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he year is 2065--100 years from when this TV series first debuted on the BBC. Technology has advanced to the point where supersonic commercial airlines, space travel and atomic power are commonplace. But, no matter how technologically advanced, things break, whether by accident or by evil intent. The various governmental and quasi-official entities that control these technologies are typically at a loss to know what to do when disaster strikes.
Catastrophe is averted, however, thanks to the unselfish efforts of a band of heroes calling themselves International Rescue, established by ex-astronaut and multimillionaire Jeff Tracy. He is aided by his five sons, a young scientist-genius called "Brains," Lady Penelope and her butler Mr. Parker, Tracy's manservant Kyrano and his daughter Tin-Tin. To ensure that any calamity on land, sea, air or space has a happy and safe resolution, these intrepid adventurers make use of a range of ingenious aircraft and other unique inventions created by Brains called Thunderbirds.
To protect their advanced technologies from falling into the wrong hands, International Rescue is a stealth organization. The location of their base of operations as well as their very identities are kept hidden. Ironically, this serves to create additional emergencies, as the evil Hood commits deliberate sabotage in hopes of learning International Rescue’s secrets.
All of this is portrayed by puppets.
Using "Supermarionation," a technique developed by series creator Gerry Anderson, two-foot-tall puppets were manipulated by extremely fine wires with electronically induced mouth movements synchronized to vocal tracks that provide surprisingly life-like movement in what was then one of the most expensive children’s show to produce. An assortment of nifty gizmos and gadgets with screeching tires and whirring parts, if not practical application, coupled with a range of explosive special effects (90 to 130 per episode), are all intended to win a young boy’s heart.
Entertainment of an innocent era
While the 32 original hour-long episodes of Thunderbirds are the most celebrated work of the legendary Anderson, and the craftsmanship of the visual effects holds up remarkably well over the years, the show is, sadly, an anachronism. Sadly, because kids brought up in an era who are actually likely to live in 2065 are accustomed to much more violent, fast-paced fare with flashy computer-generated effects. They might find Thunderbirds a bit slow going--which is a criticism of our times, not Thunderbirds.
Those who did grow up in the '60s, however, will find much about which to be nostalgic. One is the sense of optimism that technology can solve problems, not cause them. Thunderbirds reflects the aspirations of the Space Age, in which goodold Yankee engineering know-how is up to any technical task that their evil archcompetitors can only emulate by taking shortcuts that risk human life. It also embraces the cowboy notion that a bunch of renegades operating unconstrained by traditional authority can protect the town better than the local sheriff.
This is, of course, an American vision, and one that, oddly, permeates this British production. International Rescue is primarily an American force. Indeed, Tracy’s five sons--Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan--are named after the Mercury astronauts who first ventured into space. The very name Thunderbirds was inspired by a U.S. Air Force landing field where Anderson’s older brother trained.
The politically correct will complain about racial stereotypes such as subservient Asians, and even though Lady Penelope is a strong female character, the Thunderbirds version of Emma Peel, she still plays a support role to the Tracy boys. And kids might be puzzled by jetliner announcements that "the smoking light is on." Similarly, a refreshing reminder of a more innocent era is the general lack of gratuitous violence, so that the occasional incident--such as when Lady Penelope launches a rocket to blow up an escaping car--can be jarring, though unlike in today's entertainments, the target’s inhabitant does emerge shaken, but in one piece.
The DVD’s new Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack may be a bit of overkill, but purists will rejoice that you can still see the puppet strings--apparently even with digital remastering that would have been too expensive. -- David
Also in this issue: Drive-In Discs, Volume I and The Invisible Man Interactive Episode
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