Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons

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Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet vs The Mysterons.jpg
Home video release cover
Based on Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Developed by Robert Mandell
Voices of Francis Matthews
Ed Bishop
Cy Grant
Donald Gray
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time96 minutes
Production company ITC Entertainment
Original release
Release1981 (1981)
Related

Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons is a 1981 television film based on the 1960s British puppet TV series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Produced by the New York office of the series' distributor, ITC Entertainment, the film is a compilation of the Captain Scarlet episodes "The Mysterons", "Winged Assassin", "Seek and Destroy" and "Attack on Cloudbase". [1] It follows an earlier Captain Scarlet compilation, Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars .

Contents

Set in 2068, the original series depicts a "war of nerves" between Earth and the Mysterons: a race of Martians with the power to create functioning copies of destroyed people or objects and use them to carry out acts of aggression against humanity. Earth is defended by a military organisation called Spectrum, whose top agent, Captain Scarlet, was killed by the Mysterons and replaced by a reconstruction that subsequently broke free of their control. Scarlet's double has a self-healing power that enables him to recover from injuries that would be fatal to anyone else, making him Spectrum's best asset in its fight against the Mysterons.

Plot

Astronauts on a mission to Mars attack the city of the Mysterons, a race of aliens with the ability to create duplicates of beings and objects. In revenge, the Mysterons declare war on humanity.

Earth is defended by Spectrum, a worldwide security organisation. The Mysterons attempt to assassinate the World President using a double of Captain Scarlet, a Spectrum agent they have murdered. The double is defeated, after which it breaks free of Mysteron control and remains loyal to Spectrum ("The Mysterons"). However, the Mysterons succeed in their efforts to assassinate the Director General of the United Asian Republic ("Winged Assassin").

Scarlet, Captain Blue and Destiny Angel come under attack from a trio of reconstructed Spectrum Angel fighters but are saved by the rest of the Angel squadron ("Seek and Destroy"). Later, the Mysterons launch an assault on Cloudbase, Spectrum's airborne headquarters, using a fleet of armed flying saucers. Cloudbase is destroyed, but the Mysterons ultimately decide to show mercy: using their extraordinary powers to reverse time, they take the base back to a point prior to the attack, leaving it intact ("Attack on Cloudbase"). [2]

Voice cast

Production

Created by the New York office of ITC Entertainment, Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons was one of several TV film re-workings of Anderson series designed to renew overseas interest in these productions and promote syndication sales in the United States. [2] The films were collectively titled "Super Space Theater". [2] In the case of Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons, the re-editing of the source material included the insertion of a new animated title sequence, [2] updated special effects, [2] new synthesised music and additional Mysteron voices supplied by an American actor.

Release and reception

The film's first UK home video release, by Precision Video, was a LaserDisc exclusive. In 1986, the film was released on VHS by Channel 5 Video. [3]

The film was neither a critical nor commercial success. It was also disliked by Gerry Anderson, who was not consulted on the new production. Fan reviews were also negative; [2] however, the Video Movie Guide 1996 gives the film a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of four. [4]

Changes to the ending of "Attack on Cloudbase" were widely criticised. After the destruction of Cloudbase (as seen in the original TV episode), the Mysterons reverse time and restore the base while stating their intention to spare humanity; the voice-over is accompanied by a shot of a computer-animated pyramid. This sequence implies that the attack on Cloudbase really happened, whereas in the original episode, it is a nightmare dreamt by an unconscious Symphony Angel. [2] According to Fred McNamara, "Attack on Cloudbase" was "unforgivably butchered" by these alterations. [5]

Noting that the last episode of the original Captain Scarlet ("The Inquisition") did not provide a resolution to the conflict between Earth and Mars, John Peel suggests that the material from "Attack on Cloudbase" was changed to give the series storyline a more satisfactory conclusion. He is negative in his assessment of the film: "The grafting of the new ending isn't too well done, and the whole thing looks totally faked." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons</i> British TV sci-fi puppet series (1967–1968)

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often shortened to Captain Scarlet, is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions for distributor ITC Entertainment. It is one of several Anderson series that were filmed using a form of electronic marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation" combined with scale model special effects sequences. Running to thirty-two 25-minute episodes, it was first broadcast on ITV regional franchises between 1967 and 1968 and has since been transmitted in more than 40 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mysterons</span> Episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

"The Mysterons" is the first episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by the Andersons and directed by Desmond Saunders, it was first officially broadcast on 29 September 1967 on ATV Midlands, although it had received an unscheduled test screening in the London area five months earlier.

"The Inquisition" is the 32nd and final episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 12 May 1968 on ATV London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack on Cloudbase</span> Episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

"Attack on Cloudbase" is the 31st episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions for ITC Entertainment. The series' penultimate episode, it was written by Tony Barwick and first broadcast on 5 May 1968 on ATV London.

"Winged Assassin" is the second episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by David Lane, it was first broadcast on 6 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Operation Time" is the sixth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by Richard Conway and Stephen J. Mattick and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 17 November 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Crater 101" is the 21st episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 26 January 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Shadow of Fear" is the 12th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Robert Lynn, it was first broadcast on 2 February 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Dangerous Rendezvous" is the 22nd episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 9 February 1968 on ATV Midlands.

The Trap (<i>Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons</i>) Episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

"The Trap" is the 13th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Alan Pattillo and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 10 November 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"White as Snow" is the eighth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Peter Curran and David Williams and directed by Robert Lynn, it was first broadcast on 3 November 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Inferno" is the 25th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and Shane Rimmer and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 16 April 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Seek and Destroy" is the ninth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a 1960s British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. The ninth episode of the series to be produced, it was written by Peter Curran and David Williams and first broadcast on 5 January 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Flight to Atlantica" is the 20th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Leo Eaton, it was first broadcast on 24 March 1968 on ATV London.

"Special Assignment" is the fourteenth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Robert Lynn, it was first broadcast on 1 December 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Avalanche" is the 11th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. It marked the scriptwriting debut of Century 21 voice actor Shane Rimmer, and was first broadcast on 27 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Renegade Rocket" is the seventh episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Ralph Hart and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 19 January 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Flight 104" is the 26th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Robert Lynn, it was first broadcast on 1 March 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Codename Europa" is the 30th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by David Lee and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 21 March 1968 on Granada Television.

<i>Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars</i> 1981 American television film

Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars is a 1981 television film based on the 1960s British puppet TV series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Produced by the New York office of the series' distributor, ITC Entertainment, the film is a compilation of the Captain Scarlet episodes "Shadow of Fear", "Lunarville 7", "Crater 101" and "Dangerous Rendezvous".

References

  1. ↑ "Miscellaneous — Multimedia: Videos". spectrum-headquarters.com. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bentley, Chris (2001). The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 121. ISBN   978-1-842224-05-2.
  3. ↑ Bentley, Chris (2017). Hearn, Marcus (ed.). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Vault. Cambridge, UK: Signum Books. pp. 190–191. ISBN   978-0-995519-12-1.
  4. ↑ Martin, Mick; Porter, Marsha (1995). Video Movie Guide 1996. Ballantine Books. p. 160. ISBN   0-345-39783-5.
  5. ↑ McNamara, Fred (2020). Simpson, Paul (ed.). Spectrum is Indestructible: An Unofficial Captain Scarlet Celebration. Chinbeard Books. p. 104. ISBN   978-1-913256-05-0.
  6. ↑ Peel, John (1993). Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet: The Authorised Programme Guide. London, UK: Virgin Books. p. 202. ISBN   0-86369-728-3.
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