An Unearthly Child
- Episode aired Sep 7, 1985
- TV-GTV-G
- 23m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
1.8K
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.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
- Directors
- Waris Hussein
- Douglas Camfield(film inserts)
- Writers
- Anthony Coburn
- David Whitaker(story editor)
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- Stars
Top credits
- Directors
- Waris Hussein
- Douglas Camfield(film inserts)
- Writers
- Anthony Coburn
- David Whitaker(story editor)
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- Stars
Leslie Bates
- Shadow
- (uncredited)
Francesca Bertorelli
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Reg Cranfield
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Heather Lyons
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Mavis Ranson
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Frederick Rawlings
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Brian Thomas
- Schoolboy
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Waris Hussein
- Douglas Camfield(film inserts) (uncredited)
- Writers
- Anthony Coburn
- David Whitaker(story editor)
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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 Arthur Nelson Group
(playing on Susan's radio)
Review
Top review
Intriguing Beginning to a Beloved Sci-Fi Classic
Review for "Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child", Episode One (of four).
The beginning to this long-running sci-fi phenomenon showcases the capabilities of the BBC's excellent choice of staff, almost 60 years ago, who worked together ingeniously to create a subtle yet intriguing opening to a fiction. Schoolteachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) investigate their curiously intelligent, yet somewhat hopelessly uninformed student, Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford). Their curiosity leads them to the discovery of what is as much a marvel of science fiction now as it was when this episode aired in 1963. Without giving away spoilers, I'll say that the dialogue was quite well done and the acting was not only realistic, but enjoyable to watch. The story played out neatly and the actors all deserved their praise. William Hartnell steps in as a mysterious and authoritative first Doctor; Ian is portrayed by Russell as the firm, protective man we'll all come to love; Hill plays Barbara as a caring, sympathetic and insightful character; Ford is the excitable, intelligent and altogether lovable unearthly child herself, Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.
The picture and sound quality are obviously only to the standards to 1963 and it is something one gets used to quite easily when watching these old episodes.
My rating: 8.1/10.
The beginning to this long-running sci-fi phenomenon showcases the capabilities of the BBC's excellent choice of staff, almost 60 years ago, who worked together ingeniously to create a subtle yet intriguing opening to a fiction. Schoolteachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) investigate their curiously intelligent, yet somewhat hopelessly uninformed student, Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford). Their curiosity leads them to the discovery of what is as much a marvel of science fiction now as it was when this episode aired in 1963. Without giving away spoilers, I'll say that the dialogue was quite well done and the acting was not only realistic, but enjoyable to watch. The story played out neatly and the actors all deserved their praise. William Hartnell steps in as a mysterious and authoritative first Doctor; Ian is portrayed by Russell as the firm, protective man we'll all come to love; Hill plays Barbara as a caring, sympathetic and insightful character; Ford is the excitable, intelligent and altogether lovable unearthly child herself, Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.
The picture and sound quality are obviously only to the standards to 1963 and it is something one gets used to quite easily when watching these old episodes.
My rating: 8.1/10.
helpful•00
- ScreenRanker2
- Feb 16, 2022
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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