BigBrotherCritic
Like working a job 24/7, for 2 days on the trot
I read a post in the Sunday Mail which basically hated on Doctor Who becoming to "Yankee!" What a complete wank fuck!
-
Welcome to the discussion forums. To get posting, register an account.
nutmeg
Well-Known Member
How interesting! I was thinking that Courtney could be a pseudo Susan, but I completely missed the two teachers link. What a nice nod to the old days. It is such a strong link I can only assume it is deliberate. And Capaldi's Doctor has so many similarities to Hartnell's. I really like it. Such a clever season.
I don't remember anything that would suggest an end date to Clara's meddling, so I think that in theory, she will always be in the Doctor's timeline, unless something new happens to prevent that.
It would be great if they filmed heaps of Clara clips that they could occasionally play over the years, as if she is still in the background being 'impossible'. Not major storyline things, but background clips where she runs past, behind the action, fixing something. They often overuse the sonic screwdriver as a get out of jail free card, so why not sometimes have Clara do little things instead, like leave doors unlocked before the Doctor and his team turn up, etc. You'd think with CGI and green screens, etc, they could pull it off. They had her with the first Doctor guiding him to steal the right TARDIS, after all.
nutmeg
Well-Known Member
CLASSIC WHO MARATHON
I knew watching these old episodes would be fun, but I am so surprised by just how much fun it is. And I love reading your comments Meglos, your posts are proper reviews while mine are more 'how weird was that', lol. So glad you got the ball rolling, and am happy that some of you other posters here also enjoy it.
MARCO POLO
I love historical DW stories, and the classic series did them with such authenticity, apart from the obvious plot liberties. This was a great adventure, perhaps a little long, but I still enjoyed all of it.
Such a shame there is no film (apart from the scene near the end when they scanned towards the TARDIS … I nearly fell off my couch, having gotten so used to the stills, although I guess they were scanning a photo and it just looked like film). I would have loved to see the Doctor and Khan hobbling together, the backgammon match for half of Asia, the sword fight, or the impaling (mainly out of curiosity for how much the BBC would show of that on a kid's show, but based on everything else, they probably would have shown it all). But on the plus side, the amount of stills they had was amazing and getting to see the costumes and sets in their beautiful colours was stunning.
I don’t really get how they have all those stills. And Meglos, was the CD audio the same as what was used in the reconstruction? Do you know if the narrative was added later, or was it part of the original airing … I really liked the narrative and the maps, they gave a real sense of grand storytelling. I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much in stills, but it was terrific. Someone did a great job reconstructing that. I almost don’t want to go back to the black and white film, the stills gave their own sense of drama and imagination.
I was a little disappointed that the Doctor didn’t feature much until towards the end, but once he fired up he was great ... cheeky, funny, conniving. I was thrilled with Barbara’s growing role, with her vocal suspicions and brave investigations. I watched this one on YouTube and someone commented that it didn’t seem right that an Italian merchant could beat a Mongol General, which I agree with, but who cares. And Ping Cho’s story was lovely, from her friendship with Susan to her happy ending. Yep, the BBC does this sort of stuff so well.
I knew watching these old episodes would be fun, but I am so surprised by just how much fun it is. And I love reading your comments Meglos, your posts are proper reviews while mine are more 'how weird was that', lol. So glad you got the ball rolling, and am happy that some of you other posters here also enjoy it.
I looked up a historical currency converter and it said £210 in 1963 has the buying power today of almost US$6000, not sure how accurate the site is, bit it gives a general idea. For Hartnell's era, I assume that was a great wage, I wonder how it compares to other actors starring in a series at the time. Shame to see the girls get so comparatively little.CLASSIC WHO MARATHON
Love reading your opinions as always nutmeg. Really glad you are enjoying this as much as I am.
MARCO POLO
I finished listening to the CD today. It's one of only three stories for which no moving footage exists, unless you count the final moments of Edge Of Destruction. It's also the first story where there is any room for untold adventures, as it doesn't end on a lead-in to the next story. There was a pretty good novel, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, set after it.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to visualise this story. The relationships between The Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara have stabilised into more of a family unit, with any conflict being typical of family disputes. The Doctor no longer seems to want to murder anyone, which is a relief. Hartnell shines in his scenes where he's trying to con Kublai Khan into giving him the TARDIS back (still usually referred to as "the ship", and as "TARDIS" by Khan). There are other nice touches of humour throughout, like an incredibly camp character who flounces around in a way you wouldn't expect on TV in the early sixties (though I guess it's not a million miles away from Carry On). Susan's friendship with Ping-Cho is well developed, with good performaces from both actresses. The cast is uniformly excellent, including the actors playing Marco and Tegana. The BBC excels at period drama, and it's easy to imagine this one in colour, with vibrant costumes and palaces (probably realised on a tiny budget).
Interestingly, this is one of the few stories for which paperwork exists (or is known to the public) on how much the actors were paid (per episode). William Hartnell £210, William Russell £147, Jacqueline Hill £99.15s, Carole Ann Ford £63, Mark Eden £68.5s, Derren Nesbitt £84, Zienia Merton £36.15s, Martin Miller £84, Claire Davenport £42, Tutte Lemkow £63, Peter Lawrence £42, Paul Carson £36.15s.
MARCO POLO
I love historical DW stories, and the classic series did them with such authenticity, apart from the obvious plot liberties. This was a great adventure, perhaps a little long, but I still enjoyed all of it.
Such a shame there is no film (apart from the scene near the end when they scanned towards the TARDIS … I nearly fell off my couch, having gotten so used to the stills, although I guess they were scanning a photo and it just looked like film). I would have loved to see the Doctor and Khan hobbling together, the backgammon match for half of Asia, the sword fight, or the impaling (mainly out of curiosity for how much the BBC would show of that on a kid's show, but based on everything else, they probably would have shown it all). But on the plus side, the amount of stills they had was amazing and getting to see the costumes and sets in their beautiful colours was stunning.
I don’t really get how they have all those stills. And Meglos, was the CD audio the same as what was used in the reconstruction? Do you know if the narrative was added later, or was it part of the original airing … I really liked the narrative and the maps, they gave a real sense of grand storytelling. I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much in stills, but it was terrific. Someone did a great job reconstructing that. I almost don’t want to go back to the black and white film, the stills gave their own sense of drama and imagination.
I was a little disappointed that the Doctor didn’t feature much until towards the end, but once he fired up he was great ... cheeky, funny, conniving. I was thrilled with Barbara’s growing role, with her vocal suspicions and brave investigations. I watched this one on YouTube and someone commented that it didn’t seem right that an Italian merchant could beat a Mongol General, which I agree with, but who cares. And Ping Cho’s story was lovely, from her friendship with Susan to her happy ending. Yep, the BBC does this sort of stuff so well.
Meglos
HAVE A NECTARINE, GONK
I love your "how weird was that" reviews nutmeg, and you always manage to come up with some insight into a story that I hadn't thought about.
The audio on the CD is narrated, different to the narration of the journey which is part of the original. So I'm listening to these without telesnaps, but I watched the 30 minute reconstruction that is on the Edge Of Destruction DVD, which uses telesnaps and no narration.
Telesnaps exist because a television fan at the time called John Cura decided to take photos of his tv screen every 30 seconds so he could keep a record of each episode of selected tv shows. He ran it as a business, selling the pictures back to the BBC for reference purposes, and to provide to actors and directors. His telesnaps are the ones used in the reconstructions you watched, and the one I watched. Without them there would be no visual record of the missing episodes at all.
The audio on the CD is narrated, different to the narration of the journey which is part of the original. So I'm listening to these without telesnaps, but I watched the 30 minute reconstruction that is on the Edge Of Destruction DVD, which uses telesnaps and no narration.
Telesnaps exist because a television fan at the time called John Cura decided to take photos of his tv screen every 30 seconds so he could keep a record of each episode of selected tv shows. He ran it as a business, selling the pictures back to the BBC for reference purposes, and to provide to actors and directors. His telesnaps are the ones used in the reconstructions you watched, and the one I watched. Without them there would be no visual record of the missing episodes at all.
Miss Manning!!! <# <3 K<3 etc -- typos not removed; because *everyone* should be hugged by the FUCKING DOCTOR.
BigBrotherCritic
Like working a job 24/7, for 2 days on the trot
I did something:
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
nutmeg
Well-Known Member
CLASSIC WHO MARATHON
I wonder if the telesnaps were coloured, or did Marco Polo air in colour? It would be a shame for such a beautiful looking story to be in black and white.
John Cura is a legend. I hope he made a lot of money out of doing that, because he's left a huge gift to DW fans. Thanks for the info, that has amazed me.
I wonder if the telesnaps were coloured, or did Marco Polo air in colour? It would be a shame for such a beautiful looking story to be in black and white.
nutmeg
Well-Known Member
That made me laugh, well done.
Meglos
HAVE A NECTARINE, GONK
Jon Pertwee's first story was the first to be filmed in colour. There are some beautiful off-air colour photos from some black & white stories (like the Marco Polo one I quoted) but the actual shows were in black & white, so the telesnaps were too, even if John Cura had used a colour camera the source material would still have been black & white.
I' finished The Keys Of Marinus today, but I want to listen to the commentary too before writing my review.
I' finished The Keys Of Marinus today, but I want to listen to the commentary too before writing my review.
BigBrotherCritic
Like working a job 24/7, for 2 days on the trot
kxk
SAPIOSEXUAL
Doctor Who: Earth Conquest - The World Tour
http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/doctor-who-earth-conquest-the-world-tour/ZW0140A001S00
This has just been added on ABC website, 47 mins.
Checking time for tomorrow. Apparently 6.30am.
Kill the Moon - ha yes, the one deemed to scary for littlies I believe, so it is screening later in the UK.
Next week we should be back to 5.30am with daylight savings adjusting that previous 4.30am slot.
http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/doctor-who-earth-conquest-the-world-tour/ZW0140A001S00
This has just been added on ABC website, 47 mins.
Checking time for tomorrow. Apparently 6.30am.
Kill the Moon - ha yes, the one deemed to scary for littlies I believe, so it is screening later in the UK.
Next week we should be back to 5.30am with daylight savings adjusting that previous 4.30am slot.
kxk
SAPIOSEXUAL
Well thanks @Stickeyfingers, I check for me anyway, and may as well share.
And I was wrong about this being the freaky don't frighten the littlies ep, that is the Mummy next week - supposedly that monster is very creepy.
Extra was good, I like Disruptive Influence and will call her DI forever, she was so cute with her chair.
Does anyone else feel Mr Pink is a bit too, umm, sort of dopey? Like he's on valium or something, does he have PTSD.
Next time with Clara should be interesting, she is very cross.
The ending was rather pretty and mythical.
And, Heaven last week, the cop still fits my theory.
And I was wrong about this being the freaky don't frighten the littlies ep, that is the Mummy next week - supposedly that monster is very creepy.
Extra was good, I like Disruptive Influence and will call her DI forever, she was so cute with her chair.
Does anyone else feel Mr Pink is a bit too, umm, sort of dopey? Like he's on valium or something, does he have PTSD.
Next time with Clara should be interesting, she is very cross.
The ending was rather pretty and mythical.
And, Heaven last week, the cop still fits my theory.
Kismet
This IS me.
Both my daughters are HUGE Whovian's: one for example dressed as "Rose" for a Dr Who themed b'day part she attended and frankly dresses like Rose at any given op. lol
Both were really pissed off though that they missed "Dr Who and the Daleks Movie" (circ 1965) that's been screening on GEM (ch 90 - FTA) over the past week.
Here is a little snippet for other's who have also missed it.
Both were really pissed off though that they missed "Dr Who and the Daleks Movie" (circ 1965) that's been screening on GEM (ch 90 - FTA) over the past week.
Here is a little snippet for other's who have also missed it.
BigBrotherCritic
Like working a job 24/7, for 2 days on the trot
I think the Tumblr Users are going to freak at the mention of their service in DOCTOR FREAKIN WHO!!
kxk
SAPIOSEXUAL
Both my daughters are HUGE Whovian's: one for example dressed as "Rose" for a Dr Who themed b'day part she attended and frankly dresses like Rose at any given op. lol
Both were really pissed off though that they missed "Dr Who and the Daleks Movie" (circ 1965) that's been screening on GEM (ch 90 - FTA) over the past week.
Here is a little snippet for other's who have also missed it.
WTF is that????
On GEM, WTF?
Is that Peter Cushing? Freaky stuff, that is considered outside real Doctor - and called not canon. He is never counted.
I have never seen that before.
Thanks for posting.
Do your girls watch live sunday morning???
Kismet
This IS me.
I thought it was hilarious TBH..lol bad acting 101, but it was 1965.
Yes it has been on GEM twice this week as far as I know.They usually get up on Sunday Morning near religiously to watch. Youngest was away overnight though, so they will just watch on TWO tonight.
They are both going to SUPANOVA next month, and looking forward to a meet and greet/photo op. with Neve McIntosh.
