1970 UFO TV prog

[G4YVM David]

Did anyone else live enthralled by the Gerry Anderson programme UFO?

Im just rewatching these episode and I find them now just as I did then (I was little kid, DoB 1962)...utterly captivating. Today of course I see awful scripts, terrible acting and sloppy sets, but...the models are genius (Meddings I think) and the UFOs eerily creepy. There's something about the programmes that is truly captivating. The wildly cumbersome computers, big screens and erm, pseudo porno Century 21 costumes, and yet...

The models are just superb (as are the girls) and the whole concept screams to be redone but I know the Americans would get it badly wrong as they did when they remade Thunderbirds. There's something about the whole series which is magical. I wish I could stop watching it but it is simply another example of Gerry's genius.

Its not proper vintage technology but it is vintage film making and I am sure many of you see vintage kit re-assigned to a futuristic role in '1980'

[VT FUSE]

David,I trust you are not referring to a particular episode where a certain Lt. Ellis gets dressed? Surely not.Can't see it being screened nowadays!

i think I remember the car driven by Straker had an imp engine underneath?

[Biggles]

I certainly enjoy watching the odd Gerry Anderson production, and trying to identify the various knobs/panels grills etc used in the equipment consoles. But then again I also like watching Pingu. Makes a refreshing change from some of the drivel broadcast nowadays...
Alan.

[The Philpott]

Yes David, i found UFO very watchable. also Space 1999, and to a great extent the SuperMarionation formats he came up with. The sheer amount of watchable stuff that lies dormant in archive and only pops up on Youtube is surprising.

Because of the video nasties storm-in-a-teacup in the '80's, quite a few horror films passed me by and i'm only seeing them now (on the horror channel.) They're not high art by any means, but it's refreshing to step away from excess CGI and the sameness of the incidental music that seems to now be the industry standard for Hollywood. Individuality wins every time for me.

Dave

[buggies]

Originally Posted by VT FUSE

David,I trust you are not referring to a particular episode where a certain Lt. Ellis gets dressed? Surely not.Can't see it being screened nowadays!

Google says https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uah-H5uxWnw

[VT FUSE]

That is correct thought it better for those with an interest to navigate themselves. I am of course a modern man aware of feminist dislike for that sort of exploitation!

[buggies]

I am not going to admit to an interest - just helping others with the search.
Sorry - absolutely non-pc geriatric here...

[Refugee]

My favorite thunderbirds vehicle was the crab logger. U-tube thunderbirds vehicles will bring it up.
Then you have holywood's laws of motion.
1/ Any vehicle that changes speed or direction will always emit a tire screeching sound regardless of surface texture or type.
2/ Any form of transport that makes impact will explode like a napalm bomb.

[cheerfulcharlie]

David you may have yet to see the episode where Straker's temptation is Jane Merrow running round in her bra and pants.

The thing about UFO is, everything looks absolutely gorgeous eh?

I saw one about 10 years ago called The Psychobombs, with lovely Deborah Grant, the atmosphere was terrific and rather prophetic - with the rather odd terrorist actions we were seeing in those days..it did make you wonder who were behind the suicide bombers as we never really found it did we?


On a TV note I think it was the Gerry Anderson team?
who perfected the crystal sync lock so that cameras could film monitors without rolling bars.

[kellys_eye]

I still remember watching them the first time around and can recall the plot lines in advance - something I can't do with many other programs of that era.

A modern remake would go down well although the overt sexism would have to be curtailed - I watched Straker speak condescendingly to Lt Ellis on an episode just yesterday and actually cringed at his words!

But the technology - or lack of it - certainly draws the eye. All those mono TV screens! Hard to believe they couldn't run to colour CRTs even then.... and certainly by 1973 when the last shows went out.

I did hanker for one of the handheld TV 'communicators' they used in Space 1999 though. When Sinclair brought his MTV1B out - a set I carried around the UK coast with me when I was on oil tankers trading around the UK - I was the only person onboard who could watch TV 'at will'.....

[G4YVM David]

I'm not sure there's much sexism as such. There are female colonels, one episode has a woman commanding skydiver and the commander of moonbase is a woman with a female crew. Sure, the ultimate topdogs are male but that was a reflection of society then. The female commanding officers was new.

There seem to be as many exposed hairy male chests as girls legs as well.

I think the condescending dialogue is just poor script and over acting...straker condescends to everyone. He's a pretty poor officer.

The scanty clothes are a Zeitgeist I think, just taken to an extreme. Remember Star Trek thirty years later also had figure hugging impractical uniforms and the character Seven of Nine was as raunchy as it gets!. I preferred UFOs silver skirts. And I loved those purple wigs. Its interesting that Sylvia Anderson foresaw wigs and uniform. It's never yet come to pass, unlike hats. Maybe time will tell

One fact...strakers secretary is both Benedict Cumberbatch's wife and the dizzy secretary in Men from the Ministry

[radioman]

I've been watching this again over the last few weeks : It's currently being shown on the channel 'Forces TV'.
Every other scene with Straker shows him lighting a cigarette...
I've always been fascinated with the sound of the UFO's - I wonder who created these sounds ?

Andy

[pichacker]

For me as a kid I remember staying up late one evening and the announcement that came on before it started warned of drug use and might not be suitable for younger viewers. A bunch of hippies smoking weed circummed to the aliens..... At the time I was watching it in my bedroom on 405 line Sobel/ Philips TV's bought from jumble sales. As I was watching this on "Southern CH10" my parents, who could only get London on C23 UHF were none the wiser.

The aliens "breathed" a fluid didn't they?

Also wasn't one of the leading actresses in Crossroads.

Great Vintage TV.

[MultiDERrentals]

Also wasn't one of the leading actresses in Crossroads.

That would be the lovely Gabrielle Drake, sister of singer songwriter Nick Drake. She was in the cast in the 80s IIRC.

[G4YVM David]

The UFO sounds...yes, amazing

The aliens breathed a fluid for fast space flight, it replaced the air in their lungs which made them less susceptible to compression...very clever and accurate science.

[Ted Kendall]

Originally Posted by G4YVM David

One fact...strakers secretary is both Benedict Cumberbatch's wife and the dizzy secretary in Men from the Ministry

Mother? Wanda Ventham in MFTM? Not sure about that...

[dazzlevision]

Wanda Ventham is Benedict Cumberbatch's mother (in real life). She played Colonel Virginia Lake in UFO.

[jayceebee]

Originally Posted by radioman

I've always been fascinated with the sound of the UFO's - I wonder who created these sounds ?

The electronic sound effects, themes and incidental music for all of Gerry's work until Space:1999 season two was by Barry Gray. I grew up with Gerry Anderson and still find myself listening to Gray's wonderful work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBfgiGsw1Q0

UFO titles recording session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23I8sD4WMqY

UFO end theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2GO3GcZwF0

John.

[Richard_FM]

I managed to miss this when BBC2 repeated it in the 1990s, as I was at college & couldn't get home in time normally, & didn't have my own VCR either.

[G4YVM David]

Quite correct i was getting confused. The MFTM actress is Norma Ronald, Strakers secretary. My mistake.