Daktaras Kas Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 (1963–1989) Online

1963–1989 Jon Pertwee Caroline John Nicholas Courtney Derek Martinus

Original Title :: Spearhead from Space: Episode 1
Genre :: TV Episode / Adventure / Drama / Family / Sci-Fi
Year :: 1963–1989
Directror :: Derek Martinus
Cast :: Jon Pertwee,Caroline John,Nicholas Courtney
Writer :: Robert Holmes
Type :: TV Episode
Time :: 24min
Rating :: 8.2/10

Daktaras Kas Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 (1963–1989) Online

As strange meteorites are crashing down, an unconscious Doctor is found lying just outside the TARDIS. The United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is already onto the issue of the meteorites and when he learns that a man has been found unconscious in the woods lying next to blue police box, he's certain that his old friend the Doctor has returned. He visits him at the nearby hospital but doesn't recognize him, not realizing that he Doctor has regenerated. The Doctor foils an attempt to kidnap him and he's soon back in hospital having been shot by the soldiers guarding the TARDIS.

Episode complete credited cast:
	Jon Pertwee	-	Doctor Who
	Caroline John	-	Liz Shaw
	Nicholas Courtney	-	Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
	Hugh Burden	-	Channing
	Neil Wilson	-	Seeley
	Talfryn Thomas	-	Mullins
	John Breslin	-	Captain Munro
	Antony Webb	-	Dr. Henderson
	Helen Dorward	-	Nurse
	George Lee	-	Corporal Forbes
	Tessa Shaw	-	Unit Officer
	Ellis Jones	-	Technician
	Allan Mitchell	-	Wagstaffe
	Prentis Hancock	-	2nd Reporter

This show marks two important changes to the broadcasting of the series: It was the first show to be shot and transmitted in colour (as are all subsequent shows); and the number of show's made per season was lowered from 40/45 to approximately 26.

Because of a BBC strike, this story was shot entirely on location, with no studio scenes. This made it the first Doctor Who (1963) serial to be made entirely on location and the only serial that was ever made entirely on film. The serial came close to the brink of being cancelled after the first week of filming, but producer Derrick Sherwin persuaded the BBC to complete it on location. As a result, this serial was shot in about six weeks between September and November 1969 rather like a low budget movie. Director Derek Martinus said Sherwin was "a very energetic and determined bloke. He had a tremendous fight to get the go-ahead, but he did and for a while we all had this wonderful fantasy of doing Doctor Who all on film and selling it to America."

First appearance of The Autons.

This episode was watched by 8.4 million viewers on its original transmission.

Because it was made entirely on film, this is the only Doctor Who (1963) serial which has been released on Blu-ray Disc.

This, the very first story for Jon Pertwee as well as "Robot", the very first story for Tom Baker, was filmed at Wood Norton, Evesham which was the BBC engineer training facility.

During the Doctor's medical examination, this episode establishes a unique point of Time Lord physiology, that they have two hearts.

The working title of the serial was Facsimile and was based on a story that Robert Holmes wrote for the British science fiction film Invasion (1965), which featured an alien crashing in the woods near a rural hospital, where a medical examination reveals his alien nature. The hospital is later visited by other aliens, seeking a fugitive criminal. Some of the exact lines of dialogue used by human doctors to describe the physiology of the injured alien were re-used.

This serial was released by the BBC on video cassette in the UK in February 1988. In 2001, it became the first Doctor Who (1963) serial from the Jon Pertwee era to be released by the BBC on DVD, which included remastered picture quality (which included taking out the scratches from the film print used for the video cassette version) and the bonus of a commentary track by actors Nicholas Courtney and Caroline John.

In the original script, The Doctor was kidnapped from his bed and taken to a storeroom for interrogation. He escaped through a window after feigning unconsciousness.

Director Derek Martinus was reluctant to return to Doctor Who (1963) to direct this serial. He never worked on it again. Nicholas Courtney mentioned on the DVD commentary that he found Martinus very distant.

This serial was advertised with a Radio Times front cover photograph of Jon Pertwee and an interview.

This was the first of two Jon Pertwee era serials that Prentis Hancock would have roles in, the other being "Planet of the Daleks".

For the Earth to be seen as it appears in the opening shot, one would have to be positioned exactly between the Sun and the Earth.

Fans voted this number 27 in a countdown of the 163 Doctor Who (1963) stories in Outpost Gallifrey's 40th anniversary poll in 2003.

Sam Seeley had a son in the original script.

Whilst Commonly believed to be shot entirely on Location there is contradictory evidence, the scenes in the tent appear to be shot in a studio as the sky appears to be touching the ground.

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Onath

(Note: This is a review of all four episodes of the story.)

January 1970 found the start of a new era of Doctor Who and the stage was set for a new beginning. Spearhead From Space, the first story of the 1970 season, proved to be just that and more. It was a story of many firsts from the first appearance of the third Doctor (played by Jon Pertwee), to the first episodes made in color to the first appearance of the Autons, Spearhead From Space set the standard for which the Pertwee era would be judged.

The story finds the Doctor exiled to late twentieth century Earth (it's hard to get much more specific but we fans do try) by his own race as punishment for interfering in the affairs of others (the final Patrick Troughton story The War Games) in the midst of a meteor shower. With the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) investigating, the newly regenerated Doctor comes back into contact with its leader Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and the newly recruited scientist Liz Shaw. Together they investigate the meteors, the strange orbs they left behind, and their apparent connection to a factor making plastic mannequins. It all leads to an invasion by the collective mind of the Nestene.

Jon Pertwee slips in the role of the Doctor with so much ease that, like Tom Baker in 1974's Robot, it is sometimes hard to believe this is his first story. All the hallmarks of his Doctor are here from the classic combination of shirts and capes to gadgetry and classic cars. Backing him is the ever impressive Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier for the third time (having played the role in the Troughton story's The Web Of Fear and The Invasion) and Caroline John as Liz Shaw. John plays Liz well and makes a very believable scientist and it's a shame she was only in the four stories of this season. The supporting cast of Hugh Burden and John Woodnut as the men who run the factory plus Hamilton Dyce as General Scobie and Neil Wilson as a trapper make for as fine a cast as the show ever had. Robert Holmes' script plus the direction of Derek Martinus and the music of Dudley Simpson helps to create a taught and suspenseful opening for the Pertwee era. The Autons are one of the series' best creations one of the worst nightmares come true: shop window mannequins that come not just to life but kill you as well. While their controller, the Nestene creature, looks very unconvincing, the Autons and the other elements of this story make it one of the very best stories of the series.

With strong performances from the cast backed by Robert Holmes' script, the direction of Derek Martinus and the music of Dudley Simpson, Spearhead From Space is more then just Jon Pertwee's debut story. It is a taught and suspenseful science fiction yarn that nightmares are made of.

Akinonris

A swarm of fifty meteorites lands in Southern England. Poacher Sam Seeley digs one up. It pulsates and emits an unearthly trilling sound.

The meteorites are not the only visitors from space that day. The Tardis lands nearby, and an ill-looking Doctor steps out, before collapsing.

Meanwhile, boffin Liz Shaw is whisked away from Cambridge to a secret meeting with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of U.N.I.T ( United Nations Intelligence Taskforce ). The organisation was set up to protect Earth from attacks by creatures from outer space. Man's attempts at space exploration have attracted attention apparently. He tells her that on the two previous alien invasion attempts, Earth was saved by a strange man known only as 'The Doctor'.

The Doctor has been taken to a country hospital, and appears to be in a coma. His unusual physiognomy ( two hearts, no known blood group ) confound the medical staff...

No sooner had the '70's begun than 'Dr.Who' was back on our screens, this time with a new leading man ( Jon Pertwee ) and in colour ( I didn't upgrade until 1974. hence was unable to appreciate the new show in this medium ). Pertwee was mainly known for his comedy roles, on the radio ( 'The Navy Lark' ) and films such as 'Carry On Cowboy' and 'The Ladies Who Do', so to see him as everyone's favourite Time Lord came as quite a shock. He confounded expectations by playing the role straight, almost like an Edwardian version of James Bond, who in his frilly shirt, smoking jacket and cape made a dapper contrast to his scruffily attired predecessor, Patrick Troughton.

He spends most of the first episode in bed, recovering briefly to talk to Lethbridge-Stewart. His character remained an unknown quantity right up to the end credits.

As Liz Shaw, Caroline John was a radical departure from the 'Who' girls of the past, being both intelligent and independent. She would not have seemed out of place in 'Doomwatch'.

This was Nicholas Courtney's third appearance as 'Lethbridge-Stewart'; we first saw him ( as a Colonel' ) in 'The Web Of Fear', then promoted to 'Brigadier' in 'The Invasion'. He was established as a regular character in this story. Exiled to Earth, the Doctor had no place in society, and U.N.I.T. provided him with a place to work in return for his becoming their Scientific Adviser.

Had the internet existed in 1970, the 'Dr.Who' forums of the day would doubtless have seethed with outrage over the reformatting. The thing is, it worked. The 'cosmic nomad' format had been in place since 1963 and was in need of a temporary rest. Needless to say, within a few years, it would be revived.

The villains of this story - the Autons - are glimpsed only briefly, but when revealed in all their plastic glory terrified a whole generation of British children ( myself included ). In 2005, Russell T.Davies resurrected 'Dr.Who', using the Autons in his first script - 'Rose'. He was right to do so because the concept - animated plastic mannequins - is a frightening one even now.

Due to industrial action, the first Pertwee adventure had to be shot entirely on film, another thing that worked in its favour. It came across as slicker and looking more like an adult show than a children's one, as if 'Dr.Who' was now being made by I.T.C instead of the B.B.C.

This was Robert Holmes' third 'Who' script, his others being 'The Krotons' and 'The Space Pirates'. The new format and doctor seemed to do him the power of good. 'Spearhead' was the first of several Holmes-scripted classics. It got '70's 'Who' off to a flying start.

Androrim

Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 starts as some radar operator tracks around 50 small meteorites as they land on Earth in formation somewhere in Essex (!), special task force UNIT & Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) is informed & he brings in meteorite expert Liz Shaw (Caroline John) to assist his investigations. Meanwhile the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) has landed the TARDIS & is unconscious from his regeneration & is taken to a nearby hospital where a doctor (Antony Webb) is baffled at what he sees, word of the unusual patient gets around & Lethbridge-Stewart realises that it must be the Doctor & sets out to meet up with him. However an attempt to kidnap the Doctor is made although he manges to escape only to be mistakenly shot by UNIT soldiers...

This Doctor Who adventure was episode 1 from season 7 & was Jon Pertwee's first story, directed by Derek Martinus I liked this episode. I've always liked the Pertwee era although I have to say some of the mammoth stories do drag a bit, the next three adventures all have seven parts! The script by Robert Holmes introduces the new Doctor reasonably well although he's confined to a hospital bed for most of the episode, the basic story that is taking place behind the introduction of the new Doctor hasn't quite got going yet & the only thing of note to happen is that some strange glowing meteorites have landed in an Essex wood but the episode has maintained my interest & I definitely want to follow the story through the next three episodes. So far Spearhead from Space has a pretty serious tone about as does a lot of the Pertwee era.

Surprisingly this is quite well shot considering the budget must have been low. Spearhead from Space is one of only two Doctor Who adventures to be shot entirely on film rather than video, apparently because of industrial action at the BBC the time it was shot. The new opening titles & rearranged music are petty cool. There are no bad special effects to criticise during this episode.

Spearhead from Space is a decent opener to the Pertwee years although not that much has actually happened during his opening 25 minutes.

ℓo√ﻉ

Jon Pertwee's debut as the Third Doctor coincides with Robert Holmes introducing the Autons for one of only three television stories they would be prominently featured in (if I recall correctly, they are the only three they would be featured in, period). Ah, Robert Holmes. Always good to see that name at the start of a story, isn't it? In many ways this was the first story in which he really showed his knack for creating solid dialogue and characterization as well as keeping the science fiction, horror, or adventure plot fresh every episode of the story ('The Krotons' was average and 'The Space Pirates' is missing, but apparently not a hidden classic based on reconstructions). I don't want to give any of the plot away but it will suffice to say that the Autons are really bloody good villains, and so is the intelligence behind them, the Nestenes. There are some pretty violent scenes in this story and I remember being very scared upon watching this story for the first time when I was five or so, which is always good in a Doctor Who story.

It was ingenious to actually have Doctor Who villains who are ACTUALLY made of plastic within the confines of the story, and one of the reasons this doesn't seem particularly dated. The character of the Third Doctor is brilliantly introduced over the course of this four parter, as is Liz Shaw, and there is also some excellent character development for the Brigadier. The story was shot on film rather than video for some reason and does look fabulous and is directed well.

Episode 1: 7/10 Episode 2: 8/10 Episode 3: 8/10 Episode 4: 9/10

Overall: The average rating amounts to 8 out of 10 stars, but I will give it an 8.5 out of 10 overall.

Maveri

Although my earliest recollections of first watching Dr Who are of Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee's was the first I watched regularly and so I consider him "my Dr Who". Although almost as eccentric as the memorable Troughton, he brought more stylishness, scientific nous, physicality (his famous karate chops would develop in time) and, through his travels in his vintage car "Bessie", sheer mobility to the part. I was so disappointed when he left in 1973 (plus I was incidentally growing up at the time), that I never watched a single Tom Baker episode and still haven't to this day, only catching up again for the Peter Davison regeneration.

This first Pertwee adventure made for a great introduction with the memorable menace of the Autons, it's little wonder that their breaking out of shop windows as activated mannequins rates so highly in the list of scariest scenes in the whole history of the show. At 10 years of age, it scared me and obviously resonated with Steven Moffat who since has created danger out of other inanimate "human" objects, such as statues and most recently, snowmen.

It would have been nice to see an actual regeneration scene between the two Docs, plus it takes a while for Pertwee to appear and dominate scenes, but given that this afforded us time to get reacquainted with the redoubtable Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart and new assistant Liz Shaw, it's not a great loss.

The story is well-paced and the idea of replacing politicians in power with alien copies is one that would be used again in the Moffat era. Yes, the climax with Pertwee engaging (I'm being polite) with a rubber octopus is about as realistic as Adam Batman West's similar encounter with a shark in the 1966 movie, but everything else is good and boded well for the new Doctor's more earthbound adventures for the next few years at least.

Sha

There's a saying that DOCTOR WHO is at its best when its roots are showing " and this is probably true . It's considered that that the classic series reached its creative peak in the mid 1970s with Philip Hinchcliffe as producer and Robert Holmes as script editor who both showed little shame in copying styles and themes from other sources . The Brain Of Morbuis is a reworking of FRANKENSTEIN , Planet Of Evil copies FORBIDDEN PLANET while The Seeds Of Doom rips off THE THING and simplifies DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS . There's no shame in doing this and adds adult horrifying imagery to a show that's considered to be for children

Spearhead From Space has obviously been inspired by Nigel Kneale's QUATERMASS 2 . Both scripts start with a military tracking station finding a shower of meteorites entering the Earth's atmosphere and as the story progresses a factory is used as a base for aliens to subjugate mankind . Where as Kneale's 6x30 minute episodes tend to drag Holmes script is superbly paced helped in part by the fact that there's so many elements being played out over the running time . There's a new Doctor in the casting of the wonderful Jon Pertwee , a new assistant Liz Shaw and the reintroduction of UNIT commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart

Spearhead From Space was the victim of an industrial dispute by the BBC so director Derek Martinuis was forced by necessity to shoot the story on 16mm film which gives the story a cinematic feel . One problem though is that the sound mix is very poor and episode one sees the Brigadier sound like a chipmunk in one brief scene ! But this is a minor flaw . The story is famous for the scenes in episode four when showroom mannequins suddenly jump to life and precede to zap people standing up a bus queue , a scene of horror that any child who saw it will remember it for the rest of their life . The Nestene itself is disappointing being basically a rubber tentacle but the Autons are truly the stuff of nightmares and would appear 35 years later to kick start the new series of DOCTOR WHO that became even a bigger success than the classic series

Silver Globol

Review of all 4 episodes:

Spearhead From Space marks perhaps the biggest combination of changes in Doctor Who history:

the change from the Patrick Troughton era to the Jon Pertwee era.

the change from black and white to colour.

the change from constant time and space travelling to an exile leaving The Doctor stranded in contemporary Earth.

the change from two or three traditional companions to a whole organisation (UNIT) regularly working with The Doctor.

These changes are made even more striking by the fact that Pertwee's Doctor, having been forced to regenerate as a punishment from the Time Lords and subsequently getting injured, spends much of the early part of the story inactive in a hospital bed. Yet the story manages to be interesting enough and contains enough action, humour and thrills to make this big transition go very successfully.

The story involves the new Doctor finding himself stranded on Earth and suffering from his regeneration then having to deal with an invasion attempt by the Nestene Consciousness using their power to control plastic and creating armies of shop dummies.

The production is a peach with a superb look (recorded beautifully on film rather than the usual video), excellent direction by Derek Martinus and thrilling special effects (shop dummies coming to life and attacking through shop windows etc.) believably and excitingly executed.

The story is brilliantly written by Robert Holmes with superb plotting and dialogue. The acting from Pertwee and the whole cast is impeccable. Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart) and Caroline John (Liz Shaw) do fantastically well in their roles beginning already to get audiences to strongly sympathise and relate to them.

It is not absolutely perfect but it is perfectly entertaining and interesting with thrilling, scary moments. All 4 Episodes 10/10.

playboy

Review of the Complete Story:

SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE is a well-remembered and classic DOCTOR WHO story, and for good reason. It contains one of the entire series' most frightening pieces of imagery ever, in the form of shop mannequins coming to life and wreaking havoc on the high street.

Of course, the said dummies are part of a sinister alien plan to invade earth, but a newly-regenerated Jon Pertwee is on hand to thwart them. SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE isn't perfect - it is quite slow and it takes a while to get to the action, partly because a lot of it's about Pertwee "discovering" himself - but it has a timeless charm that makes it irresistible to this viewer.

The entire alien invasion plot is familiar but workable, and the story is enlivened by the dedicated performances from the supporting cast. Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier is on particular top form here, but here's merely a highlight of a generally well-made and inventive story overall. When it comes to DOCTOR WHO, SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE is one of the very best.

Asyasya

Honestly go watch all 4 parts you will fall in love with Pertwee's doctor. 9/10

Eayaroler

This is a review of the entire serial, consisting of 4 episodes. Originally broadcast 3rd January 1970 - 24th January 1970.

This serial is a classic in at least three regards: 1. Jon Pertwee and Caroline John's first serial. 2. The first appearance of the Autons and the Great Intelligence. 3. The first serial in colour.

As the Doctor lands on Earth, after having regenerated after "The War Games", several meteorites crash down on the surface. The leader of U.N.I.T., Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, employs a new scientist from Cambridge called Liz Shaw. Meanwhile, the Doctor is taken to a hospital and strange occurrences begin to happen.

This story is truly wonderful, with an intriguing plot, shocking moments (the cliffhanger of Episode 3 comes to mind), and great shoot-outs and car chases, complimented with fantastic camera-work, alldone on film- the only classic serial to do so! Jon Pertwee's Doctor is brilliantly introduced, along with Liz Shaw, and Nicholas Courtney is fantastic as always.

My suggestion: Stop reading this review and go watch it right now, you won't regret it.

8/10

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Daktaras Kas Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 (1963–1989) Online

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