Gerry Anderson created cult TV shows such as Thunderbirds, UFO, and Space: 1999 that specialized in small screen sci-fi, SFX spectacle, and action shows for kids, particularly featuring his distinctive mix of "Supermarionation" puppets and elaborate miniature models of fantastical vehicles. This two-disc set compiles rare short films, forgotten shows, and pilot episodes that never went to series. The Investigator is a pilot from 1973 that brings Anderson's puppet characters and signature special effects into the human world for a spy show about miniaturized agents. The Day After Tomorrow, a live-action pilot from 1976 about a deep space mission that goes off course and becomes lost, is a frustratingly static show filled with actors standing around consoles and tossing off scientific phrases, but it also features some imaginative space imagery and special effects. The 1983 Space Police pilot—an often campy, futuristic New York cop show in a world that looks to be modeled on Blade Runner (complete with flying cars)—features alien creations that could have stepped out of the Star Wars cantina scene, and a mobster with a passing resemblance to Jabba the Hutt, but it also served as the inspiration for Anderson's later show Space Precinct (1994-95). This set also includes the early children's show Here Comes Kandy, promotional films, and the final episode of the goofy private eye spoof Dick Spanner, P.I., plus rare test footage, production sketches, and behind-the-scenes stills. A mixed bag that would likely only appeal to hardcore Anderson buffs, this is an optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
The Lost Worlds of Gerry Anderson
MPI, 2 discs, 354 min., not rated, DVD: $24.98 Volume 33, Issue 2
The Lost Worlds of Gerry Anderson
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