Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10961 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-06-09
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 148 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The second story of series two, Doctor Who--Dalek Invasion of Earth sees William Hartnell's Doctor in a six-part adventure pitted against his greatest nemesis, the Daleks. The Doctor, Susan (Carol Ann Ford), Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) arrive in the London of 2164, where the Nazi-like Dalek's have turned the remnants of the human race into slave workers or "Robomen", who unfortunately foreshadow Monty Python's hilarious "Gumbies". The Dalek's plan involves a vast mine in Bedfordshire and the final destruction of the human race, while pitted against them is a WWII-style resistance movement led by Dortmun (Alan Judd) and David Campbell (Peter Fraser). One of the most famous of all Doctor Who stories, Dalek Invasion of Earth features such iconic moments as a dalek emerging from the Thames, and a remarkable flight across London showing daleks crossing Westminster Bridge and patrolling Trafalgar Square and the Albert Memorial. Terry Nation's story is almost insanely ambitious for the budget, and while sets and effects are primitive, the location work is highly evocative. Lavishly remade for the cinema as Daleks Invasion Earth: 2150AD (1966), the plot here is more detailed, mercifully free of comic relief, and delivers a surprisingly sensitive ending to mark Carol Ann Ford's departure from the series.

On The DVD: Doctor Who--Dalek Invasion of Earth is a comprehensive two-disc set with a generally excellent black-and-white 4:3 picture and mono sound. The highlight of Disc One is a warm and very informative commentary hosted by Gary Russell and featuring director Richard Martin (all episodes), producer Verity Lambert (5 episodes), Carol Ann Ford and William Russell (4 episodes each). There are optional subtitles for the episodes, as well as for the commentary, and further text titles giving detailed background information. Optional new CGI-effects shots have been added, which via seamless branching can be selected over the original 1964 model work. The new material obviously lacks authenticity, but looks about 1000 times better. Disc Two offers an abundance of extras including an amusing extract from Blue Peter (6 min) showing how to make edible Daleks. There is a photo gallery and some very poor quality Rehearsal Footage, but most fun of all is a 27 minute 1994 BBC spoof radio documentary which asks Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman?. Jane Asher plays Susan in an SF comedy as ingenious as it amusing and irreverent. This is a remarkable set, which belongs in any Who fan's collection. Gary S Dalkin

DVD Description
The Tardis materialises in London sometime after the year 2164. Dalek invaders are now ruling the Earth with the aid of humans converted into zombie-like Robomen, but they are opposed by a group of resistance fighters led by the wheelchair-using Dortmun. The travellers discover that the Daleks have established a huge mine in Bedfordshire, their aim being to remove the Earth’s core using a huge bomb and replace it with a powerful drive system so that they can pilot the planet around the galaxy. Ian manages to create a barrier in the shaft in order to intercept the bomb. The resulting explosion destroys the Daleks and their mine and creates a huge volcanic eruption. Susan has fallen in love with resistance fighter David Campbell, and the Doctor decides to leave her on Earth to find a new life with him, while he continues on his travels with Ian and Barbara.

Running Time: 150 minutes approx.

Special Features
Disc 1

• CGI Effects - this gives the viewer the option to watch the story with some of the original model effects replaced by CGI versions
  
• Commentary – stereo
  
• Programme subtitles
  
• Commentary subtitles
  
• Subtitle Production Notes
  
• Trailers - two original BBC1 trailers for the story (approx 2 mins)

Disc 2

• Extras Disc Intro - a short message from the Daleks to introduce the extras disc
  
• Future Visions - a featurette about the work of the story's designer, Spencer Chapman
  
• Future Memories - actors reminisce about the story
  
• Talking Daleks - featurette on the creation of the Dalek voices
  
• Now and Then - location featurette contrasting the locations used in 1965 to how they appear today
  
• Script to Screen - a short item using the original studio floor plans to show how camera moves were blocked out and how the scenes appear in the finished episode
  
• Blue Peter - Valerie Singleton makes Dalek cakes
  
• Whatever Happened to Susan? - a radio production from 1993 featuring Jane Asher as the Doctor's granddaughter
  
• Rehearsal Film - a short 8mm film shot by a member of the cast on the last day of studio rehearsal
  
• Photo Gallery
  
• Easter Eggs

DVD Technical Information:

• Subtitles: English SDH
  
• Audio: Mono
  
• Region Code: 2 & 4
  
• PAL
  
• Disc Format: DVD-9 x 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  
• Running Time: 147 minutes

Customer Reviews

Classic
Restoration as ever is quite exceptional. Acting is a little stilted but WHO cares. worthwhile addition to the collection complete with wobbly daleks as well as dialog. The latest trend with BBC Who DVD is two disks with mounds of extras that makes the purchase price well worth it! The Movie version is glossier, but this TV version is rounder and more detailed. CGI effects available to view are good (you can't see the strings on the spaceships!) is an excellant feature. A big plus in this disk, we say goodbye to Susan! (why does that girl always twist her ankle (she did it many years later in the Five Doctors)
BUY THIS MASTERPIECE!!!

A great Who story
The second Dalek outage was a fantastic one! Even better than the first!

This is Doctor Who at its best. The beginning episode sets a dark tone (check out the posters on the wall about dumping bodies).

The flying saucers are the worse I've ever seen - and this I think adds to the charm of the series. It shows how a low budget production can be great if the scripts, plot, and acting is just right.

This actually feels quite epic and is great watched in one go as well as being watched over a period of time.

The special features are top notch (if the flying saucers REALLY bug you then you can watch CGI smooth ones instead!) interviews are fab and the commentary is worth listening to.

The end of this story maybe explains why the Doctor seems rather obessed planet Earth and its people. It gets people who think Hartnell's doctor is self obsessed and heartless to re-assess their views on him.

The Dalek coming out of the Thames is one of the all time great Doctor Who moments.

The high point of Dalekmania
It is no wonder that Dalek Invasion of Earth, together with the first Dalek story promoted mass Dalekmania in England. It is a great production.

Most people who have heard of this story are much more familiar with the Peter Cushing colour movie than the original TV version. The plots are virtually the same, although the original is in black and white with a much smaller budget.

There are times when the cheapness of the sets and limited techical effects (especially sound) really show, but as a piece of early 1960s TV production, it is excellent.

The Doctor Who main cast know they are acting in something special and really put their hearts into it. The additional cast also play it deadly serious and bring class to the production. It is a powerful piece as not only do the daleks appear genuinely terrifying but Susan leaves the cast and the character dynamics make their first big change.

It is not high-tech but it is a compelling watch.