Why so few 3rd doc DVD's?

[Rarewolf]

You'd probably be Ok importing the R2 version, at least to start with the R2 discs were dual encoded for R4, since both were PAL.

 

[ClayinCA]

I am also counting Shada as unreleased, because we all know, sooner or later, it's coming.

I'm actually surprised they haven't reissued the 1992 video to DVD ages ago. I was half expecting it to be offered as a 2-pak with the not-well-regarded Horns of Nimon (which was the story that preceded it), but they're putting Nimon into that Myths and Legends set instead.

It might never come: it was reported at the time of the VHS release that Douglas Adams wasn't happy about the release of something half-finished, and which he frequently said with hindsight was remembered a lot better for not being made than it would have been if it had been shown.
But (reportedly) he'd signed the contract for the VHS release while rushing through a pile of other royalties paperwork, so he couldn't go back - though if you look at the VHS pack, it states that he was giving his royalties to charity.
IF (if stressed!) that's accurate, then the Adams estate might not give an Ok to a DVD version. Though of course, they did OK the Salmon of Doubt book (but have now cancelled the radio production), and the Shada animation.

Frankly, if the Adams estate got behind the Eoin Colfer book, I should think they'd pretty much allow anything...

 

[diankra]

Frankly, if the Adams estate got behind the Eoin Colfer book, I should think they'd pretty much allow anything...

Fair point (And Another Thing's Nto That bad, but it's basically a Zaphod book with cameos by everyone else, and not a patch on the Zaphod-centric Fits 7 & 8 of the radio series).
But they have vetoed the third Dirk Gently radio series, which is a pity, as the hints as to where it might be going dropped into the second one had me looking forward to it.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Frankly, if it meant releasing a "vanilla" version of a lost story and putting the budget for commentaries, featurettes, Easter eggs, etc, towards animating Episode 4 of The Tenth Planet, I'd be fine with that...

Agreed. I've been consistently impressed with the amount of care that the BBC puts into all of their DVD releases. However, as great as those bonus features are, I too would gladly sacrifice them in exchange for animated versions of the lost Hartnell & Troughton episodes.

In some ways, the animated episodes of "The Invasion" are even better than the surviving live action episodes. They are much more cinematic since they are not limited in their shot selection by a skimpy 1960s BBC television production budget. Although, there is a trade off. I think the animation is not very good at capturing the nuances of the actors' performances. For such a skilled, precise actor as Patrick Troughton, this is especially a pity.

 

[Anji]

Jon's stuff should be a high priority for the BBC because he, of all the doctors, was the one who really promoted the series when it reached it's peak of popularity in the 1980s.

I saw him at I can't tell you how many conventions and he was nothing but a nice, fun-loving guy. I miss him dearly.

And Patrick, what a sweetie. Put him and Jon together and they were the funniest thing you'd ever seen. They did an act together that was so funny people had to walk out of the theater to catch their breath they were laughing so hard.

 

[Botany Bay]

Wow, that would have been incredible Anji!

I'd have to say that the 2nd doc is becoming my second favourite behind Pertwee. So sad that so much of his work is lost.

I'm sure many more incomplete episodes will be animated eventually - we might just have to wait till all the complete ones are released though.