THE SENSORITES came from a period
of DOCTOR WHO where filming had to be very rehearsed and shot in one take due to the expensive cost of videotape back in the
1960s. It did mark a number of firsts for the series as it showed the aliens
(the Sensorites) as very multi-layered characters with the story showing the point of views from both sides. Some Sensorites trusted the doctor and his companions while others wanted to destroy the Doctor and
the others. The six episode story
weaves a story about trust and xenophobia. With
the exception of the reprise at the start of episode six, every reprise was restaged in the filming which lead to some errors
(like the Sensorite's hands not being on the spaceship windows in the reprise at the start of episode two.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentary with actors William Russell
(Ian), Carole Ann Ford (Susan), Joe Greig (Second Sensorite), Martyn Hunley (First Human),
and Giles Phibbs (Second Human), director Frank Cox (director of the last two episodes of the serial), designer Raymond
Cusick, make-up designer Sonia Markham, moderated by Toby Hadoke
Production Notes is an optional subtitle
option (to be played with the story itself) that goes over the development and production of the story.
LOOKING FOR PETER follows the presenter
Toby Hadoke and Doctor Who researcher Richard Bignell uncovering the history
of the story's writer Peter R. Newman.
VISION ON
has the vision mixer explain what the job of vision mixing is about while imparting stories about the production of DOCTOR
WHO in the early days.
SECRET VOICES OF THE SENSE-SPHERE uncovers
the secret of the extra voice heard (barely) during one scene in episode six.
Photo Gallery show several black and white
photos taken during the production, but the color photos taken are noticeably absent from the gallery (the Production Notes
mention some color photos were taken).
PDF Materials (accessible via a DVD-ROM,
DVD-R, or Blu-ray drive on any computer)- Radio Times Listings and original design drawings
FINAL ANALYSIS: Even though the tale is in black and white, THE SENSORITES is a multi-layered tale about trust
and xenophobia. A good follow up from the previous story, THE KEYS
TO MARINUS.
This DVD Review is (C)2-20-2012 David Blackwell
and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
