An Unearthly Child
- Episode aired Nov 23, 1963
- TV-G
- 23m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Two schoolteachers investigate the personal life of one of their brilliant students and her mysterious grandfather.Two schoolteachers investigate the personal life of one of their brilliant students and her mysterious grandfather.Two schoolteachers investigate the personal life of one of their brilliant students and her mysterious grandfather.
Leslie Bates
- Shadow
- (uncredited)
Francesca Bertorelli
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Reg Cranfield
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Heather Lyons
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Mavis Ranson
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Frederick Rawlings
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Peter Sallis
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Brian Thomas
- Schoolboy
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen this episode was first aired, parts of Britain were suffering a power failure. It was also the day after President Kennedy was assassinated. Both of these factors meant the program was only seen by a disappointing 4.4 million people. When repeated a week later, it was watched by 6 million.
- GoofsAfter entering the TARDIS the top of the set is visible above and behind Ian as he says "you can't keep us here."
- Quotes
The Doctor: We are not of this race. We are not of this earth. Susan and I are wanderers in the fourth dimension of space and time, cut off from our own people by distances beyond the reach of your most advanced science.
- Alternate versionsFour versions of this episode exist. Besides the final broadcast version there was also a trial pilot run-through that was not broadcast initially due to technical problems. The 2006 DVD release "Doctor Who: The Beginning" contains an unedited version of this pilot, with several different takes of the TARDIS sequence. A specially made re-edited version of the pilot is included for the first time in this set, using the best takes and digitally manipulating others to remove errors. Previously, an alternate edit of the pilot -- which included dialogue and prop errors -- was broadcast on the BBC and released on VHS.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Lively Arts: Whose Dr. Who (1977)
- SoundtracksThree Guitars Mood 2
(uncredited)
Composed by Derek Nelson and Arthur Raymond
Performed by The Arthey-Nelson Group
(playing on Susan's radio)
Featured review
Can you imagine what seeing this in 1963 would have been like!!
Whenever I watch this episode I really do wonder what it must have been like for people seeing it live at the time, there wasn't really anything else like it.
We meet teachers Ian and Barbara, they discuss awkward pupil Susan Foreman, a 15 year old wonder, a genius in some ways and totally inept in others. Fearing for Susan's welfare the Teachers take Susan home after school and wait for her to enter her unusual home. Inside a Junk yard lay a blue Police telephone box, which emits a slight vibration. Susan's Grandfather 'The Doctor' appears, a struggle ensues and the two burst inside, to discover a vast futuristic room which defies its external size. Susan explains the ship is the TARDIS and can go anywhere in time and space. Fearing discovery the Doctor operates the TARDIS controls....and a legend is born.
The imagery at the end is fantastic, I love how it was done, and that site of a shadow cast across the sands where the TARDIS stands is super.
This is an utterly glorious episode, it is so good. It definitely feels other worldly, Susan has a definite eerie feel about her. The concept is utterly astounding, and for a piece of 60's television it still feels modern and holds the audience, it is brilliant!! WOW 10/10
We meet teachers Ian and Barbara, they discuss awkward pupil Susan Foreman, a 15 year old wonder, a genius in some ways and totally inept in others. Fearing for Susan's welfare the Teachers take Susan home after school and wait for her to enter her unusual home. Inside a Junk yard lay a blue Police telephone box, which emits a slight vibration. Susan's Grandfather 'The Doctor' appears, a struggle ensues and the two burst inside, to discover a vast futuristic room which defies its external size. Susan explains the ship is the TARDIS and can go anywhere in time and space. Fearing discovery the Doctor operates the TARDIS controls....and a legend is born.
The imagery at the end is fantastic, I love how it was done, and that site of a shadow cast across the sands where the TARDIS stands is super.
This is an utterly glorious episode, it is so good. It definitely feels other worldly, Susan has a definite eerie feel about her. The concept is utterly astounding, and for a piece of 60's television it still feels modern and holds the audience, it is brilliant!! WOW 10/10
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Aug 27, 2015
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- An Unearthly Child (Pilot)
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime23 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of An Unearthly Child (1963) in Australia?
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