March 30th, 2011 54 comments

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Doctor Who – Mannequin Mania Box Set

Doctor Who – Mannequin Mania Box Set Terror of The Autons/Spearhead from Space (special edition)

Features two classic stories, Spearhead From Space and Terror of the Autons.
Due 9th May 2011

Spearhead from Space

* Down to Earth – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story and how a strike at the BBC studios inadvertently created the only classic series story to be made entirely on film. With actor Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor (and inadvertent Auton actor) Robin Squire. Narrated by Carl Kennedy.

* Two Commentaries: One with actors Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney and another with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks.
* Regenerations – From Black and White to Colour – ‘Spearhead from Space’ marked not only the arrival of a new Doctor but also the transition from black and white to colour. This documentary looks at the challenges faced by programme makers during this period.
* UNIT Recruitment Film (dur. 4’ 48”) – a spoof army recruitment film put together for BBC transmission during Doctor Who’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 1993.
* Trailers – two trailers for the 1999 BBC2 transmission of the story and for ‘Doctor Who Night’from the same year.
* Photo Gallery
* Coming Soon trailers.
* Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.

Terror of the Autons

* Commentary – With actors Katy Manning and Nicolas Courtney, producer Barry Letts.
* Life on Earth – In this documentary, cast and crew look back at the making of the story and the differences in the way Doctor Who was made in the seventies compared to now.
* The Doctor’s Moriarty– with the introduction of the Master, the Doctor now had his very own Moriarty, who would be the dark figure behind every story in season eight, and many more beyond that. This featurette discusses the enduring appeal of the character.
* Plastic Fantastic – how did the writers of Doctor Who and other programmes take something as everyday as plastic and turn it against us?
* Photo Gallery
* Coming Soon trailer.
* Radio Times Listings and promotional material in Adobe PDF format.

Original VHS covers and information

Spearhead from Space starring Jon Pertwee
by Robert Holmes

Forbidden to continue his travels through time and space by his fellow Time Lords, the newly regenerated Doctor begins his exile on Earth and finds himself hurled into one of his most exciting and terrifying adventures…

But the Doctor is not the only alien intelligence arriving on the planet.

A shower of mysterious meteorites signals the coming of the Nestene Consciousness – an evil, cosmic, collective being with just one goal – total conquest of Earth.

The Nestenes possess a special ability to control plastic and are making hoards of Autons – indestructible, armed, plastic manikins, only awaiting the Nestene command to start their killer rampage.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, scientist Liz Shaw and U.N.I.T enlist the Doctor’s help to defeat the relentless Auton invasion, but the Doctor has problems of his own…

Terror of the Autons starring Jon Pertwee
by Robert Holmes

“I have come to destroy you Doctor, once and for all…”

The Earth is in terrible danger! The Master is back with an evil scheme to destroy humanity and silence the Doctor forever. His plan? To awaken the awesome power of the Nestene – a ruthlessly aggressive alien life form. Once mixed with plastic, they will form into faceless automatons, a willing army of destruction easily controlled by the evil Time Lord himself. This is the terrible threat now facing the Earth – the terror of the Autons.

Aided by the Brigadier and his enthusiastic new assistant Jo Grant, only the Doctor can combat their evil power, but first he must defeat the Master…

Originally transmitted in colour 2 – 23 January 1971, this four part adventure starring Jon Pertwee was lost in its original form. Only a black and white version and an edited colour American NTSC standard version remained until now when technology worthy of the Doctor himself has reconciled the two, synchronising them into one full colour version.

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