Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 30, 2022

Gordon Flemyng's "Dr. Who and the Daleks" (1965) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by critic Kim Newman, screenwriter/writer Robert Shearman, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss; archival audio commentary by actors Jennie Linden and Roberta Tovey; new program about the recent restoration of the film; archival program with writer Gareth Owen; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, German, and French subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Where are we?

The great Peter Cushing is Dr. Who, an eccentric inventor who has created Tardis, a sophisticated time machine. Accompanied by his two grand-daughters, Susan (Roberta Tovey) and Barbara (Jennie Linden, Women in Love, A Severed Head), Dr. Who decides to show his creation to Ian (Roy Castle), Barbara’s boyfriend, but an accident occurs and Tardis transports its occupants to the mysterious planet Skaro. After searching the landing area, Dr. Who and his three companions conclude that Skaro must have been devastated by a nuclear war.

Not too far away from Tardis, the time travelers discover a giant metal city populated by the Daleks, evil mutants living inside metal casings designed to protect them from the radiation in Skaro’s atmosphere. The Daleks capture Dr. Who and his companions to study their immune system.

Soon after, Dr. Who learns that the Daleks are getting ready to eliminate their enemies, the Thals. Like the Daleks, the Thals have also been forced by the radiation to change the way they live. However, unlike the Daleks, the Thals have sworn to live in peace.

While the Daleks are preparing to drop a giant nuclear bomb that will wipe out their enemies, Dr. Who and his three companions manage to escape from the metal city and contact the leader of the Thals. However, much to Dr. Who’s disappointment, he refuses to believe that the Daleks are planning to exterminate the Thals.

Gordon Flemyng’s Dr. Who and the Daleks was the first big film adaptation of the classic British TV series. The film, which was shot in Techniscope and completed in 1965, also marked the first time the good Doctor was seen in color.

The plot of Dr. Who and the Daleks is fairly simple. The film also looks rather simple, which shouldn’t be surprising considering the fact that its budget was very low. In the audio commentary included on this disc, it is noted that the sets were so small and the decors so basic that different sequences had to be shot using the exact same materials. For example, there were only a couple of the strange flowers Susan discovers early into the film which had to be used multiple times.

The simple, often even minimalistic decors, however, make the film look quite stylish. In fact, with a different soundtrack and a few minor adjustments in the script, this reviewer believes that Dr. Who and the Daleks easily could have been one of the best psychedelic adventure films ever made.

As it is Dr. Who and the Daleks has enough to appeal to older fans of the classic TV series as well as younger fans who don’t mind seeing something different with their favorite characters. The outcome of the confrontation between the Daleks and the Thals is easy to figure out, but the journey through the colorful planet Skaro is definitely worth seeing. Considering the production’s limitations, the great Peter Cushing is also particularly good as the eccentric inventor who amidst all the chaos has to figure out a way to restart Tardis.

Dr. Who and the Daleks was lensed by cinematographer John Wilcox, who also teamed up with director Gordon Flemyng on its sequel, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.

Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

StudioCanal's release of Dr. Who and the Daleks is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K 16-bit restoration that was completed at Silver Salt Restoration in the United Kingdom. Both the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray offer presentations of the new 4K restoration. (StudioCanal's previous Blu-ray release was sourced from a different master).

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-10 are from Dr. Who and the Daleks Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #16-24 are from Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray.

4K BLU-RAY DISC

I used Kino Lorber's more recent Blu-ray release to do various direct comparisons so that I can see exactly what type of improvements were introduced during the 4K makeover. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from the same master that StudioCanal worked with to prepare the first Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks nearly ten years ago. The comparisons were done using native 4K content with HDR, and later on, downscaled to 1080p content from the new Blu-ray release.

Predictably, in native 4K, all visuals clearly have a superior dynamic range. Darker nuances, in particular, are expanded quite a bit and appear better balanced (see the very dark footage from the neon-esque forest). The other very easy to recognize and appreciate improvement comes from the overall superior range of colors. They are healthier and lusher, better balanced as well. However, because the film was shot in Techniscope there are some areas where the lushness becomes a tad subdued. This is a native limitation of the original cinematography that the 4K restoration replicates. I actually had a feeling that this could be the case because on the previous release the primaries were very solid as well, but the dynamic range of the visuals wasn't optimal, so I could not tell just how big of a difference we can get from a future more elaborate restoration. (A direct comparison between the previous Blu-ray release and the new Blu-ray release reveals various meaningful but mostly subtle discrepancies). Grain exposure is very healthy, though I think that there is a bit of room for minor encoding optimizations. Fluidity is great. There are no stability issues. Finally, the entire film is impeccably clean. All in all, I think that the people that restored Dr. Who and the Daleks in native 4K did an outstanding job and the end product is as impressive as the recent 4K restoration of Flash Gordon. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free 4K Blu-ray release).

BLU-RAY DISC

I viewed the new 4K restoration of Dr. Who and the Daleks in native 4K and only tested various parts of the 1080p presentation. As mentioned above, the film looks healthier and more vibrant, but for the optimal result, you will have to view the 4K restoration in native 4K. The superior nuances that make the visuals stronger are not as convincing in 1080p. No, there is nothing to be concerned about because the visuals are still very strong, but the previous Blu-ray release offers a very solid presentation of the film as well, so the minor improvements are definitely easier to appreciate in 1080p. I think that there is a bit of room for encoding optimizations here as well, but the overall quality of the presentation is very good. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM 2.0, German LPCM 2.0, and French LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH, German, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I thought that the lossless track on the previous Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks was very solid. I thought that the high-frequencies could be expanded a bit, but it was hard for me to tell if there is any room for significant improvements. I think that the new lossless track is very good as well. I was left with the impression that the dynamic range is slightly better now, with the Dalek voices sounding a bit deeper as well, but you will probably have to perform direct comparisons to identify exact areas that may, or may not, sound better. I did not encounter any technical anomalies to report in our review.

Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Restoring Dr. Who in 4K - in this exclusive new program, restoration expert Anthony Badger, film prep and scanning expert Ray King, and colorist Steve Bearman discuss the new 4K restorations of Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. that were completed at Silver Salt. There are some particularly interesting comments about the move from the interpositives, which were used for the previous restorations of these films, to the original camera negatives, as well SDR to HDR and the effects on film's color schemes and dynamic range. In English. (11 min).

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critic Kim Newman, screenwriter/writer Robert Shearman, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss. The three gentlemen share a lot of interesting information about the conception and production of Dr. Who and The Daleks, Peter Cushing's performance (Newman argues that it is one of his weakest), the '60s and the Dalekmania, the TV show, etc. The commentary was also included on Kino Lorber's recent Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary, actors Jennie Linden (Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (Susan) discuss their contributions to Dr. Who and the Daleks, their initial impressions of director Gordon Flemyng, and the critical reactions to the film after it was released. Also, there is plenty of information about the film's production history, Peter Cushing's involvement with the film, some of the technical obstacles that had to be overcome during the shooting, etc. The commentary is moderated by Jonathan Southcote, author of The Cult Films of Peter Cushing. The commentary initially appeared on StudioCanal's first Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks.

• The Dalek Legacy: Destination Scaro - in this new program, Nicholas Briggs (voice of the Daleks), screenwriter Robert Shearman, visual effects designer Mike Tucker (Doctor Who), editorial assistant Emily Cook (Doctor Who Magazine), and writer and 3D artist Gavin Rymill (Doctor Who Magazine) discuss the iconic visual appearance of the Daleks, the voices and the type of dubbing that was done for the films, as well as some of the differences between the original TV serial and the films. In English. (17 min).

• Dalekmania - a documentary film focusing on the production history of Dr. Who and the Daleks featuring clips from interviews with Marcus Hearn, former editor of Bizarre & Hammer Horror, Gary Gillatt, editor of Doctor Who Magazine, Terry Nation, scriptwriter and Dalek creator, actors Roberta Tovey (Susan), Barrie Ingham (Alydon) and Yvonne Antrobus (Dyoni). Jill Curzon (Louise) and stuntman Eddie Powell also discuss their contributions to Doctor Who: Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.. The documentary, which was produced by Lumiere Pictures, is dedicated to the memories of Peter Cushing and Roy Castle. In English. (58 min).

• Interview with Gareth Owen - in this archival video interview, Gareth Owen, author of The Shepperton Story, discusses the history and timeless appeal of Dr. Who and the Daleks. In English. (8 min).

• Trailer - remastered trailer for Dr. Who and the Daleks. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of promotional and production stills from Dr. Who and the Daleks. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Restoring Dr. Who in 4K - in this exclusive new program, restoration expert Anthony Badger, film prep and scanning expert Ray King, and colorist Steve Bearman discuss the new 4K restorations of Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. that were completed at Silver Salt. There are some particularly interesting comments about the move from the interpositives, which were used for the previous restorations of these films, to the original camera negatives, as well SDR to HDR and the effects on film's color schemes and dynamic range. In English. (11 min).

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critic Kim Newman, screenwriter/writer Robert Shearman, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss. The three gentlemen share a lot of interesting information about the conception and production of Dr. Who and The Daleks, Peter Cushing's performance (Newman argues that it is one of his weakest), the '60s and the Dalekmania, the TV show, etc. The commentary was also included on Kino Lorber's recent Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary, actors Jennie Linden (Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (Susan) discuss their contributions to Dr. Who and the Daleks, their initial impressions of director Gordon Flemyng, and the critical reactions to the film after it was released. Also, there is plenty of information about the film's production history, Peter Cushing's involvement with the film, some of the technical obstacles that had to be overcome during the shooting, etc. The commentary is moderated by Jonathan Southcote, author of The Cult Films of Peter Cushing. The commentary initially appeared on StudioCanal's first Blu-ray release of Dr. Who and the Daleks.

• The Dalek Legacy: Destination Scaro - in this new program, Nicholas Briggs (voice of the Daleks) screenwriter Robert Shearman, visual effects designer Mike Tucker (Doctor Who), editorial assistant Emily Cook (Doctor Who Magazine), and writer and 3D artist Gavin Rymill (Doctor Who Magazine) discuss the iconic visual appearance of the Daleks, the voices and the type of dubbing that was done for the films, as well as some of the differences between the original TV serial and the films. In English. (17 min).

• Dalekmania - a documentary film focusing on the production history of Dr. Who and the Daleks featuring clips from interviews with Marcus Hearn, former editor of Bizarre & Hammer Horror, Gary Gillatt, editor of Doctor Who Magazine, Terry Nation, scriptwriter and Dalek creator, actors Roberta Tovey (Susan), Barrie Ingham (Alydon) and Yvonne Antrobus (Dyoni). Jill Curzon (Louise) and stuntman Eddie Powell also discuss their contributions to Doctor Who: Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.. The documentary, which was produced by Lumiere Pictures, is dedicated to the memories of Peter Cushing and Roy Castle. In English. (58 min).

• Interview with Gareth Owen - in this archival video interview, Gareth Owen, author of The Shepperton Story, discusses the history and timeless appeal of Dr. Who and the Daleks. In English. (8 min).

• Trailer - remastered trailer for Dr. Who and the Daleks. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of promotional and production stills from Dr. Who and the Daleks. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Booklet - 64-page booklet with brand new essays, photos, the original press book from 1965 and much more. (See screencaptures).

• Dr Who and the Daleks: The Official Story of the Films - an exclusive mini version of the Titans coffee table book by John Walsh.

• Two Posters - two posters with original artwork and brand new artwork from Johnny Dombrowski.

• Collectable Coin - UK exclusive highly collectable Dr. Who and the Daleks solid metal coin. Limited to first run only.

• Art Cards - four collectable art cards.

Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The new 4K restoration of Dr. Who and the Daleks is every bit as impressive as the recent 4K restoration of Flash Gordon. I think that the crew at Silver Salt Restoration that completed the 4K project preserved the film's period appearance while ensuring that it looks as healthy as possible, and this is all that a proper 4K makeover should accomplish. My predication is that fans of Dr. Who and the Daleks will be thrilled with the 4K restoration and the lavish treatment it has received on 4K Blu-ray. If you plan to acquire StudioCanal's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack, please keep in mind that only the 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. The standard Blu-ray copy is Region-B "locked". VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.