Doctor Who Missing Episode rumors

[starsuperion]

The Web of Fear
For many years only episode 1 of this story and a few clips of the other episodes existed in the BBC Archives. The clips are those that were censored and physically cut from the film by the New Zealand authorities when they purchased the rights to broadcast the story. In October 2013, the BBC announced that copies of episodes 2,4,5 and 6 had been found in Nigeria by Television International Enterprises Archive/Philip Morris, and returned to the BBC Archives. Episode 3 of The Web of Fear was originally among the discovered episodes, but went missing in the months between the discovery of the films and their return to the BBC.

So okay the Wiki says that Episode 3 was discovered, but went missing before getting back to the BBC?? Anyone know what happened to it? Any rumors? that's kinda odd if you ask me.. conspiracy? Shake down money? Who is this Phillip Morris anyway?

 

[Mr Soak]

Philip Morris is a fan who decided to actually go out and physically search archives. He formed TIEA to create a bit of weight and authority behind his searching (TIE was a film distribution company back in the 60s/70s when the films were first circulated, the names are not coincidence). He provideds archive preservation services in exchange for repatriating lost episodes, not just Doctor Who. He was out following trails and hints of episode movements. He was in a station in Nigeria and he saw the 12 episodes from season 5. He photographed them then quielty told the manager to put them aside. Delicate negotiations took place, and Morris went back to pick up the films, where he discovered one had disappeared, Web 3. He went to the station manager, with the photos as proof, asking where the missing film was. It seems like someone got opportunistic and sold a random film to a collector.

That's what I've gleaned from lurking in the missing episodes thread of Gallifrey Base.

 

[Nightowl1701]

It's been hinted/suspected that private collectors have been quietly hoarding a sizable chunk of missing DW episodes beginning back in the 1960's just after they first aired (like the infamous lost Christmas special, 'The Feast of Steven'). And they have no intention of parting with them absent a king's ransom the BBC is unable/unwilling to pay.

 

[diankra]

Sorry Nightowl, but while the vanishing of Web 3 in mid recovery is fact, the mass hoarding of episodes is BS. Particularly if Feast of Steven is supposedly among them.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Probably true, but, well... stranger things have happened. That's why I said 'suspected.'

 

[Phillip Culley]

It's been hinted/suspected that private collectors have been quietly hoarding a sizable chunk of missing DW episodes beginning back in the 1960's just after they first aired (like the infamous lost Christmas special, 'The Feast of Steven'). And they have no intention of parting with them absent a king's ransom the BBC is unable/unwilling to pay.

The trouble with this is that there is no evidence of anyone hoarding stories for the purpose of selling them.

If someone was trying to sell them, then why isn't it public knowledge? Why haven't we started a Kickstarter to raise the demanded money? What's the point of hoarding for the purpose of selling if no one knows you're selling?

 

[mythme]

Aside from the aforementioned "Web of Fear" episode, I don't think there's any other Who being hoarded. Even if something was floating around on a "black market underground", yes, I believe there would be rumors floating around (heck, there's omnirumors of every stripe out there, but nothing like this). In a way I wish Morris, Levine and the BBC itself would just announce "the search is over and deemed complete". I think the last shred of hope left is someone stumbles over a mis-labeled canister in a long-forgotten closet in a remote broadcast station - and that's a long shot to be sure. And if it were to happen, after what happened with "The Underwater Menace", the final result given to the pubic would probably be very anti-climatic.

That being said, I always find it darn odd that of all the copies made, not a single bit of "Marco Polo" survived. But that's another discussion.