"Thunderbirds" (1965) TV series 1965-1966

Creators:

Gerry Anderson
Sylvia Anderson
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 September 1965 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Action | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the 21st century, the Tracy family operate a unique private mechanized emergency response service.

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Futuristic | Rescue Team | Supermarionation | Disaster

Cast

Peter Dyneley	...	Jeff Tracy / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Shane Rimmer	...	Scott Tracy / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Graham	...	Brains / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Ray Barrett	...	John Tracy / ... (30 episodes, 1965-1966)
Christine Finn	...	Tin-Tin Kyrano / ... (30 episodes, 1965-1966)
Matt Zimmerman	...	Alan Tracy / ... (28 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Holliday	...	Virgil Tracy / ... (26 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson	...	Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward / ... (24 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Directed by
Desmond Saunders		(11 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Lane		(9 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Elliott		(8 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo		(4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Brian Burgess		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Writing credits
Gerry Anderson		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Fennell		(10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo		(7 episodes, 1965-1966)
Dennis Spooner		(6 episodes, 1965-1966)
Donald Robertson		(4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Martin Crump		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Tony Barwick		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Produced by
Gerry Anderson	....	producer / executive producer (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Reg Hill	....	associate producer / producer (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
John Read	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1966)

Series Original Music by
Barry Gray		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Cinematography by
Paddy Seale		(4 episodes, 1965)
John Read		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Harry MacDonald		(15 episodes, 1965-1966)
Harry Ledger		(10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Peter Elliott		(6 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Art Direction by
Bob Bell		(26 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Costume Design by
Sylvia Anderson		(unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	sound (4 episodes, 1965)
Roy Lafbery	....	dialogue editor (3 episodes, 1965)
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Derek Meddings	....	supervising special effects director / special effects director (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Joy Cuff	....	model maker (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Geoff Meldrum	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1965)

Series Other crew
Gerry Anderson	....	script supervisor (31 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson	....	script supervisor (31 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo	....	script editor (25 episodes, 1965-1966)
Mary Turner	....	puppetry supervisor (20 episodes, 1965-1966)
Christine Glanville	....	puppetry supervisor (19 episodes, 1965-1966)

Production Companies

• AP Films (APF)
• Associated Television (ATV)

Distributors

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (1964) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Home Video (????) (Canada) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) (1965-1968) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Carlton International Media
• Epix Media (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Super Channel (2002) (Japan) (TV)
• TechTV Inc. (2002-) (USA) (TV) (syndication)

Also Known As:

International Rescue (UK) (working title)
Tairnearan Tar As (UK: Gaelic title)

Runtime:

50 min (32 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Videcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-G | UK:U

Company:

AP Films (APF)

Trivia:

The episode "Security Hazard" features extensive flashback footage from "End of the Road", "Sun Probe", "Trapped in the Sky" and "Day of Disaster" - so extensive, in fact, that it contains only around ten minutes of new material. The episode was made because the previous two episodes, "Attack of The Alligators" and "The Cham-Cham," had gone over budget and a flashback episode was needed to finish the show's first season. These particular episodes were specifically chosen as, having originally been filmed as half-hour episodes, writer Alan Pattillo knew that the stories could be more easily condensed down to about ten minutes each.

Goofs:

Plot holes: There are some episodes in which civilian personnel who are being assisted by International Rescue refer to the Tracy brothers by name. How would they know their names? IR is a secret organization and it's highly unlikely they would give out their names.

Quotes:

[Opening narration]
Jeff Tracy: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Thunderbirds are go!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Very Best of 'Have I Got News for You' (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Dangerous Game

PURE FUN

Thunderbirds was a top Gerry Anderson show right up there with Captain Scarlet and Stingray.

Thunderbirds is one of those shows which is enjoyable for so many reasons-the storylines, the action, the characters, the adventures.

Thunderbirds was longer than most other Gerry Anderson shows which allowed for better stories and better character development. The show was set around the Tracy Brothers who were behind International Rescue. They had 5 vehicles. Thunderbird 1 was a reconnaissance craft. Thunderbird 2 was a huge plane which could carry all types of equipment. Thunderbird 3 was a space rocket. Thunderbird 4 was a submarine and Thunderbird 5 was a space station. The head of International Rescue was Jeff Tracey. Throughout the series the Tracy boys were aided by Brains who always came up with a solution to problems they encountered. And they also received help from Lady Penelope and Parker as well. The Hood was the evil villain who attempted to steal their secrets but always failed.

The puppetry was amazing in this series and the adventures were great. International rescue got involved in all types of situations. My favourite episodes were Cry Wolf where a young lad makes a hoax call to International Rescue and Attack of the Alligators where International Rescue have to rescue some people from giant alligators.

This is a timeless classic and if there are any youngsters out there who have not watched it then I urge you to-it really is that good!