Revelation of the Daleks
 (DVD)

 


Starring Colin Baker
2 Episodes (45 minutes each)
1985
89 minutes (color)
Single Disc


 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Colin Baker

Peri Brown
Nicola Bryant

Written by
Eric Saward

Directed by
Graeme Harper
Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Mar 23, 1985 - Mar 30, 1985

US DVD Release Date
June 2006

Warner Home Video
#E2504

U.K. Cover




 

 

 
Cover Blurb
The Doctor and Peri arrive on the planet Necros, home of Tranquil Repose, a funeral home for the galaxy's elite.  But is this to be the Doctor's final resting place?  And why do Daleks guard the inner sanctums of the perpetually interred?  Perhaps the Great Healer will have the answers.

 

 

 

 


 


DVD Features 
  • Revelation Exhumed:
 Fans are treated to a 45 minute documentary on the making of this story using interviews with actors Trevor Cooper (Takis), Clive Swift (Jobel), Roy Skelton (Dalek voices), Terry Molloy (Davros), William Gaunt (Orcini), Hugh Walters (Vogel), Alexei Sayle (D.J.) and Colin Spaull (Lilt).  Other contributors include Eric Saward (writer/script editor), Graeme Harper (director), Alan Spalding (designer), John Brace (Visual Effects), Roger Limb (incidental music) and Pat Godfrey (costumer designer).
 

 
  • Behind the Scenes:
 15 minutes worth of highlights from the only existing footage (recently discovered) from the studio recording of this story.  It gives a good glimpse into the hectic and fast paced style of recording that the production was forced into.  A nice addition is an optional commentary track by Terry Molloy (Davros) and Graeme Harper (director) describing some of the behind the scenes work.
 

 
  • 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 Richard Molesworth of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

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

 
  • Deleted Scenes:
 Three short scenes are included here including an amusing scene between Takis and Tasambeker, an extended death for the D.J. and a Dalek scene.  Unfortunately nothing to get very excited about.
 

 
  • Continuity:
 Original continuity announcements are included as are the ones for the edited 4 part version repeated in 1993.  Also included are the "false" cliffhangers created for the 4 part version.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Color and black and white photos showing many publicity shots from the production of this story.  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Four choices here...

The first choice is to listen to the story in it's original mono version

Another option is to choose the new Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound remix.

A third choice is a commentary track including Nicola Bryant (Peri), Terry Molloy (Davros), Eric Saward (Writer/Script Editor), and Graeme Harper (director).

The final audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear the music Roger Limb composed for this story sequentially as it appears in the episode (rather than edited together as in the case of "The Five Doctors Special Edition" DVD).  This does mean that there are long gaps of silence in between music cues.

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There is 1 egg 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. DIALOGUE RE-RECORDING FOR 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX



Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of Episode Selection on the main menu.

   

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • "Revelation of the Daleks" was the final story in Colin Baker's first season.
     

  • Season 22 had a slightly different episodic format than the rest of the series.   Episodes were 45 minutes long (effectively making two shorter episodes into one longer episode).  It was felt that longer episodes could foster better story writing.   However, the format was abandoned after this season and the series went back to the traditional 23 minutes/episode format.
     

  • If the actor playing the D.J. looks familiar, then it should.  The D.J. is played by British comedian Alexei Sayle.
     
  • Also, watch for memorable performances from Terry Molloy as Davros, Eleanor Bron as Kara, Clive Swift as Jobel, and William Gaunt as Orcini. 
     
  • "Revelation of the Daleks" is another chapter in the Dalek storyline started in 1975 with "Genesis of the Daleks."  "Destiny of the Daleks" came along 5 years later.  The loose ends left by that adventure were picked up 4 years later in "Resurrection of the Daleks."  After the events of "Revelation" comes "Remembrance of the Daleks."  
     
  • "Revelation of the Daleks" is much darker than most Who stories (such as Davros' manipulation of Tasambeker or his solution to Universal starvation) as well more violent (Davros' hand amputation comes to mind here).  However, the story ranks well with fans and has many twists and turns to the plot making it a "must have" for any Who fan.  
     
  • Colin Baker's final line in the story was edited just prior to transmission.  He tells Peri that he will take her to Blackpool.  This was to set up the first story of the next season (entitled "The Nightmare Fair").  However, just before transmission it was announced that Doctor Who would be put on an 18 month hiatus.  With that, all of the previously planned stories for the new season were scrapped and as a result the last word from this story was removed.
     
  • In order to create the 5.1 surround sound mix, several actors who were initially involved in the 1985 production re-recorded their lines. 
     
  • Also of note for this release is the inclusion of updated special effects created for this DVD release.
     
  • The Region 2 version (U.K.) has been plagued by sporadic disc playing issues.  These problems have been identified and resolved for the R1 release.  I guess there is something to be said about the delayed release rate here for North America!
     
  • More detailed information on this release is available at the Doctor Who Restoration Team's website.  You can find the article HERE.