Just discovered that Forces TV are running the early episodes of Space 1999 . This used to be essential viewing (on a Sunday?) when we were kids and I loved all the models, especially the Eagle transporters and the external shots of the moonbase.  Funnily enough my wife used to watch this at some point in Nigeria, again on a Sunday. Small World eh?

I've been watching UFO and Space 1999 on Youtube while painting figures.

HMV have the newly released re-mastered UFO on their shelves,which I have picked up and put down several, does it still stand the test of time?

Well, Space 1999 still looks great, but my wife was laughing at the flared trousers and high heeled shoes (well we think they were but hard to see under the flares ). As for UFO, I did see part of an episode a few years ago, which was a bit cringe making to watch. Very much of its time but not sure if it's aged well. However the UFO vehicle still looked good and the Dinky toy was great, with its flip up lid that held that great missile that fired really well .

Anyone notice the commander is in North by North-West?

Sometimes there seems to be a very small pool of actors (both male and female) that appear in TV and films.

I've been watching old episodes of the X files recently, and playing 'spot who's appeared in episodes on the different NCIS series'

Quite a lot.....And agent Dogget was the naughty terminator in Terminator 2. (Though not as young as he appeared in that....There's a surprise.)

Cheers - Phil

Quote from: FierceKitty on 10 March 2019, 08:46:23 AM
Anyone notice the commander is in North by North-West?

Oh, yes. Noticed that the first time round (although, to be fair, I believe I am older than you) plus the fact that the professor was Lt. Gerard, the pursuing policeman, in that early media incarnation of the Les Miserables chase plot, the 1960's(?) TV series, The Fugitive.   

There is an older Japanese/Chinese American actor who crops up regularly in Netflix and Amazon series.

Thank Heavens, we've almost finished season two of Space 1999. Barbara Bain really couldn't out-act Lady Penelope, the commander's smile looks like a shark's at the dentist's, and there's a deplorable lack of nude scenes by Zenia Merton. This before we get on to the "science" and scripting!

Quote from: FierceKitty on 29 April 2019, 04:16:08 AM
there's a deplorable lack of nude scenes by Zenia Merton.

Unlike the 1971 production of Casanova with Frank Finlay in the lead.

I remember enjoying this when it was first shown and I was 9 or 10.

But even then I thought the premise stupid. Even then I knew that you'd never get the Moon moving fast enough to travel between solar systems.

Generally thought the tech looked good, and the model making is excellent.

Loved the Eagle - brilliant design. But then they went and spoiled it by using in planetary atmospheres. Again, my junior self knew this was stupid. The Eagle is obviously designed for extra-atmospheric work.

Never saw the seconds series. HTV never screened it. Apparently a lot changed. Tellingly, the FWC rulebook includes a section at the end for "films you may find inspirational", and includes "Space 1999 1st TV series".

Quote from: FierceKitty on 29 April 2019, 04:16:08 AM
Barbara Bain really couldn't out-act Lady Penelope

Genuine LOL  ! Nice one.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 29 April 2019, 01:43:11 PM
Unlike the 1971 production of Casanova with Frank Finlay in the lead.

Yes, that must get a bit of attention soon.

I still have the UFO interceptor, but minus the rocket and the SHADO Tracked Assault wagon. Always wondered why the Aliens didn't attack with 4 UFOs when Moonbase only ever seemed to have 3 interceptors!

Of that era...you can get 'The Flashing Blade' on DVD...I did, but couldn't get past Ep.1! 

Forces TV (channel 96 on Freeview) has started showing Blake's Seven .

It has not aged well . . .

The BBC special effects dept. of 1978 are doing their best, but obviously have next to no money to spend.

The scripting and plotting are . . . not great.

I'd forgotten how awesome the Liberator looks, mind.

Does Servalan still look good though ?

Quote from: Raider4 on 16 September 2021, 08:42:53 PM
Forces TV (channel 96 on Freeview) has started showing Blake's Seven .
The BBC special effects dept. of 1978 are doing their best, but obviously have next to no money to spend.

I'm pretty certain I remember Gareth Thomas, who played Blake, complaining that Star Trek spent more on a coffee break than the Beeb spent on an entire series of Blake's Seven.

Cheers - Phil.

Even then the special effects in Star Trek were pretty bad. And why did they never fit seat belts to the bridge chairs ?

Perhaps the script writers noticed that with the forces involved in FTL travel, time jumps, novas, shockwaves able to travel in a vacuum, and weapons on a matching scale, seatbelts would be like wrapping a polystyrene cup in tin foil before chucking it into a volcano. The margin between instant annihilation and being completely in control would realistically be so slight that the directors' favourite shower of sparks, lights go red, everyone falls over, Mr Spock says "interesting", Lootenant Uhura kneels in concern beside the prone figures of Ensigns Kenny and Bluebottle, and the captain orders the auxiliary power to be turned on scene just wouldn't happen. Of course, the script made better science but dull TV, and was ignored.