An Unearthly Child
- Episode aired Nov 23, 1963
- TV-G
- 23m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2.2K
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)
- Directors
- Waris Hussein
- Douglas Camfield(film inserts) (uncredited)
- Writers
- Anthony Coburn
- David Whitaker
- 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)
Featured review
An Unearthly Child (Episodes 1-4)
"An Unearthly Child", the first episode of the story with the same title, is absolutely magical and in my opinion one of the greatest first episodes any television series has ever had. It introduces all the main characters the show would have in its first season, establishes the mysterious and alien nature of the Doctor, and clearly develops the characters and conveys Ian and Barbara's emotions wonderfully and realistically- all in the space of a self-contained 23 minute episode that has little to do with the rest of the first Doctor Who serial. The fact that this was intended, at this point, as an educational programme for children makes it even more worthy of praise because the script, acting, and direction prove that this production crew were taking the programme seriously and not talking down to the audience.
The follow-up, "The Cave of Skulls", is a really excellent episode as the Doctor and his companions travel back in time and attempt to determine where they are while we learn more about the struggle within a caveman tribe, a struggle centered around fire. The character development here, both for the tribe and for the main characters, is absolutely astonishing, in particular the writing for Ian and Barbara. Sadly "The Forest of Fear", the third episode, is very mediocre and outside some nice atmospheric moments quite boring. At this point Coburn seems to be running out of ideas, but "The Firemaker", the conclusion to the story, is quite solid and enjoyable and at times tense particularly toward the end.
"An Unearthly Child", also known as "The Tribe of Gum", is notably well-directed. Warris Hussein, particularly with the first episode, uses many stylistic devices quite brilliantly, especially considering this was shot on video on massive cameras one could barely move! Hussein really makes the episodes feel cinematic and not theatrical like many Doctor Who stories would feel throughout its initial 26 year run. Hussein deservedly went on to a solid career directing films, working with several notable actors and making one much-remembered classic, "Melody", in addition to several other films and miniseries that are fondly remembered.
"The Tribe of Gum"/"An Unearthly Child" is a surprisingly effective and solid start to Doctor Who's 26 year run (I'm sure the idea that it would run so long never crossed the producers' minds), and although the story itself is not too exciting or memorable on paper it is written quite well here.
Episode 1: 10/10, Episode 2: 8/10, Episode 3: 5/10, Episode 4: 7/10.
Average: 7.5/10
The follow-up, "The Cave of Skulls", is a really excellent episode as the Doctor and his companions travel back in time and attempt to determine where they are while we learn more about the struggle within a caveman tribe, a struggle centered around fire. The character development here, both for the tribe and for the main characters, is absolutely astonishing, in particular the writing for Ian and Barbara. Sadly "The Forest of Fear", the third episode, is very mediocre and outside some nice atmospheric moments quite boring. At this point Coburn seems to be running out of ideas, but "The Firemaker", the conclusion to the story, is quite solid and enjoyable and at times tense particularly toward the end.
"An Unearthly Child", also known as "The Tribe of Gum", is notably well-directed. Warris Hussein, particularly with the first episode, uses many stylistic devices quite brilliantly, especially considering this was shot on video on massive cameras one could barely move! Hussein really makes the episodes feel cinematic and not theatrical like many Doctor Who stories would feel throughout its initial 26 year run. Hussein deservedly went on to a solid career directing films, working with several notable actors and making one much-remembered classic, "Melody", in addition to several other films and miniseries that are fondly remembered.
"The Tribe of Gum"/"An Unearthly Child" is a surprisingly effective and solid start to Doctor Who's 26 year run (I'm sure the idea that it would run so long never crossed the producers' minds), and although the story itself is not too exciting or memorable on paper it is written quite well here.
Episode 1: 10/10, Episode 2: 8/10, Episode 3: 5/10, Episode 4: 7/10.
Average: 7.5/10
helpful•151
- ametaphysicalshark
- Jul 19, 2007
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
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of An Unearthly Child (1963) in Australia?
Answer