UFO

I watched this show as a child in Canada, and I remember it fondly. It was very ambitious in its reach - the anti-alien organization had at its disposal a moon base, space craft, special land mobiles and a submarine that could also launch a manned aircraft! This involved lots of models and special effects, and was very exciting at the time. I also enjoyed the personal life conflicts of the characters in the series; the show was not just an endless series of explosions and chases, it tried for a more serious, complex approach. It's funny now to look at the odd clothes worn and bizarre hairdos (including purple wigs as part of the uniform of the female personnel on the moon base!) but the show was meant to be taking place 10 years in the future, so it is possible that the unusual costuming was meant to add an exotic, futuristic atmosphere.

In ones opinion this is the best of the Gerry Anderson productions. The various plot lines go into many different aspects of the personal lives of the characters, marriage break-ups, blackmail, interracial and sexual tensions (very new on TV in 1970), the loneliness of command and the mundane arguing of budgetry cuts. The acting is as good as anything seen today particularly Ed Bishop, Michael Billington and George Sewell. Excellent direction, marvellous sets and special effects on limited TV budgets. The programme stands the test of time and one thinks that young people of today would find it just as exciting as people did in 1970.

For many years the Anderson team wowed us with many cutting edge development in the movie arts.

First there was SuperMarrionation (sic) with the Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlett, Joe 90 etc. These combines with great miniature special effects gave Gerry and Sylvia many of the skills necessary to launch themselves into live action TV.

And Launch they did with UFO. Catchy sound track, futuristic special effects, story lines, and a great supporting task they stunned TV watchers with their vision of the future.

At that time 2001 a Space Oddysey was out and a lot of the set and concept ideas from there were incorporated into UFO.

Looking back there are some humorous moments (Like purple wigs and a moonbase) but hey - for that time it was visionary. Since it was only set 10 years into the future from its filming great detail was taken to make it 'advanced' but not beyond the realms of possibility.

Many of the concepts re special effects were developed further into Space 1999.

Do watch it and remember that this was a turning point in quality SciFi TV from the UK.

I remember this show when I was a kid in the late 70's. Every so often it was on during Saturday afternoons. Always a fan of spaceships and such, I was hooked. I couldn't remember much other than the various vehicles and Ed Straker's hair.

I recently got the entire thing on DVD and yes it's kind of campy but it's so fun to watch. I love retro stuff. I love British programming. I love SciFi. For me this was a hit.

I can echo the comments of another poster who said that he must be the only American to have seen and remembered it. I felt the same way. All through the years I when the topic came up I would describe it and the series name and NO ONE would remember it to the point of questioning if there was such a series ever on American TV. There was. U.F.O.

As far as the criticism goes... Yes some of them are a bit true but that is part of what makes this a SciFi cult classic.

I love the series with all of it's campiness and am so happy to own it on DVD. I received it as a Christmas present and still haven't watched the entire thing. I take it in small doses in order to savor every last drop.

My favorite female is Joan Harrington (Antonia Ellis - what a beautiful lady) and although Ed Straker (Ed Bishop) is an awesome character I really enjoyed the "James Bond" like smoothness and eye for the ladies of Alex Freeman. (George Sewell)

My favorite prop was the liquor dispenser in Straker's office and how they are all smoking cigarettes. I don't smoke cigarettes but it's so 60's/70's.

I LOVE IT!

Really, nobody did it better than the Andersons. But when that thing you do is so delieriously unique, that's understandable. In 1970, the "UFO" series was end of an era. It was the last production to carry the legend A GERRY ANDERSON CENTURY 21 PRODUCTION. With the passing of his studio operation, a little of the magic fell away from the Anderson production line. Certainly the loss of Derek Meddings was noticeable on "Space:1999" which has some wonderfil model work (courtesy of Martin Bower) but found the talents of Brian Johnson (SPX) lacking the elan and sophistication of Meddings. You only have to see a UFO exploding and compare that to an Eagle doing likewise to see that, when it came to the big pyrotechnic display, Meddings really was the master. "UFO" was the greatest work the Century 21 team ever produced. By the end of the 26 epsode run it had progressed from a slightly plodding live action take on "Captain Scarlet" to become one of the best science fiction series over produced in the UK, period. Check out the deranged final 9 episodes for proof of this. They are almost as good as "The Prisoner" in their way. If you haven't discovered the series yet, or haven't seen it for many years, now is most certainly the time. The new DVDs from Carlton show "UFO" in a shimmering new light. It was quite simply one of the best looking series ever made. So, welcome back "UFO" and thank you Gerry and Sylvia making our childhoods that little bit sweeter.