"Frontier in Space"

Frontier in Space
Disc 1 & 2 of the Dalek War Box Set
(DVD)

 

Starring Jon Pertwee
6 Episodes
1973
143 minutes (color)
Double Disc


"Dalek War" Box Set




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Jon Pertwee

Jo Grant
Katy Manning

The Master
Roger Delgado

Written by
Malcolm Hulke

Directed by
Paul Bernard
Produced by
Barry Letts

Original Airdate
Feb 24, 1973 - Mar 31, 1973

R1 DVD Release Date
March 2010

Warner Home Video
#3000024789

U.K. Box Set Cover


U.K. Individual Cover


 



Cover Blurb
It is the year 2450, and a fragile peace exists between the great empires of Earth and Draconia.  The TARDIS materializes aboard an Earth cargo ship which comes under attack.  Arrested and accused of espionage, the Doctor is sentenced to life imprisonment on the Moon, but salvation arrives in an unexpected form.

Can the Doctor and Jo stop the Master's plans to provoke a galactic war and reveal the deadly enemy waiting for the chance to destroy both empires?



 

 

 

DVD Features
 

Disc One
All 6 episodes from the story "Frontier in Space" as they were originally transmitted in 1973 plus these bonus features.

 
  • 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.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Commentary is provided by Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Terrance Dicks (script editor), and Barry Letts (producer).  Clayton Hickman moderates the commentary.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 None on this disc.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 

 

 

 
 

Disc Two
The remaining bonus features for "Frontier in Space"
 
  • The Perfect Scenario - Lost Frontiers:
 A unique take on the history of Doctor Who, this 30 minute two part feature consists of interviews within a fictional premise.
 

 
  • The Space War - Remembering 'Frontier in Space':
 In this 17 minute featurette both crew and cast reminisce about the making of this story.  Included are Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Vera Fusek (President), Michael Hawkins (General Williams), and visual effects designers John Friedlander and Matt Irvine.
 

 
  • Roger Delgado - The Master:
 An affectionate biography of Roger Delgado - the man behind the iconic character "The Master".  Interviewees include his wife Kismet Marlowe, actors Katy Manning, Frazer Hines, Linda Thorson, William Gaunt, Harry Towb, and Damaris Hayman.  Also included are recollections and memories from producer Barry Letts, director Christopher Barry, stunt coordinator Derek Ware, and script editor Terrance Dicks.
 

 
  • Stripped for Action - The Third Doctor:
 Part of an ongoing series of featurettes that highlights the world of Doctor Who comic strips (as seen in the magazine Doctor Who Monthly).  In this 16 minute installment, the focus is on the Jon Pertwee years.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • PDF Materials:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings and BBC promotional materials.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There is one on this disc.  Scroll down for further details.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Egg

#1. ALTERNATE "DELAWARE" THEME
(Aborted Theme Remix)

 

Go to the 'Subtitles' menu on Disc Two.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo below 'Special Features'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • Sadly, "Frontier in Space" is the last appearance of Roger Delgado as The Master.  Shortly after filming this story, he died as the result of a car accident.   Although not seen on screen, Delgado and Pertwee were close friends and the death of his friend (among other factors) led to Pertwee's decision to leave the series the following year.
  • If you look closely you will see that space suits of the future will have thin wires attached to their exteriors.  Hmm...
  • The events in "Frontier in Space" are resolved in the next Doctor Who adventure "Planet of the Daleks" making for a loose arc between the two stories.
  • This is the second appearance of the Ogrons.  The first was in "Day of the Daleks" two years previously.  They did make a brief cameo appearance in "Carnival of Monsters" earlier in the season.
  • Debuting in this story are the Draconians, an intelligent reptilian species who prize honor above all else.  They were among Jon Pertwee's favorite alien during his tenure on the series.  This is their first and only appearance on the TV series, although they do feature in several Doctor Who novels written.

  • If the Draconian emperor sounds at all familiar, that is because he is being played by none other than John Woodnutt.  Woodnutt has appeared frequently in Doctor Who.  His first appearance was as the Auton controlled character of Hibbert in Pertwee's debut story "Spearhead from Space."  He would later go on to play the double role of the Zygon commander Broton/the Duke of Forgil in the classic Tom Baker story "Terror of the Zygons."  His final appearance was as counselor Seron in Tom Baker's penultimate "The Keeper of Traken."
     

  • As with all of the DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story.  More information on the restoration of this story can be read at their website HERE.