Now THIS is a classic clip. The Autons looked so much creepier back then.

Undoubtedly one of the greatest moments of Doctor Who, turning something so ordinary into extremely terrifying. :DD

You have to love Pertwee's era!

"Spearhead from Space" is one of my favourites not just because it is Jon Pertwee's debut story, but also because the serial was filmed entirely on location due to the BBC studios going on strike. I like studio scenes, but it does feels more realistic when they film on location.

One of the best scenes of classic who, directed so perfectly, too. So creepy as well, the RTD autons don't compare.

huh, all this time I thought that the Autons' first appearance was in Eccleston's first episode. I think I prefer these ones, they look just a bit freakier

Now I LOVE THE MUSIC. The music gets higher pitch as the tension rises and the sirens and the crashing sounds make the sound of chaos of it. Love it.

The (Spearhead from Space) Autons were the only Doctor Who villain who ever truly scared me as a child (though the giant maggots in "The green death" creeped me out too) I remember watching our VHS of this in the early 90's and being absolutely terrified of them, and always feeling oddly nervous every time we ever had to park the car in front of any clothes shops with mannequins in the windows. XD The "Terror of the Autons" Autons were nowhere near as frightening.

Did anyone else notice that the Mondasian Cybermen's headguns in The Doctor Falls made the same noise as the Auton's weird buzzing sound?

This has to be one of my favorite episodes of classic doctor who. The designs are classic and this cemented the Autons as great villains through out the The Third doctor's run and modern who.

Back when Autons fired & they actually HIT people.

You see, what the 'New Who' Autons are missing are garish dressing gowns for each of them to wear!

Just this one scene manages to be scarier than the entire new series. Old dr who was actually frightening, even as an adult watching it...

Every time I walk down Ealing Broadway and go past Marks and Spencer's I get the urge to run in to the shop window and reenact the scene.

A classic moment indeed. This whole story was brilliant IMO. One of the greatest first stories for a doctor.

And RIP Derek Martinus, one of the best Doctor Who directors.

Filmed just up the road from Ealing studios in Ealing Broadway. Wish I had a time machine, it looks so much classier & peaceful back then. Despite the rampaging plastic people! Now it's all dirty roads, loud noise, crowded pavements and traffic congestion. Yes, I understand this was probably filmed on a Sunday and the surrounding streets were closed off, but it just looks like a totally different place from today.

Old episodes are awesome. This one was my favourite. My friends think I'm weird for preferring older episodes.

Heh, at first I almost thought it was Hartnell in the yellow metal.. thing at 0:09

1:04 bottom left corner, some great acting dead there mate.

Those are actually more impressive than the 2005 "Rose" ones...

I'm a fan of new who but I love the old episodes as well. especially this one. the Autons look a lot better than the ones in the revival.

I can never get over the acrobatics of the dude that dies at 1:14. It's even worse in the next shot that he managed to go from face down to on his back as people run past him. XD

Ugh, The Autons. I hope I will never meet them again.

I remember this being one if my favorite scenes when I was young. Thanks for the nostalgia!

In 1970 I was 6 and literally terrified of these "plastic men" as I called them then - these, Captain Black & Christopher Lee's Count Dracula LOL

I always think if something makes an impact, then you remember it forever, and the Auton's from the Jon Pertwee era certainly did that. Since those days, i cannot walk past a shop window, without looking to see if the hands on the mannequins look a bit suspicious.....:)

i love the camera work in this episode. actually feels more real, unlike all the other episodes (looking at you, 4th doc era) where it was just cramped studios with one camera zooming and panning at inappropriate times

This scene has really stuck in my memory.....i mean all the way back to 1970. Just shows what an impact the Autons had on the Dr Who viewing audience of the day.

A classic who! I watched this on VHS all the time when I was younger. I might have to dust it off after seeing this again ha

This was the freakiest thing ever! I remember watching this as a kid and being terrified. Something so dystopian about it, and yet strangely believable with the mundane High Street setting.

This was really cold to see as I have only watched new who

This story is my very first Who memory. I had nightmares for years because of this scene, those dummies coming to life haunted me. My life long love of Doctor Who started right here.

Season 7 is without a doubt, in my opinion, the best series of Doctor Who EVER. There may only be four stories, but each and every single one of them is an absolute classic and gets a 10/10 from me. Spearhead from Space, is the best opening story for a Doctor ever, with an extremely strong storyline which is very fast paced, spectacular monsters, the Autons, which deliver some very iconic moments (smashing out of department store windows, waking up in Madame Tussauds) and don't forget the almighty Nestene Consciousness which strangles and chokes the Doctor! Fantastic characters all around, and Pertwee slips into the role of the Doctor magnificently. 10/10 Doctor Who and the Silurians is a gritty and atmospheric classic, with the first three episodes being the best build up ever in Doctor Who. The story is full of mystery and surprises, and constantly delivers some new in every episode. There is a fantastic central storyline, with some equally superb sub-plots. The Silurian plague sub-plot in Episodes 5 and 6 is one of the best things in Doctor Who ever, and a loose Silurian in episodes 2 and 3 is another marvellous sub-plot. The Silurians themselves are utterly brilliant, with superb concepts and remarkable costumes and voices. EVERY SINGLE character is excellent, Pertwee is wonderful as always, and I love his disgust at the Brigadier in the end. 10/10 The Ambassadors of Death is my personal favourite from the season and possibly my favourite story of all time, although the majority of fans dislike the story. It is PURE science fiction and REALLY GOOD science fiction. It has a really mysterious storyline which keeps the viewer hooked (even on repeat viewings). The first two episodes are spectacular build up and possibly the bets introductory episodes to a Doctor who story EVER. Every single character is excellent, and character development is top notch aswell. There are thrilling moments, clever and witty moments and funny moments, brining an equal balance of themes to the mix, Cliffhangers are spot on especially the ones in episode 2 and episode 4. The ambassadors are fantastic villains (if villains sit eh right word 'hint 'hint') and their concepts and background are fascinating too. An anti-climatic ending may be present, but it is not enough to spoil seven episodes of pure perfection and enjoyment. 10/10 And finally Inferno, the fan favourite from the season, which is arguably Pertwee's best and the best script form the 1970's. I can see why people think that, it is an ABSOULUTE MASTERPIECE. A really really well written script by Don Houghton, which has everything you want in it, solid characters, with solid character development, (and on screen solid performances) a super creative and fascinating storyline, with the concept of a parallel world being written and represented absolutely OUTSTANDINGLY. The characters are written brilliantly in both worlds, and all of the changes and differences being shown between them is excellent too. A solid central storyline, which actually presents a massive threat and makes you feel like you are there with the doomed characters, and the build up to the disaster is extremely good. When the world finally ends, it is juts gobsmacking. There is also solid direction from Douglas Camfield present. The hairy Primords are a bit useless but everything else that is in the story, is so so good it just makes you forget about how pointless they are. 10/10 So overall, with four ten out of ten stories that are all absolute perfection- what does that give us? The best season of Doctor Who ever. That phrase isn't good enough. Season 7 is the GOD, the MOTHER of all Doctor Who seasons. There is no competition, all other seasons of Doctor Who can cry in a corner in shame, because this one is the summit, the almighty one. The GREATEST THING DOCTOR WHO HAS EVER PRODUCED.

the classic days could be pretty brutal when they wanted to be

Getting shot in the back is one of the worst ways to go. RIP Those folks on the walk 😢

I saw this in the early 70's' when I was a little kid and it scared the crap out of me.

The start of the glory years for the show: colour, a much bigger budget, new studios, and a fantastic Doctor.

This was my first Third Doctor serial. Absolutely loved it, as goofy as it was.

Omg, this was one of the first Doctor Who episodes I'd ever watched, and was the exact one that got me into the series :D I remember that I used to have the old episode repeats recorded for me while I went to Scouts, and then watch them when I got back.

The Autons definitely need to make a comeback. If they do, they need to make them both scary and deadly like in their debut episode.

Still scares me over fifty years later. I'm still scarred....and loving it !!!

Funny how Earth seems to be the hot spot for most alien invasions. The Nestene Consciousness, Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Zygons, Ice Warriors, Weeping Angels, The Silence, Atraxi, Cheetah People... I'll never get done saving you lot.

My favourite classic who scene! Pertwee's era had so many good scenes. I love the monster invasions in his era like the scene with sea devils coming out the ocean

This gave me nightmares when I was little lmao 😂

Just the classic fashion of the early 1970s, my grandmother told me she used to wear clothes like bell bottoms and corduroy jackets.

The Autons are one enemy that really was cooler back then. "Rose" just didn't do them justice. Moffat did a little better in "The Padorica Opens" / "The Big Bang", but they weren't the main antagonists, so...

I will remember this Classic Who scene forever. Pertwee was a brilliant Doctor.

The Pertwee era wasn’t my favorite but this is what I wanted especially a first episode. Mayhem, anarchy and Violence.

This was the only Doctor Who done on film format.

Much creepier than the new version.

Ealing broadway in the 70s John Saunders is M/S now!!!

Isn't there usually a little subscribe advertisement at the end? I don't recall seeing it.

0:18 - 0:23 When the BBC couldn't afford to smash through windows.. ahhh :)

By doctor who standards, this is really creepy. The gradually building music, the lifeless faces and the sound of people desperate to escape.

Along with certain scenes of the Nightmare on Elm Streeet franchise and the Exorcist this one of the few things that still for some reason manages to horrify me. And it was much worse when I first saw it (in the late 1980s).

I wonder if these were the inspiration for the Working Joe in Alien: Isolation? I like to think this episode is the reason I can't play that game.

Love seeing this , this is in Ealing where I still live , I recognize the old John Sanders shop that I used to go in which is now Marks and Spencers , the Bentalls opposite must have been knocked down before I was there as I remember it being HMV and now has become Morrisons.

One thing about Spearhead From Space I like is its all filmed in film,rather than video.Why were most all programs outdoor scenes in film,but filmed on video for interior scenes?

I would watch Classic Dr. Who all the time when I was a kid. I still watch them today + the recent Dr.Who's. I love how all of its going. :)

Those expressionless Autons, dressed in the latest fashions with the price tags on, slo-o-o-wly advancing on bystanders, crack me up.

I find the Autons somewhat creepy here, but in Rose they were just laughable.

1:14 - That forward roll death tho.

It always blew me away since I was 10 at the fact that this episode (and many over classic episodes) were rated U by the BBFC, yet much less violent and more lighter hearted episodes from the new era are rated PG

I love this story for ma the autons need to be back in doctor who they are freaky, scary and amazing

This gave me nightmares for years as a kid. Good stuff looking back though

'Shop window dummies attacking people?!? Well just keep a stiff upper lip then why don't you!' Gotta love the Brigadier, surprised there aren't mock up pictures of him on a General Kitchener poster.

One of the best scenes of Classic Who in my opinion

1:04 The man in the bottom left corner moves!

I think I found a new example of Automatonophobia

This scene was burned into my memory as a child. Now I'm old I remember it was frightening, yet I always knew the Doctor and the Brigadier and his clumsy soldiers would sort it out.

I bet after this episode broadcast nobody looked at a shopfront mannequin the same 😂😂

1:14 RIP a member of the peaceful ambulance alien race who was living among humans.

I think the Autons should've kept the ever present humming noise they make in this clip for their other stories, it adds an extra layer to their creepy vibe.

this 1 minute of a 50 year old tv show is the reason I'm terrified of mannequins today

Great clip, you should put a screen at the end telling people to subscribe!

"--we are showroom dummies--"

Sooo creepy! One of my favorite Doctor Who monster scenes ever!

I love the Autons for how alien they are in every sense of the word. A bodiless entity that can seperate itself into many individuals and exist in living plastic which it can manipulate Plus wirh Channing. He gives a strong otherwordly presence on his own

Hope the Autons come back in series 9 there one of the best villains in Doctor Who...

Me: "Why do I have to do everything for you? This is impossible, there's nothing I can do." My Mother: 1:26

Ahh awesome, the clip was published on my Birthday :D and it happens to be one of my favourite Doctor Who stories of all time.

This is what a surprise terror attack will look like in 2050.

The guy at 1:14 is so manly, he does a roly-poly when already dead.

The first Dr Who series I can remember watching. I was three years old and terrified.

I had a fear of shop Window dummies as a kid. I was born in 1979 but i must have seen this clip, as I do vaguely recall it

1:16 a strange moment of falling

I remember watching that when I was kid. It scared the crap out of me.

50 years ago today this was broadcast!

Still the best Auton story imo, and not only this, this is also my favorite post-regeneration story, by now of course, because I'm a new fan of the show and only watched this, Rose, Christmas Invasion and the Eleventh Hour.

My top 10 favourite Doctor Who villains of all time #1 The Autons

I'm glad they finally added this clip.

Remember this when I was a kid. Could never go in C&A for a while

it's hard to communicate just how different this feels when you either watch the episodes from beginning to end, or if you were actually there in 1970. the last serial, The War Games, was incredible - but directorially and narrativally this was entirely different. in fact, it's SO different, it stands head & shoulders above "Dr Who and the Silurians", the next serial. the show never really had this cinematographic quality again unti maybe Time Flight. or more likely, the 96 movie. (also, it's a surprisingly violent serial. watch the first ep and you'll see what i mean!)

Is it just me, or does the one at 0:25 look a little bit like Matt Smith? Maybe it's the hair....?

I swear to god the man in that shed is William Hartnell 0:10

I have that shatter sound effect on one of those sound machines

Attack Of The Barry Normans

I think that this is my favorite Auton model

This scared the life out of me as a kid back then in the 70s