Captain Scarlett

I just finished watching the second disc of Captain Scarlett and was
interested to note that, in one episode, they employ a moonmobile
that is very similar to those in UFO. Indeed, the sound it makes is
nearly identical. However, the really fascinating part is that it
hopped across the lunar surface. It reminded me of the UFO episode
where Lt. Ellis referred to the moonmobile as a "Moon Hopper". Also,
there was some of that eerie music as used first in Fireball XL5,
then as the end theme in UFO.

Indeed, Captain Scarlett is my personal favorite of Gerry's
Supermarionation series. It's obvious that no expense was spared in
production with each episode representing state-of-the-art in
puppetry. Captain Scarlett, UFO and the film Doppelganger were
clearly at the pinnacle of Gerry's career.

On the other hand, Joe 90 with that little weinerboy and his fruity
togs must have been a simple mistake.

Happy Holidays,

Bob

I would have to say Captain Scarlet is a very close second to Thunderbirds
:) sorry Bob :)

Bruce
----- Original Message -----
From: "TheLynx" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 11:18 PM
Subject: [SHADO] Captain Scarlett

"TheLynx" wrote:
> Captain Scarlett, UFO and the film Doppelganger were
> clearly at the pinnacle of Gerry's career.
>

Well, I'd agree with you with respect to the design, but I think
most people in the wider world outside UFO-fandom would probably
consider Thunderbirds to be the pinnacle of GA's career. Certainly
it became an out-and-out classic and captured the imagination (as
it continues to with each new generation of kids!) in a way that no
other GA programme has.

My personal favourite is UFO though.

The "Moon Hopper" IS the same model as the Captain Scarlet one.
Quite often Derek Meddings rehashed and cannibalised old models from
previous series - Captain Scarlet has lots of old Thunderbirds
hardware in it. I believe the UFO Moon shuttle is also ex CS or TB as
well.

You might be interested to know that as well as the new Thunderbirds
movie coming soon, there is a British made, 26 part TV series of
Captain Scarlet in the making. Anyone care to work on a bid for UFO?


--- In [hidden email], "TheLynx" <thelynxpa@h...> wrote:
> I just finished watching the second disc of Captain Scarlett and
was
> interested to note that, in one episode, they employ a moonmobile
> that is very similar to those in UFO. Indeed, the sound it makes is
> nearly identical. However, the really fascinating part is that it
> hopped across the lunar surface. It reminded me of the UFO episode
> where Lt. Ellis referred to the moonmobile as a "Moon Hopper".
Also,

> You might be interested to know that as well as the new Thunderbirds
> movie coming soon, there is a British made, 26 part TV series of
> Captain Scarlet in the making. Anyone care to work on a bid for UFO?

Well, according to the Carlton press releases, a new series of UFO
is being planned as well (made by Trilogy Entertainment, who previously
did the new OUTER LIMITS)

Marc

God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have plots
high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes. (Seaquest DSV,
Enterprise, Stargate, Andromeda et al) Have you SEEN what theyve
already done to Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet?? Alan Tracey's 12
years old and Leiutenant Green's a WOMAN!!! That's enough to kill
Capt. Scarlet, even if he is meant to be indestructable.
Come back Lew Grade, all is forgiven.


--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@u...> wrote:
> > You might be interested to know that as well as the new
Thunderbirds
> > movie coming soon, there is a British made, 26 part TV series of
> > Captain Scarlet in the making. Anyone care to work on a bid for
UFO?
>
> Well, according to the Carlton press releases, a new series of UFO
> is being planned as well (made by Trilogy Entertainment, who
previously
> did the new OUTER LIMITS)
>
> Marc

Gerry Anderson is producing the nwe Captain Scarlet. He Made Lt. Green a
woman. Working Title films (a UK Company) is producing the Thunderbirds
movie. Americans had nothing to do with it.

[hidden email] wrote:
> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have plots
> high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes. (Seaquest DSV,
> Enterprise, Stargate, Andromeda et al) Have you SEEN what theyve
> already done to Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet?? Alan Tracey's 12
> years old and Leiutenant Green's a WOMAN!!!

Gerry Anderson is producing the new Captain Scarlet. He Made Lt. Green a
woman. Working Title films (a UK Company) is producing the Thunderbirds
movie. Americans had nothing to do with it.

[hidden email] wrote:
> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have plots
> high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes. (Seaquest DSV,
> Enterprise, Stargate, Andromeda et al) Have you SEEN what theyve
> already done to Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet?? Alan Tracey's 12
> years old and Leiutenant Green's a WOMAN!!!

Sorry about the double post, I thought I caught the first one before it
went.
Guess I must be unmoderated! :D

Anthony Taylor wrote:
> Gerry Anderson is producing the new Captain Scarlet. He Made Lt. Green a
> woman. Working Title films (a UK Company) is producing the Thunderbirds
> movie. Americans had nothing to do with it.

> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have plots
> high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes.

Ahh, but in this case, we don't have to generalize this to "the
Americans". After all, this is Trilogy Entertainment, which has
produced several series over the past years. From this we can
suppose that the shows will be rather dull, will have lots
of gratuitous nudity (especially if it is shown on pay cable
first), and probably have some horror elements thrown into it.
(and it certainly won't resemble the original series much)

Marc

[hidden email] wrote:
> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have
> plots high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes.

A fair proportion of our membership consists of persons of the
American persuasion, including our list owner - so you might try
exercising a bit of tact and diplomacy, like I always do.

James

You might find it of interest that Thunderbirds is being produced by Working Title
Films-- a British company-- and the new Captain Scarlet is being produced by Gerry
Anderson himself. One should hold the respective filmmakers responsible for their
decisions and not blame, incorrectly, an entire country.

Jeff

P.S. What's your objection to good, oral hygiene and women being in positions of
responsibility?

--- In [hidden email], tryptych@y... wrote:
> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have
plots
> high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes. (Seaquest DSV,
> Enterprise, Stargate, Andromeda et al) Have you SEEN what theyve
> already done to Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet?? Alan Tracey's 12
> years old and Leiutenant Green's a WOMAN!!! That's enough to kill
> Capt. Scarlet, even if he is meant to be indestructable.
> Come back Lew Grade, all is forgiven.

> A fair proportion of our membership consists of persons of the
> American persuasion, including our list owner

Heh, heh... I'd rather it not be made in America either... :-)

Marc (who always like the "foreign-ness" of the original series)

erm.. That *was* tactful.

Americans produce most film & TV these days, so it's only natural
that it sinks to the lowest common denominator, and even if it isnt
made by them, it's usually funded by them, or targeted at them as a
market. Even the original UFO series (in fact all Gerry Anderson
shows), used Americans in some form or another to help sell the shows
overseas. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I think UFO, tacky in some ways
that it was, had a rare quality which I am certain producers these
days will miss. It will just be another churned-out mass-produced
product. Bar Babylon 5 and some of the Star Trek material, Sci-fi
naturally loses traditional concept, plot and character depth to
special effects, monsters, squeaky clean heroes and plot holes you
could drive a lorry through. When it comes to science, we can throw
that right out. Since when did facts ever get in the way of a good
story?

Sequels or remakes rarely hit the mark, as the new producers dont
have the insight or the enthusiasm that an original creator has.
Exceptions such as STNG worked because Gene Roddenbury held a tight
rein on what went on, and he WAS the creator of the original series.

I would hope Gerry Anderson could do the same with this, but if
Terrahawks and Space Precinct are anything to go by, I think its
going to be a turkey. What's more is, he doesnt even own the rights
to any of his old shows, so he wouldnt have the final say about
something anyway. Oh - one final point - remember Space1999? British
first series, American Producer 2nd series - ask anyone exactly where
the wheel dropped off that one.




--- In [hidden email], James Gibbon <james.gibbon@v...> wrote:

Oh get real. In UFO they all wore wigs because their hair was falling
out. God knows what condition their teeth were in. British
Entertainment wouldnt be the same without a dodgy pair of choppers.
Ask any American about British dentistry. As for putting women in
positions of responsibility, the last time we did that, we bombed
Argentina.


> P.S. What's your objection to good, oral hygiene and women being in
positions of responsibility?

I must admit that I don't care much for the products that have come from Trilogy myself, even thought they haven't all been bad, just the majority. But you can spread the blame on that to a number of places. The greatest acting in the world MAY hide bad writing, but you need two out of the three (Writing, acting, effects/support) if you don't want to end up with another Star Trek The Motion(less) Picture.
Plenty of money and some good acting but a rehashed script that went no where, and didn't even do it fast.
I think UFO could stand a bit of "Horror" added in. You wouldn't need to see a dissection every other week, but a bit of gore occasionally is realistic. Besides, I would hope that audiences, especially Americans, have grown up a bit.
After all the dam Jason and Freddy movies, we could use a touch of 'classy' horror in the series. Besides Special Effects has come a long way since the Sixties and Seventies. I would like to see some occasion blood and guts, so to speak.
As one of "Those Dam Ugly Americans" I think I can safely state that a lot of us would agree with your statement. I would like to see UFO continue to be made overseas so that we can maintain Strakers "Fish out of water" character.
Perhaps the new Straker can do some bits where he comments on the "English way of doing things" compared to America.
I have never been to Detroit so I can't speak out about the suitability of the city, but it would probably be New York or D.C. if H.Q. is switched to America anyway
Marc Martin <[hidden email]> wrote:
> God forbid if the Americans get their hands on it. It will be
> relocated in Detroit and run by kids with white teeth and have plots
> high enough in sugar levels to give you diabetes.

Ahh, but in this case, we don't have to generalize this to "the
Americans". After all, this is Trilogy Entertainment, which has
produced several series over the past years. From this we can
suppose that the shows will be rather dull, will have lots
of gratuitous nudity (especially if it is shown on pay cable
first), and probably have some horror elements thrown into it.
(and it certainly won't resemble the original series much)

Marc



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--- In [hidden email], tryptych@y... wrote:
> The "Moon Hopper" IS the same model as the Captain Scarlet one.
> Quite often Derek Meddings rehashed and cannibalised old models
from
> previous series - Captain Scarlet has lots of old Thunderbirds
> hardware in it. I believe the UFO Moon shuttle is also ex CS or TB
as
> well.

Along those lines....I recently discovered that 'Sam's Car' from 'Joe
90' was featured briefly in 'Doppleganger' and the UFO episdoe 'ESP'.
In 'Doppleganger' it is in a process scene when Col. Ross is being
driven to the launch pad near the end of the film. In 'ESP' the car
is seen passing in front of the hospital where Col. Foster is
recuperating. In the episode Meddings simply modified it by removing
the rear spoiler.

Doug

Actually the new UFO will most likely be made in Canada. Where it will be
set is another matter entirely. But mostly likely not in England. SHADO HQ
under the the Tower in Toronto perhaps or a Hockey Rink in Alberta or perhaps a
Starbucks in Seattle.

James K.(who is a America as well as a diabetic)


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So the series will bear as much resemblance to UFO in much the same way as the 1990s version of the Tomorrow People did to the proper 1970s version - none at all. The cynic in me sees the new version latching onto the UFO name to get people watching because it might be like the old series, when really it might be a dark, gloomy, pessimistic pile of number twos.
...we can suppose that the shows will be rather dull, will have lots
of gratuitous nudity (especially if it is shown on pay cable
first), and probably have some horror elements thrown into it.
(and it certainly won't resemble the original series much)






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--- In [hidden email], James Gibbon <james.gibbon@v...> wrote:
Actually I think most americans I know would agree with with
tryptych. But as has been pointed out the Thunderbirds film is a UK
production by Working Title who, alas, produced "Love Actually" which
has enough vats of syrup in it to drown half of the world. So don't
think the americans have a monopoly on syrup and sugar.

We can blame american TV for "Turbocharged Thunderbirds" but the film
will be entirely our own responsibility.