Thunderbirds Are GO (1966)

Zero-X, a manned exploration mission crashes during lift-off on its maiden flight. Two years later an investigative committee finally concludes sabotage, and decides to call on the services... See full summary »

Director:

David Lane

Writers:

Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson

Stars:

Sylvia Anderson, Ray Barrett, Alexander Davion

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sylvia Anderson	...	Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward (voice)
Ray Barrett	...	John Tracy / The Hood (voice)
Alexander Davion	...	Space Captain Greg Martin (voice)
Peter Dyneley	...	Jeff Tracy (voice)
Christine Finn	...	Tin-Tin Kyrano (voice)
David Graham	...	Gordon Tracy / Brains / Parker (voice)
Paul Maxwell	...	Captain Paul Travers (voice)
Neil McCallum	...	Dr. Ray Pierce (voice)
Bob Monkhouse	...	Space Navigator Brad Newman / Swinging Star Compere (voice)
Shane Rimmer	...	Scott Tracy (voice)
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Dr. Tony Grant / Angry Young Man / Public Relations Officer (voice) (as Charles Tingwell)
Jeremy Wilkin	...	Virgil Tracy / Space Exploration Center President (voice)
Matt Zimmerman	...	Alan Tracy / Messenger (voice)

Storyline

Zero-X, a manned exploration mission crashes during lift-off on its maiden flight. Two years later an investigative committee finally concludes sabotage, and decides to call on the services of International Rescue to oversee security at the impending second launch. The second Zero-X successfully reaches its destination, but encounters unexpected hazards, ultimately leading to another call for assistance on its return to Earth. International Rescue respond, and once again Thunderbirds are GO!

---

Plot Keywords:

marionette | supermarionation | marionettes with real hands | puppet | 

---

Taglines:

Streak Through Uncharted Worlds of Adventure!

---

Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Feuervögel startbereit

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated Television (Overseas) Limited, Century 21 Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because Panavision cameras couldn't cope with special effects (at the time), a scope camera was still needed for filming, so Techniscope was used instead. This would also be used in the filming of Thunderbird 6 (1968).

---

Goofs

When driving in the Mars rover, the Zero X crew is driving forward. Yet the passage of lights through the window in the rover is that of a vehicle traveling backwards.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Glenn Field Controller: This is Assembly Control calling all Zero X units. Assembly Phase One - go!

---

Crazy Credits

During the course of the end credits, the band (The Band of HM Royal Marines) form the phrase "THE END" by the end of the credits.

---

Connections

Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996)

---

Soundtracks

Zero X Theme
Written and Arranged by Barry Gray
Performed by The Shadows (Brian Bennett, John Rostill & Bruce Welch)

User Reviews

Wow!

I was a fan of the Anderson's work as a kid but I never got around to watching Thunderbirds - until today when I watched Thunderbirds Are GO for the very first time. I can't believe I was actually biting my nails over a puppet movie! The explosions easily out-do anything Michael Bay has ever done!

Now I want to seek out episodes of the Thunderbirds series to see if they live up to the movie. I'm also curious about a more recent live-action effort of Gerry Anderson's that just came out on DVD: Space Precinct.

And I definitely need to watch Thunderbirds Are GO a few more times to see if it lives up to my first impression!

(It's now a few days later & Barry Gray's music has been stuck in my head the whole time!)