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WILLIAM HARTNELL 1963-66
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FIRST DOCTOR | THE ARK

 
"...That the nature of man, even in this day and age,

hasn't altered at all.

You still fear the unknown like everyone else before you..."
 

STORY PLOTLINE

The TARDIS materialises in a tropical forest, and the Doctor, Steven and Dodo are surprised to find that it's situated inside a vast spaceship. This is the distant future, and the last survivors from Earth are on a 700 year voyage to the planet Refusis II. Accompanying them are their mute, one-eyed servants: the Monoids. When Dodo unwittingly spreads her cold amongst the Monoids it proves deadly to them, and the travellers are accused of sabotage.

Then the TARDIS jumps forward in time to the Ark's future, where the Doctor and his friends make a horrifying discovery. The balance of power has shifted, and humanity is now enslaved by the vengeful Monoid race, who plan to make Refusis II their own...

In an additional bonus interview, Peter Purves, who also provides linking narration for the story, recalls the making of the original 1966 television serial.

COMMENT  Spoilers ahead

The commentary team provides an entertaining, insightful and relaxed precis of the making of DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK. Dexterously supervised by actor, Toby Hadoke (sounding more like audio expert, Mark Ayres), actor Peter Purves (Steven) and the story's director, Michael Imison memories of 1965 are free-flowing, pertinent and articulate. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

On the inclusion of live animals, Imison: The animals were supposed to look large and menacing, and the bird was to create a bit of an upset. It never quite did.

On filming a lavish landscape, Imison: As spectacular as I could. The jungle in the Ealing film studio.

On Jackie Lane (Dodo Chaplet) Purves on Jackie Lane: She settled in quite nicely.

On the elephant, Imison: The BBC couldn't have on their premises overnight so the van was parked outside my house.

On the story's designer (Barry Newbery), Imison: We didn't quite hit it off. We had different ideas about what I wanted.

On working with William Hartnell, Purves: The thing about Billy is that he didn't stop. He would make mistakes. He treated it as if it was a live performance. I got on with him very very well but I watched him bully people that he could and be dismissive of them. His character (the Doctor) was 100% consistent.

On the Monoid costume design, Imison: It was my idea. My idea was to have a ping-pong ball in the mouth operated by the actor's mouth (with a wooden clothes peg). I thought about merchandise.
Purves: When I first saw them I though they were appalling.

On THE ARK, Purves: An excellent script. Great ideas; clever stuff. A good story this one.

On the BBC DVD "clean-up", Imison: It shows up too much detail. HD (High Definition) is having the same problem nowadays.

On the NEW SERIES, Purves: ".has lost the ethos of DOCTOR WHO. It is the serendipity of it (CLASSIC SERIES) has been lost."

On being allocated to direct DOCTOR WHO, Imison on being instructed to direct a DOCTOR WHO: It was a bit of a "come-down".

At the start of episode 3, Purves: They are still wearing the same dresses 700 years later.

On the special visual effects, Purves: The space potatoes!
Imison: Some conjuring trick!

On the invisible acting of the Refusions, Purves: Oh, wow!

NOTE: DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK was the first DOCTOR WHO story to have scenes recorded out of order.

On 1965's DOCTOR WHO, Purves: At the cutting edge of technology. It was a good as it could it be done.
Imison: There was nothing like it.

On the different genres within DOCTOR WHO, Purves: I like the historical stories but THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER is science fantasy is way up there. I kept the "Trilogic Game" (from THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER) until I threw it out.

On revisiting THE ARK 42 years later, Imison: I like it.
Peter Purves: Enjoyable.

DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK DVD V.A.M. (Value added material)

ALL'S WELL'S THAT ENDS WELLS is a strange (and avoidable?) inclusion on this release as it has the loosest connection to the story possible bar that it a "time-travel" element. Of course, a documentary that relates the literary works of HG Wells and his influence on DOCTOR WHO (and science fiction, in general) would have been better suited to have been included in the 2007 DVD release, TIMELASH.

Nasally challenged luminaries discuss specific links between THE ARK and Wells' work, noting that his 1899 dystrophic novel, WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES (original title) rather than the earlier classic THE TIME MACHINE.

The documentary is suitably brief but at times, sadly, you feel that it was not produced by the BBC but by the HAAS. Hot-Air Appreciation Society.

With a wig that would make Bruce Forsyth salivate, "penguin-style" waddling feet and a zip that runs from Coccyx to the Atlas Vertebra without deviation, it was not surprising that the Monoids have appeared (to date) only once in the drama series. ONE HIT WONDER analyses (and there not much to analyse.) why the aliens (where did they originate from?) had a brief Warhol-style of fame and ignominy, however it is asserted that, perhaps, they could be related/akin to NEW SERIES', Ood.

Returning the scene of the crime, Peter Purves returns to the Riverside TV recording studios where he provides a master-class of filming sixties DOCTOR WHO both on a budget and within the constraints of a shed-like (in comparison) studio; "A wonderful time to be working in the business. It was difficult." RIVERSIDE STORY is an insightful elucidation of how DOCTOR WHO challenged itself, battling technical & financial limitations and time restraints. It would be interesting to see this documentary repeated for the 1970s and the 1980/90s with relevant actors revisiting BBC Television Centre's recording studios TC1 or TC3.

In revisiting DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK is a remarkable four-parter for the fact that it is, in effect, an intelligent two two-parter deceit that over the subsequent decades is both acceptable and accessible to the modern audience.

The BBC DVD restoration of the print is, as the commentary team commend too, expertly achieved. So clear that William Hartnell's "wig tape" can be enjoyed in close-ups (though the VidFIRE used on the VHS release of DOCTOR WHO - PLANET OF GIANTS and the DVD release of DOCTOR WHO - THE AZTECS is a far superior).

Overall, fans may be crying out for "classics" such as TERROR OF THE AUTONS or THE DAEMONS to be released but they should be heartened to hear that unlike recent releases that have been lacklustre DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK is wholly recommended, and if I could offer a "Enjoy or your money back" guarantee then I would (but, by the way, I cannot).

EOH CONTRIBUTOR
MATTHEW WALTER
EOH RATING

eyeofhorus.org.uk DVD rating: 9/10

INFORMATION

WILLIAM HARTNELL IS THE DOCTOR


 

DVD Release 14.02.2011

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