It's not the 1935 Hitchcock classic, but this sturdy 1978 adaptation of John Buchan's The Thirty Nine Steps is still a rollicking good adventure. In keeping with the Boys' Own derring-do of the story (set in Edwardian London and the Scottish Highlands), the movie maintains a brisk pace that's interrupted only for tea or cocktails. Robert Powell is Richard Hannay, the man who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a dastardly Prussian plot to assassinate the Greek Prime Minister. Framed for murder, Hannay must flee to Scotland and attempt to clear his name whilst outwitting the prune-faced Prussian agents. Among all the deftly choreographed action sequences and careful period settings there's a strong vein of humour in the film, and if it wasn't for the numerous murders there would be little reason for PG certification. The grand dénouement comes with the realisation that the predicted time for the assassination is linked to Big Ben; unlike the earlier movie this version climaxes memorably with Powell hanging from the clock's minute hand. It might not be Hitchcock behind the lens, but it's still jolly good fun. --Joan Byrne
The TARDIS picks up a distress call and the Doctor and Sarah arrive on the planet Zeta Minor. There they discover that a Morestran geological expedition has fallen prey to an unseen killer and only the leader Professor Sorenson remains alive.
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science-fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on a first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds--an astounding amount--and ran for two seasons from 1975 to 77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances are: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from its orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propel it out of orbit and sent it flying through space without regard for any physical laws. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.comOn this DVD: Presented in production order (not the sequence they were transmitted in), this first volume from Space: 1999's first year nonetheless begins with the all-important "Breakaway". Commander Koenig arrives at Moonbase Alpha as planet Meta is passing Earth. He's there to investigate why people are dying of what seems to be radiation poisoning and ensure the Meta Probe is launched in time. Everything is tied into what's wrong with their nuclear waste disposal. Then on September 13, 1999, the unthinkable happens, and the Moon with its 311 inhabitants is catapulted out of Earth's orbit. Some time later they pass planet Terra Nova which seems too good to be true. When Dr Russell's supposed dead husband (Richard Johnson) re-appears from the long-lost Astro 7 mission, it becomes a "Matter of Life and Death" in determining whether to settle on a Paradise populated by parrots! Another passing stellar body accidentally drags them towards a "Black Sun" in the next episode. Given three days to live, there's a graceful acceptance of fate by the team that is paid off by what seems to be some sort of guiding hand watching over them all. Finally an orange eye appears and emits a "Ring Around the Moon", a mysterious enveloping beam that exerts mind-control over various crew members. After a warning from the mythic planet Triton, Dr Russell is taken as their "conduit" (much like Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture). Three publicity stills, 15 production drawings and eight character biographies may seem a little stingy as extra features. The neat CGI-animated menus make up for that a little though: an Eagle has never looked so agile. --Paul Tonks
Chocky's Children the second part of the Chocky trilogy was created by Doctor Who writer Anthony Read based on the characters created by respected science fiction author John Wyndham (The Day Of The Triffids). A year has passed since Matthew said goodbye to his alien friend Chocky. With the arrival of the summer holidays Matthew goes to visit his aunt in the countryside. While exploring he meets Albertine a young mathematical prodigy. They soon become friends and discover they can communicate telepathically. One day Chocky returns to warn Matthew that they are both in danger. Matthew realises where the danger must lay - a scientist who wants to test Albertine's exceptional abilities. When he goes to warn her he finds she has disappeared. Matthew needs help but where is Chocky and will she return in time to help them?
Featured episodes include: Breakaway A Matter Of Life & Death Black Sun Ring Around The Moon Earthbound Another Time Another Place Missing Link Guardian of Piri Force Of Life Alpha Child The Last Sunset Voyager's Return
Many fans don't rate the second series of Space: 1999 as highly as the first. Responding to audience feedback, as well as the separation of producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the programme makers drafted in new producer Fred Freiberger, the man responsible for the third and weakest season of the original Star Trek. Under his guidance the storylines drifted away from the hard sci-fi of the first season in favour of more action and a faster pace. The theme music, sets and costumes all changed, as did some key personnel. Out went professorial (and very dull) Barry Morse, in came dashing Tony Anholt as security officer Tony Verdeschi, while the glamour quotient was upped considerably by Catherine Schell as the shape-shifting Maya (a much-needed change, since the frosty Barbara Bain had reduced the show's sex appeal to nil in Series 1). Series 2 also introduced lots and lots more aliens kitted out in badly fitting costumes and dodgy glam-rock era makeup. Responding to yet more feedback from American TV executives the protagonists now had to encounter more highly unconvincing monsters than even Dr Who ever dared imagine: "The Beta Cloud", for example, is a classic rampaging-bloke-in-a-suit scenario. That said, this second season has more emphasis on characters other than the headline stars, as various stranded Alphans are allowed to come to the fore instead of just blankly following Commander Koenig's orders. It's all good fun in a silly, nostalgic sort of way, and fans of the more vintage Season 1 will find it hard to resist this second season as well.On the DVD: There aren't many extras here, although sundry interviews with principal cast and crew are scattered across the six discs in this complete box set. There's also a commentary on some episodes with special effects man Brian Johnson, a couple of deleted scenes, production stills and some text features. Each disc has a small booklet that gives some useful background information on the episodes. The remastered 4:3 ratio picture and mono sound are fine. --Mark Walker
Space 1999 is a Gerry Anderson cult classic as unmissable today as it was when first conceived in 1973. Starring husband and wife team Martin Landau and Barbara Bain Space 1999 revolves around the crew of Moonbase Alpha where scientific experiments are conducted and space data gathered. Disaster strikes and the Moon is blown out of the Earth's orbit by a huge explosion emanating from man-made nuclear waste pits causing it to drift endlessly through t
Dorzak: A spaceship lands on the moon. A beautiful young woman emerges from inside seeking medical attention for a colleague who was injured by a criminal that they had captured. The criminal turns out to be a man from Maya's home planet Psychon named Dorzac and persuades Maya that he was not responsible for the injury signalling the start of the troubles to come. Devil's Planet: Answering a distress signal Koenig and Blake Maine go to Entra. The first thing they see is a man being chased by three beautiful girls carrying long electric whips! Maine is killed and then Koenig imprisoned. Can he escape? The Immunity Syndrome: On a seemingly inhabitable planet a series of misfortunes befall Alpha's advance party. Tony Verdeschi is rendered insane by a piercing sound. The metal in the Eagle corrodes and the craft starts to fall apart. Two Alphans die after drinking spring water. Then a skeleton is found inside a geodetic structure with a video beside it explaining how any future visitors might survive. The Dorcons: A huge alien Dorcon ship materialises nearby. When the three leaders demand Maya be sent to them Koenig refuses. A leader comes aboard the spaceship and takes Maya and Alpha by force. But Koenig manages to come along too and using the power struggle between the three leaders tries to rescue Maya.
Chocky: The first series tells the story of young Matthew Gore an intelligent lad who is chosen by a mysterious extra-terrestrial visitor Chocky as a source of information about life on earth. As Matthew's schoolwork and artistic talent improve dramatically his parents become concerned about the strange changes in his behaviour and refer him to a child psychiatrist. But his dubious social connections lead to Matthew's subsequent kidnap as a ruthless businessman tries to ta
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on an astounding first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds, and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earth orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course, the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth orbit and flying through space without regard to physical law. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on an astounding first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds, and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earth orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course, the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth orbit and flying through space without regard to physical law. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
When it was made there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on a first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm, which causes the moon to break away from Earth orbit and travel endlessly through space. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for the premise of the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth orbit and flying through space without regard to any physical laws. And in "Earthbound" aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are valid complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena the crew encounter on their journey through the Galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
The Metamorph: Koenig goes to rescue two captured pilots from the planet Psychon but comes to meet Mentor a man lording over a world of virtual zombies who work for him as miners. Koenig believes he is capable of defeating Mentor and preventing him using a biological computer that feeds on the minds and bodies of his slaves. The Exiles: Travelling through space are fifty cylinder-shaped objects. When Koenig recovers one inside is a young man named Cantar. This is the mark of the trouble to come as Cantar and his wife force their way into the power station and use its energy to transport them to their own planet from which they were exiled. One Moment of Humanity: Zamara a striking alien woman materialises aboard Moonbase and takes two people back to her own planet. However Zamara and her accomplice Zarl are in fact super-androids developed by successive generations of self-reproducing computers and want to wipe out the humans who invented them. All That Glisters: After scanning a planet which contains Milgonite a rare mineral vital to Alpha's life support system the Alphans are eager to visit it. However by the time that they discover that there is no Milgonite only a deceptive lethal drug it is too late. The deadly rock is already aboard Alpha.
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on a first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds--an astounding amount--and ran for two seasons from 1975 to 77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances are: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from its orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propel it out of orbit and sent it flying through space without regard for any physical laws. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on a first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds, an astounding amount, and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. The moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earth's orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course the show is not without its detractors, and has been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticized the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway," which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth's orbit and flying through space without regard to any physical laws. In "Earthbound," aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the Galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on a first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds--an astounding amount--and ran for two seasons from 1975 to 77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances are: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from its orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propel it out of orbit and sent it flying through space without regard for any physical laws. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
Seed of Destruction: Whilst exploring a bizarre asteroid Koenig is detained and replaced by a double. The fake Koenig returns to Moonbase with a crystal which is discovered will draw all the energy from Moonbase in order to revitalise its home the steroid where the real Koenig is still a prisoner. The Beta Cloud: After a cloud of space dust causes a mystery illness on Alpha an Eagle crew is sent to track the storm cloud. They return with a terrifying space creature which they discovered is their agent and wants the Moonbase life support system. Tony and Maya must fight to defeat the space creature. A Matter of Balance: When Koenig and Shermeen decide to explore an apparently lifeless planet Shermeen wanders into a temple and comes under the spell of a Vindrus. She wants to help Vindrus' doomed race but soon learns that for each Vindrus saved one Alphan will be doomed and that she is the first in line. Space Warp: Two crises strike the Alphans simultaneously. Koenig and Tony who are checking out a derelict spaceship in when Eagle One encounter a space warp and end up five light years away while Maya is stricken down by a fever and changes into a range of creatures. Before long she changes into a space animal and escapes to the moon surface. Koenig and Tony began to find a way back through.
Brian The Brain: A spaceship approaching the Moon identifies itself as one of the four 'Swift' ships that left Earth in 1996 and disappeared. Inside there is no crew; just a lively computer named Brian the Brain. Once aboard it kidnaps Helena and Koenig. New Adam New Eve: A man appears claiming to be God and selects two couple to begin a new Earth. The couples (Helena with Tony Verdeschi and Koenig with Maya) are mismatched but using his powers 'God' makes it seem alright. However it is discovered that God is not God but instead Magus a cosmic magician. The AB Chrysalis: After regular bombardments by enormous electrical waves one more such wave could spell final destruction for Moonbase Alpha. Koenig visits the source of the bombardments a nearby planet and discovers a civilisation where people are in a chrysalis stage protected only by their computer which sees Moonbase as a threat to them and is therefore attacking it. Catacombs of the Moon: In the Catacombs of the Moon engineer Patrick Osgood is searching for titanium to save his wife's life in heart surgery and because it is vital to the Moonbase Alpha's life support system. Osgood fails to find any metal and takes his wife into the catacombs only to go missing. Koenig decides to release some titanium from the store but now must find the Osgoods.
The Bringers of Wonder (Part One): After crashing his Eagle Koenig is dragged from the wreckage unconscious. Meanwhile a faster-than-light-ship arrives on the Moon (the 'superswift'). One of the crew Guido announces that transport will soon be coming from Earth to rescue the Alphans but when Koenig regains consciousness he sees hideous aliens who plan to kill him. The Bringers of Wonder (Part Two): Having survived Koenig suggests that it could have been the brain machine which kept him from being deceived. Meanwhile the aliens are planning to manipulate three Alphans into blowing up the Moon's nuclear waste dumps to create energy. It is soon left to Maya Helena and Koenig to defeat the aliens. The Lambda Factor: A pretty young Alpha technician dies a horrible death. Maya discovers that a huge gaseous cloud is giving off Lambda waves which could give some people paranormal powers. Carolyn takes over the Commander Centre and Moonbase. Koenig must fight a mental battle against her to decide the future of Moonbase. The Seance Spectre: The planet Tora is sighted but is on a collision course with the Moon. A small group of angered Alphans use their laser guns to take over the Command Center made off-limits by Koenig. They hold a seance and claim Tora would be habitable. Koenig regains control but is faced with the ever-impending crash with Tora and the rebel opposition which could jeopardise things further.
Journey To Where: Hopes are high when a message is received by neutrone transmission from Earth. But although the moon has been in outer space for only a few months it is 2120 AD on Earth. On the message is the technology which will allow the Alphans to return to Earth. However when Koenig Helena and Alan Carter decide to try it out they find themselves on Earth in 1339 during a Civil War. The Taybor: Taybor materialises on the Moon an interstellar trader with an excellent spaceship that travels through hyper-space. Koenig offers the entire Moon in exchange for the secret of Taybor's hyper-spacial travel. But Taybor wants Maya and when Koenig refuses Taybor kidnaps her. The Rules of Luton: Temporarily left on Luton a planet with lush vegetation Koenig and Maya explore. But when Koenig eats some flowers and Maya smells some flowers a thunderous voice booms out accusing them of murder. Their damage to the planet is unforgivable and they must face the consequences. The Mark of Archanon: A metallic cabinet long buried beneath the surface of the moon is recovered. Inside are Pasc and his son Etrec from the planet Archanon. Pasc was part of a team sent on a mission of goodwill but the hatred and violence on Earth was contagious. Pasc uses his new lease of life to make up for past misdeeds.
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