Doctor Who: The Time Meddler (the William Hartnell years 1963-66)
by Douglas Camfield
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Maureen O'Brien, Peter Butterworth, Peter Purves, William HartnellDirector: Douglas Camfield
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-08-05
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Video / Warner Bros.
DVD Reviews of Doctor Who: The Time Meddler (the William Hartnell years 1963-66)
DVD Review: Classic Hartnell
Summary: 3 Stars
While this is not the best of the Hartnell years, it stands the test of "time" very well (pun fully intended). One of the "let's revisit history" storylines, this introduces the first glimpse of another time-lord, and suggests the Doctor is part of a race instead of merely being a quirky individual. The character of the monk is quite interesting and rather funny, and the Doctor's disdain for his violation of the "prime directive" (to borrow from Trek) is interesting considering the directions the series would take in later years. Had this avenue been explored, the show might very well have turned out more like Quantum Leap, with the Doctor running around trying to correct mistakes throughout history. In sum: a worthy episode, but not as exciting as many others, nor as lavish in scope or atmosphere. Most of the supporting roles are rather lack-luster. Of interest mainly to those who are amassing a Hartnell years collection.DVD Review: "Step 8: Meet King Harold"
Summary: 3 Stars
When Doctor Who began in 1963, the types of stories it told could be roughly categorized into one of two classifications. There were the science-fiction stories in which the TARDIS crew would visit the future or an alien world and have some sort of adventure there. Then there were the purely historical stories -- adventures where the crew would become separated from their ship, be accused of murder, or something along those lines. These stories would allow children to learn miniature history lessons (one of the original purposes of the show) by showing the regular characters interacting with historical figures.
The important distinction between the two types was that the historical stories contained no science fiction concepts. The villains were regular humans, not evil alien monsters. Fights took place using swords or pistols, not death-rays or blasters.
THE TIME MEDDLER changed all this by combining the science fiction with the historical (pseudo-historicals as they became known in fan nomenclature). Looking back, it's intriguing to see how the production team played on viewer expectations by opening with an adventure set in the 11th century and only slowly dropping clues that a subversion of this story-type is unfolding: a modern wristwatch is found in the woods; a monastery has a phonograph (which apparently broadcasts the "Chant" album across the countryside).
The story is relatively straightforward. Landing in England in 1066, the TARDIS crew are puzzled by the aforementioned anachronistic clues. The one thing they have in common is a monk who has recently appeared in a previously abandoned monastery. This character is commonly known in fan circles as the Meddling Monk, who would become a semi-recurring character in one later television serial and a few spin off media appearances. (Watching this story for the first time in a decade or so, I was stunned by Peter Butterworth's resemblance to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, complete with hoodie.)
Once the Meddling Monk's scheme is discovered, the Doctor, Steven and Vicki must stop him to prevent the entirety of Western Europe's history from being completely corrupted. The Monk's plan never feels particularly concrete and so there isn't a lot of drama to be pulled from what is a relatively high concept in this era of the show's history. The character is also mostly comic relief which makes for fun viewing, but is an odd decision for the serial's only real villain.
THE TIME MEDDLER contains a neat science fiction concept, but it isn't a story that really stands up to multiple viewings (in 1965, it wasn't meant to be seen more than a single time). Once the secret and the plot are known, follow-up viewings make the serial seem slow to get to the point. What's left are the performances from the actors and they do in fact just manage to keep the story afloat. William Hartnell and Peter Butterworth have a great rapport which makes it a pity that Hartnell is absent for all of the second episode. I particularly enjoyed Alethea Charlton who has a much more subtle character to play than that of the cave-woman which she portrayed in AN UNEARTHLY CHILD.
Still, the script is probably cleverer than it appears at first glance. Take, for example, the fact that at the beginning of the story, Steven (as a brand new traveler on the TARDIS) is given the standard information dump about what kind of adventures he can expect and how the TARDIS works. This seems like just the usual material, but for once it actually comes in handy in episodes three and four once the Monk's true nature is revealed.
This DVD release (as usual) contains a much cleaned up and superior picture compared to the old movie-format PBS version that had been my only experience of this serial. There's a short extra which briefly explores how and where much of the digital scrubbing took place.
The text commentary is informative but seemed even more dry than usual. If you ever find yourself wondering the exact time of day the actors took their lunch and dinner breaks on the recording days of this serial, then this is the extra for you.
The audio commentary track is crowded in this one: producer Verity Lambert (who unfortunately passed away only months after she recorded this track), actor Peter Purves, story editor Donald Tosh, designer Barry Newbery and commentary moderator Clayton Hickman. As with other moderated commentary tracks, the conversation very often is not focused onto the on-screen action, but instead in loose discussions. It's rather refreshing to hear Peter Purves freely admit that he recalls almost nothing specific about this serial. The track really only gets lively during a digression where Verity Lambert starts dishing the dirt on which male members of the BBC production staff couldn't stand working for a woman.
THE TIME MEDDLER is a decent little story, and, if slow at times, it manages to not become tedious. The twist is a little long in coming, but there's other stuff to appreciate along the way. And who hasn't wanted to see someone throw their breakfast on Bill Belichick?
DVD Review: A must for Hartnell fans
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife got me this for my birthday, and I couldn't be happier! Prior to this, I had only been exposed to Doctors 4 through 10. After this, I was able to get story arcs from Troughton, Pertwee, and T. Baker. I have to say that Hartnell and Troughton are DEFINITELY my 2 favorite Doctors. If for no other reason than Hartnell explaining the layout of the T.A.R.D.I.S., you simply HAVE to watch this.DVD Review: Timeless
Summary: 4 Stars
For fans of Doctor Who, this is an excellent view into the Timelords world. This is the first time a fellow timelord shows up and his TARDIS really works. It starts out slow, but once the action starts, it's great. DVD Review: Dr. Who Time Meddler
Summary: 4 Stars
Doctor Who - The Time Meddler (Episode 17)
It was a vintage Dr. Who. Well acted. The sets are a little hokey, but the story is good. This must have been one the early stories, as the series started as a teaching (History) tool.
Description of Doctor Who: The Time Meddler (the William Hartnell years 1963-66)
The TARDIS seems emptier without Barbara and Ian - at least until the Doctor and Vicki discover that the astronaut Steven stowed away before they left Mechanus. Steven's skepticism toward time travel pushes the Doctor to confront him with living proof. Shortly after landing on a beach in England, they discover a Viking helmet, but Steve remains unconvinced. Instructing Steve and Vicki to wait with the TARDIS, the Doctor seeks further proof. Heedless of the Doctor's warning, Steven persuades Vicki to explore the cliffs above the beach, where they find an abandoned wristwatch. Meanwhile, the Doctor investigates a ruined monastery, where he encounters an electric toaster, a gramophone playing ecclesiastic chants, and a monk who traps him in an alcove. Eventually, the Doctor realizes that the famous Battle of Hastings is only a few weeks away. That should provide ample proof for Steven, but who is this mysterious monk, and what is his interest in the events of 1066?One of the most popular adventures from the William Hartnell era of Doctor Who, The Time Meddler pits the Time Lord against Carry On star Peter Butterworth in an entertaining, well-written adventure. Set in England back in 1066, on the eve of the Battle of Hastings, The Time Meddler sees the Doctor drawn to a monastery where a single monk resides. So how come the singing of the monks can be heard from far away? And what's the reasoning behind the modern utensils he discovers? All paths lead to the aforementioned Butterworth, whose character's backstory adds a nice twist to the story. The Time Meddler throws in the backstory of Jamie discovering the world of time travel for the first time, but it's the sparring between Hartnell and Butterworth that provides the sparks. And while it's not a perfect adventure, The Time Meddler is very entertaining, and a nice slice of classic Doctor Who. Poignantly, the late Verity Lambert joins an intelligent, interesting commentary track in the highlight of the disc's extras. The Time Meddler was the last Doctor Who story she produced, and her contribution to the supplementary features package is both interesting and a fitting tribute to her work. --Simon Brew
General DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Full-Screen Edition)Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Quantum-of-Solace-Blu-ray-B001PPLIFU-X.jpg)
Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray]MGM HOME VIDEO (UNDER FOX); Release date: 2009-03-24; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Lost: The Complete Fifth SeasonRelease date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $36.99
Price in other shops:
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-10-20; DVD
Best price: $12.25
Price in other shops:
Terminator Salvation (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-01; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/G-I-Joe-The-Rise-of-Cobra-Two-Disc-Edition-Digital-Copy-Blu-ray-B002NXSRX4-X.jpg)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $18.90
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Two-Disc Limited Special Edition + Digital Copy)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo-Digital-Copy-BD-Live-Blu-ray-B000ZELISO-X.jpg)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray]Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-17; DVD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Doctor Who: The Time Warrior (Story 70)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-01; DVD
Best price: $12.59
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The Mind Robber (Story 45)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $13.20
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who - The AztecsWarner Brothers; Release date: 2003-03-04; DVD
Best price: $8.86
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who - Lost in Time Collection of Rare Episodes - The William Hartnell Years and the Patrick Troughton YearsWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-11-02; DVD
Best price: $21.26
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (Story 10)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2003-10-07; DVD
Best price: $17.49
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen (Story 37)WARNER HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2002-08-06; DVD
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The Rescue / The Romans (Stories 11 & 12)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-07-07; DVD
Best price: $25.33
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who - The Beginning CollectionWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-03-28; DVD
Best price: $21.26
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The Web Planet (Story 13)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-09-05; DVD
Best price: $13.08
Price in other shops:
Doctor Who: The War Machines (Story 27)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-01-06; DVD
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops: