Delta and the Bannermen
(DVD)

 

Starring Sylvester McCoy
3 Episodes
1987
73 minutes (color)
Single Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Sylvester McCoy

Melanie Bush
Bonnie Langford

Written by
Malcolm Kohll

Directed by
Chris Clough
Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Nov 2, 1987 - Nov 16, 1987

R1  Release Date
September 2009

Warner Home Video
#3000022933

U.K. Cover


 

 

 

Cover Blurb
The time: 1959.  The place: the Shangri-La Holiday Camp.  The Doctor and Mel want time out.  The hedonistic alien Navarinos want to catch some vintage rock and roll.  And two CIA agents want to know what happened to their country's missing satellite.

When the beautiful Chimeron princess Delta shows up on the scene, the murderous Bannermen soon follow in hot pursuit.  The state is set for a fiery showdown that will decide the fate of an entire civilization.


 

 

 
DVD Features

  • Episode One (Early Edit):

 A 30 minute first edit of episode one.  There are many deleted scenes, differences in the order of scenes, lack of incidental music etc.  A rare glimpse into the early edit of this episode.
 

 

  • But First This:

 A six minute interview from 1987 during the filming of this story.  Interviewees include Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor), Bonnie Langford (Mel), and Ken Dodd (The Tollmaster).
 

 
  • Interview Rushes:
 Sixteen minutes of raw interview footage taken for the "But First This" segment.  Interviewees include Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor), Bonnie Langford (Mel), and Ken Dodd (The Tollmaster).
 

 
  • Wales Today:
 A brief news report featuring some behind the scenes footage and even briefer interviews with Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor) and producer John Nathan-Turner.
 

 

  • Stripped for Action - The Seventh Doctor:

 Part of an ongoing series, this 21 minute documentary details the comic strip adventures of the Seventh Doctor.  Interviews are conducted with Doctor Who comics writers Scott Gray, Simon Furman, Andrew Cartmel, and Paul Cornell.  Also contributing is artist Lee Sullivan as well as former Doctor Who Magazine editors John Freeman, Alan Barnes and Gary Russell.
 

 

  • Hugh and Us:

 Archival footage of actor Hugh Lloyd (Goronwy) being interviewed about his career and his role in Doctor Who.
 

 
  • Clown Court:
 Outtakes from the making of this story were shown on "The Noel Edmonds Saturday Roadshow" back in 1987.  That clip is presented here as a special feature.
 

 
  • Trails and Continuity Announcements:
 Three minutes worth of continuity announcements and trails from the original broadcast in 1987.
 

 
  • Audio Options:

The only option is a commentary track including Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor), Sara Griffiths (Ray), Andrew Cartmell (script editor), and director Chris Clough.
 

 
  • 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.
 

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

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • A Doctor Who story like no other, "Delta and the Bannermen" short, lightweight story with an emphasis on 1950's rock and roll.

  • Watch for a wonderfully clichéd cliffhanger to episode one .

  • It is currently unknown whether some of the 50s rock and roll music might create clearance problems for the Region 1 release. 

  • By the time this story was being written it was known that companion Mel (Bonnie Langford) was preparing to leave at the end of the season.  Producer John Nathan-Turner took the unusual step of instructing both the writer of this story and that of "Dragonfire" to prepare a character who could join the Doctor at the end of the story.  Ray was developed as a possible companion for this story, while Ace would be the one for "Dragonfire."

  • Watch for a blooper during episode 3.  Sylvester McCoy can be seen wearing his glasses as he drives a motorcycle across a field.  Apparently the actor, who is nearsighted, had forgotten to take them off before the cameras began rolling.  :)

  • Originally titled "The Flight of the Chimeron" the story title was changed at the last minute to "Delta and the Bannermen."

  • As with all of the U.K. 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.