Survival
(Special Edition DVD)

 

Starring Sylvester McCoy
3 Episodes
1989
72 minutes (color)
Double Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Sylvester McCoy

Ace
Sophie Aldred

The Master
Anthony Ainley

Written by
Rona Munroe

Directed by
Alan Wareing
Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Nov 22, 1989 - Dec 6, 1989

R1  Release Date
August 2007

Warner Home Video
#E2915

U.K. Cover


 

 

 

Cover Blurb
 

 

The Doctor takes Ace back to her hometown of Perivale, only to find that something is very, very wrong.  Many of Ace's old friends and neighbors have disappeared while domestic pets become victims of unseen killers.  Will the hunter become the hunted when only the fittest survive?

 

 


 

 

 
DVD Features
 

Disc One
All 3 episodes as they were originally transmitted in 1989.

 

  • Cat Flap (Part One and Part Two):

 An impressive documentary broken into two parts.  Part one looks into the preproduction side of "Survival."  Part two breaks down the filming and post production of this - the final story of the original series.  Participants include Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Lisa Bowerman (Karra), Will Barton (Midge), Sakuntala Ramanee (Shreela) and Adele Silva (Squeak).  Other contributors include Andrew Cartmel (script editor), Alan Wareing (director), Mike Tucker (visual effects assistant), Dominic Glynn (composer) and costume designer Ken Trew.
 

 

  • Deleted and Extended Scenes:

 Nine minutes of additional scenes, extensions, and comparisons between original shots and video effects ones.
 

 
  • Outtakes:
 Sixteen minutes of gaffs, comedy moments and footage of the wrap party after completion of the story.
 

 
  • Continuity Announcements:
 Three minutes worth of continuity announcements from the original broadcast.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Lots of rare and never before seen photos taken during the production of this story.  Very nice.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Five options given 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 Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Andrew Cartmel (script editor).

Another choice is a fan commentary track of episode 3 only.  Participants are winners from a recent Doctor Who Magazine competition.

The final audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear the music Dominic Glynn 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.

 

 
  • 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:
 There are no easter eggs for this release.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 

 

 

Disc Two
The remaining DVD bonus features.
 

  • Endgame:

 A 50 minute featurette exploring the end of the original series in 1989 and the plans that were in the works for the 27th season of Doctor Who in 1990.  Contributors include Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Andrew Cartmel (script editor), Ben Aaronovitch (writer) and Colin Brake (writer).  Also included are interviews with BBC Head of Drama Series Peter Cregeen, composer Mark Ayres and visual effects designer Mike Tucker.
 

 

  • Search Out Science:

 A children's science program that aired shortly after "Survival" and includes Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace), John Leeson (voice of K9), and Stephen Johnson.
 

 

  • Little Lost Girl:

 This featurette was originally intended for the "Ghostlight" DVD release.  It details the evolution of the character of Ace from her first appearance in "Dragonfire" to her final one in "Survival."  Contributors include Sophie Aldred (Ace), Ian Briggs (writer), and Andrew Cartmel (script editor).
 

 

  • Destiny of the Doctors:

 Anthony Ainley (The Master) made his final appearance in character in the 1997 video game "Destiny of the Doctors."  Here are the clips that he filmed for this game.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There are no easter eggs for this release.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • "Survival" is the final story of the original 26 year run of the series.  It would not return for 16 years.
  • Like the previous two stories, this one also has a strong emphasis on the character of Ace.  The first story in this Ace arc was "Ghostlight" while the second was "The Curse of Fenric."
  • Early in the planning stages this story went by the title "Cat Flap" and then later "Blood Hunt" before it settled down into "Survival."
  • Sergeant Paterson was originally written as a policeman.  However, the characters more aggressive tendencies made producer John Nathan-Turner request that he be changed from a law enforcer to a retired Army Sergeant.
  • Anthony Ainley returns as The Master after a long 3 year absence.  This is his final appearance as the Master.
  • Watch for a memorable final battle between the Doctor and the Master in the final few moments of the story.  It is quite effective, and also fitting for the final story (although the cast and crew didn't realize it was the end at the time).
  • Also watch for the final speech of the Doctor as he and Ace walk into the distance.   Its pure McCoy.  :)
  • That final speech was added at the very last minute when it became obvious to producer John Nathan-Turner that this could well be the final story of Doctor Who ever made.  Unfortunately, his instincts were close to the mark.  The series would remain off the air for 16 years (minus the TV Movie in 1996) until, in early 2005, it successfully returned to the airwaves.
     
  • 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.