Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space - Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray

Wow! I've seen 'Spearhead From Space' a few times - on Video, DVD and TV - and I can honestly say that the blu-ray version really brings this story to life. Suddenly those murky, grainy exteriors are clear and sharp. The grey skies of older versions are sunny and bright blue, and the forest in which the TARDIS crashlands is full of green shades, depth and texture. The plastics factory, the Auton Invasion of Ealing High Street, the hospital scenes and the UNIT HQ interiors all look and sound as good as new. Probably better, in fact, since household televisions in 1970 were far inferior to the current generation of 21st Century high definition multimedia goggleboxes.The story itself has always been one of my favourites. A brand new alien threat with plans already far advanced by the time our hero arrives and comes to his senses, UNIT taking control under the leadership of the constantly hard-pressed Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart and the wonderful Caroline John giving everything as new companion Liz Shaw. But it is Jon Pertwee who dominates every scene he appears in; whether childishly clutching his shoes in a hospital bed, emerging sheepishly from a smoking, broken TARDIS after failing to make a quick exit from the confines of planet Earth, or gurning wildly with a rubber tentacle wrapped around his neck at the story's climax. Pertwee totally inhabits the character of the Doctor from the off, and although at the time it must have been strange for a loyal audience to accept this tall, grey-haired, gravel-voiced star of radio and film as the latest incarnation of the much-loved Time Lord, it is absolutely wonderful to view this story in retrospect as the first adventure of a figure who would come to define the programme and the character of the Doctor for a generation.And, of course, it was the first Doctor Who story shot entirely on colour film. Woo-hoo!So it's fitting that Spearhead is able to benefit from the HD treatment. Apparently it's unlikely that any other story of this era will ever be afforded this luxury; so if it only has to be one 3rd Doctor adventure that gets the HD Upgrade, then why not this one. If you've never seen Spearhead before then I envy you, you're in for a real treat.

This is Jon Pertwee's debut as the Doctor.We first see him stumbling around out of the TARDIS (seriously more derelict looking than it does now!) and he falls to the ground. Subsequently he is taken to hospital where the medical profession is confused over the fact that he has two hearts. And the DNA structure is different to the Human, yet he does look human. The Brigadier shows up to identify him - only to be confounded by the fact that he does not look like Patrick Troughton anymore.Meanwhile Liz Shaw is sent to UNIT to help the Brigadier. She and the Doctor immediately hit it off and she even steals the TARDIS key from the Brig's office so the Doctor can get proper equipment to help with a problem. The problem being that important beaurocrats, politicians and soldiers are going missing.At the same time Madame Tussauds holds a new exhibition ... of the very people that have gone missing.Shall not go any further as it shall spoil the story, but Jon immediately presents the Doctor as a theatrical Edwardian type of figure but his extraordinary eyes and wonderful voice convinces and is a worthy successor to the also wonderful Troughton. The wonderful thing about Pertwee's Doctor is that for a time he is banned from travelling round the universe and is stuck on Earth - so we really get to see the warm relationship between him and the Brigadier which has lasted ALL throughtout since even up to now where the Doctor is told of his death.This story is also a first for being the very first Doctor Who in colour. The Auton's are scary as they also are in Rose, I shall never look at shop dummies the same way again ... wondering ... just a little ... are they really alien beings biding their time? The scariest Autons of all are the children.I give this story five stars ... just for the fact that all three leads were great and you can see the closeness.Also it is heartbreaking to watch when you consider that now, all three leads are dead.This is as close to immortality as we can get today.A must for all Whovians.

This episode of the Doctor had me laughing the strike jokes. It's a must have for any Who fan!

The quality of the Remastered copy is awesome. Does not look at all as a show that is almost 50 years old!

I only wish it was possible to restore all the classic Doctor Who episodes to Blu-ray. The BBC could have done more clean-up, like I'm sure they could have clean-up the intro sequence digitally. But the goal was not to replace original content, but rather simply remaster it to have as good of quality as possible. I would call this a successful remastering.

Jon Pertwee is my doctor (and no im not 80) and i was really pleased to get this rare Pertwee bluray for a great price. It took awhile to arrive, but was well worth the wait.

Pour tout les fans de doctor who, n'hésitez pas.Pas de sous titre français mais facile a comprendre avec les sous titres en avec un niveau classique en anglais :)