International Rescue makes its debut when an enemy nicknamed the Hood sabotages the new Fireflash plane. Can International Rescue save the 600 passengers on the plane or would their first mission be their last?
In the latest part of our behind the scenes exploration of the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series Thunderbirds, we take an in-depth look at its first episode, "Trapped in the Sky". With the help of newly unearthed 35mm film and studio documentation, this documentary challenges some of the "established" facts of the series' early days and uncover footage unseen for sixty years.
In a faraway jungle, the US Army has just finished three weeks of successful testing for the Sidewinder, a new transport vehicle. However, the congratulatory pats on the back prove a bit premature as the sidewinder fails to reach it's rendezvous point The ground crew sees smoke but there are no sign of the vehicle and attempts and contacting the sidewinder crew goes unanswered. When the crew finally responded, it is revealed that they have tipped over on their side and are unable to move! The fact that they have fallen 300 feet into a crater and are engulfed into flames makes it even more disastrous. Being so far from civilization, the Army isn't as alone as it thinks, as International Rescue has been listening in on its plight with great interest. For the moment, however, they choose to wait to see what happens. After two Army rescue attempts result in hospitalization, Jeff Tracy sends his sons out to try and help. But will they succeed when others have not?
Sir Jeremy Hodge -- without whom Brains could not have built any of International Rescue's vehicles -- has just finished his latest project, converting seawater into fuel. Sir Jeremy has little time to celebrate the accomplishment, however, as his colleague on the project has gone missing, mysteriously disappearing from the train on which he was traveling. Fearing that the knowledge possessed by his friend could be devastating should it end up in the wrong hands, Sir Jeremy arranges a rendezvous in a Parisian cafe with his old friend Lady Penelope. One barely avoided poisoned drink later (thanks to some quick thinking by Parker), and Penelope is off on yet another mission. Investigating a clue left behind at the cafe by the would-be assassin leads only to another attempt on her life, as Parker must again save his enchanting employer and her companion, this time from gas flowing into a windowless basement. Left with no options other than to ride the same train that prompted their investigation.
While on their way back to Tracy Island from extinguishing an oil well fire, Scott and Virgil inadvertently cross paths with the Sentinel, a new naval strike vessel. Mistaking Thunderbird 2 for a hostile aircraft, the ship fires several missiles and manages to connect, despite evasive maneuvering by Virgil. With Thunderbird 2 sustaining tremendous damage, Virgil slips into unconsciousness, barely awakening in time to pull up from his dive and continue toward home. Thunderbird 2 struggles to remain airborne and crashes just as it reaches the island, once again knocking its pilot out cold. Finding himself in the comfort of his own bed, Virgil again opens his eyes at just the right moment, this time to witness a broadcast of the Empire State Building's relocation. Nothing could possibly go wrong with hydraulically lifting a 102-story building and transporting it along tracks to its new destination, could it?
In the latest part of our ongoing behind the scenes documentary series,, 'Thunderbirds Unseen', we take an in-depth look at how two episodes were expanded in scope and ambition following the decision that each 'Thunderbirds' episode was to be an hour long. "Perils of Penelope" and "Terror in New York City" are two particularly well regarded episodes of Thunderbirds, with action packed-plots, arresting visuals that continue to enthral audiences after almost six decades, but what were their original storylines? Explore these classic Supermarionation episodes like never before in the company of co-creator Sylvia Anderson and directors David Elliott, Des Saunders, and David Lane. With the help of newly unearthed 35mm film and studio documentation, 'Thunderbirds Unseen' challenges some of the "established" facts of the making of the series' and showcases footage unseen for sixty years. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series was a massive success upon its debut in 1965 and
The Hood is back and again up to no good, this time ordered by the evil general for whom he works to destroy the Red Arrow, a state-of-the-art fighter jet and the only thing standing between his boss and world domination. Thanks to the Hood, the first test of the Red Arrow ends in a spectacular crash, killing the pilot and leaving Colonel Tim Casey disgraced and off the project he was tasked with leading. Casey unexpectedly turns up at Tracy Island to seek advice from Jeff, an old buddy from the early days of space exploration. Despite help from Brains, the second Red Arrow test is destined to end the same as the first, because the Hood won't receive payment from the General until each plane is destroyed. Planting a homing device to pull the aircraft off course, the Hood causes it to crash into the control tower, leaving the two men at the top teetering and clinging to life. Can anything save them from falling to their deaths? And can anyone stop the Hood from carrying out more destruc
Despite pounding rain and gale force wind, Allington Bridge, swaying back and forth, seems to be holding up in the face of a violent storm. When the storm finally dies down, work crews are dispatched to investigate any potential damage. All tests prove negative, but one cautious supervisor would like to run more. His boss, however, feeling pressure to reopen the bridge, rejects the idea. In order to reach its launch site, a spacecraft bound for Mars must first cross the bridge, or risk having to wait four more years before another takeoff is possible. Allington Bridge is indeed opened to the Martian space probe, but its crushing weight is too much and, one by one, its steel cables begin to snap and unravel. The probe, along with two astronauts aboard, plummets to the water below, where its buried beneath mangled girders and its automatic countdown is activated. Luckily, Brains has traveled to England to observe the launch. He and Lady Penelope speed off to the scene of the accident, bu
On his way home to celebrate his third wedding anniversary, Thomas Prescott is forced into an unexpected detour after picking up a hitchhiker. Upon dropping the man at what is supposedly the home of the hitchhiker's doctor, Prescott finds himself thanked with an explosive device clamped to his wrist and not much time to remove it before it detonates. The hitchhiker informs his confused victim that the key is hidden in his office and instructs him to leave the device in a file cabinet once it has been removed. Racing against both time and the police, Prescott does as he's told, but he's trapped in an elevator while fleeing the now-burning building. International Rescue has been monitoring the happenings and decides that now is the time to spring into action. But have they sat on the sidelines too long? Will they arrive in time to pull Prescott from the bottom of the elevator shaft in which he's trapped, or will the fire prove too much even for International Rescue's advanced equipment?
Taking a much-needed break from their rigorous schedules, Brains and Tin Tin set off on a working vacation in the Middle East, where they'll be assisting a renowned professor with the recovery of hidden treasure from the bottom of a lake. As our two intrepid heroes embark on their journey, Tin Tin's father, Kyrano, expresses his uneasiness to Jeff Tracy concerning the expedition. ""A beautiful lake miles and miles from anywhere,"" Jeff says. ""What could be safer?"" Kyrano's fears are justified, however, as his evil half-brother, the Hood, has once again compelled him to reveal details about International Rescue's activities. Making a valuable discovery during their very first dive, Brains and Tin Tin anxiously await the next day's explorations. Unfortunately, they may not last that long, as the Hood infiltrates their camp and hypnotizes them. When morning comes, Tin Tin is slumped over in a chair and the professor is clearly injured and sprawled out on the floor of their trashed caravan.
Only days away from monsoon season, Eddie Houseman's construction company is racing against time to complete a mountain road and fulfill a contract. With the end seemingly in sight, Eddie sets off on a long-overdue vacation, to look up an old friend. When that friend happens to be Tin Tin, however, it's Alan Tracy who's left out in the cold -- and mocked by his older brothers for good measure -- while the two lovebirds jet set around the island. When Eddie stands up Tin Tin after receiving an urgent message from his company, Alan thinks his troubles are over, until he said the wrong things to tin-tin which causes the object of their affections to promptly storm off. Meanwhile, Eddie receives the disturbing news that seismic activity in the mountains, combined with heavy rains, threatens to halt the entire project. Seeing his future crumbling before his eyes, Eddie sneaks off against his senior partner's wishes to detonate atomic charges on the mountaintop, in hopes of forcing destructi
Scott Tracy is returning home from a mission when he is attacked. He is recused by some lost explorers and is soon home. However the explorers get themselves lost and call out for help. Scott finds them in a pyramid where there resides the lost race of Zombites. Now Scott must face a crazy man struck by riches and gold and also a race trying to destroy them? Will Scott make it out with the two men? Will the rest of the Tracys save their brother? Find out!
In this instalment of our Making Of Documentary investigation of the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series Thunderbirds, we take an in-depth look at Scott's journey to the lost pyramid of Khamandides and his battle with the Zombites. With the help of newly unearthed 35mm film and studio documentation, this series challenges some of the "established" facts of the series' early days and uncover footage unseen for sixty years.
A trip to the sun! How exciting! But disaster strucks and three astronauts are on a collision course with the sun! Thunderbird 3 is launched immediatly and made a successful rescue attempt but now THEY are on a collision course with the sun. Will Virgil and Brains in Thunderbird 2 be able to save their comrades? Or is Scott, Alan and Tin-tin doomed to a firely death?
Brave astronauts find themselves on a one way trip to the sun – can International Rescue help them in time or are they too doomed to face death by extreme temperature? 'Sun Probe' is a fan favourite, but how did it look when first planned as a half hour episode in 1964? In this behind the scenes look at the episode's production and attempt to uncover the original 25 minute version of the story using behind the scenes material and on-screen clues.
Fireflash has two mysterious disappearnces. The third time, International Rescue volunteers to aide in the testing of the Fireflash crash. But problems arise when communcations go out. Will Scott's brothers come to his rescue? And who is that dude that Gordon thought he saw? What the shell is going on here?!!
Lord Sulton, an offical with the Bank of London, has enlisted Lady P and her trusted Servant Parker to help orve that their safe needs to be modernized. Though a reformed safecracker, Parker's skill is virtually unmatched and breaking in was no problem. The bank's board of directors acts quickly to install an up-to-date vault, one that removes all of its air to better perserve the documents inside. AFter Lord Sulton leaves (with the only key) for an evening at Lady P's mansion, the remaining employees relaize that the bank workaholic has been looked in the safe, with only a few hours of air left! An emergency call from the bank interrupts Lady Penelope's and Lord's Sulton's dinner. Unfortunately Parker, who had just read that his former cellmate is on the loose! He assumed that it was a robbery that prompted the call and tries to stall for time. Will the employee suffocate before the confusion is cleared up? Parker, assuming the distress call to Lord Sultan was for a robbery cou
In this abbreviated presentation of the Thunderbirds episode "Vault of Death" we present a visual representation of the 1960s vinyl mini-album, which cut the episode down to a brisk pace. In this specially prepared edit with newly filmed material, Lady Penelope (Sylvia Anderson) recounts the story of how she and Parker race to save a life at the Bank of England. During the 1960s, the soundtracks of select episodes of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Thunderbirds were abbreviated and then supplemented with new in-character narration for release on a series of vinyl mini-albums. In recent years, new visuals were created by members of our team in order to bring this shortened, but no less exciting, version of the episode to life. What differences can you spot?
A tour bus is being taken around the new Atomic Station in Australia that is reclaiming the desert. The reporters are not convinced of the safety of the project due to the risk of a nuclear explosion. Meanwhile the Hood is trying to discover the secret of the plant but is caught by security. In the gun fight follows, the Hood accidently hits a gas pump and it explodes. The fire rapidly spreads through the station and soon the staff have to evacuate. The only thing that could have saved them would be to cut off the sea water intake. The plant explodes and sends a radioactive cloud towards Melbourne. But about a week later the wind pushes the cloud back into the desert. 12 months later, a European professor has a group of army representatives to show off his new invention: the Mighty Atom. It is a very powerful camera concealed in a robotic mouse that takes photos of control panels by recognizing the profiles of people who use them. After a brief demonstration, one of the representatives is revealed to be the Hood in disguise who hypnotizes everyone and steals the invention. He immediately visits a new Atomic Station in the Sahara desert that is just beginning operations. Using the Mighty Atom, he takes photographs of the station's control room. After he completes his mission, he gets the idea repeat the accident that destroyed the Australian plant last year in order to lure out International Rescue and steal their secrets, too. He plants bombs around the plant and they explode, causing a fire that rapidly spreads. In the control booth, the controller realises that sabotage is afoot and calls International Rescue. Thunderbirds 1 and 2 take off with Thunderbird 4 and Lady Penelope, who has been desperately waiting to go out on a rescue mission. Virgil drops Thunderbird 4 and Gordon near the sea water intake of the plant. When they land at the plant, the Hood sends the Mighty Atom into Thunderbird 2 with Penelope still inside. Meanwhile, Scott and Virgil push in the con
The tallest tower ever built faces destruction when an out-of-control car starts a huge fire in the parking garage leaving a family trapped inside. Sounds like another day for International Rescue right? Wrong. Brain's new experimental cutting gas caused Scott and Virgil to pass out. Will they pass out during the mission and perish in the fire? Or will they be successful? Find out in... City of Fire!
Thunderbirds Are Go in this behind the scenes look at the production of "City of Fire", a fabulously flame-grilled episode of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Thunderbirds remembered by many for its visual scale and action set-pieces. In this deep-dive making of, we use original scripts, newly-unearthed film material, and other unseen production paperwork to shed new light on the episode. Originally planned as a 25 minute adventure, "City of Fire" was extended once the order was given for Thunderbirds to rocket into the fifty minute format.
International Rescue is in the middle of saving yet another life in danger, but what makes this mission different is the large crowd that's witnessing the feat. Reporters are also on the scene, and are able to snap the first-ever photos of the team in action. Other than International Rescue's usual camera shyness, there's only one problem: Each member was already at home on Tracy Island, awaiting the next mission. Though confused as to why someone would steal their identities, they try not to think too much about it, especially since a life was saved. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that the whole thing was a ruse to steal plans for a fighter capable of light speed, and the real International Rescue has been blamed, memories of their heroism a thing of the past. With a worldwide manhunt under way to locate their base, the group is powerless to act, regardless of who needs assistance. Will they be able to clear their name without revealing their true identities or location? And wh
Seemingly without a care in the world, a man relaxes aboard his yacht in the Mediterranean. Other than the five bullets he takes from a mysterious scuba diver that sneaks onto the vessel, life couldn't be sweeter. The assassin rummages through the dead man's desk, and flees when he finds what he has been looking for. The boat then explodes, attracting the attention of the victim's colleagues, who just happen to belong to the British secret service. Realizing that the explosion was no accident, and that plans for a nuclear device which were supposed to be exchanged are now missing, the British agents contact International Rescue. Lady Penelope, under the guise of a fashion model, plants a story in the paper that she has arrived to crack the case and expose the killers. Predictably, a man wielding a gun pays Penelope a visit and forces her from her yacht. Has she made a mistake by sending Parker off to gamble in Monte Carlo? It's possible that she's underestimated the viciousness of her
Scott Tracy is off to Australia to save a young boy that has fallen over the side of a cliff and is now trapped on a ledge, his leg broken. By the time Tracy has landed, however, the boy has made a miraculous recovery and is back on firm ground, and he's talking with another boy that just so happens to be outfitted in International Rescue garb. It quickly dawns upon our hero that the boys were merely playing, and the curmudgeonly Scott scolds both them and their father for drawing International Rescue away from what could have been a real emergency elsewhere. Who would have guessed that he'd be so uptight, especially since the boys didn't do it on purpose? Just as he seems bound to lose the adoration of fans worldwide with his nasty demeanor, Scott reverts back to his usual mellow self and invites the boys to join him on Tracy Island. His plan is to demonstrate how important it is that his family's organization remain free of false alarms, and it seems to have worked. Unfortunately, th
Ocean Pioneer I, the world's most modern tanker, encounters a strange mist and suddenly explodes while transporting its cargo, killing its three-man crew. Six months later, its disappearance is still a mystery, but it'll take more than that to stop the maiden voyage of Ocean Pioneer II, christened by International Rescue's own Lady Penelope. Unbeknownst to onlookers, she is there on behalf of Jeff Tracy to investigate any signs of the sabotage that just may have caused the disappearance of its predecessor. Penelope gives it the ok, but Jeff has other concerns at the moment. He's lost all communication with Thunderbirds 1 and 2 -- sent out on a rescue in Hawaii -- and their space satellite as well. The good news is that his sons all manage to return in one piece, but radio contact is still vital to their operation. What is causing the mysterious interference, and what will happen if someone finds themselves in need of rescue, especially those aboard Ocean Pioneer II? After retreating to
Alan is back into the racing game! But is not very welcomed. A jealous car racer got him and his grandma trapped on a bridge. Problem? Well look at the episode title and you'll see what it means. One move... you're dead. Will Jeff Tracy be able to keep his son talking? Or will there be a very big boom?
British royalty cannot seem to distance themselves from scandal, even in the far future. The Duchess of Royston, thanks in part to her excessive gambling, is doing her part to maintain that grand tradition. Luckily, Lady Penelope is on this particular evening at the same Monte Carlo casino, and she notices that her old friend the Duchess is down on her luck. She also notices that the roulette table at which the Duchess is losing her shirt is fixed, and she and Parker set off in pursuit of the crooked dealer and casino manager. They unfortunately are unable to capture the two con men, but do eventually catch up with the Duchess -- now virtually penniless thanks to her addiction -- back in England. She does, however, still own a Picasso (only because it wasn't with her at the roulette table), and it may be the key to regaining some of her fortune. Enter Jeff Tracy, who actually leaves his office for the first time in recent memory. Jeff meets with an old friend who's flush with cash, and
Late for an appointment in her library, Lady Penelope must resort to drastic measures to shake two persistent gunmen in hot pursuit of FAB 1. With only a fireball in her rearview mirror, Penelope is finally free to greet her guest, but is she in far greater danger at home than on the open road? Her guest, named Warren Grafton, is actually a money-hungry con man intent on securing investors for his transcontinental monorail, and he won't take no for an answer. Lady Penelope's pledge to put him in touch with a wealthy friend isn't enough to deter him from planning an uninvited visit later on and emptying the contents of the library's safe. The wealthy friend is Jeff Tracy, who with the help of Brains and Tin Tin accepts a ride on the monorail to determine whether the investment is a sound one. Grafton seems more concerned with money than passenger safety right from the beginning, and is defiant when questions are raised over the issue. Grafton's arrogance over the unmanned monorail may b
At the request of two scientists with a business proposal, Mr. Blackmar heads deep into an alligator-infested swamp to learn about a revolutionary new drug. Derived from a rare plant that grows only in their part of the river, the two scientists' drug will eventually put an end to world hunger, thanks to its ability to enlarge animals many times their usual size. Unfortunately, Culp, the scheming boatman responsible for transporting Blackmar to the laboratory, overhears the conversation meant only for the ears of its three participants. When a storm forces Culp and Blackmar to spend the night at the scientists' home, Culp seizes the opportunity to steal the drug while the others are asleep. He clumsily spills some of it down the drain, not realizing the consequences until a giant alligator tips his boat the next morning. Though the thief has apparently been eaten, Blackmar makes it to shore with the help of one of his hosts, and the three men retreat into the basement laboratory. They
Two skeptical police officers responding to reports of a flying saucer are quickly made believers when Martians chase them into a cave and begin filling it with a mysterious gas. Is the planet under attack? Not exactly, but it may soon be, thanks to an old nemesis of International Rescue. Both the cowering cops and alien aggressors are actors filming a scene for a movie, bankrolled by none other than the Hood! No, he hasn't gone straight; it's simply an elaborate plan to capture Thunderbird 1 on film. When sabotage on the set brings down the side of a mountain around the two actors in the cave, Scott Tracy speeds to the scene, with Virgil close behind. They set out to save the trapped men, unaware of the Hood's involvement. Much like his previous attempts, the plan to photograph an International Rescue vehicle is doomed to failure, thanks to Thunderbird 1's automatic camera detector. Or is it? And what role does Kyrano, Jeff Tracy's trusted servant, play? Despite failing time and time
A military aircraft takes off to make an important delivery but is quickly shot down by three enemy fighters, marking the third time a transporter has come under fire. Though the Air Force is mystified, Alan Tracy makes the keen observation that a live version of the song ""Dangerous Game"" had been playing on the radio at the time each of the three attacks occurred. Thinking that there may be a connection, Jeff Tracy sends Tin Tin and Lady Penelope to investigate the Cass Carnaby Five, the group behind the song with the mysterious power to disrupt military operations. Luckily for Tin Tin and Penelope -- sporting a brunette wig and posing as lounge singer Wanda Lamour -- the group is performing at Paradise Peaks, a posh Swiss resort. The two lovely heroes fail to make much progress in cracking the case, but they do an awful lot of flirting!
International Rescue has just wrapped up another successful mission, helping to extinguish an out-of-control blaze and pulling the men trapped by it from the bottom of a shaft. The mission hasn't run as smoothly as initially believed, however, as Jeff Tracy detects an intruder aboard Thunderbird 2. With blasters drawn, Jeff, Scott and Gordon converge on the hangar, only to discover the ""saboteur"" is a little boy that stowed away in an unguarded pod after excitedly witnessing the rescue in action. While Mr. Tracy gives three of his sons a stern lecture about the security breach, Virgil is supposed to be babysitting -- and keeping his mouth shut. He does a good job of it, until the boy challenges his manhood by saying that Thunderbird 1 -- Scott's ship -- is the best. Virgil's response to the inadvertent verbal slight is to fold like an accordion, spilling his guts about their adventure in episode 14. After Dad summons Virgil to his office, Alan assumes the task of watching the child. He
Explore the Unseen Thunderbirds in the latest part of our behind the scenes journey through the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's timeless television series. This time, we take an in-depth look at the making of one of Penelope and Parker's finest hours, "Vault of Death". With the help of newly treasures from the archives, we uncover the challenges faced when this half hour episode had to be expanded to twice the length.
Thunderbirds Are Go again! Unseen for 6 decades join International Rescue in newly discovered scenes from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s hit television series. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Pit of Peril and tell the untold story of how the episode developed from 25 minutes to 50, including a look at a previously lost version of the episode.
After attending a ceremony to mark the beginning of road construction through an Australian mountain, Lady Penelope retreats to the comfort of her nearby farm to tend to her sheep. She has no intention of spending her time Down Under alone, however, and makes a call to International Rescue headquarters urging Jeff Tracy to join her. Despite not having been on a real vacation in months, Jeff is reluctant to go in case an emergency should arise while he's gone. His sons know the procedures, and are all in their 20s, yet Jeff must still have his arm twisted into agreeing to take some time off. Surrounded by nothing but nature -- and Lady Penelope -- Jeff still can't relax, thinking of nothing but a naval torpedo accident that has sparked a huge underwater fire. He says it's definitely not a job for International Rescue, but Scott, who he's left in charge, has other ideas. Scott's miscalculation, dispatching International Rescue to extinguish a fire thrusting up from the ocean floor caused
A South American construction project is nearly under way, and the final testing of the newly invented Crablogger -- a powerful forest-clearing machine -- has proven successful. To celebrate the event, and to go over plans one more time, the project leader takes the Crablogger crew out to eat. Had they noticed the deplorable conditions inside the kitchen, the men would surely have passed on dinner and gladly gone to work hungry the next morning. The foreman wisely orders the steak, but the Crablogger crew each chooses the house special. Apparently the only thing special about it is its ability to cause food poisoning. One man gets violently ill before work the next morning, which makes him the lucky one. The other two seem fine and proceed with the project, but it isn't long before they succumb to their illnesses. They both pass out at the controls, leaving the massive machine to gobble everything in its path. When it's determined that the Crablogger is headed straight for a new dam, I
Growing tired of the massive explosions that follow crashes or faulty landings, the airline industry has taken drastic measures to prevent any future accidents. Enter Hiram K. Hackenbacker, also known as Brains, whose latest invention, the Skythrust, will make flying infinitely more safe. Brains isn't the only International Rescue member with their face in the public eye, however, as the lovely Lady Penelope is in Paris to model a fabulous new clothing line for Francois, her friend and favorite French designer. Francois has actually developed a revolutionary new fabric, and while he should be thrilled he's only feeling stress, as he faces constant attempts to steal his secret invention. Between the hidden listening devices and spies outside her friend's window, Penelope comes to the conclusion that the safest place to debut the fabric would be at a fashion show on Brains' new plane. Citing safety concerns, Penelope arranges for the fashion show to be held aboard the Skythrust, a new pl
Lady Penelope and Parker are off on vacation, invited by a small Italian village to join in on a historic celebration. Thanks to a remarkable invention by a local scientist, the town is set to become the first to have all of its electricity needs completely powered by the sun. For Penelope and Parker, however, it seems like they've never left home, thanks to a rare rainstorm that's drenched the resort town. A porter at the hotel at which they're staying -- perhaps bitter about all the extra work the influx of guests has caused -- predicts disaster, claiming that the sun will seek revenge for the theft of its power. Initially dismissed as crazy, the porter's words seem prophetic, as the storm grows in intensity and sends the solar generator toppling over the side of a cliff. The town is safe for now, as the guests bask in the intense glow of the moonlight reflected by the generator once the storm has passed. It'll be a different story when day breaks, however, as the now wrongly positio
Just when it seems Alan and Brains will have to endure another story about the good old days of space exploration, Jeff Tracy is distracted by what Tin Tin considers music. Jeff may be a little out of touch with what's hip, but the music he hates so much broadcasts from a pirate radio station orbiting the earth. Tin Tin fails to see the harm caused by her favorite DJ, but Jeff does, saying that an unregulated satellite could cause a serious accident among all the other countless government-sanctioned ones. Right on cue, a rocket suffers a malfunction shortly after blastoff, and must be taken out after veering off course. Unaware of the music satellite's existence, mission control destroys the rocket right near it. The violent explosion jolts the vessel out of orbit, forcing the DJ and his engineer aboard on a slow descent toward Earth. Still worse, the engineer is trapped in the airlock after surveying the damage outside. Can anything save the DJ from a deadly crash and his engineer fr
The manned exploration mission taking place aboard Zero X comes to a halt when the plane crashes during liftoff. Two years later a committee deduces that sabotage was the reason for this; and calls upon International Rescue to oversee their next launch of Zero X. It reaches its destination, but it also encounters unexpected hazards, forcing the committee to call upon IR again. Can the Thunderbirds get to the bottom of this?
Christmastime is rapidly approaching, and board members of the Coralville Children's Hospital are meeting to discuss ways to bring joy to the young patients' lives. They are also discussing ways to raise money for a new solar therapy wing. One man agrees to donate a rocket, while another, the owner of a toy store, agrees to fill it with goodies for the children, assuming the launch occurs from the roof of his New York building. In exchange for the free publicity, he will also contribute $10,000 to the fundraising efforts. Adding to the holiday festivities, International Rescue has agreed to give one lucky patient a trip to Tracy Island, notification of which is hidden in one of the rocket's gifts. Though pressed for time, the Tracys manage to finish their shopping, cleaning and cooking in anticipation of their guest. Things are not so cheerful back in New York, where two criminals have tied up a pair of store Santas in hopes of drilling through to the bank next door. Unfortunately, two
A beautiful island somewhere in the Pacific. Outwardly, Tracy Island is nothing more than a luxury home for Jeff Tracy and his family. Secretly, it is the headquarters of the heroic International Rescue organisation. When newly recruited London agents Lady Penelope and Parker arrive for their very first visit; Jeff takes them on a tour to show them the fantastic Thunderbirds - the machines of the future.
A sabotaged uranium plant explodes in a blazing inferno. Mountaineers in the Himalayas are mysteriously disappearing. What's the connection? Jeff Tracy assigns Lady Penelope and Parker to investigate. Exploring the mountainous Everest region by SkiCopter, the duo soon find themselves in grave danger when they discover their guide isn't who they thought he was. Scott Tracy blasts off in Thunderbird 1 but will he arrive in time?
When stately homes across England are robbed of their most precious jewel collections; Jeff Tracy realises Lady Penelope's Creighton-Ward Manor may be next. Penelope and Parker track down the criminals in the Tower of London but soon find themselves trapped inside with a bomb ready to go off.
'Stand By For Action' is a two-part documentary originally briefly broadcast on satellite television in 2007 and sees Gerry Anderson tell his story in his own words from an extensive interview recorded towards the end of his working life, supplemented by the recollections of colleagues from across his long career – including puppeteers, voice artists, directors and more.
Documentary featuring Gerry Anderson
History of the Thunderbirds narrated by creator Gerry Anderson.
Full interview of Gerry Anderson.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about his creative philosophy.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about compelling TV.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about his Cold War story lines.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about his toughest obstacles.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about DVD technology.
Interview with Gerry Anderson about Stanley Kubrick.
Interview with Gerry Anderson and his message to his American fans.
The episode titled "Pit Of Peril" with cut scenes showing how the episode's special effects were made.
The episode titled "Pit Of Peril" with cut scenes showing how the episode's special effects were made. (Part 1 Only)
The episode titled "Pit Of Peril" with cut scenes showing how the episode's special effects were made. (Part 2 Only)
Anything Can Happen in the Next (half) Hour! We're heading behind the scenes of Thunderbirds like never before with a series of documentary videos which open up the archives to uncover secrets hidden in unearthed footage, original scripts, interviews and other rare items. Join co-creator Gerry Anderson, director David Lane, and historian Stephen La Rivière as we investigate the true story of the series' production with the help of newly discovered 35mm film that has been unseen for 60 years!
The unforgettable sight of Thunderbird 1 blasting into action from beneath an island swimming pool in the South Pacific has remained in the minds of viewers for six decades. Now, with previously unseen footage, behind the scenes stills material, and archive research – Thunderbirds Unseen reveals the making of this iconic sequence. In this extra instalment of our behind the scenes investigation of the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series Thunderbirds, we take an in-depth look at the Thunderbird 1 launch sequence. With the help of newly unearthed 35mm film and studio documentation, this series challenges some of the "established" facts of the series' early days and uncover footage unseen for sixty years.
Thunderbirds Are Go again! Locked away in a garden shed for nearly six decades, newly unearthed film reels have shone new light on the making of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's cult television classic. Join us as we go behind the scenes of the scanning and cataloging of a treasure trove of previously lost television moments.
The unforgettable sight of palm trees moving aside to allow Thunderbird 2 to make its way towards its launch ramp has remained in the minds of viewers for six decades. Now, with previously unseen film material, behind the scenes stills, and archive research – this extra instalment of our behind the scenes investigation, Thunderbirds Unseen, sheds new light on of the creation of this well-loved scene from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series.
If Thunderbird 2 launches from an island in the pacific and it doesn't have sound effects, does it make a sound? Of course not... In this Thunderbirds Unseen update we begin an investigation into some previous lost audio tapes from the AP Films and Century 21 studios. Will they reveal previously unheard material or help us to tell the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's cult creation? There's only one way to find out...
A haul of recovered reel to reel audio tapes tempts us with the prospect of a hundred missing isolated sound effects recorded for 1960s Supermarionation shows. Will the rare effects remain, or have they been recorded over by a Top of the Pops fan as writing on the boxes indicates. Join us for a Thunderbirds Unseen Update in which we look towards recovering sounds first heard sixty years ago in Gerry and Sylvia Anderson cult favourites like Supercar, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds and more.
Before Space: 1999, before UFO, Thunderbirds, before Fireball XL5, and before many other Supermarionation and live action cult favourites – Gerry Anderson made his start in the British film business at Gainsborough Pictures and Pinewood Studios learning his craft. In this behind the scenes interview, he recalls his earliest films as well as You've Never Seen This, an obscure documentary television series which profiled life's oddities! The puppet-based adventure series of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson have entertained generations of fans for over sixty years. Go back to the very beginning in this lesser-discussed origin story.
When a haul of forgotten reel to reel audio tapes from AP Films in the 1960s landed on our doorstep, the prospect of what could be on them filled us with curiosity. Could they represent a treasure-trove of lost sound effects or had they all been wiped in favour of 1970s pop hits? In this Thunderbirds Unseen Update we detail the process of uncovering their contents – a process that involves careful playback of 60 year old quarter inch tapes, researching the methods used to record and re-record onto them, and some fascinating recoveries. Join us in Thunderbirds Unseen as we go behind the scenes of the transferring and cataloging of a treasure trove of previously lost television moments.
Jeff Tracy kicks Brains pretty close to the edge by demanding a new Thunderbird, Thunderbird 6. He repeatedly rejects each of Brains' designs, but at least he gets further with an airline company by designing Skyship One, a revolutionary new aircraft. Lady Penelope and the rest of IR are honored guests at the ship's maiden voyage, but trouble soon arises when sinister forces put their plan into action. Will Jeff only be left with Thunderbird 6 (if he ever gets one)?
Documentary showing how the great British puppet TV series was done.
The Brains Behind Thunderbirds is an ideal overview of the show's premise--both for the generations of kids growing up ready to embrace it, and for the generations who have already grown up, but would welcome a reminder. From a secret laboratory somewhere on Tracy Island, stuttering science genius Brains is your host. In the course of the hour-long documentary, the viewer is introduced to each of International Rescue's gadget-tastic vehicles. There's the 15,000 mph Thunderbird 1 rocket piloted by Scott Tracy; the freight-carrying Thunderbird 2 with its six different rescue machine pods piloted by brother Virgil; the space rocket Thunderbird 3 with Alan Tracy at the helm; sub-aquatic Thunderbird 4 with Gordon Tracy aboard; and the orbiting space station Thunderbird 5 overseen by a rather solitary John Tracy. Brains then introduces us properly to each of the brothers, their father Jeff, gorgeous London agent Lady Penelope and her butler Parker, and even warns us about their deadly enemy, The Hood. Lots of clips illustrate the vehicles' capabilities and characters' personalities. Although there's little on offer not already known to die-hard fans, it's an ideal no-strings-attached crash course introduction for everyone else.
Documentary telling the story of enduring 1960s children's animated marionette show, Thunderbirds. Creator Gerry Anderson, as well as cast, crew and fans, reveal how space travel and new technology promised an exciting future, as Thunderbirds captured the spirit of the age. There's a look at how Gerry's team created futuristic special effects from their humble studios in Slough and why the show was axed after just 32 episodes. Contributors include the voice of Lady Penelope, Sylvia Anderson
This is the definitive documentary telling the story of the unique puppetry and animation technique developed by Gerry and Sylvia and their team and deployed in all their programmes throughout the 1960s including Stingray, Captain Scarlet and, most famously, Thunderbirds. Directed and co-produced by Stephen La Riviere and hosted by Lady Penelope and Parker themselves, Filmed in Supermarionation is a screen adaptation of his book of the same name and features a wealth of previously unseen archive footage, brand new interviews with the surviving casts and crews and clips from the shows themselves. A highlight of the film are ingenious and accurate recreations of the pioneering techniques used in the productions.
The documentary covering the Thunderbirds 1965 production to create episodes for 3 audio-only stories released on vinyl. As part of the Kickstarter funding a documentary was created.
Reggie and Thunderbirds: No Strings Attached was an hour-long ITV2 programme in which lifelong fan Reggie Yates goes behind the scenes of Thunderbirds Are Go!. It was broadcast on ITV on Thursday 2nd April 2015 at 8pm, and then, repeated on Easter Sunday (Sunday 5th April 2015) at 4:05pm.
Following the success of the 50th anniversary specials of Thunderbirds and Filmed in Supermarionation, Century 21 Films were invited by ITV to assist advertising agency Adam & Eve DDB with their new advertising campaign for the Halifax bank.
A BBC 2 Radio show broadcast in 2000 all about Gerry Anderson. Presented by Bob Monkhouse. Featuring Anthea Turner, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Barry Gray, Shane Rimmer, David Graham, Derek Meddings and Peter Wragg and many more.
Standby for a rare Thunderbirds adventure! Set a few years after the events of the television series, this charity audio adventure stars Shane Rimmer, David Graham and Matt Zimmerman reprising their iconic roles. The story was originally written and directed by Dirk Maggs for the BBC's Children in Need fundraiser in the late 1980s. It has been synchronized with newly edited video material by Andrew Clements to produce this mini-adventure that will be brand new to many Thunderbirds fans!.
Campaign video for the crowdfunding of the Thunderbirds 1965 project.
A look behind the scenes of the Tracy Home.
BBC News coverage of the new episodes of Thunderbirds 1965 as it was being shot during the second week of production.
ITV News visits the Thunderbirds Anniversary Episodes studio.
On the eve of the demolition of the site of Gerry Anderson's AP Films and Century 21 studios in Slough, original crew wander around and reminisce their time there. Includes archive footage and new sequences made with the original Thunderbirds puppets.
Filmed In Supermarionation is Century 21 Films' celebratory documentary about the culturally iconic puppet series that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson developed to great success throughout the 1960s. This includes Stingray, Captain Scarlet and, most famously, Thunderbirds – programmes six decades old that still resonate with young and older viewers alike, and which continue to find new audiences to this day. Hosted by Lady Penelope and Parker, this feature-length screen adaptation of Stephen La Rivière's book of the same name tells the story of the Supermarionation productions using a wealth of previously unseen archive footage, new interviews with those involved, and clips from the shows themselves. From The Adventures of Twizzle, through Four Feather Falls, Supercar, Fireball XL5, Joe 90, and The Secret Service – the legacy of the pioneering 1960s British team based in Slough is celebrated in this behind the scenes tribute.
