Doctor Who - Planet of Giants [DVD] [1964]

I used to think this story was a bit daft, I was very reluctant to purchase it on DVD after seeing the story on UKGold so many years ago, but with the extras explaining about episodes 3 & 4 being edited to make one episode and now Episode 3 is re-edited with some nice animation and new sound track to recreate Episodes 3 & 4. This means we get to see a new episode of William Hartell that never existed, exiting stuff, the story can now be told how it should have been shown.Wow I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the hard work Ian Levine has put in to recreating this story, it now makes sense and is very enjoyable, listen to the story and enjoy the way they have put it all together and you too will enjoy Planet of Giants like never before

Everything is quiet in the garden - which is hardly surprising since it has all been killed! Restored to an amazing standard, this is one of those 'makes you think' stories from Doctor Who's distant past. After the TARDIS doors open in flight, the crew are reduced to just one inch tall. The rest of the plot could really stand on its own without this extra element, but it does give the special effects department something to do. The edited episodes are cleverly restored, although I'm sure that some cat lovers will be dismayed at a couple of the animated scenes!All in all, a good package with some useful extras. If you have never seen early Doctor Who, this isn't one of the most immediately exciting stories, but it has a strangely claustrophobic atmosphere and as I wrote above, it does make you think!

Before we had land of the giants from american television producers we have a doctor who classic Planet of the Giants where Ian and Barbara land back in 1963 but everything is not what it seems as they are now tiny people having to stay alive against giant ants etc. There is on 2 episodes of the original transmission seen on tv but once again thanks to Ian Chesterton and Carole Anne Ford with a couple of voice actors recreate the audio so that animators can translate what we see on screen.

Was this one of the last HARTNELL's to conclude the VHS range. I am quite fond of this story. It's well acted and the effects hold up pretty well and the three part format works a treat.The extra interview features are good even if they are rehashed from "The Story of Doctor Who". On screen info, trailers, pdqs are all there too - check.Now I don't object to DVD alternate versions. In fact, I look forward to them. I think THE INVASION is great, I like THE ARK IN SPACE's new (for the rime) CGI (They should revamp this again for a SPECIAL EDITION. Loved the tweaks to DALEK INVASION OF EARTH and can sit through ENLIGHTENMENT and PLANET OF FIRE's not wholly successful reinterpretations. I am also a fan of the unofficial reconstructions by LOOSE CANNON (Where's Web of Fear guys??)But I just didn't like the reconstruction here. Perhaps it's because existing footage has been overdubbed, Perhaps it's because with all due respect William Russell and Carole Ann Ford now sound a lot older than their onscreen counterparts. Perhaps it's because I believe Ian Levine thinks he is far more important to the WHO universe than he actually is. In any instant it was too wildly obvious this was disjointed. I was hoping it was going to be so good and it's a brave challenge to commit to but I'd rather hear a BIG FINISH reconstruction of the story as 4 parts from a brand new (consistant) cast. I would still listen to this with Carole and William but sans Mr Levine's involvement.UPDATE - POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT. The impression I may have given that I do not like this story is misunderstood. I am very fond of this tale and where some have critisized the "B" story of the GIANTS (I know they are normal sized and our heroes have shrunk)having little relevence to the main characters' story, I like that the two stories run concurrent yet reamin seperate for the most part crossing over slightly when Barbara is poisoned and exploding the can. You could argue that they set up the telephone for the villians to be discovered but I think the telephone operator "Miss Marple'd" this herself.EXTRAS - I have taken another look at the reconstructed episodes 3 & 4 and although I was looking forward to seeing the interpretation and although I DO appreciate the work that has gone into this, I honestly find it jarring. I'm not even talking about the cgi inserts or reusing scenes and close ups. I'm afraid it's the dubbing that spoils it (FOR ME) I'll even concede that I have settled into accepting William Russell and Carole Ann Ford's new work and to some extent I like the interpretation of William Hartnell. I'm not however, fond of the characterisation of the "GIANTS"/Normal sized people.Definately one of my top WHO dvd's

Intended to be a four part serial way back for the second season of the original show, the Planet of Giants really stands out for the whole cast, crew and the design departments. Set amongst intrigue and spy drama, the Tardis crew have been miniaturised, thus must escape danger. Well performed by the regular cast and invited cast, pure drama was the driving force of most of the BBC's output during the sixties.A must buy for any Who fan, even a televisual drama fan.

A good attempt at making everyone look smaller than they really are considering when it was made and on a small budget worked very well william hartnell excelled in his own performance as did all the regulars and supporting actors good story line delightful to be able to see it for the first time all in all good for all fans of the programme .

Great dvd remastered picture. Some good extras including a recon of how the story would have looked with the extra episode. Shown in three episodes when first on tv. It was going to be a four episodes at the time but episodes 3 & 4 were edited together. Now for the first time we can watch how episodes 3 & 4 would have looked. Excellent always good to have the first tardis line up to watch.

If you want to get into Willaim Hartnel this is a good place to start. The VHS tape you are looking at is a PAL 1 U.K. VHS tape. You will not be able to play it in North America.One of the best Willam Heartnell stories. And the price of the NTSC DVD has dropped from $300 to 27.

This one is probably for Wholigans only. It's rendered in black-and-white and if you're not into the history of Doctor Who, this story will leave you scratching your head. The story stars William Hartnell, the first Doctor (yes, Tom Baker was number FOUR, which is likely who you saw in 1970s America although there were a few earlier Doctor Who re-runs.)Here we have a murder mystery. The Tardis crew shows up, thinking that the world has gotten BIGGER but the fact is, (one of them figures out), they have gotten *smaller*. A really nasty pesticide is about to be placed on the market and one of the participants of the project raises a fuss. Well he gets knocked off... as in snuffed with a pistol. Hartnell and company want to alert the authorities about both the poisonous substance and the murder but they have some close calls themselves, as you might suspect: giant cat, giant wasp, and so on.It's a fun time, well played and nicely directed. Yes the props are always a bit shaky in Classic Doctor Who but therein lies much of the attraction. If you are a fan, definitely grab this one. If you just want to check out some Classic Doctor Who and wish for a terrific episode then view "The Brain of Morbius" starring Tom Baker as The Doctor. If you do enjoy black-and-white nostalgia then "The War Games" starring Patrick Troughton is also superb (10 episodes!).Highly recommended for Classic Doctor Who crazy people like me.

Planet of Giants is one of William Hartnell's best performances as the doctor. When the doors open in mid-flight the members of our group shrink to miniscule size. Then they land in 1966, where they want to be, but at the wrong size. Once they discover they are on earth, and everything around them is a danger, they find that they must cope with a murderer of gigantic proportions. They can't phone the police as their voices sound indistinct due to their size. Furthermore, they have a poison that is killing everything that is living around them. To make matters worse all you have to do is come in contact with the poison for it to kill, and Barbara has gotten some on her hands. With a murderer running around, and everything a threat they get separated and must get back together as well as get back to the Tardis before time runs out. This is a good story that could have been better had it been longer. I felt that a 4th chapter would have been perfect, the story felt rushed. I know from the other reviewers that they might disagree. Either way, go out buy it, you will be glad you did.Ralph J. Fitcher

I recommend this to anyone that loves Doctor Who and is a fan of the first Doctor! I thought the special effects in this episode were ahead of it's time for the 1960's!!

"Planet of Giants" ist eine der Folgen des ersten Doktors, die einem in Erinnerung bleibt. Was anfängt wie "Liebling ich habe die Kinder geschrumpft" wandelt sich im Lauf der Story zu einem Wirtschaftsthriller, der wiederum zu einem Rennen gegen die Zeit wird.Auch wenn die Rekonstruktion der Folgen 3 und 4, die vor der Ausstrahlung im Fernsehen zu nur einer einzelnen Folge 3 zusammengestrichen wurden, gewöhnungsbedürftig ist, wird sie sicher den Geschmack mancher Fans treffen. Das übrige Bonusmaterial mit den gewohnten Interviews ist wie immer klasse.Wer nur die besten Folgen des ersten Doktors sammeln will, sollte hier zuschlagen.