Doctor Who - The Time Warrior [1973] [DVD]

A right merrie tale of robber rogues and stout yeomen, a fiery damsel never in distress, a toad-faced warrior fallen from the stars, and "a long-shanked rascal with a mighty nose" questing through Time - from Gallifrey! 5*** NOTE: You can buy this story as part of the Sontarans four story box set 'Bred for War', which offers good value if you don't already have the four individual DVDs.What Sir Walter Scott did with `Ivanhoe', Robert Holmes did here with `Doctor Who' - created an exhilarating medieval adventure with archetypal characters in an exciting new story. To add science fiction to the mix, he created the ultra-militaristic Sontaran commander Linx, crash-landed in England around 1200 A.D., a terrific costume, makeup, and performance by Kevin Lindsay. With his damaged spacecraft needing repair, Linx uses his `osmic projector' to kidnap scientists from the 20th century and offers alliance to Irongron, the local robber baron, to use his (stolen) castle as a base in exchange for new weapons. Linx simply wants to return to his war with the Rutans, he is recklessly unconcerned about changing Earth history - but the Doctor is determined to stop him. This story is also famous for containing the first ever mention of Gallifrey - just one of many facts about the Time Lords originally introduced by Robert Holmes in his various stories.`The Time Warrior' has a brilliant script which is both exciting and often very funny, a great cast of actors giving it their all, reels of quality location filming in the greenwood and castles of olde England and superb sets and costumes. It was a marvellous opening story for Jon Pertwee's final season and he is on top form (with some help from his stuntman), playing our hero at his most dashing. He fights hand-to-hand with the Sontaran and Irongron, hob-nobs with the local earl "a courtly rogue!" and fights off an assault on his castle by using "superior stink-bombs", swings a broadsword and even swings from a chandelier in the best Errol Flynn manner.Elizabeth Sladen is perfect as Sarah Jane Smith from her very first scene, a clever, independent character in probably the best storyline she was ever given. From being a stowaway on the TARDIS, convinced the Doctor is the villain!, she is right at the centre of the action throughout, shaping events and gradually coming to trust the Doctor completely - a new companion has arrived. There's a fun scene early on where she explodes when the Doctor says she can be useful by making the coffee! It's sometimes suggested this is the Doctor being sexist - but in fact he's deliberately winding Sarah Jane up because he knows she has gatecrashed UNIT H.Q. by impersonating her aunt Lavinia, a scientist whose work the Doctor respects. On the DVD commentary Elizabeth Sladen talks movingly about what a welcoming and generous actor Jon Pertwee was towards not only his new `companion' but to all the guest actors.Equality is a running theme in this story, handled with Robert Holmes' trademark wit. We see it again with Edward of Wessex, an honest but rather `wet' nobleman (Alan Rowe) and his determined wife Eleanor (June Brown). He seems to despair too easily at his lack of knights, all gone to the Crusades except for Hal the bowman (Jeremy Bulloch). Eleanor is all for direct action against Irongron by any means: "Will you mix a magic potion and poison the dog?" she asks the Doctor hopefully.David Daker and John Carney play Irongron and his henchman Bloodaxe with splendidly larger than life, sword-swinging shoutiness. Both scoundrels firmly believe that Irongron is a military genius, they're both wrong. Bloodaxe will never be mistaken for any kind of genius, a dim sidekick he is and like another dim sidekick of the future he even uses the phrase "a cunning plan"! The two human villains combine medieval menace and humour, with excellent writing and performances. The Doctor gets a second, temporary companion for this story in the shape of Professor Rubeish (Donald Pelmear), who seems remarkably unfazed about being kidnapped by a time-travelling Sontaran!The only failings in this story when first broadcast were some of the special effects. There aren't many, it's a costume drama, but the arrival of Linx's spaceship and the final big bang were a tennis ball on a wire and stock footage of a quarrying explosion - and they looked it. I certainly didn't notice in 1973 but on the VHS they were all too obvious. Happily, the DVD production team have created excellent new special effects that give these key moments in the story the impact they deserve, and enhance the few other effects as well, mostly shots from Linx's energy weapon. Turn the new effects on from `Special Features'. The DVD restored picture quality is also much better than the VHS.Verily, `tis a noble DVD and I bestow upon it the five stars of chivalry!DVD Special Features:The commentary is excellent, with Elizabeth Sladen, producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks, full of memories not only of this story but of the Jon Pertwee years and how the team prepared for the end of an era.`Beginning the End' - a really good `making of' feature, filmed partly back on location and with a great set of contributors.CGI Effects - some are subtle, some are major improvements, very well done.Photo Gallery - an especially good photo gallery is provided on this release with many `behind the scenes' pictures.Two `Easter eggs', both are enjoyable.

This serial introduces one of the most beloved companions from the classic series Sarah Jane Smith portrayed by Elisabeth Sladen (May she rest in peace), and also gives the first appearance of the Sontaran’s, the doctor’s home world is finally named as Gallifray in the Doctor Who universeSarah Jane poses as her aunt DR. Lavinia Smith to gain entrance to a top secrete area of U.N.I.T where the Brigider (Nicholas Courtney (may he rest in peace)) and the Doctor (Jon Pretwee (may he rest in peace)) are investigating the disappearance of U.N.I.T scientists whom the doctor soon deduces that they are being abducted through time to help Commander Linx (Kevin Lindsay) under hypnosis to repair his crashed space ship while he (Linx) must content with a want to-be king by furnishing him with fire armsThe doctor heads back and Sarah Jane stows away on the TARDIS and suspects that the doctor is anlage with Commander Linx.At the time the Script editor (Terrance Dicks) gave the serial’s writer Robert Holmes the task of writing a story set in a medieval castle which he (Terrance Dicks) considered a difficult task but in 1977 the roles were reversed and Holmes gave Dicks the task of writing a serial set in a light house which became the episode “Horror of fang Rock” which for the First time introduces the Rootan’s the mortal enemy of the Sontaran’s and who Commander Linx was fighting when he crashed on earth.Even though it was made in the 70’s and can’t stand up to the effects and prosthetics or todays T.V. once you get past these facts it is a great story involving history, modern day (well then and limited) and the introduction by Robert Holmes of the classic series’ most beloved companion its worth £6 for more than an hour of fantastic TV.

As new condition quick delivery thanks

I would like to give Dr Who - The Time Warrior `5' stars to the welcome introduction to the Legendary Sarah Jane Smith played by Elizabeth Sladen. As in previous story, The Green Death we said goodbye to the wonderful and endearing Jo Grant (Katy Manning), and this was a touching moment for my joint number one Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and the guys from UNIT. Both Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith were always my joint number one companions, but in my opinion, I found that Katy Manning's character Jo Grant worked better with the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee), and Elizabeth Sladen's character Sarah Jane Smith works better with the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker).Jon Pertwee's final five stories as the Third Doctor comes into full force in this story shows the change in direction to make way to my other joint number one Dr Who - Tom Baker. Both the supporting cast of Nicholas Courtney, David Daker, Donald Pelamer, June Brown (I hate Eastenders, and have not seen it when it started), John J Carney, Alan Rowe, and especially Aussie actor Kevin Lindsay who deserves all acting glory as the Sontaran Officer Linx. The 'Sontarans' along with 'The Ice Warriors' are the first humanoid alien menaces that the Doctor has regularly faced.For all 1970s Doctor Who, please buy the Time Warrior as part of you collection as the start of the Sarah Jane Smith era with my two joint number one doctors - Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. Its a pity that you have to buy 'The Cyberman Boxset' to complete your 1970s collection, because you will be lumbed with the absolutely rubbish 3rd rate Slyvester McCoy Dr Who pantomine 'Silver Nemesis'.

Awesome DVD and a worth checking out Third Doctor story.

First things first, "Time Warrior" is a story of many firsts. The Doctor identifies his home planet as "Gallifrey" for the first time, adding another fragment to the ever-developing mythos of the show's mysterious main character. One of the Doctor's most memorable human traveling companions, Sarah Jane Smith, makes her first appearance here, instantly adding a lively spark to the show and bringing the women's lib movement (still in its early stages as of 1973) into its overall equation with understated grace and a dash of wit. Next, the Doctor and Sarah Jane come up against the militaristic Sontarans for the first time in the person of Commander Linx. The Sontarans make for great villains, single-mindedly militant and delightfully arrogant, their sleek black-leather battle armor oddly juxtaposed with their almost humorously pudgy potato heads. It makes sense then that they've shown up in several stories over the years (and yet again soon this year), but arguably this their first appearance is also their best. Often they come across merely as cruel bully thugs, but the character of Linx, while including all of that in spades, is complicated just a bit by hints of a sincere code of honor and a sense of fair play, not to mention boyish curiosity. Then too, just in terms of make-up and costume, Linx wins out as the most visually convincing Sontaran so far, and Kevin Lindsay's performance enlivens the character perfectly. Finally, "Time Warrior" also sees the first appearance of the iconic opening sequence with the multi-colored time vortex that would continue to be used throughout most of the Tom Baker years and in many ways could be said to be the inspiration for the current version as well.What's more, "Time Warrior" also presented viewers of the time with the first pseudo-historical tale in quite a while. That's bound to strike us as a bit odd today since this format, cleverly mixing historical settings with science fiction elements, seems quintessentially "Doctor Who" as nothing else. Typical, possibly even prototypical. And this is a fine example somewhat vaguely reminiscent of the first ( Doctor Who - The Time Meddler (Episode 17)  of 1965), taking place in medieval times and involving an alien arming the locals with technologically advanced weaponry, only in this case in exchange for shelter and materials with which to repair his damaged spacecraft and rejoin the ever ongoing war between the Sontarans and the Rutans. The tense and obviously temporary self-interested relationship between Linx and the robber-baron type Irongron is well depicted. Indeed, the story includes a few nods towards the colonialist repercussions of this kind of exchange, and the early scene where Linx steps out of his ship and plants a Sontaran flag in the soil, claiming the planet and its possessions for his empire right in front of the bewildered inhabitants is simply priceless.And yet it wouldn't do to go reading too far into these sorts of things, for above all this story is an unabashedly lightweight adventure. A meandering one at that, escaping and infiltrating and generally hopping about back and forth from one castle to the other again and again--but in a way that never drags or gets old. A wonderfully crafted script by Robert Holmes continually keeps things fresh and entertaining, mixing humor and any number of classic little moments with lots of thrilling action sequences (by the standards of the day, certainly, and still holding up reasonably well). This one's a real showcase for Jon Pertwee, perhaps one of the more active and athletic actors to play the role of the Doctor, and here we have him sword-fighting and dodging arrows and repeatedly busting moves with his Venusian martial arts and swinging from chandeliers and so on and so forth--never a dull moment. Aye, verily, 'tis classic Doctor Who at its most merry and vigorous. Miss it not! Doctor Who - The Time Meddler (Episode 17)

It's classic doctor who what more could you want?

"The Time Warrior" was the first "Doctor Who" story aired during my lifetime. That means it was made before I was born. It introduces Elisabeth Sladen in the role of Sarah Jane Smith. How wonderfully mind-blowing is it to realize that, 35 years later, Elisabeth Sladen is still playing Sarah Jane Smith? In fact, her "Doctor Who" spinoff series premieres in the U.S. just days after the "Time Warrior" DVD release.What I love most about "Time" is that it's told from the point of view of the bad guys. It's the first time we get to spend more time behind enemy lines than with the Doctor -- and yet the plot never falters. "Warrior" introduces the Sontarans, an alien race also still relevant to the "Who" franchise in 2008. Ostensibly clone warriors, the Sonarans are benefitted by the fact we meet just one: Linx, played in a wonderfully villainous yet comic turn by the late Kevin Lindsay.Irongron (David Daker, mesmerizing, right up to the top but thankfully never over it) is a bottom-tier medieval robber baron. Linx crash-lands and allies himself with Irongron in exchange for shelter to repair his spaceship. Working together, Linx and Irongron cause serious headaches for that neighboring sissy, Earl Edward of Wessex. Irongron, never far from a flagon of wine, delivers about eleven of the niftiest put-downs you'll hear on TV. "That narrow-hipped vixen!", for one. A "long-shanked rascal with a mighty nose", for another. And, who could forget, "By the stars, Bloodaxe, I swear I'll chop him up so fine not even a sparrow will fill its beak at one peck!". Now, if only I could find a way to quote that in real life...Linx and Irongron have terrific chemistry throughout their uneven alliance. Even when one has to kill the other, it's almost by accident. After insulting everyone on screen for three and a half episodes, Linx finally gets philosophical when he realizes his spaceship's departure will destroy his unlikely ally: "By your dawn I shall be 700 million miles from here. Can I be concerned with the fate of primitives?"All this is not to say that Holmes achieved villainy goodness at the expense of the Doctor. Holmes writes Pertwee at perhaps his most Doctorish since "Terror of the Autons". This is the story with the quote about the straight line and the shortest distance between two points. I had forgotten which story that was in. Also another line, which I hadn't remembered, but which makes as good a credo as any for the Doctor: "[I'm serious] about what I do, yes. Not necessarily the way I do it." And is there a funnier scene, ever, than the one where the Doctor and Sarah dress up as friars in order to enter Irongron's castle? A sentry gets the last laugh: "'Tis be hoped the two friars are fleet of foot, or the Church will have two new martyrs 'ere long."The DVD release is sadly a little light on extras. The production notes, written by the usually stodgy Richard Molesworth, are getting funnier, at least. The commentary track is fine; Sladen, producer Barry Letts, and script editor Terrance Dicks are all old hands at keeping the observations fresh. The making-of featurette is fast-paced. For once, the updated CGI effects generated especially for the DVD are a marked improvement on the original. Even the two easter eggs are great: a digitally animated short, and Terrance Dicks ragging on his photo album. By the end, I was sad to put the DVD away, until I realized it's Friday night, and the new season begins tomorrow!

DOCTOR WHO fans who have come to love the Modern Series (from Christopher Eccleston through Jodie Whittaker) will be familiar with the Sotarans and, it is to be hoped, with Sarah Jane Smith. "The Time Warrior" is a first for both, with the added appeal of Jon Pertwee as the Doctor. As a medievalist, I can't say I recommend the serial as an accurate view of life in the Middle Ages, but if you take the blustering warlord as a sort of Monty Pythonesque buffoon, he's a bit easier to tolerate. So just relax and enjoy the escapism, enhanced by the first appearance of an extremely young Sarah Jane Smith -- to say nothing of an unusually tall Sotaran. [Note: This DVD is Region 2, so you'll need a region-free Blu-ray player to play it.] Selah.