The Romans
(DVD)

 

Starring William Hartnell
4 Episodes
1965
97 minutes (black & white)
Double Disc




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
William Hartnell

Barbara Wright
Jacqueline Hill

Ian Chesterton
William Russell

Vickie
Maureen O'Brien

Written by
Dennis Spooner
Directed by
Christopher Barry

Produced by
Verity Lambert

Original Airdate
January 16 - February 6, 1965

Region 1 DVD Release Date
July 2009

Warner Home Video
#3000021803


U.K. Boxset Cover

U.K. Individual Cover


 



Cover Blurb

Italy, 64 AD.  Enjoying a rare holiday with his companions, the Doctor takes Vicki to Rome, where he is mistaken for the musician Maximus Pettulian.  He finds himself obliged to perform for Nero, or risk incurring the Emperor's wrath.  In his absence, Ian and Barbara have been kidnapped and sold into slavery.  Can they escape and find the Doctor before Rome is consumed by fire?



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • What Has 'The Romans' Ever Done for Us?:

 A 21 minute featurette detailing the behind the scenes work that went into the production of this story.  Interviewees include William Russell (Ian), Barry Jackson (Ascaris), Kay Patrick (Poppaea), Anthony Andrews (actor), Christopher Biggins (actor), Raymond Cusick (designer), and director Christopher Barry.
 

 

  • Roma Parva:

 Some of the models used for camera planning are featured here with the help of director Christopher Barry.
 

 
  • Dennis Spooner - Wanna Write a Television Series?:
 A warm, heartfelt retrospective on Doctor Who writer and script editor Dennis Spooner.  Lasts approximately seventeen minutes.
 

 
  • Blue Peter:
 An extract from the famous BBC children's series as they take a look at authentic Roman banqueting.  Ironically, Peter Purves (Steven) was one of the hosts at the time.
 

 
  • Girls! Girls! Girls! - The 1960s:
 An look back at the female companions of the 1960's.  Interviews include Carole Ann Ford (Susan), William Russell (Ian), Peter Purves (Steven), Anneke Wills (Polly), Deborah Watling (Victoria), Frazer Hines (Jamie), and Jean Marsh (Sara Kingdom).  Definitely a highlight of this release.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Lots of rare and never before seen photos taken during the production of this story.  Very nice.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 An incredible amount 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.
 

 
  • PDF Materials:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings.  Also included are rare production sketches for the TARDIS and sets from this story by designer Raymond Cusick.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Commentary is provided by  William Russell (Ian), Nick Evans, (Didius), Raymond Cusick (designer - episode 4 only), and Christopher Barry (director).  Moderated by Toby Hadoke.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 No easter eggs are included in this release.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • One of the earliest Doctor Who stories to rely on humor, this story works on many levels.
     

  • If you like this style of storytelling in Doctor Who then you might also enjoy "The Myth Makers" which is in much the same vein.  Another recommendation would be "The Time Meddler" which again relies heavily on humor.  All 3 of these stories are examples of the Hartnell era at its finest!  :)
     

  • Watch for an amusing sequence where Barbara (a slave in Nero's court) and the Doctor continually miss each seeing each other by mere seconds as Nero chases Barbara from room to room in an attempt to seduce her. 
     

  • This story was written by Dennis Spooner.  Spooner wrote several stories from the Hartnell era, and also served as a script editor for much of the second season.  Spooner's other contributions include "The Reign of Terror", "The Time Meddler", and portions of "The Daleks' Masterplan".
     

  • Apparently, Nero gets the idea to burn Rome from the Doctor, who accidentally sets Nero's plans for a new Rome on fire.  "Should I call it...Neropolis... or just plain Nero?"
     

  • This story leads directly into the next adventure, "The Web Planet."
     

  • Like the VHS release of this story in 1996, "The Romans" also comes packaged with "The Rescue," the story that preceded it.  However, in the Region 2 (U.K.) release, the two stories are boxed together, but have separate amaray cases.  Meanwhile, here in Region 1 (North America) it is one amaray case, and no box set.