An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) Reviews

• A Perfectly Balanced Tribute

  awfulalex2013-11-12

  I was privileged to attend the premier at the National Film Theatre. The audience was asked not to give away any spoilers, so I'll respect that wish (not that I wouldn't have done so anyway, of course). The programme was far more emotional that I had expected and the audience's reaction - laughs, tears and much rapt silence - showed I wasn't alone. Admittedly, the place was packed with Doctor Who fans, so it was hardly going to send any of them to sleep, but they could also have been counted on to be highly critical of any factual errors. The time frame covers 1963 to 1966 and is as much a biography of William Hartnell, the first Doctor, as the early years of the show he fronted. The Doctor is played by David Bradley (no complaints from me about his crotchety but committed portrayal) and is pretty much throughout seen as ailing in physical health or mental agility, which seems like a true depiction but is rather unfortunate for his legacy as someone often described, in his earlier years, as a fine character actor. Hartnell's granddaughter, who was in attendance at the post-screening Q&A) referred to the fact that prided himself on remembering his lines, so his problems with this as depicted here should be taken into context, although it would have been a tall order for the programme to have tried to focus on any more of the man's life without overrunning its 90 minute time. Many of the key production staff have key roles, although (as writer Mark Gatiss acknowledged during the Q&A) not all of them were included as to do so would have been made the programme too difficult to follow. Thus there is no David Whitaker, for example, but there is much screen time for the Sydney Newman, the Canadian Head of Drama at the BBC, amusingly played by Brian Cox. His pivotal role in appointing and supporting Verity Lambert, the Doctor Who producer, was one of the unexpected revelations here. Without giving away any really key moments (and there are plenty of lovely surprises) the show is both reverential of the programme as well as poking fun at the ridiculousness of making a prime time science fiction programme on a BBC budget with no computer technology and live editing. Plenty more such contrasts abound: the daleks are both funny and awesome at the same time; Hartnell's crotchety but committed personality is shown to be a benefit and a hindrance. If you are even slightly interested in Doctor Who I'm sure you'll love it as much as the audience who gave it a standing ovation. Young children would probably be unlikely to find much of interest in it but older ones with more than a 30 second attention span may well enjoy it. Considering that much of the story of the programme is known to many of us and that there are no deaths or love affairs involved (that's not a spoiler - surely you weren't expecting that?) it is to its credit that it managed to be so entertaining for a film-length duration.

• Birth of a Legend

  tony-howe2013-11-22

  An Adventure in Space and Time chronicles the birth of Doctor Who, and broadly covers the period 1963-66, the tenure of the first Doctor William Hartnell. Without giving too much away (I hope), this drama really centres on the original creation of the show - the strength of character of Sidney Newman and his idea for a Saturday tea-time sci-fi programme, the uncertainties of (female - unheard of in the early 60's) first-time producer Verity Lambert and Indian director Waris Hussein, and the crotchety Hartnell, dragged from his typecast grumpy on-screen persona to play the grouchy but mischievous and mysterious alien Doctor. It latterly moves forward apace, and concludes with a weary Hartnell basically having been removed from the show and reluctantly handing over to his successor at the end of The Tenth Planet in 1966. The first thing to say is that nobody does these self-referential television movies better than the BBC. Mark Gatiss' excellent script teases the initial wonder and subsequent popularity of the show out beautifully, but doesn't shy away from the many budgetary and performance shortcomings that are clearly there on-screen if you re-watch the original material. The casting is universally superb, as are the performances (David Bradley as Hartnell especially) and this is a handsomely mounted production full of nostalgia and pathos, with a clear undying love for the source material. The scene near the conclusion demonstrates this the best, with a tired Hartnell staring into the distance on "his" TARDIS set, wondering what will become of "his" show and "his" Doctor after he leaves - to be confronted by a grinning but clearly reverential Matt Smith as the latest incarnation - is bursting with the magic and charm that made the early show the phenomena it was, and demonstrates why it's still on today. No true fan could watch this without welling up I suspect. It's the last drama to have been made at BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush prior to its closure, and it never looked finer. Well done BBC. I couldn't think of a better tribute to one of your greatest creations. One final note - many of the early Who's were wiped and no longer exist in the archives. Why not reassemble the cast of this drama and do shot-for-shot B/W remakes to plug the gaps? I'd certainly watch - and I bet there are legions of fans who'd say the same after watching this.

• Fantastic!

  EasyToHateHardToLove2013-11-23

  I only started watching the new series just this summer, but I'm hooked! In Belgium, Doctor Who isn't well known, so that explains a lot why I'm a rather new fan. I've wanted to start watching the Classic Who's, but I never got to it. After seeing this, I just can't say anything else but WOW! I now understand that Doctor Who has such a legacy and we are so priviliged that it's still on! I loved the cast and how they showed us even the dark side of themselves, by showing us that they didn't really care about the budget of the show when it just started. The movie was fantastic, it really touched me, I cried... a lot! So I think I'm ready now to watch the Classics, but now, first of all, the 50th, so every Whovian out there, young, new, classic fan or new fan, Happy 50th, Happy Day of the Doctor!!! May we have 50 years and more!!

• I Don't Want To Go

  lynchfilmlover2013-11-21

  In the middle of the celebrations for Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary, came this docudrama about how the series came to be. It spans 1963 to 1966. It begins, as we see at the end, with Hartnell's post final scenes. The Tardis then metaphorically travels back to 63. Though it is a film about Hartnell, it must be said that this is also the story of Verity Lambert and Sydney Newman. Played wonderfully by Jessica Raine and Brian Cox. But it is David Bradley, who gives the performance of his life as both the 'First Doctor' and William Hartnell. He comes across initially as a bitter man, disillusioned by the typecast roles he kept getting. In fact, I was worried that the portrayal of him may cloud our love of him. I need not to have worried. The way the story progressed and the obvious love Hartnell had for the role of the Doctor not only on screen but in public, was heartwarming. It was wonderful to see William Russell and Carole Ann Ford play characters within this. It must be said that a number of other Who Illumni were featured too. Mark Eden, Nicholas Briggs and Jean Marsh to name but a few. Also, and it had been rumoured, a lovely touch was, near the end, seeing Bradley's Hartnell look across the Tardis console and see 'Eleventh Doctor' Matt Smith. A really wonderful nod to just how much of an institution Who is and how long it would last. Back to Bradley though, as I said, the progression of the story shows what a wonderful man Hartnell was. It was great to hear a mention of his part in Brighton Rock, a film everyone must see as a classic of British film. Some scenes of note that stand out include, when Hartnell is clearly beginning to get the onset of his failing memory, it was moving and very hard to watch. The clear love he has for the roll comes across and this needs to be put firmly at the door of Mark Gatiss who wrote it. Though Bradley really does bring it alive. One scene, which will be remembered is of Hartnell breaking down after being forced to quit. His line "I don't want to go" and subsequent tears, bought me to tears too. Interestingly Tennant's same line when he was about to regenerate, saw me in floods too. The recreation of the Tardis looked beautiful and the attention to detail was astounding. The Daleks have never felt and looked more sinister since the Tom Baker era, I would say. So plaudits are deserved there. It must be added that this was more aimed at an older audience, not so much for children. The post watershed airing, the use of the word p**s and the fact that today's generation will not only have a limited attention span but their interest in Hartnell's era may not be suited the fast paced current era of young Who fans. This really is a wonderful docudrama to watch and I highly recommend it to any older Who fan. It really is a trip of nostalgia and a reminder how close Who came to not being continued. Equally so, it is a telling reminder that Doctor Who was William Hartnell. There were no regenerations as we look back from today's point of view. It really does show how heartbreaking it was for Hartnell to have to give up. It is also sad to document is decline into illness. If you haven't seen it already, search it out. It really is that good!

• Like All Good Stories, Bigger on the Inside

  boblipton2013-11-22

  As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Doctor Who, the BBC has produced this movie about the origins and Bill Hartnell years of the TV show. Writer Mark Gatiss, a longtime Whovian, has dug through all the stories and legends and has produced a fine script. The thesis of the movie is that Sydney Newman chose a novice producer, Verity Lambert, who proceeded to build an unlikely team: the first Indian director of the BBC; an actor frustrated at his lack of advancement; and the already worn out facilities at Lime Grove. Somehow she managed to hold this together long enough to create a series which has prospered for half a century, despite the best the suits at the BBC could do. There's some fine casting in this one, especially David Bradley as William Hartnell. It's rather shocking to me to see him, clean-shaven and well dressed and he gives a fine performance as the William Hartnell of the standard story: old, collapsing under the impact of ill health, but unwilling to give up his claim to fame. That's not precisely the reality of the matter. Doctor Who ran on a killing schedule during Hartnell's term: forty episodes a year, dialogue filled with scientific bafflegab. Almost anyone would have crumbled under it. Still, the story as written is cogent and should please the series' fans. the production values are top notch and the actors are excellent and look like the ones who played the original roles. I'd like to give a shout out to the stand outs, but I'd have to name just about every member of the cast. This movie probably won't appeal to people who are not rabid fans of the show, but for those who, like me, are, it's a great treat.