An Adventure in Space and Time (2013 TV Movie) User Reviews (38)

In three words: It is inspiring

[hennyxu · 8/10 · 23 November 2013]

When the success of a show is defined by its main protagonist for 50 years, then there is no better tribute then this drama movie. Based on true events, this movie/documentary focuses on the first actor and producer that defined and shaped the first doctor of the British television show Doctor Who. It shows how the production got started back in the 60's and how the actor William Hartnell (beautifully portrait by David Bradley) opened the minds of children and adults to fantasy and sci-fi.

It is however not entirely a happy story, for all good things must come to an end. Without spoiling it for everyone I would like to say that the end is very heart-breaking but filled with hope for the future.

In short, the movie was beautifully told with a fine pace. The acting was good conveying emotions at the right time. Furthermore, I'm very happy that this movie used almost no CGI and a lot of props which I think is becoming a lost art.

I give this movie an 8.

People I really recommend this movie if you want to see a good drama.

Like All Good Stories, Bigger on the Inside

[boblipton · 8/10 · 22 November 2013]

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.

A nice telling of the story

[JoeB131 · 8/10 · 23 November 2013]

Of course, as a die hard Doctor Who Fan, this film really contained few surprises for me, or I would imagine for any other DW fans who watched it know this story.

The irony is, that if William Hartnell hadn't had his health issues, the BBC would have never been forced to write in the "Regeneration" plot device that has kept the show alive this day.

The scenes with Bradley as Hartnell are kind of touching, where you see an actor who really never quite hit the level of fame he wanted, getting the role of a lifetime and then watching it slip through his fingers because of his own physical ailments.

The portrayal of Verity Lambert as a visionary was great as well. Let's be honest, most of the things that we associate with Doctor Who- The Tardis, (It's bigger on the inside and looks like a police box) The Daleks, the Cybermen, all came from this era of the series.

Kudos also for the recreation of 1960's era England.

A Perfectly Balanced Tribute

[awfulalex · 12 November 2013]

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-howe · 10/10 · 22 November 2013]

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.

Who needs a Tardis

[ewaf58 · 10/10 · 21 November 2013]

Agree or disagree - nobody does drama like the BBC. This was a nostalgic pleasure from beginning to end.The production and acting were excellent with David Bradley giving a really sympathetic performance in the role of William Hartnell.

The rest of the cast were really good too and captured the spirit of the excitement that must have been generated for such a radical show.

I loved seeing colour versions of all the old props and who couldn't smile at seeing a Cyberman enjoying a cigarette between takes. There were other moments that reminded me of the times when the show was first out - with children pretending to be Daleks.

I was 5 years old in 1963 and still remember watching the first episode. That makes me 55 now - the same age as William was when he first played the role and also Peter Capaldi the new Doctor.

Of course I'll never have a time machine to revisit the 1960's but with a great program like this to take you there - Who needs a Tardis.

PS I hope you spotted the cameo roles by four of the good Doctor's original companions.

Beautiful.

[hmens1 · 10/10 · 26 December 2013]

If I had to sum this up in one word, I would: 'Beautiful".

"One day, I shall come back..." I live in Australia, and this special was screened on ABC1 at 8:50PM on Sunday November 24, immediately after an encore screening of "The Day of the Doctor". I only got to see the first fifteen minutes or so before being told to go to bed, however I was recording it. When I watched most of it the next night, it changed everything.

It was only a few days ago that I watched the special in full for the first time. (It was the third time I'd sen it, however the first in one full sitting). I was home alone, so nobody got to see me crying.

That's what happened. The cast and crew of "An Adventure In Space And Time" have created a drama filled with action, emotion and, importantly, history. I congratulate writer Mark Gatiss for his success with the wonderful script. I feel he captures the essence of all seen in the programme as they were in 1963 perfectly. Of course it is an ultimate dream, I Definitely would do something like this, and he has made a work of equisite art of it. Mr Gatiss, your love letter to "Doctor Who" is truly 'fantastic!'.

The actors cast as roles are evidently well-thought of. I particularly liked Jesscia Raine's portrayal of producer Verity Lambert, David Bradley's performance as the original Who, William Hartnell; and also Sacha Dhawan's living performance as first director Waris Hussein. All capture what it must have been like during the pioneering days of the series. The portrayal of William Hartell by David Bradley is what made me cry. Hartnell had his hearts broken at least twice, and to see the man who began it all so sad, it nearly broke mine. I also liked the cameo roles from two original companions: actors William Russell and Carole Ann Ford, as the Guard and the Mother, Joyce respectively. Also, the surprise of seeing Matt Smith opposite the First Doctor is a highlight, showcasing that, although no one knew it at the time, the show would reach a golden 50-year landmark. Who'd have thought? These roles added to the spirit, the magnificence on how "Doctor Who" has touched the lives of millions of people.

In all, this docudrama fittingly celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the world's longest-running Sci-Fi series. It's emotional, historical, educational, and inspiring. It made me cry, and I haven't done that since David Tennant left in "The End of Time: Part Two".

The cast and crew definitely should go ahead and recreate classic/missing Doctor Who stories. Why not? They've got the cast, the production values, the spirit.

Congratulations to all involved in the making of this special. It was definitely a highlight of 2013, the year of all time. A fitting way to celebrate the best television show on the planet, or indeed the universe.

11/10

Fantastic!

[EasyToHateHardToLove · 10/10 · 23 November 2013]

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!!

Doctor's orders

[Lejink · 7/10 · 12 January 2014]

For the 50th anniversary of the first screening of Dr Who on the BBC, infamously on the night of the JFK assassination, co-show-runner of the current globally successful re-boot of the programme, Mark Gatiss wrote and produced this gently reverent story of the initial conception and creation of the show.

To be truthful there's not that much of a story or too much drama either but with its accurate recreation of the time and respectful tributes to key figures like the veteran actor William Hartnell who played the first Doctor, larger-than-life commissioning producer Sydney Lotterby, his protégé, young go-ahead female producer Verity Lambert and the young Indian director of the first show Waris Hussein, it was always watchable and entertaining.

Conventionally told in chronological order, covering the time from 1963 up to Hartnell's departure from the show in 1966 to make way for the younger Patrick Troughton, there were nevertheless some nice ideas here, the passage of time denoted by a time-machine chronometer and the annual publicity photo-shoots for the Doctor's new companions, a great "from-the-floorboards-up" view of the operation of the first Dalek and the modest but effective display of the quickening popularity of the show amongst the young (a mother calling in her children playing outside to see "that programme you liked"). This was nicely rounded off at the finish with Hartnell slipping away quietly from an end-of-show party to the set of the TARDIS and looking across to see Matt Smith, the current incarnation opposite him, carrying the show onto new generations.

Sentimental it may have been at times but as someone who grew up with the series in my own teenage years (although Troughton and Jon Pertwee were more "my" Doctors), this was a well-made and well-acted tribute to a British TV institution which you didn't have be a Whovian anorak to appreciate.

Best Television I have watched all year!!!!

[Wayne1138 · 10/10 · 22 November 2013]

Watched this last night and although I really wanted to watch it, I had no idea it would be this good!!!

It is mesmerising from start to finish. The cast is just superb and although everyone is giving special mention to David Bradley, I thought it was Jessica Raine who stole the show as Verity Lambert.

Some amazing recreations of sets, props and characters from the first three series of Doctor Who means that the film makers obviously have a real passion for the show and the making of this film. It is the ending though that is extremely sad and without giving away spoilers, a perfect cameo at the end just makes it even more special.

Even if you are not into Doctor Who you should really enjoy this. I cant believe how much I enjoyed this and I have ordered the DVD already. By the way, the scene with the Cyberman with the fag on is just hilarious :) :) :)

Without a doubt the best television I have seen all year. 10/10!!!!

A Nice Tribute Despite Much Artistic License

[Theo Robertson · 7/10 · 26 November 2013]

Is it too much to state how much that DOCTOR WHO has shaped British popular culture ? Nearly everyone loves the show in all of its variable and diverse eras . That said if you're going to make a drama about the origins of the show then there's a very real danger that you're going to overstate everything and tell the story with embellished hindsight . To quote the late John Nathan Turner " The memory cheats " and if there's a problem with An Adventure In Space And Time it's that it's written with the view that the future of television itself is at stake . This is patently untrue and everything I've read on the origins of the show indicates no one had any inkling of the genie they'd released from the bottle and thought of it as a disposable children's television show that probably wouldn't last . That said the programme begins with a disclaimer - though be it in a pretentious manner - that some artistic licence has been taken by the storytelling

Sydney Newman a bold and brash Canadian newly arrived from ITV comes up with the idea of an educational children's show for the BBC that will fire their interest in both science in history . He decides to call it Doctor Who and delegates the task of producer to a young production associate called Verity Lambert . What the drama does very well is paint the picture of early 1960s Britain as being a million miles away from what it is today . Lambert being a woman - and a Jewish one at that - is an absolute anachronism in this world . Women in those days didn't have careers only jobs and often low paid menial ones at that because they were expected to be baby factories and housewives . She is joined on the debut story by her assigned director a young Indian man called Waris Hussein who is a closeted homosexual and young Jewish woman and closeted Indian homosexual have to fight tooth and nail to get the show off the ground usually against the creator of Doctor Who itself Sydney Newman .

One can understand the point Mark Gattis is making here that a show featuring an outsider in the role of the Doctor has a subtext all of its own in that it's being also being made by cultural outsiders who are about to change the face of television but again is true or is it merely shoehorned history after the fact ? It's interesting that Terry Nation gets name checked but it's a well documented fact of history that Nation only took the writing gig because he'd lost his job writing for Tony Hancock and Nation would always state with great relish he only wrote the Dalek story with the thinking of " Take the money and run " . To him writing the Dalek debut meant paying the rent as a struggling and jobbing writer and nothing more which again indicates that the BBC had little idea or faith as to how popular the show may have become . There's also an unforgiving airbrushing out of script editor David Whitaker from the show's history and Whitaker was probably more responsible than anyone else of shaping the character of the Doctor and bringing him to life and of giving the early show an ethos and unique feel of its own that made it more than mere disposable children's entertainment Whitaker not getting as much as a namecheck is unforgivable

That said the cast of the drama are more than adequate and we get some post modernism by casting William Russell and Carole Ann Ford in cameos as walk on characters . Pride of place goes to David Bradley as William Hartnell who you genuinely believe has somehow miraculously been reincarnated as himself . Unless they were movie stars actors in those days were berefit of the celebrity status where every movement was publicized by the tabloids and remained relatively unknown to the general public . From what we know of William Hartnell he could be very difficult and tiring to work with but at the same time he loved the show and the people he worked with and this comes across very well on screen . The only contentious point about the acting is Brian Cox gives a painfully over emphatic performance as Sydney Newman who seems to be a parody of a Jewish Hollywood movie mogul . This may or may not have been true in real life but Cox is still somewhat overdone

In summary this is an affectionate tribute to both the show itself and the people who created Doctor Who . It's a much better tribute than the much expected noisy mess of The Day Of The Doctor but at the same time many of the " facts " should be taken with a pinch of salt , if not the whole salt packet . It's a drama based on fact but isn't a fly on the wall documentary . Remember that while you're watching

An Adventure in Time and Space

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 22 November 2013]

The rather remarkable story of the origins of Doctor Who, a BBC television iconic show that almost didn't make it. It follows primarily William Hartnell (the First Doctor), on the last legs of his career, at his most disgruntled, jaded, and frustrated, as his twilight glimmers for a few bright years (during this grueling schedule (or shedule) he battled memorizing difficult scientific jargon about space and time, as well as, dealing with younger cast members whose ways were a bit bothersome to him). He learned how to adapt to the nature of a science fiction show, and took the part seriously, particularly the set of the TARDIS (how it is supposed to function and how his character operates the controls). Also an important figure in Doctor Who's success is the female producer, Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine), for how she fought tooth and nail with the men in the BBC studios world and its presentation of a different kind of sci-fi show. Brian Cox, as Sydney Newman, Verity's boss (the man who hired her despite obvious tensions for a woman in a man's world at that time in television) is an absolute hoot, getting it from both sides as Doctor Who goes through budget/production problems, wondering if he made the right decision with his hire while the cost to fund this show has the studio bosses ill at ease. Verity's partner, Waris (Sacha Dhawan), is also a major part of the show's initial success, helping her guide the show through some rough patches (the studio actually loses power and rain splashes into the TARDIS set!!!). David Bradley looks exactly like Hartnell! It's uncanny! He brings an anguish and melancholy to this man, and when Sydney tells Hartnell his time as the Doctor Who is over, it is positively gutwrenching. Good work at establishing time and place during the 60s. The love and affection for this show is alive and well as you watch An Adventure in Space and Time. Particularly thrilling is seeing the formation of the beginnings of the Daleks. I also loved seeing how the TARDIS' creation was kind of half-assed when an art director was tired of Verity hounding him on giving her a design. Just seeing the BBC studio behind the scenes—those inner workings—was cool. If you are a Doctor Who fan, don't miss this. It will probably break your heart—seeing an older actor losing his ability to recite his lines and perform when he longs to continue and is besought by his aging and burgeoning illness can be difficult. Hartnell's mixture of acceptance in how his character and show are becoming a phenomenon, along with his granddaughter's joy of her "sampa" being such a star, and the demands of how Doctor Who wears him out, are emphasized.

Professor WoW!!!

[GeoPierpont · 7/10 · 22 August 2014]

Being a newcomer to this legendary time honored series, I was never quite convinced to watch nary a rerun let alone a new series. Whatever could be the commotion over a low budget, strange scenario, teckie talk scripted old geezer. Well, after some prodding by a dear fan/friend I decided to indulge the lad and give it a whirl with this fine docudrama.

I was flabbergasted by how endearing this show was to so many generations of fans, ala Star Trek in the States. This film captured so many interesting angles of production, casting, design challenges, and camaraderie on set that completely took me by surprise, completely! Turns out this program, so unique with serious entertainment and educational value, is developed by folks who put heart and soul into it's creation. Extremely impressive was the Doctor and his initial reluctance to becoming the most beloved character in BBC history and then migrating to dissolving into tears upon his last performance. So touching and very effective for the simpatico effect.

I was also impressed with the directing and multiple views of each set piece, intimate moments, wide angle shots and discriminating close-ups. Kudos to all involved in this production!

I now maintain an avid interest in this program, have watched a few previous episodes on Amazon Prime and look forward to the new season. Now that I have some background information on basic terminology and history I look forward to enjoying the series, well...forever!

High recommend for BBC fans, early TV sci-fi, great acting, directing, set production, you name it, I truly enjoyed this film.

I Don't Want To Go

[lynchfilmlover · 21 November 2013]

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!

You can't have 'Doctor Who' without the Doctor.

[randawg72-102-736119 · 9/10 · 8 September 2014]

I'm a relatively new fan to Doctor Who and as such searched out the beginning seasons of the series to better understand the premise and origins of the show.

In my opinion William Hartnell Is Doctor Who, and all those portraying the role after Mr Hartnell are reflecting a small part of his performance into their personal incarnation of the Doctor.

That being said, I love this film ! It explains so much about the origin and talent that was behind the beginnings if this now iconic sci-fi series, and shows how the persistence and drive of a few individuals can overcome the overwhelming task of trying to turn an idea into a successful TV show.

An incredible performance by David Bradley in the starring role. His Bio says he's a fan of Hartnell's and it shows. He seems to channel Hartnell's spirit in many of the scenes, and his inflections and mannerisms are spot on. Jessica Raine was great in the role of Verity Lambert the budding producer, as was Sacha Dhawan as the director Waris Hussein, and a strong support role by Brian Cox portraying BBC studio executive Sydney Newman.

This movie captures the look and feel of the early Who shows and is an insightful and sometimes sad story but I highly recommend it to any Doctor who fan, or anyone who appreciates a well executed movie in which the underdogs triumph over incredible odds.

A true 50th Anniversary Special

[littlehobbit13 · 10/10 · 24 November 2013]

I've watched all the Doctor who anniversary specials now: Day of the Doctor, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, and just now An Adventure in Space Time.

There's a moment at the end of An Adventure in Space Time, where they're filming Hartnell's departure, that sums up the entirety of Doctor Who's legacy, I think. Hartnell begins to flip switches on the console, and as he looks up, he sees Matt Smith's Doctor standing at the console with him. Smith smiles at Hartnell, and Hartnell smiles back. In that moment, you see the Doctor's legacy, and it's a beautiful moment. The moment only lasts about 45 seconds, and it moved me to tears.

It was unexpected, and it was right, and it was perfect.

I think anyone wishing to call themselves a "true" Whovian should see this Special. The production does an amazing job of showing you how hard it was to get everything going, and how much the cast and crew had to do to keep make the show what it was. It's funny to take a step back, as you're watching, and remember that these are all real people you're getting attached to. As you watch bits of the Who family slowly move on. As you watch Hartnell truly become the Doctor, playing with little kids who only see him at such. As you watch Hartnell find out he'll no longer be playing the Doctor. (I don't think I'll ever be able to watch Tennant's farewell the same way again, and I wonder if it wasn't an intentional nod to Hartnell.) The film closes out with what I think most fans would agree is still the most moving and best written speech of the entire series: "One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine."

A History Of The First Doctor

[zardoz-13 · 9/10 · 28 May 2014]

This reverential depiction of the origins of "Dr. Who" on the BBC and the tenure of William Hartnell as the eponymous character are mandatory stuff not to be missed. David Bradley is splendidly cast as the irascible Hartnell, and we get to see the trials and tribulations that tyro producer Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine) endured on the set and off the set at the hands of her mentor Sydney Newman (Brian Cox) and her snobbish fellow co-workers. The men were suspicious of a woman invading their hallowed realm as the first female producer. The Daleks are on hand and just as murderous as ever. One scene on London Bridge has a director scolding a man in the Dalek chassis because he never hit his marks. The perils of shooting in a small studio are presented with considerable humor. The lights overheat in the cramped studio and the sprinkler system erupts and drenches everybody. Initially, Newman railed against robots or bug-eyed monsters in "Dr. Who" so imagine his surprise when he read about the Daleks. Matt Smith has a cameo. This glimpse into the past will bring up young Dr. Who fans up to snuff on the history of the program, while others will enjoy the reenactment for its old sake. The scene when Verity gets a production designer to create Tardis is cool. The origin of the landmark Dr. Who theme is revealed, too.

A beautiful and moving telling of the origins of Doctor Who.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 18 October 2017]

A special drama commissioned for the show's fiftieth anniversary, it shows the origins of Doctor Who, exactly how it came about. It tells the story of the show's conception, the casting, the bold decision of having a female producer, and the rise and fall of lead actor William Hartnell.

Hartnell is gloriously brought to life by David Bradley, he manages to create both William Hartnell and his interpretation of the first Doctor. At times the show feels like an homage to Hartnell, and rightly so, the show would have been nothing without him. How wonderful that Bradley will get the chance to play the first Doctor for real.

It's a hugely interesting show, especially for fans of Doctor Who like myself, I'm not too sure non fans would get it in quite the same way, there are so many references to the show's early years.

A wonderful job is done in recreating the give of the sixties, the costumes are superb, unfortunately some of the more unpleasant attitudes people had back then are also highlighted.

I think it shows how lucky we are that the great show is still going on our screens, and fans should support it even though the less successful times, it is a national treasure after all.

A superb drama. 10/10

Enjoyable and worthwhile

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 24 August 2014]

An Adventure In Space And Time is a relatively straightforward retelling of the birth of the Doctor Who TV series, recounting both the sequence of events at the BBC which led to it being commissioned, followed by the stories of the early days, up to William Hartnell's forced retirement as the first Doctor.

One of the events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the show, it was filmed at the Wood Lane BBC TV Centre before it was disposed of, and is a superb portrayal of the era in which it is set. Exceptionally well cast (David Bradley, best known as Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films, is superb) and affectionately written by long-standing Doctor Who fan Mark Gatiss, this film - which features a number of cameos form people associated with the programme at the time - is a treat for long-standing fans.

My only reservation is how well it will go down with non-Who fans: it is a good film in its own right, so one hopes that it will be appreciated across the board.

Well-Produced Biography of Dr. Who & William Hartnell

[GenevaDuck · 9/10 · 26 November 2013]

One thing the BBC always does extremely well is period drama. In this case, despite the fact you know how it ends, you are drawn into the story of William Hartnell's time as the first Doctor and your heart breaks with his when he is told he is being replaced.

David Bradley give an outstanding performance as William Hartnell, an excellent character actor who sees his career in decline to the point he is being asked to star in a 'kiddie' show that is going to make him immortal. Bradley plays Hartnell with all his faults, but he also makes you feel sympathetic towards him. I believe this movie will give Dr. Who fans a new appreciation for Hartnell and his contributions to the series beyond being the First Doctor who seemed to be forever flubbing his lines.

I would have given this 10 stars, but the Matt Smith cameo at the end made me sigh and ask "Why did they do that?"

Very good, but ...

[cherold · 7/10 · 27 November 2013]

Overall, this is a very well-done movie detailing the early days of the Doctor Who series. It is well written, well acted - especially by a touching David Bradley and a sharp, funny Brian Cox - and moves well.

In fact, I would argue that, even though it sometimes relies on a little Whovian knowledge on the part of the viewer, this is a solid portrayal of an adventure in broadcasting that is fun even if you aren't a Doctor Who fan.

And that's why the last part of the movie bugs me. First off, near the end there's a cameo that makes no sense in terms of the movie itself. That is, if you haven't been watching Doctor Who the last few years you'll be perplexed. It's out of place, because there's no setup for it and it is there as very much a fan thing instead of a movie thing. It undercuts the emotional power of the scene and, even if you know who the actor is, just seems weird and pointless.

After the movie ends, there is an immediate mini-documentary on William Hartnell. I don't know if this is officially part of the movie or just something the BBC stuck in to fill in the time, but if the former, it's a problem yet again. It's not that it's uninteresting, but that it once again says, "this wasn't a real movie, it was just this thing to appeal to Doctor Who fans."

This movie is good enough that it didn't need to pander to its likely audience. And it doesn't, until the last 15 minutes.

How It All Began

[AaronCapenBanner · 8/10 · 3 June 2014]

Faithful and loving recreation of those early days of "Doctor Who", when William Hartnell(played excellently by David Bradley) first took on the mantle of that mysterious wandering time & space traveler the Doctor, with a fine supporting cast portraying his costars(William Russell, Jacqueline Hill, and Carole Ann Ford) and real-life production crew(like producer Verity Lambert, young director Waris Hussein, and their boss at the BBC Sydney Newman.) Behind the scenes turmoil and uncertainty are well portrayed, and were quickly settled once the Daleks debuted, and the ratings climbed to ten million...

The script by Mark Gatiss is quite good, with nice touches that long-time fans will appreciate, though at only 90 minutes, it does move along a bit too fast, with other key participants(like script editor and writer David Whitaker) left out altogether, and the final little nod to the "future" will either leave viewer hot or cold, since not all fans like what the series later became(I stopped at Peter Davison), but those are small complaints in this otherwise worthwhile special, which also gives a most interesting view of the private side of Hartnell, with his loyal wife and granddaughter. Most effective and moving.

Really nice, gentle and affectionate look back at the Hartnell origins

[bob the moo · 14 December 2013]

Earlier this year, on the gentle prodding of IMDb user Theo Robertson, I decided that I would go back and watch Doctor Who from the beginning. This was interested to me since I can just about remember the image of Davison as the Doctor but really the actual moments I remember are from the era of McCoy and Baker (an era that brought the show to an end for many years); so watching the originals was interesting to me if for no other reason than I had never seen them. The timing was good because I was glad to have made that connection before all the 50th anniversary stuff kicked off.

All through the fuss and hype, I did feel like we were celebrating where the show was right now, not its roots and as a result I was really glad of this film for focusing on the origins of the show. As Theo will probably tell you better than I, the facts are dusted up in the sake of a good story and the film moves better for it. I disagree with Theo where he says this film presented it as some sort of great cultural moment – I thought the film did a good job of showing how throwaway it was, how little interest there was and how it is more or less a matter of good fortune that the characters caught the public imagination and made an impression that has endured for decades. The story is presented in an affectionate manner, particularly towards Hartnell, who is probably given a bit too much nostalgic cheer for what he deserves, but he is given his dues and is very well played by Bradley.

The tone of the show is affectionate and humorous; we are not spared the fluffed lines and the set malfunctions and yet these are given over to part of the charm. The supporting cast play up their outsider status in a pleasing way, although as Theo says, I'm not sure if Cox was told that his role was to inject energy and color into the film, but his performance is so overblown as to be pure caricature. Still though, it all works really well and with so much hype and fanfare for the current show, it was so nice to have something looking back with such gentle affection – I didn't even mind the appearance of Matt Smith as I thought that was a nice moment and more a nod to the origins than it was to the present.

A little bit of sci-fi

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 24 November 2013]

Mark Gatiss always wanted to tell the story about the origins of Doctor Who and although this is a well worn tale for die hard fans. For the casual viewer this is based in a time when the television industry was a lot different.

A Canadian Head of Drama with pizzazz has an idea. A Jewish female producer being the first female producer at BBC drama and an Indian Muslim is tasked with directing the first episode.

Maybe this was a series designed to fail rather than last half a century!

David Bradley well known for playing the curmudgeonly Filch in the Harry Potter films plays the curmudgeonly William Hartnell. An actor well known for playing army types and small time hoods before he got the keys for the TARDIS and enchanted children of all ages.

We have recreations in colour of some of the well known scenes from early Doctor Who, some of these episodes now lost in time.

The drama had to be distilled in 90 minutes so a lot of the story had to be left out. Hartnell could be difficult to work with and had abrasive relationships with some of his producers.

Gatiss managed to get cameos from past actors from the early series and used scenes and lines from previous Doctor Who episodes. An example is David Tennant's final line before he regenerated 'I don't want to go' which was reused here when Hartnell discovers he is to be replaced by another actor.

Compelling underdog story

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 16 August 2014]

It's 1963. Head of BBC drama Sydney Newman (Brian Cox) wants a new sci-fi show for both kids and adults. He brings in young Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine) who worked under him before to produce it. She's given an Indian director Waris Hussein (Sacha Dhawan) and a crusty character actor William Hartnell (David Bradley) to play Doctor Who. They struggle with limited resources, the old guard, racism, sexism, and everything else. On top of it all, the first episode goes on at the same time as the Kennedy assassination. Sydney is pushed to drop it after 4 episodes but then the show becomes an overnight hit with the introduction of Daleks.

This is a very touching tribute to the old show. David Bradley is brilliant. His deterioration is heart breaking. It has the underdog aspect. It's a great story even if you're a passing viewer of the show.