Spearhead From Space - 15th July 2013 (classic Doctor Who)

[HyperRealist]

Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space Blu-ray

The debut story of Jon Pertwee has been given the high-definition treatment for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.

Spearhead From Space - Doctor Who's first colour story - is the only adventure from the classic era that can be remastered into true HD say experts because, thanks to industrial action at BBC TV Centre, all four episodes were shot on location on 16mm film rather than being recorded on videotape - the only time this was ever done on the show.

The digital media services team of BBC Studios and Post Production was commissioned by BBC Worldwide to remaster the story, which was first broadcast in January 1970 and also introduced Caroline John as assistant Liz Shaw. The "facelift" has given the story a cinematic finish, and the Blu-ray is now scheduled for release on Monday 15th July 2013.

The original 16mm negatives were scanned and digitised using state-of-the-art equipment, and other work has included repairing damage done to one episode's negative caused by a reaction with chemicals during a printing process some years ago. Dirt has also been removed, grain lessened, joins cleaned up, and picture movement stabilised. The soundtrack, which had previously been remastered, was then added to the final master version.

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2012/12...212072917.html

[Mister Snoops]

Shame its the only one they can do.

[lcsl]

Originally Posted by Mister Snoops

Shame its the only one they can do.

I'm glad it's the only one they can do. I already have all the DVDs, It will save me a fortune buying them all over again.

[FastAndFluid]

Is this really going to be worth buying on Blu-ray?

All the 16mm transfers I've seen so far really haven't looked any better than the DVD versions. Can't help feeling that because this wasn't originally shot on 35mm it wn't be worth purchasing.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by lcsl

I'm glad it's the only one they can do.

Me too.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by FastAndFluid

Is this really going to be worth buying on Blu-ray?

All the 16mm transfers I've seen so far really haven't looked any better than the DVD versions. Can't help feeling that because this wasn't originally shot on 35mm it wn't be worth purchasing.

Pride and Prejudice (BBC) wiped the floor with the DVD. Black Swan and The Wrestler were both shot on 16, and again, the DVDs don't compare. This Who project could look very nice indeed, not 35mm quality but if that's all you want from Blu-ray then there's lots of other stuff out there for you to buy.

[rock, stone]

Yeah, anyone overly concerned with slick image quality probably isn't going to be up for the finale's 40 seconds of Pertwee wrestling limp rubber tentacles crosseyed.

Me? I can't freaking wait.

[Mister Snoops]

Thats a point. I still have all my old "movie editions" on VHS. Good times.

[FastAndFluid]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Pride and Prejudice (BBC) wiped the floor with the DVD. Black Swan and The Wrestler were both shot on 16, and again, the DVDs don't compare. This Who project could look very nice indeed, not 35mm quality but if that's all you want from Blu-ray then there's lots of other stuff out there for you to buy.

I thought "The Wrestler" and "Black Swan" looked bad at the cinema and bad on Blu-ray which is why I said I don't see the point of this, having ascertained that both were shot on 16mm and seen some reviews that have stated a Blu-Ray is a bit pointless when the source material is only 16mm - an opinion which coincides with my experience, but perhaps not with others.

I'll be giving this one a miss.

[Melodious Thunk]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

[...] 40 seconds of Pertwee wrestling limp rubber tentacles crosseyed [...]

Sold!

[malcy30]

They are also producing new exclusive extras for the BD. Given the usual quality of DW extras compared to most studios tat, another reason to double dip.

[joltman]

Has there ever been any word on a Blu-ray release of the movie? That seems to be the only other Doctor Who that would benefit from an HD release.

[drouyn]

Originally Posted by joltman

Has there ever been any word on a Blu-ray release of the movie? That seems to be the only other Doctor Who that would benefit from an HD release.

Apparently the rights issues are quite complicated, and I believe Universal has the negatives, making them difficult to get hold of.

[bgart13]

Do you mean the two Cushing/Amicus movies? If so, yes - bds are coming in 2013 for the 50th anniversary.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by joltman

Has there ever been any word on a Blu-ray release of the movie? That seems to be the only other Doctor Who that would benefit from an HD release.

Originally Posted by bgart13

Do you mean the two Cushing/Amicus movies? If so, yes - bds are coming in 2013 for the 50th anniversary.

He's talking about the 90's Paul McGann tv movie, which was shot on film, but edited on video. In order to do an HD release the Restoration Team has said the film elements would have to be located and reassembled from scratch.

So that is pretty unlikely.

[Brightstar]

Spearhead From Space - Doctor Who's first colour story - is the only adventure from the classic era that can be remastered into true HD say experts because, thanks to industrial action at BBC TV Centre, all four episodes were shot on location on 16mm film rather than being recorded on videotape - the only time this was ever done on the show.

The digital media services team of BBC Studios and Post Production was commissioned by BBC Worldwide to remaster the story, which was first broadcast in January 1970 and also introduced Caroline John as assistant Liz Shaw. The "facelift" has given the story a cinematic finish, and the Blu-ray is now scheduled for release


on Monday 15th July 2013.

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2012/12...212072917.html

[lemonhead118]

Current Cover Art

I am going to order this. It's such a shame they can't remaster any other episodes. As it's Who's 50th Anniversary, maybe they could spend a little money and remaster one episode from Each Doctor. Maybe;

An Unearthly Child
The War Games
Spearhead From Space
Genesis of The Daleks
The Caves of Androzani
The Two Doctors
Survival
The TV Movie
Rose
Blink
The Doctor's Wife

[Yami]

I think I'm right in saying that this is the only pre-2009 Who that can exist in HD as it was shot on film and not on videotape. All the money in the world can't solve that problem!

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Yami

I think I'm right in saying that this is the only pre-2009 Who that can exist in HD as it was shot on film and not on videotape. All the money in the world can't solve that problem!

As said above the McGann TV movie was also made on film but then like Star Trek Next Generation edited on film. Therefore to restore on HD they need the original negatives but the BBC don't have access to them. Was a US co-production and I think made by Universal but screened by Fox (or vica versa), and because of rights disagreements in the US they can't get them. The recent TV Movie Revisitation on DVD was a clean up of the SD video master.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by Yami

I think I'm right in saying that this is the only pre-2009 Who that can exist in HD as it was shot on film and not on videotape. All the money in the world can't solve that problem!

Yeah, the only possible exception would be the 96 tv movie, which was shot on film, but edited in SD. So someone would have to go back to the actual film and recut it and then remake all the special effects. It wouldn't be cheap or easy.

So Spearhead and Cushing it is!