Back in the early eighties, ITC's New York office put together a series of movie-length compilations of Gerry Anderson's TV shows under the imaginative umbrella title of 'Super Space Theater'. It was an attempt to breathe new life into the properties which were not as big in the US as they were in other countries. There was also the fledgling cable television market which needed cheap product to fill its schedules outside of prime time.
The titles were: 'The Incredible Voyage of Stingray', 'Invaders from the Deep', 'Thunderbirds to the Rescue', 'Countdown to Disaster', 'Thunderbirds in Outer Space', 'Captain Scarlet versus the Mysterons', Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars', 'The Amazing Adventures of Joe 90', 'Invasion:UFO', 'Alien Attack', 'Journey Through the Black Sun', 'Cosmic Princess' and 'Destination: Moonbase Alpha'.
There was also an additional film culled from a non-Anderson series 'The Champions' which brought the total to fourteen.
The package was not a huge success in the States. In the UK, they fared better when Channel 5 Video released many of them on VHS into the then new sell-thru video market - The compilations sold very well and prompted them to continue to release tapes with unedited episodes on when the movies ran out.
There's a good article about the 'Super Space Theater' features on the official Gerry Anderson website.
Fast forward to 14 April 2021 and it's the very first international Gerry Anderson Day. To celebrate, in my own way, I came up with the idea of imagining a second run of 'Super Space Theater' features entitled 'Super Space Theater 2'. I managed eight - picking specific episodes and depicting them through the medium of faux movie posters. Here they are...
MEGA TRUCK INFERNO
(Compiled from the 'Thunderbirds' episodes 'Pit of Peril' and 'Path of Destruction'.)Two
mighty vehicles are in danger. The incredible jungle cat SIDEWINDER
is trapped in a pit of dangerously unstable explosives. The giant
CRABLOGGER construction machine is locked on a collision course with
a huge dam that threatens a South American village. International
Rescue is their only hope.
THE DEADLY DANGEROUS ADVENTURES OF LADY PENELOPE (Compiled from the Thunderbirds episodes 'The Cham Cham' and 'The Man from MI5'.)Lady
Penelope and her right hand man, Parker find themselves travelling
from the French Riviera to the Swiss Alps as they track down foreign
agents.
Features an animated Bond-style title sequence features Sylvia Anderson's
rendition of 'Dangerous Game'.
"The only Super Space Theater movie especially for girls!"
JET ANGELS IN THE 21st CENTURY (Compiled from the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episodes 'Seek and Destroy', 'Model Spy', 'Manhunt' and 'The Trap'.
In the
21st
century, mankind battles a cold war with the strange Mysterons – an
alien race from the planet Mars. Frontline in the battle, are the
Angels. skilled jet pilots from all points of the globe dedicated to
protecting mankind from the skies.
ON HIS HOLINESS' SECRET SERVICE (Compiled from four episodes (TBA) of 'The Secret Service'.)
The
Reverend Stanley Unwin is no ordinary English country clergyman. He's
a secret agent working for the British government!
Features some new specially filmed live action framing footage of the real Stanley Unwin being interviewed by a reporter (Keith Alexander) at a nursing home with the elderly priest relating his adventures as a secret agent with a miniaturised gardener. The closing scenes see the reporter dismiss the stories as the ramblings of a madman.STRAKER VS STRAKER (Compiled from the two UFO episodes 'Confetti Check A-OK' and 'A Question of Priorities'.) Earth
is at war with alien body snatchers. Humans are being kidnapped and
reduced to spare parts for a dying race. But they aren't the only
victims of this secret battle. USAF Colonel Ed Straker has recently married his
fiance Mary. He is unable to tell her that the Earth is in danger and
that his work must take precedence over a settled and normal home
life. It is a secret that will tear their relationship apart and cost
him the life of his only son...
DOMAIN OF THE DEVIL GIRLS(Compiled from the Space:1999 episodes 'A Matter of Balance' and 'Devil's Planet'.)
Violent
alien she-devils from an anti-matter universe take Commander Koenig
prisoner. Their strange leader, Vindrus, temps teenage botanist
Shermeen Williams into releasing the anti-matter aliens from their
dimensional prison so they can take over the galaxy. Will
shape-changing wonder woman Maya be able to prevent the catharsis of
spurious morality?
THE UNDERSEA NIGHTMARES OF TROY TEMPEST(Compiled from the Stingray episodes Raptures
of the Deep, Cosmic Cavemen, Tom Thumb Tempest and Pink Ice.)
The evil underwater emperor Titan
uses his new nightmare ray on the Captain Troy Tempest. The deadly beam sends him into a
dangerous coma – where in a nightmare dreamscape he confronts cosmic cavemen, giant
aquaphibians and destruction in a palace of treasures as Titan threatens the world with pink ice.
THE QUESTIONABLE ADVENTURES OF JOE 90 (Compiled from the episodes Operation
McLaine, Double Agent, The Fortress, Project 90.)
There
are many strange secrets within the espionage business but none
stranger than the case of Joe 90 – a nine year old boy with
incredible skills thanks to a brain implant that allows him to become
expert at any skill or task. But is it right to use a child in such
dangerous situations. This is the report. You are the judge...
Features
additional live-action framing scenes with Patrick Allen as
Government Investigator Connors investigating the moral aspects of
the Joe 90 case.
If you appreciate the incredible effort and imagination I've put into this silly excursion into silliness, then you can show your appreciation by purchasing me a coffee via my Ko-fi account here. Thank you.
