The Hand of Fear: DVD Review

A new DVD release to get your fingers on.

This month's classic series Doctor Who DVD is 1976's creepy tale The Hand of Fear. Starring Tom Baker as the Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, it's the story of a disembodied stone hand that comes to life and starts possessing people.

The first person taken over by the hand is poor Sarah Jane, who ends up causing a full-scale alert in a nuclear power station. It soon turns out that the hand is in fact the last surviving part of an alien criminal called Eldrad - a criminal who intends to come back to life by any means necessary...

There's a comprehensive package of extra features for this DVD. The highlight is a magnificent 50-minute documentary called Changing Time, which focuses on the character of Sarah Jane Smith and actress Elisabeth Sladen's time on the programme. Joining Elisabeth for this documentary are Tom Baker, co-writer Bob Baker, producer Philip Hinchcliffe and guest star Judith Paris.

Another highlight of the disc is a very rare piece of footage from the first ever edition of Saturday morning kids' show Swap Shop, shown in October 1976. Shown on the day that the first episode of The Hand of Fear was transmitted, this clip features Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen being interviewed by Noel Edmonds and answering young viewers' phone calls, and it's utterly charming.

Throw in a very amusing commentary by Tom, Elisabeth, Judith Paris, Philip Hinchcliffe and Bob Baker, a photo gallery, production subtitles, original TV links and voiceovers and PDFs of the Radio Times listings for The Hand of Fear and the 1977 Doctor Who Annual, and you've got a great release.

Send us your comment now. We'll publish the best on this page.

matthias
it was a great end for sarah jane smith in this episode. Glad she made her own tv show a little scary like the dvd cover. The speciel effects were bad they used to be like that.The ending in part 4 was good good dvd watch it.

leah
i thought the episode was brilliant it really showed how much the doctor cares for sarah jane

Georgina Baker
I'm only 12 and everyone evan my mum and dad think i'm strange watching the classics but i think elisabeth sladen plays a great part in this story as it's her last unless you know she's leaving you wont no and the way she cope with it too! Sarah Jane Smith's the real who in dr who! p.s Eldrad Must Live!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark Venables
Bob Baker and Dave Martin have written a formidable adventure here,Judith Paris gives a super performance as the female Eldrad,nice to see another female villain,the departure of Sarah Jane is touching and sad,the end of an era,

Tomas
A great Doctor Who story with 'hand' jokes like "It's not 'armless". Elisabeth Sladen does a great job and the plot is interesting, a bit odd but interseting but I think Part Four is a let down.

Trevor Smith
A really great, exciting story. The location inside a real nuclear power plant adds to the excitement. Sarah-Jane's exit is vwey moving. A great DVD.

David B., USA
Excellent episode to get available on DVD finally. Would love to see 'Face of Evil' and 'Masque of Mandragora' soon too!

Wayne Kloed
What can i say but brilliant, the best dr the departure of one of the best companions and some excellent documentries

Sushi
I watched The Hand Of Fear recently and loved every bit of it, from Sarah Jane's possession, to Eldrad's sex changing. Then of course, there's the scene where Sarah Jane leaves, a far less drawn out but just as sweet goodbye as Rose's.

timelord
minted what a emotional ending

Lawrance Cooper
Well, At Least We've Seen Her At School Reunion and we are going to see her in the sarah jane adventures

Emma cook
I think it was sad when Sahra left the Doctor. SOB!

Phillip Nicholls
i always have fond memories of this story as a kid, as it was quite scary stuff when you're a child of course plus it had a good villain starting of the hand which was a bit like thing from the Addams Family becoming Eldred who was such a surprise when he turned from a man to a woman and it was such a great emotional exit and finale to Sarah Jane Smith from Tom Baker's Doctor! Thanks to the Bbc as always for some great extras too expecially the Changing Time documentary, Cheers!!

Henry
I am so sad that the doctors companion leaving but it is also a door for other stories to come

Roger
When I first watched Doctor Who, I only knew of Doctor ever travelling with Sarah. So when she left it felt like the end of an era, which it was. Not a bad story. Though there are better ones that could've been released.

Josh S
I think this release is great, and another story with Sarah Jane Smith in it. She is my favourite companion and I can't wait to by this DVD. Thankyou BBC

Andy
Aaaar !Why do they keep telling Mac users to Option-click the DVD to access the PDF content on these things ? It should be double-click.

edward hogge
I just want to say I love the Dr who series.. I have since I was a youngster. its hard to find out what is going on with the series over here in the U.S. Are they ever going to have a revenge of the cyberman DVD release? Thanks for the Fantastic Job.. Ed

James Gardener
I didn't really know what to expect, but the story exceeded all expectations, and leaving as much time as it did for Sarah's leaving scene was undoubtably a good idea.

Rita Daisy
Thank goodness, this excellent adventure has finally got on to DVD. It's so rare to get on video and now we have it digitally remastered, and with commentaries and special features galore!!! Keep up the good work Restoration Team!!!!

martin
A great DVD. One of the best stories with some wonderful special features. You forget how great The Doctor and Sarah and Tom and Elisabeth were together.

Daniel Hughes
Great story and documentary feature, I would recommend it.

adam peter shone
This story of doctor who looks quite good and very exiting because I love Doctor who

Kerry
This is a really good DVD and I recommend it to any Doctor Who fans. It is also scary but anyone can watch it - a family DVD(maybe not the adults.)

Cyber Leader
Not seen this story for years, so a good choice for release. I seem to recall the hand as a ropey special effect (but weren't they all!). Fans of the (superb) "new" show don't know they're born!

Charlotte
When I went to playgroup I didn't know one of the helpers mates was Elisabeth Sladen .When I found out I was gobsmacked.

Dave Bloomer
A wonderful story. All the characters are brought excellently to life. I loved the documentary on it but it does seem to off in some weird tangents instead of focusing just on the story in question. A great farewell scene. Was it all 30 years ago?

Dave
BRILLIANT! It's fab. Tom Baker is so funny on the commentry and on the documentry! Brilliant story. Brilliant Bonus Features. Buy it NOW!

Paul
Great episode and great extras, a true classic. Can we have more of these please???

Sophie
This DVD seems to have all the right ingredients- a weirdo alien monster, an assistant in terrible danger and a doctor to save the day. The only drawback is the fact that it doesn't seem to include David Tennant. Shame.

leanne
i haven't actually seen it yet but i am saving up to buy it.this review has made me want to buy it even more

Alex Scriven
I just got this a couple of days ago. Not the greatest of stories but still highly enjoyable. The goodbye scene was both funny and sad

david mitchell
very suprised nice little dvd tom baker commentary hilarious awesome pic quality too 10/10

Stubs
Good choice. A moving story and a genuine reason to film in a rock quarry. Good extras as usual. Lokking forward to Sontaran experiment but please what about Robot and Invasion of the Dinosaurs not to mention Planet of the Spiders and Time Warrior. About time a Pertwee/Sladen story was released.

Keiran The Great
My copy arrived today - I'm soooo excited! I hope it's as fantastic as I rememeber... I'll watch it now to see!

Jim Curtis
I never got to see this story, I can't wait to rush out and get it, I hear that it is really good.

Adam Clark
I'm going to love this DVD. An entire documentary focusing on Elisabeth Sladen's most-loved character Sarah Jane Smith. GREAT!!!

Tom Hall
Seen this classic Doctorwho Episode on Uktv Gold, loved it, saving up to get it on DVD for sure.

Jamie
Just excellent, what a great release. I remember this as a boy! Loved it! I couldn't believe that Sarah would ever leave... and then she was gone!

John McIver
Thanks for releasing this on DVD. The second hand video is ridiculously expensive to obtain and it's a great story.

Will
People need to understand the new series in order to fully understand the new one. This DVD really does this. Also the Invasion is teaching new fans about the old and new.

Andrew Gunn
I can't wait to buy the hand of fear. After watching Genesis of the Daleks I'd love to see another classic series .

david
I remember this story when it was first shown. Really scary at the time! Look forward to seeing the DVD!

Ashleigh
I like this adventure.. the whole Nuclear thing is very cool and Sarah Jane is at her Andy Pandy-lookie-likey best! Can't wait to get this on DVD

Paul
A great release for a great story, roll on Sontaran Experiment!!!

Dalek13
I've never actually seen this but with Sarah Jane in it I'm sure it will be brilliant!

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