Destination Moonbase-Alpha (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Gerry Anderson (creator)
Sylvia Anderson (creator)

Release Date:

1978 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

After an atomic explosion blasts the Moon out of Earth orbit, Moonbase Alpha drifts in space, with 300 people on board...

Plot Keywords:

Moon | Travel | Edited From TV Series | Futuristic

Cast

Martin Landau	...	Commander John Koenig
Barbara Bain	...	Dr. Helena Russell
Catherine Schell	...	Maya
Tony Anholt	...	Tony Verdeshi
Nick Tate	...	Alan Carter
Zienia Merton	...	Sandra Benes
Jeffery Kissoon	...	Dr. Ben Vincent
Toby Robins	...	Diana Morris
Stuart Damon	...	Guido Verdeshi
Jeremy Young	...	Jack Bartlett
Drewe Henley	...	Joe Ehrlich
Patrick Westwood	...	Dr. Shaw
Cher Cameron	...	Louisa
Al Lampert	...	Ken Burdett
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Professor Hunter

Runtime:

USA:93 min | UK:96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (TV rating) | UK:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Group 3

Trivia:

The date is changed from 2004 (as it was in the original two-part "Space: 1999" (1975) story "The Bringers of Wonder") to a more futuristic 2100.

Goofs:

Continuity: The opening narration says the year is 2100, yet dialog indicates the year is only 2000 or 2001.

Quotes:

John Koenig: It's better to live as your own man, than as a fool in someone else's dream.

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Space: 1999: Breakaway (#1.1)" (1975)

Soundtrack:

End Title song

An excellent movie, made from 2 episodes of Space: 1999

This was the first movie of a Gerry Anderson production, to be produced by editing together old episodes from certain series, in this case Space: 1999. Produced in 1978 by ITC London's offices, this movie combines the two parts of the Space: 1999 season 2 epic 'The Bringers of Wonder', which was edited to form a feature length film. The new opening titles and music by Mike Vikkers are very good, and they are incredibly faithful to the original material, edited only certain parts that needed to be removed to create that 'movie' feel. The only downsides to the movie is the general silliness in it, but this isn't the movie makers fault, Season 2 of Space: 1999 was incredibly zany, and not half as good as Season 1. The other annoyance is the end of the movie, when the end credits are scrolled over an awful tune sung by someone called Oliver Onions. Other than this the film is superb, and the episodes that it is edited from are undoubtedly some of the classics from Season 2. Martin Landau, Barbara Bain give excellent performances, as do Tony Anholt, Catherine Schell and Stuart Damon. The aliens look excellent, and the last few minutes are sensational. The film ends with a speech from Commander Koenig, speaking to the hostile aliens, "It is better to live as your own man, than a fool in someone else's dream". Because this film is so faithful to the original material, I would recommend it to Gerry Anderson purists. A throughly excellent movie!