The Web Planet
(DVD)

 

Starring William Hartnell
6 Episodes
1965
146 minutes (black and white)
Single Disc


 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
William Hartnell

Barbara Wright
Jacqueline Hill

Ian Chesterton
William Russell

Vicki
Maureen O'Brien

Written by
Bill Strutton
 
Directed by
Richard Martin

Produced by
Verity Lambert

Original Airdate
February 13 - March 20, 1965

US DVD Release Date
September 2006

Warner Home Video
#E2666

U.K. Cover



 

Cover Blurb
A mysterious force pulls the TARDIS off course, stranding he Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki on the alien world of Vortis.  A fierce battle is raging between the moth-like Menoptra and giant insects known as Zarbi.  But what is the dark secret that hides at the center of the Zarbi's lair?

 

 



 

DVD Features
  • Lair of Zarbi Supremo:
 A short story read by actor William Russell (Ian Chesterton) which was originally printed in the first Doctor Who annual (also included on this disc).  This is an audio only feature and runs nearly an hour.  An enjoyable extra.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Another improvement to the DVD range was the addition of this feature.  Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by Richard Molesworth of the Doctor Who Restoration Team
 

 
  • Doctor Who Annual:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of  the 1966 Doctor Who Annual (a mixture of Doctor Who fiction as well as science based reading for young Doctor Who fans).  Within this annual is the original story "Lair of the Zarbi Supremo" that was read by William Russell on another part of the disc.  Be sure to also read the Readme.txt file included on the disc.  Very funny.
 

 
  • Give-A-Show Slides:
 The entire 6 part story condensed down into 14 slides.  Not a bad idea...
 

 

  • Tales of Isop:

 This documentary details the making of "The Web Planet" utilizing interviews with Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Martin Jarvis (Captain Hilio), Verity Lambert (producer), Richard Martin (director), Sonia Markham (make-up designer), and John Wood (designer).
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 A collection of both black and white as well as color photographs showing many publicity stills from the production of this story.  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.  Rather than clicking through each image this time they have them play for a specified amount of time and then move on to the next image.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Two options are available on this title...

The first option is to listen to an informative and enjoyable commentary by William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Verity Lambert (producer), Richard Martin (director), and Martin Jarvis (Captain Hilio).  Long time Who fan and producer of the Big Finish radio plays, Gary Russell serves as moderator.

The second option is to have Episode 6 with the dubbed Spanish soundtrack (originally sold to Spanish speaking countries, obviously).  It is presented here for your mirar el placer.
 

 
  • 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

  • It is worth noting that "The Web Planet" episode 1 had the largest audience figures of any Doctor Who episode.
     

  • Amusingly, this story is famous among fans for its unending snafus and fluffs.  Watch for Zarbi colliding with cameras, an unending legion of fluffed Hartnell lines, invisible ropes and strings which are painfully visible, and the ludicrous alien dancing and chanting rituals throughout.
     

  • Happily, this 6 part story was squeezed onto 1 VHS tape rather than two making it much less expensive than a normal 6 parter.
     

  • Well worth buying just for the sheer silliness of the story.
     

  • Although not highly regarded by general fandom today, it is important to remember just how technologically ambitious and challenging this serial was to make in 1965.  The sets, costumes, special effects (flying Menoptera are just one example), etc. all were beyond anything that had been attempted before on the program.
     

  • All 6 episodes have been VidFIREd.  VidFIRE is a process that returns the "video" look to the program as it was originally broadcast.  To learn more about this process you can read about it at the Doctor Who Restoration Team website.
     

  • "The Web Planet" was given the usual expert cleanup treatment by the Doctor Who Restoration Team.  A detailed account of the restoration work can be found at their site.  HERE is a link.