December 13th, 2012
215 comments
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Doctor Who The Reign of Terror DVD
Doctor Who The Reign of Terror DVD
Release date: 28/01/2013
The TARDIS materialises not far from Paris in 1794 – one of the bloodiest years following the French Revolution of 1789.
The travellers become involved with an escape chain rescuing prisoners from the guillotine and get caught up in the machinations of an English undercover spy, James Stirling – alias Lemaitre, governor of the Conciergerie Prison.
The Doctor – posing as a Regional Officer of the Provinces – is twice brought before the great tyrant, Robespierre himself, and has to talk himself out of trouble.
Ian and Barbara, meanwhile, have a close encounter with a future ruler of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. As events reach their climax, Robespierre is overthrown – shot in the jaw and dragged off to the prison – and the Doctor and his friends slip quietly away.
The Reign of Terror was originally released on VHS in a box set along with The remaining episodes of The Faceless ones and the Web of Fear…
Original VHS cover and information
Whilst trying to return to London in the 1960’s, the TARDIS instead takes The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan to France in the eighteenth century.
The travellers realise that they’ve arrived in the middle of the French revolution – a period in history that saw the French nobility and their supporters overthrown.
Ian, Barbara and Susan are arrested as traitors, and locked in the concierge prison where Ian learns from a dying prisoner about the mysterious spy James Stirling.
Barbara and Susan are sentenced to be executed , but are rescued before arriving at the guillotine.
The Doctor takes on the disguise of a senior revolutionary, and has to outwit Robespierre, the leader of the revolution, in order to try and reunite himself with his companions. But as treachery and .double-dealing abound, who can be trusted…? This story was broadcast on BBC between 8 August 12 September 1964.
This story will have its missing episodes animated. Some test shots are shown below.
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Alex
July 31st, 2013 - 10:34pmDo these new R2 covers have the bbfc rating and purple BBC logo where the 2 entertain logo was? And whats on the reverse side of the cover? Is this just a TBC draft cover?
The Flying Shark
July 6th, 2013 - 10:49amI just bought the video of this for 10p from a chairty shop! I also got The War Machines video for 10p and a CB Series 2 figure from Wilko’s for £1.
Lachlan
February 9th, 2013 - 10:07pmI was wondering, and l know this is a rather a late post. (Even though in Australia we only just received copies of The Reign of Terror a couple of days ago) but l was wondering whether in the future given telesnaps and photos exist from the missing episodes will they be released in the Photo Gallery? because even though The Reign of Terror has no Telesnaps it would be good to see all surviving footage released somehow for perhaps the future releases of The Crusade, The Tenth Planet, The Underwater Menace, The Moonbase and The Ice Warriors.
Lachlan
February 9th, 2013 - 10:11pmalso if there are to be future animated releases how will they continue releasing them with the fact being that they will only be selling Animated Material l mean i don’t think further Special Edition Releases will be able to fill in the gaps in between that although l think 3 or 4 Special Edition Releases are all coming out in a row this year so it might not be a problem…
A Walters
January 31st, 2013 - 6:59pmI’ve just watched this today and I really like the story actually however I prefer the animation style of “The Invasion”.
Anyone else agree?
gordon
January 31st, 2013 - 10:13pmThe fast cutting does take some getting used to. It does calm down on ep 5.
Some bloke
February 1st, 2013 - 9:31amyh I do prefer the animation on invasion, but as the animated stories go on it does get better. Especially at the beginning of episode 4, the shots are all over the place, with in a gap of 5 seconds, they have put in a shot of a characters eyes, a front on shot of them speaking, them moving to a fire place and then a shot of the eyes again. Its sort of all over the place at first but then as it goes along, you think ‘yeah this isn’t that bad’ Id give it a 7 out of 10! 🙂
A. Walters
February 2nd, 2013 - 12:42pmI mean don’t get me wrong, I am really happy they are being animated at all! However I just felt all those shots all over the place distracted from what was actually going on and made it a bit hard to follow. But as you guys say it does calm down. Although I think I even prefer the drawing style on “the invasion”. The way they often used animated characters over semi-photographic backgrounds, was sometimes quite beautiful! Hopefully they learnt from it for the ice warriors but I’m not going to hold my breath.
drjakeyoung
February 2nd, 2013 - 3:25pmit is the same sort of distraction as watching a movie with subtitles (where you try and watch the move but try and concentrate on the subtitles at the same time)
A. Walters
February 2nd, 2013 - 10:58pmIn a way yes but I’m sure people will have a different definition of the word distraction when it comes to tv. For me you’re trying to keep up with the animation and keep up with it to such an extent that I lost track of the audio and what was going on verbally. Not for very long though as the other commenters above have said. It’s just a little niggily detail.
drjakeyoung
February 2nd, 2013 - 11:47pmagree with you there. In a way i kinder prefer the “invasion” animation, but if there are going to be future animations then i guess we will have to get used to it.
A. Walters
February 3rd, 2013 - 5:36amTrue. We should be grateful they are being animated at all. It’s just a shame Cosgrove Hall went under. The new animators could still learn a thing or two from “the invasion” though. Cosgrove Hall seemed to position their shots in a way that probably would have been used originally on the actual TV show, however the new animators seem to go beyond that in an attempt to make it more visually interesting like the quick close up jumps to people’s eyes etc and all it does in reality is distract.
Radburn
January 30th, 2013 - 7:09pmReceived my copy today. As a selling point I was most amused by the sticker on the front –
“Features 2 Exclusive Animated Episodes”
One would think they had thrown away these episodes? Oh, wait the BBC did throw them away…
Alex Noonan
January 28th, 2013 - 8:01pmNeed help people! If you had to pick between the Mara Tales or UNIT Files which would you pick?
celestial toymaker
January 28th, 2013 - 8:13pmunit files definitely
Blake
January 28th, 2013 - 8:14pmYep, unit files
drjakeyoung
January 28th, 2013 - 8:34pmagree with unit files
KORSAIR
January 28th, 2013 - 8:39pmYep,go for unit,I would as Kinda and Snakedance are two of my least favourite stories.
Alex Noonan
January 28th, 2013 - 10:04pmWow! This is suprisingly, especially given the apparent ‘duff’ status of Invasion of the Dinosaurs and the apparent amazingness of Kinda!
Lachlan
January 28th, 2013 - 11:47pml always watch stories before l buy them on dvd in the case of Mara Tales or Unit Files The Android Invasion is a classic and one of my favourite stories, Kinda and Snake dance are generally considered as out there Doctor Who from what l know
gordon
January 29th, 2013 - 12:30amI love kinda as its somewhat unique and it does benefit from repeated viewings but not so much snakedance which i feel is a bit of a retread in places.
I always think invasion of the dinos get a bad rap as the dinos are are very poor. I like the story even though the effects are poor. Android invasion is enjoyable even though there are a lot of plot holes.
I would go for unit files
Some bloke
January 29th, 2013 - 8:15pmwhat are the plot holes in android gordon?
Anonymous
January 29th, 2013 - 9:50pmI know I’m not Gordon, but it’s basically the ending. It doesn’t really explain most of the stuff that happens(this was because they had no time to film it)and is very rushed. Apart from that it is a very good episode.
drjakeyoung
January 29th, 2013 - 9:50pmI know I’m not Gordon, but it’s basically the ending. It doesn’t really explain most of the stuff that happens(this was because they had no time to film it)and is very rushed. Apart from that it is a very good episode.
Some bloke
January 30th, 2013 - 10:19amoh yeah i remember now, they spoke about it in the making of thing on the dvd, i think.
Its my number one favourite episode ever!
gordon
January 26th, 2013 - 12:50pmwatched ep4. The background looks lovely and is a step up from the invasion. The charcters look great but the glassy eyes look does take some getting used to. The editing style is going to be something controversial. A lot of fast cutting and fast shots which i feel makes the eps stand out when comparing with the existing episodes. I dont mind it myself but some others will have a grievence with.I did notice 1 or 2 errors but as a first attempt its very good. I do feel they will learn and in future hopefully bring the editorial style in line
Some bloke
January 27th, 2013 - 11:49amcool! thanks for the little review gordon. Mine should hopefully come monday, so i’ll be watchin it then 🙂
Alex Noonan
January 21st, 2013 - 5:25pmGUYS! I have logical proof they are animating The Tenth Planet Episode 4 and Episodes 2 and 3 of The Ice Warriors!
In Issue 449 of Doctor Who Magazine there is an article called “Infomania!” about the Subtitle Production Notes provided on DVD releases of COMPLETE Doctor Who serials.
At the bottom of the article, in the list called “Who Wrote That?” it lists Stephen James Walker as writing The Tenth Planet notes and Martin Wiggins for The Ice Warriors. These notes would not be provided if they were just doing reconstructions! PROOF.
hobbit dalek
January 21st, 2013 - 7:24pmwell done sir now hopefully in the future more doctor who will be animated
MasterKasterborous
January 21st, 2013 - 9:36pmI’m sorry but I doubt that’s ‘proof’. Why wouldn’t they have production notes if they had a reconstruction rather than animation?
Alex Noonan
January 21st, 2013 - 11:09pmLost in Time did not have Production Notes whereas the animated releases of The Invasion and The Reign of Terror has Production Notes that treat the animation as if it where the actual episodes…
gordon
January 21st, 2013 - 11:54pmI heard the reign of terror animated eps dont have production notes (down to the production notes being done well in advance before the animation was available). Ice warriors and tenth planet are probably refering to the existing eps
doctor where
January 22nd, 2013 - 12:21pmguys why do you bring it down all the time let pepole have there say come on
Alex Noonan
January 22nd, 2013 - 4:57pmWell the episodes of The Invasion have them… I guess we’ll see. I’ve had The Reign of Terror pre-ordered for two weeks so bring on next week!
MasterKasterborous
January 22nd, 2013 - 10:51pmI believe that eps 4 & 5 don’t have production subtitles.
doctor where: I understand your point and I didn’t mean to sound rude (apologies if that’s the case) but equally I don’t want people to get their hopes up for something that is not guaranteed.
drjakeyoung
January 22nd, 2013 - 10:57pm@MasterKasterborous do you live in the UK or in Australia?
gordon
January 23rd, 2013 - 10:32am@alex Noonan That was down to completed animation for invasion being avalible quite far in advance when the production subtitles were being made. In the case of reign of terror they were done mid to late 2011 (long before animation was available to use as a reference). If Nicholas Pegg had waited till the eps had been available there wouldnt have been time to do the research and the necessary work required for the 2 eps
MasterKasterborous
January 23rd, 2013 - 7:16pm@drjakeyoung I’m in the UK, why?
drjakeyoung
January 23rd, 2013 - 8:22pm@MasterKasterborous sorry, I’m just trying to get statistics for this site, for who lives in different country’s.
booboo
January 23rd, 2013 - 8:28pmtop unique merchandise visitor locations yesterday
1. United Kingdom 4,735
2. United States 1,217
3. Australia 287
4. Canada 116
5. (not set) 101
6. Ireland 85
7. Germany 48
8. Netherlands 31
9. New Zealand 30
10. France 27
drjakeyoung
January 24th, 2013 - 12:41pmthat was pretty much what i was expecting
Blake
January 27th, 2013 - 7:38pmYay I am one of thirty from nz!!
KORSAIR
January 28th, 2013 - 8:48pmBooboo,can you pinpoint cities or just countries? I’m just curious to see if there are many of your veiwers from my area.
booboo
January 28th, 2013 - 10:53pmJan 2013 unique visitors
1. Dublin 191
2. Sligo 16
3. (not set) 14
4. Bray 9
5. Limerick 5
6. Dun Laoghaire 4
7. Cork 3
8. Swords 3
9. Leixlip 3
10. Kilkenny 3
Drogheda 3
12. Wexford 3
13. Dundrum 2
14. Letterkenny 2
15. Tallaght 1
16. Galway 1
17. Clonmel 1
18. Waterford 1
and loads more 1s
drjakeyoung
January 29th, 2013 - 11:45ambooboo, am i the only one from banbury?
booboo
January 29th, 2013 - 11:54am22 visitors from Banbury in Jan 2013
KORSAIR
January 29th, 2013 - 1:23pmBooboo,that was a rundown of cities in the irish republic,I’m in Northern Ireland = UK
Derry/Londonderry to be precise.
booboo
January 29th, 2013 - 1:38pmah sorry not looking at what i was doing, dont seem to be bale to split it from UK Figures all i can see is 37 in January from Londonderry. Belfast is the 1st place on the list from NI at no 26, 543 from there
drjakeyoung
January 29th, 2013 - 6:16pmeven know there’s only 22, that’s a lot more than i was expecting!
Andy
February 6th, 2013 - 11:05pmIn reply to Alex… “These notes would not be provided if they were just doing reconstructions! PROOF.” They have episodes 1-3 for the Tenth Planet and episodes 1,4,5,6 for the Ice Warriors to do production notes for. Nothing to say they have written any for the missing ones and no production notes on the animated Regin episodes so you’ll just have to wait and see like the rest of us.
drjakeyoung
January 21st, 2013 - 9:54amPre ordering this latter on. Tell me (anyone), is it worth pre ordering this now or buying it when it comes out on DVD to increese sale figures?
gordon
January 21st, 2013 - 11:08amPre order sales are taken into concideration when looking at sales figures
drjakeyoung
January 21st, 2013 - 6:22pmcool, because i just pre ordered this and also brought the complete specials box set.
Lachlan
January 17th, 2013 - 10:39pmI’m pretty sure Sales for this story will go well as it has surviving footage that hasn’t been released in any form on DVD yet, l think at the moment the Animation Releases will go well don’t get me wrong but there’s bound to be a good many amount of people who will not buy some of the animation releases because they already have been done on Lost in Time. I think though that they could always say how they improved their original restoration process of episodes like Underwater Menace 3 or so and that will get customers wanting more..
MasterKasterborous
January 21st, 2013 - 9:40pmMost collectors will buy the entire range (may be not the Special Editions) to have everything. Though Lost In Time does present the existing episodes animation would be the real selling point of a new release rather than restored episodes. Plus, who wouldn’t want them represented in their own case and as a ‘complete’ story?
KORSAIR
January 21st, 2013 - 11:06pm@MasterKasterborous…..Have I seen you on youtube?
MasterKasterborous
January 22nd, 2013 - 10:55pmI am on YouTube under the name MasterKasterborous and so you may know of my name through comments but I have yet to post videos of myself if that’s what you’re asking. Why?