"Thunderbirds" (1965) TV series 1965-1966

Creators:

Gerry Anderson
Sylvia Anderson

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)

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:

Fenella Fielding was Gerry Anderson's first choice for the voice of Lady Penelope.

Goofs:

Continuity: In all episodes that show Thunderbird 1 taking off from Tracy Island, the launch sequence contains a major error. As TB1 descends the ramp to the launch bay, the wings are at right angles to the direction of travel. As it emerges from the tunnel, the wings are aligned in the direction of travel. In other words, the craft has rotated 90 degrees as it goes down into the launch bay.

Quotes:

Virgil Tracy: Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One, do you read me?
[Thunderbird One does not answer]
John Tracy: He's got to have made it, he's GOT to.
Virgil Tracy: Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One, do you read me?
[static]
Scott Tracy: Loud and clear.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Spaced: Leaves (#2.7)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Flying High

Classic 60's TV show

When I was a kid I used to get up at 5am to watch this show (pre-video recorder days) with with the volume turned down low so I wouldn't wake my family. Recently, I came across one of the videos in the library and have been slowly rewatching them since. It ain't just nostalgia for my youth motivating me - I still love the models of the planes, spaceships, satelittes, sea ships, nuclear power stations, etc, which are brillantly done. The convincing explosions are still so exciting. The colours are phenomenal - you know that 60's TV colour - pastels and grey and stuff. Plus the jet engine soundtrack and the crazy fashions (those Tracy boys wearing their button down shirts and jackets even though they live on a private island and they complain about it being a warm day). Those jaunty little (impractical) caps. So cool (well the 60s have come back in fashion several times since).

Hell, the characters took second fiddle to the machines and the accidents, but there was just enough given away so the audience could extrapolate whatever they liked (like Garbo's face). If you actually watch them all, you're never actually told, say, that John is frustrated that he doesn't go on enough missions, but it is stated as fact in all the books and the websites. Or that Scott is a light sleeper. And sure it is riddled with errors as well - like that they must protect their identities and keep the island base top secret, but Jeff Tracy gives out his name in one episode to the US navy. Well, d'oh! And there is some really stupid technical stuff (same episode where the Empire State building collapses - but it topples over rather than collapses down on itself as we now know skyscrapers do). But aren't all TV shows stupid and simplitic (think Buffy, think Star Trek, think Soapies!).

It is so quaint - hey, these days the idea of five men in the early 20s sharing an island with one young woman (Tin Tin), and constantly being involved in dangerous rescues - well, there would be fighting and drugs, nervous breakdowns, sex and rebellion.

There is a movie slated for 2004. Hopefully it will update this little pearler of a show, and avoid being the next Lost in Space debacle.