Hand of Fear DVD Confirmed

[Dominic Smith]

From the BBC website:

Classic series adventure gets DVD release.

BBC DVD is releasing another classic Doctor Who adventure - 1976's The Hand of Fear.

Starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, this four-part adventure also stars Elisabeth Sladen as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith. Elisabeth was recently seen back in the new series of Doctor Who fighting off the Krillitanes in the episode School Reunion.

When the Doctor and Sarah Jane are caught up in an explosion in a quarry in present-day England, Sarah is rushed to hospital, clutching what appears to be a stone hand. But when the hand possesses Sarah's mind, a chain reaction begins, resulting in a confrontation on the frozen planet of Kastria and a heartbreaking decision for the Doctor...

This single-disc DVD (currently scheduled for release on 31 July, although this date is subject to change) boasts some impressive special features:


Commentary by Tom Baker (the Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Judith Paris (Eldrad), Bob Baker (Co-writer), Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer).
Changing Times: A 50-minute documentary charting the special relationship between the Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane Smith.
Swap Shop: A very rare clip of Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen's appearance on the first ever edition of Noel Edmonds' Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, shown in October 1976.
PDFs of the 1977 Doctor Who Annual and the Radio Times listings for The Hand of Fear.
Photo gallery, continuity announcements, information text subtitles and an Easter Egg.

[The Thinker]

'Hand of Fear' on DVD, I found out on the BBC website. Is it good? I ask because I haven't seen it you see (except for clips).

[Dominic Smith]

Here's the cover

[The Thinker]

Nice! Where did you get it from?

[Dominic Smith]

johnlumicdavros said:

Nice! Where did you get it from?

Outpost Gallifrey news page (www.gallifreyone.com)

[Ice Warrior]

I think the cover is looking pretty good!

[davisonera]

Er, not exactly my favourite.

[Dominic Smith]

davisonera said:

Er, not exactly my favourite.

I know what you mean, it just seems a bit too simplified for me; the Doctor looks too isolated but apart from that it doesn't look to bad

[The Thinker]

Not the best, but not the worst either.

[davisonera]

To dominicsmith: I was talking about the story.

[Dominic Smith]

davisonera said:

To dominicsmith: I was talking about the story.

sorry

I quite like it actually

[davisonera]

Well I just think the whole stone hand thing is a bit silly. The leaving scene is great tho.

[matthewsee]

The DVD notes for Part 2 is something I like to comment on. It mentioned Bob Baker and Dave Martin having written The Three Doctors. The Three Doctors was mentioned because script editor Robert Holmes vetoed aliens called Omegans being in the original, completely different and unmade version of Hand of Fear since there was a character called Omega in The Three Doctors. Before I comment further on the notes I should point out that along with the two writers, The Three Doctors also shares with Hand of Fear, a same guest star Rex Robinson and director Lennie Mayne.
Yet when it came to Robinson having work with director Mayne before the notes did not mentioned The Three Doctors. It simply says that Robinson had worked with Mayne before including two Doctor Who serials in 1972 (The Three Doctors) and 1974 (Monster of Peladon). While this is not inaccurate the way the information was presented on-screen was not consistent. Since the notes have mentioned The Three Doctors having been written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin why not just mention the story again in regards to Robinson and Mayne? It would seem The Three Doctors would not have been mentioned at all had the Omegans not been in the original Hand of Fear.

[The Thinker]

'Omegans'...hmm. Just as well Robert Holmes vetoed the idea. I don't think that'd have worked too well.

[matthewsee]

Also in the notes for Part 2, it mentioned that among the actors who was considered for Professor Watson one of them later became a star on a major American TV series. It did not say who it is.
So at Gallifrey I asked this particular question and Andrew Pixley has responded saying that he is pretty sure that person is Patrick Stewart. Just as I thought.