Space 1999 - Series 1 Space 1999 (DVD)

...way for something else. And Space 1999 is most definitely IT! Probably best remembered for its state of the art sets, banging electric guitar music and enormous flares 1974 was the year that the creator of Thunderbirds bought his live action sci-fi spectacular to life.

With Doctor Who continuing to be "THE" sci-fi series to excel all others ITC entertainment decided to get a part of the action. While the good Doctor was exiled ...
...the task of making a space spectacular.

The first series of Space 1999 was a groundbreaking success and a second series was immediately drafted. Space 1999 although a British project had some American and Canadian funding this made the show a truly international piece of television history.
Space 1999 was continuously shown up until around 1985 and became a crucial part of Saturday afternoon television on the ITV. Now its ... more

Some of you may have guessed I was paving the way for something else. And Space 1999 is most definitely IT! Probably best remembered for its state of the art sets, banging electric guitar music and enormous flares 1974 was the year that the creator of Thunderbirds bought his live action sci-fi spectacular to life.

With Doctor Who continuing to be "THE" sci-fi series to excel all others ITC entertainment decided to get a part of the action. While the good Doctor was exiled to earth in the guise of Jon Pertwee; Gerry Anderson was give the task of making a space spectacular.

The first series of Space 1999 was a groundbreaking success and a second series was immediately drafted. Space 1999 although a British project had some American and Canadian funding this made the show a truly international piece of television history.
Space 1999 was continuously shown up until around 1985 and became a crucial part of Saturday afternoon television on the ITV. Now its shown on ITV 4 but episodes are missing and the show is out of correct order. This box set provides all episodes from series 1 in the correct chronological order.

1 - Breakaway

On the Moon a group of scientists are gathered to help supervise the first manned mission to a newly discovered planet Meta. Commander Koenig is called in to oversee the whole operation. However a strange incident has occurred on the space station many of the crew have died from a mystery illness and now more are sick. Dr Helena Russell has reason to believe that radiation is the cause of the illness; but before she has time to pursue the situation one of the nuclear containment area's explode cause Moonbase Alpha and the moon to be launched thousands of miles off from its original location.

2 - Matter Of Life And Death

When an Eagle (a space vehicle used by the residents of Moonbase) returns from flight to Terra Nova with one of its crew in a comatose state the station goes into panic. But the situation is made worse by the appearance of Lee Russell the husband of Helena lost in space some 4 years prior.

3 - Black Sun

As the moon is drawn into a black sun Koenig sends an eagle to investigate; however no sooner has it taken off than the force of the sun rips the ship apart. Koenig realises that at the current speed of travel the same will happen to the moonbase in 3 days.

4 - Ring Around The Moon

Ted Clifford is struck by a freak energy beam; his brain is completely burned out but he has been turned into a relay device sending information onto a nearby planet; no sooner have the Alphans (term used to describe the moonbase residents) realised this than they discover the same fate awaits Helena.

5 - Earthbound

A space vehicle carrying peace loving Kaledions crash lands on the moon; on route to Earth after a 75 year mission. However when the Alphans agree to help get them mobile again the leader turns on the Alphans promising to destroy them all.

6 - Another Time, Another Place

Regina a Alphan is involved in a space trauma when she recovers she is alarmed to discover that both Koenig and Alan Carter are still alive. She also believes she is married to Alan. When Koenig investigates Regina's story he is horrified to discover a crashed Eagle with this and Alans bodies in the pilots seats.

7 - Missing Link

In a freak accident Koenig and Moonbase alpha somehow become as one; when Koenig health begins to fail Moonbase starts to fall apart.

8 - Guardian Of Piri

The Alphans become drugged by an overpowering force known as the guardian of Piri. They leave the Moonbase to live in peace and harmony on Piri. However Koenig and Helena are not affected by this creature and see Piri for what it truly is.

9 - Force Of Life

When a strange force of light puts the Alphans in a form of suspended animation one crew member is affected more so than the others. When they return to normal Anton has a new mission to destroy all of Moonbase Alpha.

10 - Alpha Child

One the first child born on the moon ages dramatically to that of a five year old within just 3 hours of its birth it's a race against the clock to stop him from reaching old age and dying in less than a week.

11 - The Last Sunset

When the Moon approaches the planet Ariel thousands of strange space vessels land on the planet emitting air and sunlight. This gives the Alphans the freedom to walk around the planet as if they were back on Earth. But is their something more sinister to the arrival?

12 - Voyagers Return

A spacecraft sent from Earth 15 years prior comes into contact with Moonbase; after the initial joy a new fear walks the Moons surface.

13 - Collision Course

Moonbase and the planet Atheria are on a collision course with each other and the only way to prevent the destruction of both is to blow up half of the Monnbase sending Alpha in a new direction…. But at what cost of life?

14 - Death's Other Dominion

On a frozen planet the Alphans meet Dr Cabot Rowland who tells the Alphans that he and the rest of the planet Ultima Thule's inhabitants have been on the planet for 880 years and none of them have aged a day.

15 - The Full Circle

When Eagle 6 flies off on a mission it later returns with the entire crew missing; the only person on board is a primitive caveman.

16 - End Of Eternity

A serial killer called Balour stalks the Alphans on Moonbase.

17 - War Games

When a fleet of warship close in on Alpha Koenig decides to launch an attack, however there weapons are powerless against the warships. When they return fire most of Alpha is destroyed along with 128 crew; then the shock news arrives these warships came in peace.

18 - The Last Enemy

Moonbase is caught between two warring planets; without wanting too they discover that for one race they have provided a definite advantage.

19 - The Troubled Spirit

A deadly plan like virus runs through Alpha turning victims into half human half plant hybrids. In an attempt to find out the reason for this disease the Alphans discover that the virus is retaliation for a murder they have not yet committed.

20 - Space Brain

A connection is made between an Alien race and the Egyptians; what's new I ask. This terribly boring filler episode has only one interesting factor a whole 7 minute musical into section.

21 - The Infernal Machine

A deadly robot captures the Moonbases top ranks while attacking the rest of the Alphans all of whom have limited training to overpower the psycho robot.

22 - Mission Of The Darians

The Alphans receive a distress call from the giant space craft Daria a massive 26 miles in diameter. When they board the ship they descover a group of religious fanatics who reward imperfection with execution.

An amazing ending to series 1.

Cast:-

Commander John Koenig Martin Landau
Dr. Helena Russell Barbara Bain
Professor Victor Bergman Barry Morse
Paul Morrow Prentis Hancock
Captain Alan Carter Nick Tate
Sandra Benes Zienia Merton
David Kano Clifton Jones
Dr. Bob Mathias Anton Phillips
Tanya Alexander Suzanne Roquette

Overview

The first series had an impressive start a long list of guest stars from Joan Collins, Christopher Lee, and Richard Johnson to Brian Blessed.To have such high calibre of cast back then was quite a shock, and possibly was the reason for the shows success.

Personally for me Space 1999 fails because it was trying to reach too wide an audience; the idea was that it would appeal to both Adults and Children. However in trying to achieve this goal they made the show too psychological; thus making the show difficult for children to understand. I personally believe this was the reason the show never continued beyond the second season, because when the second series was aired it was shown passed many children's bedtimes removing half the audience.

Of real annoyance to me was the obligatory one death per episode minimum; now those who have read many of my reviews would realise for me this was not a bad thing; but what annoyed me was that there were not that many on the Moonbase to start with, and to have at least one person die per episode meant that before the show reached a third series that they would need to have a new series of trapped inhabitants to make the story continue. The format was tired from another point of view also; each time a new character was introduced you knew damn well that before the episode was out they would be dead. A bit of character building would have allowed sorrow over the death of the Alphans; but after 2 episodes each death is met with almost joy, which obviously was not the intention.

Where the serious without a doubt succeeds is the sets; it seems like no expense was spared when filming each series. Massive sets and models were created; bare in mind that this was before the days of CGI and each explosion and each set needed to look great. There was none of the rocky sets that Doctor Who had, everything was rock solid, expensive looking and polished; very much how you would expect alien life forms to be.

For me this is great to watch now; for simple nostalgia effect however if your considering such a purchase for a child then please save your money; they will watch it but they certainly will not understand it. From some aspects even now in my early 30's I'm still baffled by some of the deep underlying plots.

Special Features:-

Audio Commentaries on most episodes with either Gerry or Sylvia Anderson.

A making of documentary, this shows how the sets were made and gives lots of information about how they achieved such realistic explosions.

The original version of the "bling bling" space 1999 theme.

A series of trailers for movie versions of the series (these usually consisted of two adjoining stories edited together to look like one complete 90-120 minute story).

Lots of deleted scenes and unused special effects footage.

Clapperboard: A top 70's TV show; this is shown in two episodes to explain the work of Gerry Anderson from Thunderbirds and Stingray to Space 1999 and UFO.

There are no additional languages and no subtitles.

Now down to the crunch, the retail price for this monster is £79.99 however you can buy this for £63.99 from Play.com this includes free delivery.

 

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