Thunderbirds Are Go!
(1966, U.K.) color animated 94/65 minutes
Voices: Sylvia Anderson (Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward), Ray Barrett (John Tracy/The Hood), Alexander Davion (Space Captain Greg Marton), Peter Dyneley (Jeff Tracy), Christine Finn (Tin-Tin), David Graham (Gordon Tracy/Brains), Shane Rimmer (Scott Tracy), Jeremy Wilkin (Virgil Tracy/Space Exploration Center President), Matt Zimmerman (Alan Tracy/Messenger), Cliff Richard (himself)
Plot Outline: A Mars Expedition runs into trouble upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, but International Rescue saves the crew just in time.
***
Whether you're into innocent sci-fi of the mid-60's, or just searching for an original camp oddity, THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! is one not to miss.
An offshoot of THUNDERBIRDS, the classic sci-fi TV show from England which features the fanciful rockets of International Rescue and the incredible Tracy family of electronic marionettes, this theatrical feature actually does the TV show justice, offering an entertaining and satisfying recapitulation of the dynamic motif of the TV show.
TBAG features some beautiful photography on huge miniature sets, plus some gorgeous vehicle design (including the magnificent Zero-X Earth-to-Mars spaceship).
Derek Medding's special effects, though quaint by today's super-slick
CGI standards, were state-of-the-art at the time, and still evoke a child-like sense of wonder to those who can still "see".
The gee-whiz quality of the model rockets are reminiscent of the toy spaceships one might have owned as a '60s kid.
As in all the Century-21 TV shows, there's a glorious Barry Gray musical score, featuring some familiar bits from the TV show but adding some great new pieces including a majestic piece which accompanies the assembly/take-off of the Zero-X rocket-juggernaut.
The Tracies, and their helpmates Lady Penelope, Parker and Brains, are all in fine form here. There's even some "adult" domestic turbulence in the script, when the Tracys' youngest son feels left out and unwanted.
Best of all, there's a ridiculous dream sequence where people-puppets fly about in space, ending up at a night club where they enjoy British pop stars of the '60s "Cliff Richards & The Shadows" (well-done in funny puppets) singing the charmingly sappy song "A Shooting Star," in what might be the world's first music video.
From a film-trivia point of view, this is arguably the only feature film starring marionettes to ever show in theatres (forget about the woeful and mercifully never-seen misfire sequel THUNDERBIRD 6).
So whether you like the look of 60s cine-modelwork, enjoy seeing science fiction TV on the big screen, or just need a good laugh and a look at a unique film you'll never see a counterfeit of, this ones' a winner.
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! is also purportedly the first feature in history (a full twenty years before the ubiquitous "Digital Video Editing" technique accompanying every theatrical feature), to use a production shot on video and transferred, painstakingly and expensively, to 35mm film for theatrical distribution.
Video/DVD availability: VHS, DVD (MGM/UA)
Associated Television (Overseas) Limited / Century 21 Television / United Artists
Screenplay: Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson
Music: Barry Gray
Visual Effects Director: Derek Meddings
Produced by Sylvia Anderson, John Read
Directed by David Lane