An Unearthly Child vs An Unearthly Child - Comparison

Back in 1963, head of BBC drama Sydney Newman rejected the original pilot episode of Doctor Who and gave the production team a chance to remake it and this was broadcast. They changed a variety of things like performance style (softer Doctor, less alien Susan), dialogue (49th century became another time, another place) and design elements.

Here is a side by side comparison of a few key moments from both versions.

As the pilot episode seems to be the only one usually loaded on Youtube many people have not seen the actual broadcast version - this is an attempt to show the difference.

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[BurningPotatoFilms]

The Pilot version feels slightly more polished than the Broadcast version for some reason!

[Darren79]

- I love both versions but the broadcast version has the edge for me as I adore Hartnell's performance and find Waris Hussein's direction much more assured.

[tf2whackyengineer]

I particularly like the darker side of the first doctor, such as he showed here, or with the downed cave man, because his subsequent heroism demonstrates his development.

By the time Ian and Barbara leave, he almost refuses to help them leave, partly because he's worried about their safety, and partly because he's grown attached to them.

Of course, later episodes reveal the Doctor was more noble than most Timelords even before he landed in that junkyard.

[tf2whackyengineer]

I think part of the intent with the broadcast version was to soften the Doctor a bit. I like the laugh, but you're right, it's not the way to lead off.

What I find interesting though is that kidnapping Ian and Barbara seems to be more of an accident in the pilot. Ian grabs him as he walks by the console and perhaps causes the take off. In broadcast, he initiates takeoff while everyone is away from the console.

Broadcast Doctor lacks the overt darkness, but his actions may be darker.

[IAmMrDexB]

1:49 Mystery = Ruined!

[waterfieldV]

Pilot> Broadcast

[Jud Winter]

I like the polite version better, the acting has a more real and tense feel about , the broadcasted version seems dumbed down and Susan is kinda annoying in it when she is not in the original.

[daniel parker]

Hartnell will always be my fav. Even when I was nine, and christifor echelston took over, I still prefered to watch the old ones.

[Alan Reilly]

I find william hartnell's evil laugh in the pilot very unnerving,and many people would not have warmed to him,very effective pilot though to be trapped somewhere and not be able to escape,but i think the broadcast version just had hartnell mischivous which was to be his trademark later on in the series in the broadcast version.what do other people think.

[Saucypants1000]

This kinda got annoying with the screens parallel to each other

[UnofficalDWNerd]

Susan is dressed as Adric in the pilot!

[johnxgin1]

the broadcasted is a bit better.