The Time Warrior
(DVD)

 

Starring Jon Pertwee
4 Episodes
1974
96 minutes (color)
Single Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Jon Pertwee

Sarah Jane Smith
Elisabeth Sladen

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Nicholas Courtney

Written by
Robert Holmes
Directed by
Alan Bromly

Produced by
Barry Letts

Original Airdate
Dec 15, 1973 - Jan 5, 1974

US DVD Release Date
April 2008

Warner Home Video
#30000014395

U.K. Cover

 

 



 

Cover Blurb
Available complete and uncut for the very first time on DVD!

The Doctor is called in by UNIT to investigate when a number of scientists go missing from a top security institute.  Following the kidnappings back in time to the Middle Ages, he is unaware that investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith has stowed aboard the TARDIS.

As events unfold, the Doctor discovers a sinister alien, intent on altering the future of mankind.



 

 

 

DVD Features
  • Beginning the End:
 A 30 minute documentary on the making of this classic story.  Contributors include Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Jeremy Bulloch (Hal), Donald Pelmear (Professor Rubeish), Terrance Dicks (script editor), Barry Letts (producer), and Keith Cheetham (designer).  A fascinating look at a classic story.
 

 

  • Trails and Continuity:

 Original BBC1 trails and continuity announcements using original off air audio recordings, and reconstructed video clips.
 

 
  • CGI Effects:
 This option allows you to view the story with newly created special effects shots.  If this option is not enabled then the default version is the original.
 

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

 
  • 1974 Doctor Who Annual:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of  the 1974 Doctor Who Annual (a mixture of Doctor Who fiction as well as science based reading for young Doctor Who fans).
 

 
  • Radio Times Listings:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Commentary is provided by Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah), Barry Letts (producer), and Terrance Dicks (script editor).
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There are 2 Easter Eggs included in this release.  Scroll further down to find more details.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Egg

#1. TIME WARRIOR TRIVIA

 

 

From the main menu screen, press the left arrow button
to highlight the Doctor Who logo in the top left corner.  Now click on it.

 

 

 

#2. PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES

 

 

Go to the 'Special Features' section.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of 'Back' option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • This story introduces a new companion and a new villain.   The new companion is Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen) and the new villains are the Sontarans (played here by Kevin Lindsay).  Both would go on to be enormously popular with the fans.
     
  • Ironically, the character of Sarah Jane Smith returned in the second season of the new series, while the Sontarans are scheduled to make an appearance in the upcoming fourth season.
     
  • Actor Jeremy Bulloch makes his second of two appearances in this story as the archer Hal.  His first appearance was in the William Hartnell story "The Space Museum" where he played the young rebel leader Tor.  Truly sad fans will already know that it was Bulloch who played bounty hunter Boba Fett in the movies "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."
  • Kevin Lindsay, who played the Sontaran commander Lynx, would return the following year to play another Sontaran (their clones, you see) in the Tom Baker story "The Sontaran Experiment."  To see him without makeup you should check out "Planet of the Spiders" where he plays Tibetan monk Cho-Je.
     
  • This release marks the first time that this story is available in its unedited, episodic format.  As one of the earliest VHS releases, it suffered from the then standard practice of editing all 4 episodes together into one "omnibus" story.  This practice was eventually dropped in favor of releasing stories with their individual episodes (and cliffhangers) intact.
     
  • As with all of the U.K. DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story to create the best possible transfer.  More information on the restoration of this story can be read at their website HERE.