Spearhead from Space @ The TARDIS Library (Doctor Who books, DVDs, videos & audios)


	Spearhead from Space


	No. 4 of 186 in the BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays series << Previous Next >>

Starring: Jon Pertwee, Caroline John & Nicholas Courtney
By: Robert Holmes
Rating: 8.6 (248 votes) Vote here
Review: Auton be released again! Read more (5 in total)
Editions: UK (DVD) | US (standard DVD) | Australia (DVD) | US (special DVD) | UK (Blu-ray) | Australia (Blu-ray) | US (Blu-ray) | UK (steelbook Blu-ray)
Description: DVD/Blu-ray release of the 1970 Doctor Who TV story of the same name — Jon Pertwee’s debut in the role of the Doctor.

Edition: UK (DVD)
Released: January 2001
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x DVD
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Note: In July 2007, this DVD was one of 8 discs re-released in the UK with different cover artwork (in all cases, the discs and their contents were unchanged). The other DVDs which received the same treatment were Genesis of the Daleks, The Hand of Fear, Earthshock, The Five Doctors, Revelation of the Daleks, Remembrance of the Daleks and The Movie.
Cover blurb:
Exiled to Earth in the late 20th Century by his own people — the Time Lords — the newly regenerated Doctor arrives in Oxley Woods alongside a shower of mysterious meteorites. Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskforce — UNIT for short. Led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, UNIT is soon called into action when people and meteorites start going missing. Most puzzling of all is the attempted kidnap of a strange hospital patient — a man with two hearts, who insists that he recognises the Brigadier.
The new Doctor soon joins forces with his old friend, UNIT, and the recently recruited Dr Liz Shaw, but time is running out.
Irregular things are happening at a nearby plastics factory, while faceless creatures lurk in the woods. The Nestenes have arrived, and want to conquer the Earth.
This story was originally broadcast on BBC1 between 3rd - 24th January 1970.
Special Features
Commentary by Nicholas Courtney & Caroline John
On-screen Production Notes (Information text)
UNIT Recruitment Film
Trailers
Photo gallery
Digitally Remastered Versions of all Four Episodes

Edition: US (standard DVD)
Released: September 2001
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x DVD
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Note: Contains an extra not present on the UK or Australian releases — “Who’s Who”, which consists of short text biographies of the main cast.
Cover blurb:
Exiled to late 20th Century Earth by his own people — the Time Lords — the newly regenerated Doctor arrives in Oxley Woods during a shower of mysterious meteorites. Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly formed United Nations Intelligence Task Force (UNIT). Led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, UNIT is soon called into action when people and meteorites begin to go missing. Most puzzling of all is the attempted kidnapping of a hospital patient, a severely disoriented man with two hearts who had instantly recognized the Brigadier, then had difficulty placing his own face.
By the time the Doctor is able to join forces with the Brigadier and the recently recruited Dr. Liz Shaw, time is running out for UNIT. Already irregular things are happening at a nearby plastics factory, while faceless creatures lurk in the woods. The Nestenes have arrived with world conquest on their collective mind.
DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE:
Commentary by actors Nicholas Courtney and Caroline John
Pop-Up Production Notes Option
Unit Recruitment Film
Trailers
Photo Gallery
Who’s Who

Edition: Australia (DVD)
Released: September 2001
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x DVD
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Cover blurb:
Same as UK edition.

Edition: US (special DVD)
Title: Spearhead from Space: Special Edition
Released: August 2012
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x DVD
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Note: This is the same special edition (i.e. remastered and with additional extras) that was released in the UK and Australia as part of the Mannequin Mania box set.
Cover blurb:
Exile! The Time Lords have banished the newly regenerated Doctor to Earth.
But the Doctor isn’t the only alien to have arrived, as a swarm of meteorites have crashed into the sleepy English countryside, bringing with them a terrible new threat to mankind.
As the Nestene plan takes shape, UNIT, the Doctor and his newly appointed scientific advisor, Liz Shaw, race against time to stop humanity being replaced by a terrifying plastic facsimile race.
DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE:
Audio Commentary 1 with actors Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier) and Caroline John (Liz Shaw)
Audio Commentary 2 with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks
Down to Earth “Making Of” with Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor Robin Squire (22 mins)
Regenerations: From Black and White to Color On the challenges for Doctor Who in 1970 as it moved into color (18 mins)
UNIT Recruitment Film Spoof film from 1993 (5 mins)
Photo Gallery (4 mins)
Trailers (1 min)
PDF materials: Radio Times Listings
Production Notes Subtitle Option
Digitally remastered picture and sound quality
Originally transmitted January 3-24, 1970

Edition: UK (Blu-ray)
Released: July 2013
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x Blu-ray
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Note:
The first classic series high-definition release, and the only one to be “true” HD, rather than upscaled — because, other than the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, Spearhead was the only classic series story shot entirely on film (i.e. no video inserts) so is the only story whose source material is entirely in HD.
(Note, technically The Pyramids of Mars was released on Blu-ray as an extra on The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 box set in 2011, but that was in standard definition, not HD)
This release does not contain all of the extras from the special edition DVD above, however it does contain 4 special features exclusive to this edition.
Cover blurb:
As punishment for breaking the laws of time, the Time Lords have forced the Doctor to change his appearance, taken away his ability to time travel, and exiled him to Earth... But as the TARDIS arrives, so does a meteor shower carrying an alien invasion force. Originally shot on 16mm film, this classic Doctor Who story is the first to be upgraded into stunning HD.
SPECIAL FEATURES
A Dandy and A Clown Exclusive documentary looks at the life and career of Jon Pertwee. With contributions from actors Katy Manning, Judy Cornwell, David Jacobs, Geoffrey Bayldon and Kenneth Earle, Doctor Who writer and script editor Terrance Dicks and long-time friend Stuart Money
Carry On: The Life of Caroline John A tribute to the actress who played the part of the Third Doctor’s assistant in his first season
Title Sequence Material Raw, mute test and build-up material produced during creation of the Jon Pertwee title sequence
Restoration Comparison This release was mastered in 2K from the original 16mm camera negatives and interpos prints for the best possible quality. This short feature compares the results against previous versions and looks at some of the problems encountered during the remastering.
Programme Subtitles
Digitally Remastered Picture and Sound Quality
Originally broadcast on BBC1 between 3rd - 24th January 1970

Edition: Australia (Blu-ray)
Released: July 2013
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x Blu-ray
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Cover blurb:
No cover information available yet.
Help wanted! Do you own this item? Please help make this site more complete by emailing me details of the back cover blurb. Thanks!

Edition: US (Blu-ray)
Released: August 2013
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x Blu-ray
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New: $29.88
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Note: Yes, the cover blurb does say “DVD Extras” even though this is a Blu-ray, and none of the extras actually appeared on the DVD edition.
Cover blurb:
Spearhead from Space achieved many firsts for Doctor Who. It is the first Doctor Who story to be presented in color. And due to a strike at the BBC, it is the first Doctor Who story to be shot entirely on film. And now it becomes the first classic Doctor Who Blu-ray, made possible by scanning in the original film elements to create a stunning, true high definition picture!
As punishment for breaking the laws of time, the Time Lords have forced the Doctor to change his appearance, taken away his ability to time travel, and exiled him to Earth... But as the TARDIS arrives, so does a meteor shower carrying an alien invasion force.
DVD EXTRAS INCLUDE:
A Dandy and A Clown Exclusive profile of Jon Pertwee with actors Katy Manning, Judy Cornwell, David Jacobs, Geoffrey Bayldon, Kenneth Earle, Doctor Who writer and script editor Terrance Dicks and long-time friend Stuart Money (42 mins)
Carry On: The Life of Caroline John Tribute to the actress who played Liz Shaw, the Third Doctor’s assistant in his first season (29 mins)
Title Sequence Material (22 mins)
Restoration Comparison This release was mastered in 2K from the original 16mm camera negatives and interpos prints for the best possible quality. This short feature compares the results against previous versions and looks at some of the problems encountered during the remastering. (2 mins)
Originally transmitted January 3 - 24, 1970
MAIN FEATURE
High Definition 1080p/4:3 • DTA_MA 2.0 • 96 mins approx • Color • Subtitles: English SDH
SPECIAL FEATURES
May not be in High Definition • Aspect Ratio, Audio and Subtitles may vary

Edition: UK (steelbook Blu-ray)
Released: April 2016
Publisher: BBC Video
Format: 1 x Blu-ray
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Note: Limited edition of 2,000 copies, exclusive to Zavvi (although reseller copies have since started appearing on Amazon).
Cover blurb:
No cover information available yet.
Help wanted! Do you own this item? Please help make this site more complete by emailing me details of the back cover blurb. Thanks!


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