An Adventure in Space and Time

source: An Adventure in Space and Time

Moviecut—An Adventure in Space and Time

While I WAS familiar with the David Tennant version of DR. WHO, I wasn't an avid viewer (primarily, I think, because the series simply wasn't being shown on any of the lousy pay television systems to which I'd subscribed over the years). I DID, however, come across the original series at the local library and I checked it out out of curiosity. Like DARK SHADOWS (the original black and white series), DR. WHO (the William Hartnell version) was a low budget but endlessly imaginative affair. For the record, it was Hartnell who made the show worth watching and justifiably his legacy lives on. The final scene, with Hartnell seeing the then-latest reincarnation of The Doctor- Matt Smith- was powerfully poignant- as was the scene where Hartnell echoed David Tennant's last line before his own reincarnation. It's too bad we have nothing similar being done to commemorate the enduring charm of the American series DARK SHADOWS...

I've watched all the Doctor who anniversary specials now: Day of the Doctor, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, and just now An Adventure in Space Time. There's a moment at the end of An Adventure in Space Time, where they're filming Hartnell's departure, that sums up the entirety of Doctor Who's legacy, I think. Hartnell begins to flip switches on the console, and as he looks up, he sees Matt Smith's Doctor standing at the console with him. Smith smiles at Hartnell, and Hartnell smiles back. In that moment, you see the Doctor's legacy, and it's a beautiful moment. The moment only lasts about 45 seconds, and it moved me to tears. It was unexpected, and it was right, and it was perfect. I think anyone wishing to call themselves a "true" Whovian should see this Special. The production does an amazing job of showing you how hard it was to get everything going, and how much the cast and crew had to do to keep make the show what it was. It's funny to take a step back, as you're watching, and remember that these are all real people you're getting attached to. As you watch bits of the Who family slowly move on. As you watch Hartnell truly become the Doctor, playing with little kids who only see him at such. As you watch Hartnell find out he'll no longer be playing the Doctor. (I don't think I'll ever be able to watch Tennant's farewell the same way again, and I wonder if it wasn't an intentional nod to Hartnell.) The film closes out with what I think most fans would agree is still the most moving and best written speech of the entire series: "One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine."

As part of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, along with the various documentaries, clips shows, repeats of episodes, and of course the excellent anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor, there was also this TV made film that told the story of how it all started, from writer Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen). Basically, set in 1963, Canadian producer Sydney Newman (Brian Cox) is the head of the BBC TV drama department and wants to fill the Saturday night tea team slot with a new show that will appeal to both the youth generation and the whole family, and he has in science-fiction with some kind of leading figure of hero taking companions on journeys and adventures through space and time, but with no "bug-eyed monsters". He exchanges his idea with inexperienced young producer Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine), who he chooses to create this show, along with young Indian director Waris Hussein (Sacha Dhawan), and with the writers they scan through the various actors that they are interested in casting as the hero, The Doctor. Grouchy but reliable character actor William Hartnell (Harry Potter's David Bradley) is the man chosen to play The Doctor, and they start filming inside the made up set, the inside of the police phone box, this TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), bigger on the inside than on the outside, and the first adventure, An Unearthly Child, sees the characters going to the stone age. There are technical problems and a low budget to contend with, and the recent assassination of President John F. Kennedy threatens the ratings, but Doctor Who is born to good ratings, but ignoring the "no bug-eyed monsters" warning, the creation of the mutant robotic like creatures, the Daleks, with their iconic catchphrase "Exterminate!", wins the show 10 million viewers, Newman is very happy and the show continues its success. Hartnell enjoys the success he has achieved, immerses and enjoys himself playing The Doctor, and is happy bringing joy to his granddaughter and the various children in Britain, but slowly he shows signs of illness as he forgets his lines and requires reshooting, he asks Newman for less working days in order to recover, but he and the producers have already talked, the show will continue, but he will no longer play The Doctor. The decision is made that The Doctor, being an alien, will regenerate with a new face, and the new younger actor Patrick Troughton (Reece Shearsmith) will replace Hartnell, though reluctant to give up the part, and having been attached to Doctor Who for three years, he wishes Troughton good luck, and the show does indeed continue on, with another nine actors playing The Doctor over fifty years. Also starring Lesley Manville as Heather Hartnell - William's wife, Cara Jenkins as Judith 'Jessica' Carney - Hartnell's granddaughter, Jamie Glover as William Russell (who played Ian Chesterton), Jemma Powell as Jacqueline Hill (who played Barbara Wright), Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford (who played Susan Foreman), Nicholas Briggs as Peter Hawkins (who voiced the Daleks and Cybermen), Mark Eden as BBC1 Controller Donald Baverstock, and a cameo by Matt Smith as the current Doctor. I saw the photograph of Bradley in the leading role before this special was broadcast, and I was very impressed with how spot on he looked to the first actor of The Doctor, he was very convincing as Hartnell, the other stars playing the people behind the creation of the show and elsewhere was very good too, the story is certainly an interesting one, everything about this was filled with nostalgia and authenticity, it certainly makes you appreciate where Doctor Who started and where it is today because of the performance of William Hartnell and the creators behind the show, there is also an appropriate tribute to Hartnell from the various people who knew him and those who enjoyed his time of The Doctor, this is a really enjoyable docudrama. Very good!

The rather remarkable story of the origins of Doctor Who, a BBC television iconic show that almost didn't make it. It follows primarily William Hartnell (the First Doctor), on the last legs of his career, at his most disgruntled, jaded, and frustrated, as his twilight glimmers for a few bright years (during this grueling schedule (or shedule) he battled memorizing difficult scientific jargon about space and time, as well as, dealing with younger cast members whose ways were a bit bothersome to him). He learned how to adapt to the nature of a science fiction show, and took the part seriously, particularly the set of the TARDIS (how it is supposed to function and how his character operates the controls). Also an important figure in Doctor Who's success is the female producer, Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine), for how she fought tooth and nail with the men in the BBC studios world and its presentation of a different kind of sci-fi show. Brian Cox, as Sydney Newman, Verity's boss (the man who hired her despite obvious tensions for a woman in a man's world at that time in television) is an absolute hoot, getting it from both sides as Doctor Who goes through budget/production problems, wondering if he made the right decision with his hire while the cost to fund this show has the studio bosses ill at ease. Verity's partner, Waris (Sacha Dhawan), is also a major part of the show's initial success, helping her guide the show through some rough patches (the studio actually loses power and rain splashes into the TARDIS set!!!). David Bradley looks exactly like Hartnell! It's uncanny! He brings an anguish and melancholy to this man, and when Sydney tells Hartnell his time as the Doctor Who is over, it is positively gutwrenching. Good work at establishing time and place during the 60s. The love and affection for this show is alive and well as you watch An Adventure in Space and Time. Particularly thrilling is seeing the formation of the beginnings of the Daleks. I also loved seeing how the TARDIS' creation was kind of half-assed when an art director was tired of Verity hounding him on giving her a design. Just seeing the BBC studio behind the scenes—those inner workings—was cool. If you are a Doctor Who fan, don't miss this. It will probably break your heart—seeing an older actor losing his ability to recite his lines and perform when he longs to continue and is besought by his aging and burgeoning illness can be difficult. Hartnell's mixture of acceptance in how his character and show are becoming a phenomenon, along with his granddaughter's joy of her "sampa" being such a star, and the demands of how Doctor Who wears him out, are emphasized.

Watched this last night and although I really wanted to watch it, I had no idea it would be this good!!! It is mesmerising from start to finish. The cast is just superb and although everyone is giving special mention to David Bradley, I thought it was Jessica Raine who stole the show as Verity Lambert. Some amazing recreations of sets, props and characters from the first three series of Doctor Who means that the film makers obviously have a real passion for the show and the making of this film. It is the ending though that is extremely sad and without giving away spoilers, a perfect cameo at the end just makes it even more special. Even if you are not into Doctor Who you should really enjoy this. I cant believe how much I enjoyed this and I have ordered the DVD already. By the way, the scene with the Cyberman with the fag on is just hilarious :) :) :) Without a doubt the best television I have seen all year. 10/10!!!!

One thing the BBC always does extremely well is period drama. In this case, despite the fact you know how it ends, you are drawn into the story of William Hartnell's time as the first Doctor and your heart breaks with his when he is told he is being replaced. David Bradley give an outstanding performance as William Hartnell, an excellent character actor who sees his career in decline to the point he is being asked to star in a 'kiddie' show that is going to make him immortal. Bradley plays Hartnell with all his faults, but he also makes you feel sympathetic towards him. I believe this movie will give Dr. Who fans a new appreciation for Hartnell and his contributions to the series beyond being the First Doctor who seemed to be forever flubbing his lines. I would have given this 10 stars, but the Matt Smith cameo at the end made me sigh and ask "Why did they do that?"

Earlier this year, on the gentle prodding of IMDb user Theo Robertson, I decided that I would go back and watch Doctor Who from the beginning. This was interested to me since I can just about remember the image of Davison as the Doctor but really the actual moments I remember are from the era of McCoy and Baker (an era that brought the show to an end for many years); so watching the originals was interesting to me if for no other reason than I had never seen them. The timing was good because I was glad to have made that connection before all the 50th anniversary stuff kicked off. All through the fuss and hype, I did feel like we were celebrating where the show was right now, not its roots and as a result I was really glad of this film for focusing on the origins of the show. As Theo will probably tell you better than I, the facts are dusted up in the sake of a good story and the film moves better for it. I disagree with Theo where he says this film presented it as some sort of great cultural moment – I thought the film did a good job of showing how throwaway it was, how little interest there was and how it is more or less a matter of good fortune that the characters caught the public imagination and made an impression that has endured for decades. The story is presented in an affectionate manner, particularly towards Hartnell, who is probably given a bit too much nostalgic cheer for what he deserves, but he is given his dues and is very well played by Bradley. The tone of the show is affectionate and humorous; we are not spared the fluffed lines and the set malfunctions and yet these are given over to part of the charm. The supporting cast play up their outsider status in a pleasing way, although as Theo says, I'm not sure if Cox was told that his role was to inject energy and color into the film, but his performance is so overblown as to be pure caricature. Still though, it all works really well and with so much hype and fanfare for the current show, it was so nice to have something looking back with such gentle affection – I didn't even mind the appearance of Matt Smith as I thought that was a nice moment and more a nod to the origins than it was to the present.

If I had to sum this up in one word, I would: 'Beautiful". "One day, I shall come back..." I live in Australia, and this special was screened on ABC1 at 8:50PM on Sunday November 24, immediately after an encore screening of "The Day of the Doctor". I only got to see the first fifteen minutes or so before being told to go to bed, however I was recording it. When I watched most of it the next night, it changed everything. It was only a few days ago that I watched the special in full for the first time. (It was the third time I'd sen it, however the first in one full sitting). I was home alone, so nobody got to see me crying. That's what happened. The cast and crew of "An Adventure In Space And Time" have created a drama filled with action, emotion and, importantly, history. I congratulate writer Mark Gatiss for his success with the wonderful script. I feel he captures the essence of all seen in the programme as they were in 1963 perfectly. Of course it is an ultimate dream, I Definitely would do something like this, and he has made a work of equisite art of it. Mr Gatiss, your love letter to "Doctor Who" is truly 'fantastic!'. The actors cast as roles are evidently well-thought of. I particularly liked Jesscia Raine's portrayal of producer Verity Lambert, David Bradley's performance as the original Who, William Hartnell; and also Sacha Dhawan's living performance as first director Waris Hussein. All capture what it must have been like during the pioneering days of the series. The portrayal of William Hartell by David Bradley is what made me cry. Hartnell had his hearts broken at least twice, and to see the man who began it all so sad, it nearly broke mine. I also liked the cameo roles from two original companions: actors William Russell and Carole Ann Ford, as the Guard and the Mother, Joyce respectively. Also, the surprise of seeing Matt Smith opposite the First Doctor is a highlight, showcasing that, although no one knew it at the time, the show would reach a golden 50-year landmark. Who'd have thought? These roles added to the spirit, the magnificence on how "Doctor Who" has touched the lives of millions of people. In all, this docudrama fittingly celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the world's longest-running Sci-Fi series. It's emotional, historical, educational, and inspiring. It made me cry, and I haven't done that since David Tennant left in "The End of Time: Part Two". The cast and crew definitely should go ahead and recreate classic/missing Doctor Who stories. Why not? They've got the cast, the production values, the spirit. Congratulations to all involved in the making of this special. It was definitely a highlight of 2013, the year of all time. A fitting way to celebrate the best television show on the planet, or indeed the universe. 11/10