Space:1999

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The main setting is Moonbase Alpha, a lunar research base, space control facility and warden of the two Nuclear Disposal Areas which oversee the disposal of Nuclear waste from Earth, a topic that was of much concern at the time the show was made.

Due to an atomic explosion caused by magnetic radiation emanating from the waste dumps, the moon is hurled out of Earths orbit.

To play the main parts of Commander John Koenig and Chief Medical Officer Dr Helena Russell, Anderson brought in husband and wife team Martin Landau and Barbara Bain who were well known for their roles in the series, Mission:Impossible. The Chief Pilot of Alpha, Captain Alan Carter was cast to Nick Tate, an Australian actor. Barry Morse, one of the stalwarts of British TV at the time played Professor Victor Bergman.

The first series is generally preferred by sci fi fans and purists maintain that it has better storylines despite having a hiccup now and then. Extensive use is made of tense music from Barry Gray but also includes more well known pieces like Mars, Bringer of War by Holst, and Adagio for Strings in G Minor by Albinoni.

Model work is often a hallmark of Anderson productions and Space:1999 is no exception. Brian Johnson designed many of the initial craft like the Eagles and the basic layout of Alpha itself. Johnson would later find work in more mainstream films like Alien and The Empire Strikes Back.

The Second series was produced by Fred Freiberger, then well known, not always in a good light as the man who produced the third series of Star Trek:TOS, and who presided over the latter seasons of the Six Million Dollar Man. The series format was changed trying for a more cheerful atmosphere and more action sequences apparently to appeal more to the US audience, though paradoxically audiences on both sides of the Atlantic generally prefer Season 1.

A third season was never commisioned, and Sir Lew Grade, head of ITC who at this time was the series distributor was anxious to make more headways into the feature film market which resulted in such films as Capricorn One and Raise the Titanic.

Record 276 - universe - Last update 06 Nov 2008, 15:19:26

Entry written by: Jadefalcon

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