Gerry's Squids

Last weekend, I watched the first disk of "Stingray". I can honestly say
that I was less than impressed by it. I definitely enjoyed Fireball XL5 much
more, but was glad to see Lois Maxwell get some work. Marina gives me the
heebee geebees.

This weekend, I am watching "Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons." The two
episodes so far have been far superior in quality. Interestingly, these were
made in 1967, two years before UFO. There is a great deal of UFO-esque
influence in this series; from the titles, to the music, to the voice of Ed
Bishop. Gotta love that Cary Grant impersonation played on Captain Scarlett,
though.

I've never seen either of these series and have others in my Netflix queue.
Great to get to see all that I missed those many decades ago.

Bob

---
TheLynx [www.thelynx.com]
Lionel Collectors Moderator [groups.yahoo.com/group/lionelcollectors]
WebRings: PRR, B&O Railroad, Railroad, TCA, Model Trains, Lionel Trains,
Convair
Member: TCA, Friends of Amtrak
E-Mail: [hidden email]
eBay: TheLynx

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"The Lynx" wrote:
> There is a great deal of UFO-esque influence in this series; from
> the titles, to the music, to the voice of Ed Bishop. Gotta love
> that Cary Grant impersonation played on Captain Scarlett, though.
>

I agree that Captain Scarlet was a significant influence on UFO,
especially in the essential premise of an elitel organisation
defending Earth from aliens.

As for Cary Grant, that's pretty well Francis Matthews' normal
speaking voice! It is similar though, admittedly.

James

After watching the entire first disk of Captain Scarlet this past
weekend, I just kept getting struck with all the similarities there
are between it and UFO. Some segments of music were so close, there
would be a lawsuit if composed by others. Three Angels for "immediate
launch", three moonbase interceptors. Superstreamlined cars opposed
with mid-1960s gas hogs. Century 21 logo.

Even though Captain Scarlet himself is pretty much a boob and could
not have survived in Spectrum without the superior intellect of
Captain Blue (Edward Bishop), this is, by far, my favorite GA
Supermarionation series (although I am very partial to Fireball XL5
for nostalgic reasons).

Bob

--- In [hidden email], James Gibbon <james.gibbon@v...> wrote:
> I agree that Captain Scarlet was a significant influence on UFO,
> especially in the essential premise of an elitel organisation
> defending Earth from aliens.
>
> As for Cary Grant, that's pretty well Francis Matthews' normal
> speaking voice! It is similar though, admittedly.

> After watching the entire first disk of Captain Scarlet this past
> weekend, I just kept getting struck with all the similarities there
> are between it and UFO. Some segments of music were so close, there
> would be a lawsuit if composed by others.

Some of the music in UFO is IDENTICAL to that in Captain Scarlet,
as the music is simply reused (UFO also reuses music from several
other previous Anderson series). Also, it's been awhile since I've
watched Captain Scarlet, but I think a lot of the sound effects
are the same.

Also, wait til you get to one of the last episodes that has some
spinning UFOs in it!

Marc

I'm really looking forward to watching more of Captain Scarlet. I'll
stick Stingray farther down my Netflix queue.

Interestingly, Marc, you're right. There are moments of identicality
(is that really a word?). However, there are some tracks that are
simply just so close. It was like Gerry said to Barry during UFO
preproduction, "Remember that transition music you played in Captain
Scarlet? Well do it with a little more punch."

Amazing.

I swear that, in one scene on a submarine when the crew is using a
laser to torch through a steel door, the sound effect is the same as
the laser that Goldfinger used to nearly emasculate James Bond.

Also, I mentioned previously that I heard the UFO closing music on
Fireball XL5. Pretty wicked stuff for the very early 60s.

Bob

--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@u...> wrote:
> Some of the music in UFO is IDENTICAL to that in Captain Scarlet,
> as the music is simply reused (UFO also reuses music from several
> other previous Anderson series). Also, it's been awhile since I've
> watched Captain Scarlet, but I think a lot of the sound effects
> are the same.
>
> Also, wait til you get to one of the last episodes that has some
> spinning UFOs in it!

"TheLynx" wrote:
>
> I swear that, in one scene on a submarine when the crew is using a
> laser to torch through a steel door, the sound effect is the same as
> the laser that Goldfinger used to nearly emasculate James Bond.
>

Were they using a laser in the UFO scene, or an oxyacetylene torch?
Either way they probably used the sound of an oxy torch cutting
through steel in both, it would be the obvious thing to do I suppose.