"The Edge of Destruction"

The Edge of Destruction
Disc 3 of "The Beginning" Box Set
(Special Edition DVD)


Starring William Hartnell
2 Episodes
1964
47 minutes (black and white)
Disc 3 of a Three Disc Box Set
"The Beginning Box Set"




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
William Hartnell

Barbara Wright
Jacqueline Hill

Ian Chesterton
William Russell

Susan
Carole Ann Ford

Written by
David Whitaker
Directed by
Richard Martin
&
Frank Cox

Produced by
Verity Lambert

Original Airdate
Feb 8, 1964 - Feb 15, 1964

US DVD Release Date
March 2006

Warner Home Video
#E2491

U.K. Box Set Cover


U.K. Individual Cover



 

Cover Blurb
Something has caused the TARDIS console to explode in mid-flight, plunging the ship into darkness and rendering the crew unconscious.  As they slowly recover, they find themselves suffering from loss of memory and odd headaches.  The TARDIS behaves oddly, as the doors open and close of their own accord.  Has the ship been possessed in some way, or is something more dangerous happening to the time travelers?



 

DVD Features
 

Disc Three
Both episodes of "The Edge of Destruction" as they were originally broadcast in 1964 plus the following DVD features.

 
  • Doctor Who - Origins:
 Nearly an hour long, this documentary lays the foundation for the beginning of a consecutive 26 year run for Doctor Who.  Included are interviews with both cast and production crew as well as series creator Sydney Newman.
 

 
  • Over The Edge:
 This featurette goes in depth on the production of "The Edge of Destruction" and runs for approximately 30 minutes.  Produced by long time fan and missing episode hunter Ian Levine.
 

 
  • Inside the Spaceship:
 A 10 minute featurette focusing on the TARDIS set.
 

 
  • Masters of Sound:
 Using footage from his documentary "30 Years in the TARDIS" director Kevin Davies lays out his 13 minute documentary on the creation of the distinctive theme music and sound effects for Doctor Who.  Those interviewed include Dick Mills, Brian Hodgson, Verity Lambert and Delia Derbyshire.
 

 
  • Marco Polo:
 All 7 episodes are gone.  All that remains are audio recordings.  Condensed down to 30 minutes and telesnaps taken with a camera pointed at a TV screen, this featurette gives fans a taste of what came after "The Edge of Destruction."
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 A collection of both black and white as well as color photographs showing many publicity stills from the production of all three stories in this boxset (and even the 4th, now missing story "Marco Polo").  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 No commentary option is available on this disc.  However, episode 2 of The Edge of Destruction is available with an Arabic soundtrack (i.e. Arabic actors doing voice-overs).  Mildly interesting, but not something that most fans would watch more than once.
 

 
  • PDF Files:
 Rare press clippings from over 40 years ago combined with the original script to the pilot episode all available via your computer.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There are no easter eggs on this release.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • Unlike other R1 Doctor Who box sets which have the individual story titles also sold separately, The Beginning is sold ONLY in the box set format.
     
  • "The Edge of Destruction" was apparently written at the last minute to fill in a two week gap as the crew needed more time to complete sets for the next story "Marco Polo."  David Whitaker, the show's script editor, cranked out a bizarre story involving the TARDIS crew seemingly going insane in a weekend long writing binge.
     
  • This story is also unique in that it has no other supporting cast and takes place entirely in the TARDIS (thus allowing the story to be made quickly and cheaply, while giving the crew the time they needed to complete sets for "Marco Polo").
     
  • This story is the first to establish that the TARDIS is a living, thinking machine.
     
  • Because the early episodes carried individual titles instead of an overall story title "The Edge of Destruction" has also gone by the name "Inside the Spaceship."  "The Edge of Destruction" is the official BBC recognized title.
     
  • "The Edge of Destruction" was also plagued with directorial problems.  It was initially decided that Paddy Russell (who would go on to direct many Who episodes) would take the helm for this two part adventure.  When she was unavailable, the job fell to Richard Martin as he was just finishing up "The Daleks."  However, Martin was only able to direct the first episode and so episode two went to the young director Frank Cox.
     

  • The idea for a beginning box set began in 1999 when "An Unearthly Child" and "The Daleks," and this story were scheduled for a special VHS box set release in the U.K.  Several months later the BBC decided to alter their plans and release each story individually over the course of three months.
     

  • The "The Edge of Destruction" was given the usual expert cleanup and VidFIRE treatment by the Doctor Who Restoration Team.  Specific details on the restoration of "The Beginning Boxset" can be found HERE.