"The Ray Bradbury Theater" (1985) TV series 1985-1992

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Directors:

Chris Bailey
Allan Kroeker
(more)

Writers:

(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

21 May 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A Canadian-produced fantastic anthology series scripted by famed science-fiction author Ray Bradbury...

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Wayne Robson	...	Man in Store / ... (3 episodes, 1986-1992)
Desmond Kelly	...	Old Man / ... (3 episodes, 1989-1992)
Frank Whitten	...	Mailman / ... (3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Jayne Eastwood	...	Elmira Brown / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1990)
Kenneth Welsh	...	Captain Wilder / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1990)
Jennifer Dale	...	The Banshee / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1992)
Alan Scarfe	...	John Oatis Kendall / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1989)
Charles Martin Smith	...	Douglas Rogers / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1989)
Michael Copeman	...	Policeman / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Neil Munro	...	Father / ... (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
John Bach	...	Lazlo / ... (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Harold Gould	...	Colonel Stonesteel / ... (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bill Meilen	...	Jahdoo / ... (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Patricia Phillips	...	Cynthia Fortnum / ... (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Michael Sarrazin	...	John Colt / ... (2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Frank C. Turner	...	John Webley / ... (2 episodes, 1989)
Robert Clothier	...	Ralph (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Michael Hurst	...	Lt. Simmons / ... (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Sheila Moore	...	Anna / ... (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Helen Moulder	...	Mrs. Brabbam (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Brian Sergent	...	Boltz (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Ken Blackburn	...	Policeman / ... (2 episodes, 1992)
Peter Rowley	...	Druggist / ... (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Directed by
Randy Bradshaw		(5 episodes, 1989-1992)
Roger Tompkins		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
John Laing		(5 episodes, 1990-1992)
Costa Botes		(4 episodes, 1989-1992)
Brad Turner		(3 episodes, 1988-1990)
Lee Tamahori		(3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Paul Lynch		(2 episodes, 1985-1990)
Bruce Pittman		(2 episodes, 1986-1992)
Tom Cotter		(2 episodes, 1988)
Bruce MacDonald		(2 episodes, 1988)
Ian Mune		(2 episodes, 1992)
Peter Sharp		(2 episodes, 1992)
Chris Bailey		(unknown episodes)
John Philip Dayton		(unknown episodes)
Allan Kroeker		(unknown episodes)
Bruce McDonald		(unknown episodes)
Anne Wheeler		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Ray Bradbury		(58 episodes, 1985-1992)
John Philip Dayton		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
John Philip Dayton	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Fern Field	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Larry Wilcox	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Tony Winley	....	line producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
John Massari		(1 episode, 1986)
Christopher Dedrick		(unknown episodes)
Louis Natale		(unknown episodes)
Donald Quan		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Brian R.R. Hebb		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Roger Mattiussi		(1 episode, 1985)
Allan Lee		(1 episode, 1988)

Series Production Design by
Robert Pearson		(1 episode, 1985)
Alicia Keywan		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Set Decoration by
Elinor Rose Galbraith		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Neale Joudrie	....	assistant unit manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David J. Webb	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1989-1992)
Karen Lee Hall	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1986)
George Lyle	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Phil Chitty	....	construction manager (22 episodes, 1992)
Kirk Cheney	....	construction manager (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John McKay	....	supervising sound editor (14 episodes, 1992)
Alan Hardiman	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 1989-1990)
Stuart French	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Allen Ormerod	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Tim Prebble	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Brian Q. Kelley	....	effects editorial (3 episodes, 1990)

Series Visual Effects by
Lisa Atkinson	....	development and pre-production / post-production supervisor / ... (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Peter Cox	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)
Rick Forsayeth	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)
Terry McGauran	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)
Dwayne McLean	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1985)
Brent Meyer	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)
Leslie Munro	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)
Bill Williams	....	stunts (1 episode, 1985)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ira Cohen	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Kim Olsen	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
John Massari	....	composer: additional music / composer: theme music / ... (65 episodes, 1985-1992)
Christopher Dedrick	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Alberta Filmworks
• Atlantis Films
• Ellipse Programme
• Granada Television

Distributors

• Astral Video (1985) (Canada) (VHS)
• CCA (????) (Japan) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (VHS)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• Showtime Networks (original airing)

Also Known As:

"Le monde fantastique de Ray Bradbury" (Canada: French title)
"Mystery Theatre" (UK) (rerun title)
"Ray Bradbury présente" (France)
"The Bradbury Trilogy" (UK) (rerun title)
"The Ray Bradbury Theatre" (UK)

Runtime:

30 min (65 episodes)

Country:

France | UK | Canada | USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Alberta Filmworks

Childhood favorite

I used to watch this show when I was somewhere between fourth or fifth Grade. I didn't always understand everything. I knew that almost every episode had a twist ending, like Twilight Zone, but I was confused sometimes. Even so, the show changed the way I thought about the world and several episodes, although I haven't seen them in years, still stick with me. Every time someone is yakking on a cell phone, I think of the episode The Murderer, and I think "I want a chocolate milkshake". At a fifth Grade book-fair one fateful day I remember seeing the the name "RAY BRADBURY" blaring on the cover of a shiny book, The Martian Chronicles. I still recall my exact thoughts. I ran up, surprised, and said to myself "Heeeeeeey! thats that guy from TV!." So I bought the book, still sitting on my bookshelf next to numerous other Bradburys. I was impressed by some stories, baffled by others. The Cold War references were lost on me, and for a long time I was confounded looking for a continuous plot. The story "There will Come soft Rains" introduced me to a favorite poet, Sara Teasdale. Although I was left a little confused, I continued to raid the school library for more Bradbury, reading Something Wicked This Way Comes, S is For Space, R is For Rocket, Twice Twenty-Two, Death is a Lonely Business. My only disappointment is that I never got around to reading I Sing the Body Electric.

Now, years later, as a teenager, I found The Ray Bradbury Theater DVD set at a best buy. 68 episodes, and only 30$! Well, needless to say, I grabbed the only copy they had left and clung to it for my life. I got home, and, perusing though episode titles, came across many of my favorite stories, A Sound of Thunder, The Lake, The Murderer, and many others I realized I had read since I watched the series as a child. In fact, I recall my elation at coming across "The Murderer" (always my favorite) as a short story.

In short, Ray Bradbury Theater is a great series for people of all ages. It will make you think, an stick with you, and possibly cause you to read more Ray Bradbury stories than you watch in episodes.