"Space: 1999" (1975) TV series 1975-1977

Creators:

Gerry Anderson
Sylvia Anderson
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

5 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Future Is Fantastic!

Plot:

The crew of Moonbase Alpha must struggle to survive when a massive explosion throws the Moon from orbit into deep space.

Plot Keywords:

Moon | Space | Alpha | Explosion | Moon Base

Cast

Martin Landau	...	Commander John Koenig (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Barbara Bain	...	Dr. Helena Russell (47 episodes, 1975-1977)
Nick Tate	...	Alan Carter (42 episodes, 1975-1977)
Zienia Merton	...	Sandra Benes (35 episodes, 1975-1977)
Catherine Schell	...	Maya / ... (25 episodes, 1975-1977)
Sarah Bullen	...	Operative Kate / ... (25 episodes, 1975-1977)
Barry Morse	...	Prof. Victor Bergman (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Quentin Pierre	...	Security Guard / ... (24 episodes, 1975-1977)
Tony Anholt	...	Tony Verdeschi (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Prentis Hancock	...	Paul Morrow (23 episodes, 1975-1976)
Clifton Jones	...	David Kano (23 episodes, 1975-1976)
Anton Phillips	...	Dr. Mathias / ... (23 episodes, 1975-1976)
Andy Dempsey	...	Main Mission Operative (23 episodes, 1975-1976)
Tony Allyn	...	Security Guard (20 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Directed by
Charles Crichton		(14 episodes, 1975-1976)
Ray Austin		(9 episodes, 1975-1976)
Tom Clegg		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
David Tomblin		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Bob Kellett		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Val Guest		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Lee H. Katzin		(2 episodes, 1975)
Bob Brooks		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Peter Medak		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Kevin Connor		(2 episodes, 1976)
Robert Lynn		(2 episodes, 1976)

Series Writing credits
Gerry Anderson		(48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Sylvia Anderson		(48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Johnny Byrne		(11 episodes, 1975-1977)
Christopher Penfold		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
Anthony Terpiloff		(5 episodes, 1975-1976)
Terence Feely		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Donald James		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Fred Freiberger		(3 episodes, 1976)
Elizabeth Barrows		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Tony Barwick		(2 episodes, 1976)
Edward Di Lorenzo		(2 episodes, 1976)

Series Produced by
Gerry Anderson	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Sylvia Anderson	....	producer (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Fred Freiberger	....	producer (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
F. Sherwin Green	....	associate producer (24 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Original Music by
Barry Gray		(24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Derek Wadsworth		(24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ennio Morricone		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Frank Watts		(44 episodes, 1975-1977)
Brendan J. Stafford		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Film Editing by
Alan Killick		(18 episodes, 1975-1977)
Mike Campbell		(13 episodes, 1975-1977)
Derek Chambers		(12 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Casting by
Michael Barnes		(24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Lesley De Pettit		(24 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Production Design by
Keith Wilson		(48 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Costume Design by
Rudi Gernreich		(24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Emma Porteus		(24 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist (33 episodes, 1975-1977)
Helene Bevan	....	hair stylist (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Connie Reeve	....	makeup artist (20 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jeanette Freeman	....	hairdresser (19 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jan Dorman	....	hairdresser (16 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ann Cotton	....	makeup artist (12 episodes, 1975-1976)
Mike Lockey	....	hairdresser (3 episodes, 1977)

Series Production Management
Ron Fry	....	production manager (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Donald Toms	....	production manager (24 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Baker	....	assistant director (35 episodes, 1975-1977)
David Lane	....	second unit director (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert Lynn	....	assistant director (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1976)
Christopher Newman	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Michael Ford	....	assistant art director (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Waldron	....	construction manager (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Chisholm	....	props (22 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Sound Department
Peter Pennell	....	sound editor (36 episodes, 1975-1977)
David Bowen	....	sound recordist (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Roy Baker	....	sound supervisor (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jack T. Knight	....	sound editor (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Roy Lafbery	....	sound editor (10 episodes, 1975-1976)
Brian Marshall	....	sound recordist (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Claude Hitchcock	....	sound recordist (10 episodes, 1976)
John Brommage	....	sound recordist (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Keith Batten	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	lighting cameraman / special effects director (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Michael S.E. Downing	....	electronics (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Brian Johnson	....	special effects / special effects director / ... (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Frank Drake	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Harry Oakes	....	lighting cameraman (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
David Litchfield	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Visual Effects by
Martin Bower	....	model maker (25 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Stunts
Marc Boyle	....	stunts (1 episode, 1976)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (1 episode, 1976)
Dorothy Ford	....	stunts (1 episode, 1976)
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts (1 episode, 1976)
Peter Brayham	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Romo Gorrara	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Martin Grace	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Frank Henson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Neil Binney	....	camera operator (43 episodes, 1975-1977)
Tony White	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1975-1977)
Mike Tomlin	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rudi Gernreich	....	costumes: moon city (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe (23 episodes, 1975-1977)
Masada Wilmot	....	wardrobe (7 episodes, 1976)
Eve Faloon	....	wardrobe (3 episodes, 1976)

Series Editorial Department
David Lane	....	supervising editor (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Steve Pickard	....	second assistant editor (unknown episodes, 1976-1977)
Roy Helmrich	....	first assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Alan Willis	....	music editor (47 episodes, 1975-1977)
Vic Elms	....	associate (24 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Transportation Department
Ray Atkins	....	driver (30 episodes, 1975-1976)
Steve Smith	....	driver (30 episodes, 1975-1976)
Doug Wetherley	....	driver (30 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Other crew
Gladys Goldsmith	....	continuity (29 episodes, 1975-1976)
Reg Hill	....	production executive (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
David Lane	....	technical director (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Christopher Penfold	....	story consultant (14 episodes, 1975-1976)
Doreen Soan	....	continuity (14 episodes, 1976-1977)
Johnny Byrne	....	script editor (13 episodes, 1975-1976)
Terence Connors	....	financial director (13 episodes, 1976)
Jeremy Coote	....	runner (7 episodes, 1976)
Edward Di Lorenzo	....	script editor (5 episodes, 1975-1976)
Doris Martin	....	continuity (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Guy Hudson	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Gail Samuelson	....	secretary to Martin Landau & Barbara Bain (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Group 3
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Radiotelevisione Italiana

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Adventure Video (USA) (VHS)
• Arts & Entertainment Video (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• ITC Films
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1975) (UK) (TV)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (USA) (VHS)
• J2 Communications (USA) (laserdisc)
• Producciones JRB (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• USA Home Video (II) (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• World Beyond Video (video)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2004-2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

50 min (48 episodes)

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby Digital (DVD Release)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (TV rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (VHS/DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Group 3

Trivia:

Barry Morse decided to leave the series after Season 1 had ended. An explanation of his absence was written into the first episode of Season 2, "The Metamorph", but never made it to the finished episode. Dialog was to indicate he had been in a faulty spacesuit.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the series, commlocks are required both to open and to close doors. However, by the middle of the first season, the doors close behind the Alphans automatically.

Quotes:

Prof. Victor Bergman:[last message before evacuating Alpha] We are Mankind. We came from planet Earth, and we built this base, called Alpha, to learn more about space. But human error blasted this Moon out of the Earth's orbit. And so, we have traveled the Universe searching for a place to live. Now, we can no longer live here...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in City of Heroes (2004) (VG)

You don't feel at home in deep space.

The first science fiction work I ever saw was Space:1999, and i was six. Italian Tv had co-produced the stuff so it was aired around 6pm, not a very appropriate slot to broadcast scenes of people burned alive by their commander's lasergun... I probably had nightmares about it, but missing a single episode was out of the question. I got to see some first season episodes some twenty years later and I appreciated the show even more. I don't recall much of the second season apart Maya and Tony, so let me concentrate on the first one.

The electronic soundtrack and the opening credits (a kind of "Pulp Fiction" style guitar alternated with an orchestral version of the same theme) were very original, as it was the look of the Eagles: they are solid transport spacecrafts but at the same time one can see their pilots from the outside, so that Eagles seem vulnerable... well, they are, most of the time. Base Alpha is a large, well lit and comfortable place (some stylish seventies furniture, too) which is home and prison at the same time.

Anyway the most peculiar aspect is the atmosphere in Moonbase Alpha: The crew is shocked for what happened to them, unprepared to deal with the future, they don't agree with each other, they make mistakes, they often prefer not to show much emotion. No "Space as the last frontier" rhetoric, here. Space is cold and mistakes are lethal. That increases the realism even if 1999 is well past. Action progresses like a slowly unfolding bad dream.

Don't believe people complaining about bad acting. They just expect things that Space:1999 wasn't going to offer. The actors performed well. For example, Commander Koenig (the symbolism in the name is evident) is waiting for the "black sun" to swallow the base, he's talking with Prof. Bergman. He's about to break into tears but manages to restrain himself so that his eyes show only a little trace of what he's feeling underneath: A very good performance from Martin Landau, nearly impossible to find in better rated SF series/movies.