"Lost in Space" (1965)TV series 1965-1968

Creator:

Irwin Allen

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

15 September 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Sci-Fi | Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

A space colony family struggles to survive when a spy/accidental stowaway throws their ship hopelessly off course.

Plot Keywords:

Science Fantasy | Sabotage | Weekly Monster | 1960s | Robot Sidekick

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

June Lockhart	...	Maureen Robinson (84 episodes, 1965-1968)
Mark Goddard	...	Maj. Don West / ... (84 episodes, 1965-1968)
Marta Kristen	...	Judy Robinson (84 episodes, 1965-1968)
Bill Mumy	...	Will Robinson (84 episodes, 1965-1968)
Angela Cartwright	...	Penny Robinson (84 episodes, 1965-1968)
Guy Williams	...	Prof. John Robinson / ... (83 episodes, 1965-1968)
Jonathan Harris	...	Dr. Zachary Smith / ... (83 episodes, 1965-1968)
Bob May	...	The Robot (83 episodes, 1965-1968)
Dick Tufeld	...	The Robot (83 episodes, 1965-1968)

Also Known As:

Space Family Robinson (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (83 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:U (season 1) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The third season episode Fugitives in Space featured two ape-faced aliens and another alien (Creech, who was more pig-faced than simian) used the simian makeup by John Chambers that became famous in the movie, Planet of the Apes (1968), and its sequels.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Dr. Smith: Silence, you ninny.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: The Twisted World of Marge Simpson (#8.11)" (1997)

Brilliant Non-Linear Science Fiction

I have to come out up front and state that I am a life-long fan of "Lost in Space." I can't say enough good things about it. It isn't perfect, but it is far and away the most original and unique science fiction ever made.

The first seven episodes of "Lost in Space" are perhaps the most brilliant sustained science fiction ever filmed (I put "Star Wars" in the "fantasy" category). The opening episode is breathtaking in its scope, showing the lift-off from Earth as just the prelude to some serious drama. Dr. Smith is a cold, hard saboteur whose motives are always in question. Some gadgets, such as Professor Robinson's jet pack and the chariot, are introduced (and unfortunately rarely seen again). John Williams' score is awesome, especially the background music as the chariot rumbles across forbidding deserts. Light and shadow are used to great effect in these black-and-white episodes.

Mid-way through the first season, though, things start changing, and the series never looked back. Dr. Smith evolves. It is heresy for characters in science fiction to evolve. Think about it. Kirk is always Kirk, manly and triumphant. Spock remains Spock, emotionless (for the most part) and calculating. Adama is heroic, Dr. Who indefatigable, etc. However, name one other major character in science fiction who changes the way that Dr. Smith does - and include the Robot and Will Robinson in there, too. All go through a metamorphosis during the first two seasons. That is actual character development, folks, the kind you don't see often on television.

Another extremely tricky thing to accomplish is to combine science fiction and comedy. "Star Trek" did it occasionally, as in "A Piece of the Action," but not consistently. "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" tried and, for the most part, failed. "Lost in Space" achieved that goal, even if sometimes the laughs were unintentional (see "The Great Vegetable Rebellion" and some campy monsters/villains in other episodes).

It's difficult for me to pick out favorite episodes. One of the uncanny features of "Lost in Space" is that the episodes can be so different. There were many that featured the bumbling Dr. Smith getting the Robinsons into - and sometimes out of - trouble, but there also were episodes in which John Robinson acted as courageously as any other science fiction hero ever did to save his people. Penny Robinson carried an inventive episode featuring her "invisible friend." Every so often, a guest star performance from the likes of Michael Rennie, Warren Oates, Albert Salmi, Kurt Russell or Slim Pickens would pop up and change the whole tone of the series for a spell.

Somewhat ironically, this series set in the "far future" is one of the few that really captures the essence of swinging 1960s culture. This is one of the best series to make full use of the medium through its use of color, costumes and creative props. The final episode, one of my favorites, does that as bluntly as any other TV show outside of, say, the final episode of "The Prisoner." In it, the Robinsons have found Alpha Centauri and believe that their journey finally is ended, though the inhabitants show strong tendencies of being, well, hippies. Watching Dr. Smith "get down" with them - oh wait, I already mentioned the comedy aspect, didn't I.

If some people want to read sinister things into some of the relationships on this show, well, I have no time for that. One of show's outstanding features is its ability to show a relationship between an adult - Dr. Smith - and a child - Will Robinson - in which the child is successfully portrayed as being often more mature and courageous than his elder. Dr. Smith is child-like in many of his passions and traits, while Will at least at first is too mature for his years. Watching Will gradually lose his supercilious edge as he learns a bit about human nature from Dr. Smith is one of the most under-appreciated aspects of the show. The Robot becomes humanized along the way, too. In addition to everything else, this is a "coming of age" story.

I don't know how you can say you like science fiction and not like at least major aspects of "Lost in Space." It was far, far ahead of its time. This is Irwin Allen's finest work, with "The Poseidon Adventure" a close second. I give it my highest rating for a television production.