on you know who "Daleks Conquer & Destroy" which is an overview of the Daleks and their appeal and "Daleks Beyond the Screen" considers merchandise & their use in other media. A good look at our favourite monsters with some good interviewees and some Big Finish Audio clips. There are some colour slides too.
A pretty good package for provided you like the 60's stories or are a big fan of the Daleks.
(#1) The Beatles themselves were to have appeared as old men at their 50th reunion concert but Mr. Epstein said no.
(#2) A very funny letter 2 decades ago to DWM asked if due to the spoonerising of Moroks and Xerons as Moron Xeroks (Xerox?)Jones may have a had a problem with photocopiers, perhaps all shall be revealed.
(#3) Jessica C also wrote the Hartnell biography "Who's There?" which I recommend.

(Season 2.)
The Space Museum.
After a series of weird happenings aboard ship. The TARDIS appears to land on the planet Xeros, but when travelling through time and space, appearances can sometimes be deceptive.
As "Realtime" catches up, the Tardis crew realize they have been given a glimpse of their future fate.
They must change this future or face eternity as exhibits in the Morok War Museum...
Ep.1-"The Space Museum",-Wandering around the museum one of the exhibits catches their eye.
Ep.2-"The Dimensions of Time",-the Doctor plays mind games with a mind probe.
Ep.3-"The Search",-Vickie encourages the Xerosians to revolt.
Ep.4-"The Final Phase",-the Doctor is prepared for his, "exhibition", but the revolution is successful and the Tardis crew leave Xeros. With a device called a time space visualizer.
But across the gulf of space, evil exterminating eyes have been watching them.....
And this time they mean business!
Episode One is possibly the most intriguing episode in the programmes long history, it's a shame the remaining three episodes don't quite maintain episode ones intriguing premise.
After, "The Web Planet's" overspend of most of season two's budget, this was the story that had to, "cut cost's".
It does rather show, unfortunately.
5 Stars for Episode 1.
DVD extras.
DEFENDING THE MUSEUM
MY GRANDFATHER THE DOCTOR
THE SPACE MUSEUM - PHOTO GALLERY
A HOLIDAY FOR THE DOCTOR
Don't let the fact it's in Black and White put you off.
Airdate:- 24/4/65 -15/5/65.
~~~~
The Chase
This story is six episodes of...fun, a madcap run-around of a story of which they did a lot in the sixties.(Check out the first two Beatle films).
The Daleks have had enough of the Doctors interference in their plans, so they despatch an execution squad of Daleks to persue and exterminate the Tardis crew. The Doctor and his friends have got to keep one step ahead..... their very lives depend on it.
Mr Hartnell finally get's a chance to do a bit of comedy, check out his reaction when the Frankenstein creature rises from the laboratory bench.
I simply must mention episode six, I think Ray Cusick's Mechonoid design is fantastic looking now just as I did when I watched on original transmission. The Dalek/Mechonoid fight scene is also a tour de force for the special effects guys.
So get out the popcorn take the phone off the hook and enjoy this silly slice of campy sixties fun, I know I will.
Individual episode titles.
Ep 1- The Executioners, The Daleks despatch the execution squad.
Ep 2- The Death of Time, The Aridians are coerced by the Daleks to hand over the Tardis crew.
Ep 3- Flight through Eternity, a mystery of the sea is finally explained.
Ep 4- Journey Into Terror, Just a haunted house, or a nightmare world?
Ep 5- The Death of Doctor Who, Double trouble for the Doctor.
Ep 6- The Planet of Decision, Success, and a way back to a "normal" life for some of the Tardis crew, if they take it.
DVD extras.
THE THRILL OF THE CHASE
(GIVE-A-SHOW SLIDES)
DOCTOR WHO - FOLLOW THAT DALEK
SHAWCRAFT - THE ORIGINAL MONSTER MAKERS
THE CHASE - PHOTO GALLERY
LAST STOP WHITE CITY
BEYOND THE SCREEN
ENTER +++ ENTER +++ ZERO +++ STOP (EASTER EGG)
DALEKS! CONQUER AND DESTROY
Trivia:- For anyone wishing to see the inspiration of the Mechonoids design, just check out a picture of the communication satellite, "Telstar".
This is also the first story to feature the Daleks with their vertical slats, I've always thought of them as solar panels.
Airdate:- 22/5/65 - 26/6/65.
Enjoy.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 32 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

 

3.0 out of 5 stars Four out of ten ain't bad?
The Space Museum... what a stinker! No thanks, not my cup of tea.

On paper it's quite a clever idea, certainly one that had potential. So what happened? Read more

Published 29 days ago by Shaun Cryer

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Dalek Value "But That's About It"
The Space Museum: set at a museum on the planet xeros, the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki are caught up in a time track that enables them to see in to the near future, they can... Read more

Published 1 month ago by M.B.E. Of Tooting

4.0 out of 5 stars "Advance and attack! Attack and destroy! Destroy and rejoice!"
The Space Museum has long had the reputation as one of the worst black and white Doctor Who stories, the general consensus holding that it starts reasonably well but quickly... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Trevor Willsmer

3.0 out of 5 stars The Space Museum - NO / The Chase - YES
The Space Museum has a charming opening episode but the rest just drags on. The Chase on the other hand takes you to different locations every episode. Read more

Published 7 months ago by drwho123

3.0 out of 5 stars Morloks and Daleks
Two tales dove jointed together make up this boxed set of 1965 delights. First Doctor Bill Hartnell is in great stride. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Champs

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Hartnell
We are blessed to have such an abundance of William Hartnell's stories surviving on DVD. 'The Chase' has long been a favourite Hartnell story of mine - comic, fun, and not to be... Read more

Published 16 months ago by bigbradwolf

4.0 out of 5 stars Specialy features - brilliant
For me the special features on this set are the best bit. The stories again not great, but the extras well make up for it

Published 16 months ago by Mr. K. A. Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars Lighten up, Who and Dalek fans alike, and enjoy...
5 stars you may be asking? Well I just got this boxset for my birthday, uncertain what to expect as I haven't seen much Hartnell material and was pleasantly surprised and... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Mr. S. Mclean

5.0 out of 5 stars Doctor Who-The Space Museum/The Chase
Two excellent stories from the william hartnell era I purchased this region 2 set cause the beatless have been edited from the chase in all other regions

Published 18 months ago by wally gator

5.0 out of 5 stars A CHASE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE
Unless you are a died in the wool Doctor Who fan, there's little in this that you'll love. If you are a true Who-head you'll probably absolutely love this for all the wrong... Read more

Published 18 months ago by K. Gooch

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 32 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Search Listmania!