Double tape releases were the UK versions; I don't know why but they seemed to feel having multiple tapes represented more value! We had (have?) one of the multi-tape Daleks release; literally it's tape 2 with episodes 5-7 IIRC!

One of the best articles I've read in Australian fanzines gave the history of video releases in Australia, including the serial numbers!

It's great that Doctor Who can remain evergreen, however I wonder if this ability to continually re-release the same material doesn't excuse the lack of new content?

The thing that concerns me at the moment is the advent of Blu-Ray discs.

When/If the BBC does enter the fray would they still release the remaining stories on standard dvd or focus on Blu-Ray for the other releases?

I'd hate to have one half of my collection standard dvd and the next something else!

Of course that gives the BBC the perfect excuse to re-release the already available stories again on Blu-Ray

We may yet see The Five Doctors released for a third time if that's the case!!!!

I wouldn't worry about that--there's always going to some crappy new format to sink your collection. One of my guilty pleasures is Lost, which uses film, Umatic and VHS (all in poor repair) to drop clues into the narrative.

I recommend Zen, or a good dose of cancer, puts your priorities in order let me tell you!

Ha ha, yes I know there are far more important things in life don't worry!!

Still, it always gets me how many versions of the same movie/tv show gets released onto video/dvd.

For example I was amused to see a '30th anniversary editon' of Grease for sale recently....amused considering that the supposed 'definitive version' was released only 2 years ago.......

Don't let it be said that movie and tv studios - including the BBC - don't know how to make a fast buck, after all it's all about putting the Business in Show!

with the definitivee version you got a nive black or pink leather jacket now you can get a letter jacket with the new version. be thankful they are not remaking it ala Rocky Horror Show.

Martin : You've got Revenge--this was because fandom was polled (via Doctor Who Weekly?) and voted the story it wanted to see the most and so the first release (VHS, Betamax and videodisc) was to be...Tomb of the Cybermen! ... which was recovered eight years later, so we received the compilation Revenge.

There's a relevant thread on the RT Forum about this. The polling body was BBC Enterprises (now Worldwide), via the Longleat exhibition in 1983. The sample may have been as small as "20ish". And anecdotally some were filled in with episodes known to be missing ... deliberately!

Since one of the polling forms is being sought, it may be intended as an extra for an upcoming DVD release.

when you say revenge you mean of the cyberman don't you? I would love this to be released soon not only is it one of the first I remember watching it would complete the Time ring Season.

Indeed, a themed season like that is the sort of thing they make a box set out of.

I think I've mentioned this before, but a reminder....

There are a few stories left where boxed sets can be done -

Trial of a Timelord - which comes out in December in the UK

The Black Guardian trilogy from Season 20.

Curse of/Monster of Peladon stories

The E-Space trilogy from season 18

The entire Season 8 'Master season'- and I know Claws of Axos has been released from this season, but it's not too late to do a whole box set from the unreleased stories.

Maybe all 3 Daleks stories from the Pertwee era?  Or perhaps a Frontier in Space/Planet of the Daleks box set.

And the old favorite "Makee Upee We Say It's A set".

Evidence is piling up for a Time Ring set. Alongside the call for the Longleat polling form, the restoration team's looking for Australian continuity links for a feature on video trading prior to official releases. The link from the end of Inferno part one's hot property---from memory "Doctor Who will be back tomorrow. You can pick up a great range of merchandise at the ABC Shop. But probably not a green man."

One would also assume that Sylvester McCoy's first season - the dreaded Season 24 - would come in a box set.

Surely no one in their right mind would actually buy those season stories separately??

I could see them combining the absolute worst stories of all time and then including something vital for the collector which isn't available elsewhere. Or in other words season 24 indeed!

I just read that War Machine is due out after Brain of Morbius. Does any one want to see the Doctor's Year collection, eg Hartnell Years etc.

Those Years releases were pretty hot at the time. The orphaned episodes on the Hartnell and Troughton ones were particularly welcome. Are they being re-released?

THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS

Doctor Who's Thirteenth season has often been referred to as being one of its best.

This saw the Hincliffe/Holmes team at the height of their abilities, with the actors and general production following suit.

Like the best of their work, Morbius takes a leaf out of classic gothic horror in their take of Frankenstein.

No more is this brilliantly portrayed as with Philip Madoc's mad scientist in what must surely be his best role in the series.  His authorative voice and delivery really give a gravitas to a very grand tale.

Although originally written by Terence Dicks, this is unmistakably Holmes' work.  From the classic witty lines to the engaging characters, this is one of those rare times that any fault can be found.

The trials of the Sisterhood and Morbius' rise from the dead are wonderfully interwoven with a great cast giving their absolute best.

Baker and Sladen work beautifully together and made a perfect teaming. The little moments between them here are what makes the story for me - so playful and caring as any good relationship should be.

The plot has the appropriate level of tension and black comedy without falling into the trap of referential parody.

The direction and Dudley Simpson score are both first rate, with even the usually dodgy set design being better than normal.

It's hard to find any fault with this story at all - most certainly it's one of the classics.

The dvd itself is pretty good without being fantastic.  Picture quality and sound give a level of consistency to the viewing enjoyment with the sound mix in particular given an aggressive workout.

The extras are ok - the main doco is very interesting, with the short featurettes on the Production Design and set tour making worthy additions.

Personally I would have liked to have seen some small doco on the story's infamous video release - one lasting an hour and cutting out most of the tale!!

I'd love to see a doco on how the show was treated on VHS - why the edited eps were done and its impact in gaining new fans.

Overall this is a great story and goes to prove how a determined approach to delivering a high quality production can pay off in spades.

Nice to see that 2Entertain can actually release a classic story for a change........

Next up The War Machines....

Hey Axel F!

I agree with almost all of your review here. The Holmesian script is what really stands out in this particular story (together with Madoc's excellent portrayal of Solon). I love that line "You chicken brained biological disaster!" I've always wanted to use that one!

However, I do disagree with you that it's almost faultless; there's one particular scene that really makes me cringe: when Sarah Jane is doing her impersonation of a blind beggar - it's pathetic and badly scripted. Awful to say the least!
And then there's the very controversial mind dual between the Doctor and Morbius - that scene of the Doctor's past selves has left an indelible scratch on the series' continuity that cannot be repaired.
Still, the story's a bloody good yarn and classic 'Gothic horror'.
Oh, and by the way, I also agree with you that there could have been far better extras on the DVD - I would have liked to have seen a Doctor Who Magazine like analysis of the Gothic genre in Doctor Who with contributions from Gary Gillatt, Alan Barnes and some art critics perhaps. And they definitely should have done an analysis of the NVLAs reaction to the story and why it was so brutally edited down for its first VHS release.

Now I'm opening myself up here for attack, but I'd argue that the *real* classics still to be released from the Hinchliffe/Holmes era are "The Deadly Assassin", "The Seeds of Doom" and "The Face of Evil". I don't want to admit it, but I know they too have their faults, but all 3 of these stories go in my Top 20 Dr Who stories of all time - and I think they're much better than "The Brain of Morbius".

"the Deadly Assassin" - takes Platonic philosophy and uses it well in science fiction. Also does "The Matrix" more than 20 years before Keanu Reeves and Co. Full of action and a Dr Who story that proves that The Doctor can operate efficiently without the need for a companion. Also a very intelligent narrative full of suspense, political intrigue and philosophical ideas. An indubitable classic.

"The Seeds of Doom" - perhaps one of the most violent and horrific stories of them all. Excellent baddies that really do mean to kill people brutally (no pantomime in this story!), plenty of action - just a sheer bloody classic!

"The Face of Evil" - Doctor Who does both Freudian and Jungian psychoanalysis and does it *very* well. Together with "Kinda" this is probably the most cerebral the show has ever been. OK, the Sevateem are camp and silly, but so what? The narrative is still fascinating, innovative and clever.

Long time no see Jimmy!

I agree with you about Seeds of Doom and Assassin being released, but I've never been so keen on Face of Evil.

It may be due to the fact I never quite liked Leela as a companion - although I do put Talons of Weng Chiang as one of my fave stories of all time.

I don't think there wasn't much scope for change in her character to make her that memorable.  Indeed from her first appearance in Face of Evil to The Invasion of Time I think it's fair to say she hadn't actually progressed much as a person.

I know she has her fans and that's cool - each to their own!

Will be doing the War Machines review when it comes this week - although I'm a bit sad that the story after that will be Four to Doomsday......surely it would have made sense, considering that the release after that one is the Trial of a Timelord box set which features the last appearance of Peri - that her first appearance - Planet of Fire - would have been more appropriate to release over Four to Doomsday??

Common sense and 2Entertain don't seem to mix it would appear......

Yeah, dude, it's great to be back in touch with you; I've missed being on the forums.

As for Leela, you've again hit the nail on the head. I beleive that Louise Jameson left the role due to it not being developed to its potential (especially since it was toned down and transformed significantly by Williams from the way that it had been envisaged by Hinchcliffe - that she was to become 'enlightened' in her learnings with the Doctor). I also understand that Jameson was miffed with her departure; she wanted Leela to have a noble death, not an out of the blue marriage proposal announced at the very end of that abominably bad story, "The Invasion of Time".

I've been reading your previous entries on this thread and can inform you that again you seem to be on the money regarding DVD releases! According to the British Board of Film and Literature Classification, The Twin Dillema" (oh no!) and "Attack of the Cybermen" are to be released in 2009; again it seems that they're to be paired up as a box set. Also another pairing for a boxed set will be those tedious Hartnell stories "The Rescue" and "The Romans" (two of the worst from the Hartnell era!)
And finally the E Space trilogy is due for release as a boxed set in 2009 as well.

It really does seem that boxed sets seem to be the way to go according to 2entertain. And as I've said so many times before, that stupid company do not apply any kind of logic/reason to their release schedule. They're certainly not following the laws of the market place, identifying the wants of the Dr Who niche market or following the laws of supply and demand!

By the way, I'm really looking forward to getting "The War Machines"! I've got my copy on order with EzyDVD. And I'm looking forward to reading your review - you're a bloody talented critic, mate

Well I didn't mind the E Space Trilogy, so I'm pleased they're getting released.

But I'm outraged that The Twin Dilemma and Attack of the Cybermen are getting a release ahead of a Pertwee story.

Do 2Entertain have something against him or what??

I would have thought they'd have kept the remaining Colin Baker stories for a later date, instead of using them all up at once.

I simply can't believe there is a groundswell of demand for those over a Pertwee story like The Daemons.

Something doesn't look right here.............

It could be they're driven by the available extras, or some unfathomable consequence of chaos theory, or that they just don't care.