Customer Reviews

UFO: The Complete UFO Mega Set

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Incroyable de voir cette série qui a 30 ans avec des effets spéciaux crédibles (pour l'époque).

"UFO" had one of the most dynamic title sequences in television history. A great theme song, with a jazzy organ and brass group playing the theme and some fantastic editing of the notable Gerry Anderson FX cut with a teletype machine giving you facts about the SHADO organisation (well, it is British!) and the faces of the lead characters, finishing with the interceptors destroying a UFO right on beat!

But beyond that, the show itself was an interesting one. It's funny seeing it now, since we're much farther away from the futuristic year of 1980 than the people who made it were at the time! Cars with gullwing doors, guys (and even doctors!) wearing Nehru suits. And, of course, an established base on the Moon, (complete with girls in Nancy Sinatra white go-go boots, silver lamé jumpsuits and pastel purple wigs!) to prevent evil aliens from invading.

It's clearly a late 60s view of the early 80s, and that makes this series fascinating enough and tacky enough to recommend on its own!

Beyond that, this DVD collection has a lot going for it. In addition to all of the episodes, carefully preserved by A&E, you get some bonus deleted scenes and/or other fx on each one of the eight disc collection. And the stories themselves are intriguing as they are improbable, so that's pretty entertaining!

It may not be Gerry Anderson's most famous work (cult kids classic, "The Thunderbirds" and "Space: 1999" are sure to be better known), but I think it's the best of the bunch!

Highly Recommended.

When it comes to 1960's science fiction on television you just can't go past the TV series UFO. This series is my second favourite of all time and even by today's standards it still holds up very well even if you can still notice shades of 1960's style and influence.

UFO's basic premise is that in the near future (filmed in 1969-70) - thus a fictional version of the world starting in 1980 (a date indicated in the opening credits) - Earth is being visited and attacked by aliens from a dying planet and humans are being covertly harvested for their organs by the aliens. The show's main cast of characters are members of a secret, high-technology-equipped international agency known as SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation), established to defend Earth and humanity against the mysterious aliens and learn more about them.

I remember well, back in the early 70's when I use to watch this series-around 1971, how unusual it was for a science fiction show, but being very young I really didn't know the difference. The only thing I liked back then were the girls with purple hair, (very unusual) the SHADO interceptors and mobiles (real cool hardware) hunting down the aliens and destroying their spaceships (a very simple design-but deadly).

Now, after all this time, having the DVD of UFO, I was rediscovering the series all over again-what a pleasure; and I must say UFO has set the standard in my mind for British Sci-Fi, hats off the Gerry Anderson and company for producing an excellent series. My only grip is that the show only lasted one season (I want more).

Initially a second season was planned, but was canned, even though preparations for a second season were on the way, with Ed Bishop returning as Ed Straker, but as history tells-no such luck, but you can see what the second season was going to look like by watching Space: 1999, (the second season of UFO was going to be renamed UFO: 1999), which inherited the UFO pre-production sets, and became a totally different science fiction show within itself.

As an example; Space:1999's Moonbase and the interior of the Moonbase's Command Centre would have been the new Moonbase interior in UFO, and the eagles would have been the new interceptors. I must admit, I like Space: 1999, it was a great show-and still is considering other sci-fi shows of today.

UFO had all the elements in the making that a science fiction show was all about, it even digressed in certain areas, to add variety, which in some instances seemed controversial, the real main strength of UFO of course was the character dynamics and interactions, the actors and actresses were perfectly cast in their roles.

In my mind and it is very easy to see that UFO was filmed in two sections and it shows; in 1969, 17 episodes were made/produced, and in 1970, (There was a five-month production break being caused by the ultimate closure of the MGM-British Studios in Borehamwood, where the show was initially made) the remaining 9 episodes were made/produced, without George Sewell & Gabrielle Drake, but the returning character of Col. Lake played by Wanda Ventham was a great addition. In some respects the last 9 episodes had a second season feel to it.

Before I continue lets have a look at the 26 episodes of UFO, but with a slight difference, as I will put them in my order of preference; as basically stated within the DVD notes you can view the episodes in any order, and after watching the series and taking notes-my main focus was on the secondary characters, so here it goes:

Please note: the numbers before the title episode denote the ITV "Recommended Screening Order" on the DVD. I consider ITV did a somewhat sloppy job in not examining the series more closely, to put the episodes in better order, thus-I dare say mine is better. (But you be the judge).

1] IDENTIFIED

After 10 years of planning, SHADO officially goes into operation and encounters its first UFO. An alien pilot is captured and discovered to have transplanted human organs.

Personal Comment: Col. Lake is reading a newspaper which is dated-you can just read it-24th August 1980, thus I assume SHADO has been operational for a few months before this date, perhaps as early as January-after about 10 years of construction.

2] EXPOSED

When civilian test pilot Paul Foster inadvertently witnesses a SHADO operation, he's given a choice: join SHADO or die.

Personal Comment:
1) The character Paul Foster played by Michael Billington is introduced in this episode.
2) Besides Ed Bishop, another actor favourite is Vladek Sheybal who plays Dr. Jackson; he has a very strong screen presence.

3] SURVIVAL

Foster is stranded on the Moon, where he befriends a similarly stranded alien.

Personal Comment: Paul Foster gives a date of 12/04/81. Thus by this third episode a year or more has past within this series.

4] CONFLICT

After Lunar Module 32 is mysteriously destroyed, Straker campaigns to have space junk removed from Earth's orbit.

14] THE DALOTEK AFFAIR

Communications problems at Moonbase are traced to a non-SHADO mining operation.

5] A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

Straker faces a terrible decision: attend to an alien defector or deliver life-saving medicine to his critically injured son John.

Personal Comment: This is a powerful episode where Straker has to choose between an alien and the life of his son John. By the end of this series we will see Straker having lost his wife and son in the quest to save Earth from the aliens (A high price in anyone's language). Now all Straker has left is his job-but perhaps one day he can explain to Mary-his ex-wife, why he gave up the only happiness he ever really wanted.

6] THE SQUARE TRIANGLE

SHADO as well as an alien find themselves in the middle of a murderous romantic triangle.

Personal Comment: Secrecy has a price, even more so with SHADO, as the organisation allow a murder to be committed; so as to protect SHADO from exposure. This episode just proves that secret organisations have to turn a blind eye in order to stay undercover.

15] FLIGHT PATH

A blackmailed SHADO operative opens the door for a possible alien attack on Moonbase.

16] COMPUTER AFFAIR

A SHADO investigation reveals that romance may be complicating Moonbase operations.

Personal Comment:
1) Mark Bradley indicates in a restaurant that the bottle of wine is dated 1984, thus we must assume it is either 1984 or perhaps 1985.
2) This episode marks the last appearance of Skydiver Captain Peter Carlin played by Peter Gordeno.

7] ORDEAL

The aliens abduct Foster.

Personal Comment:
1) Includes the song "Get Back" by The Beatles at the party in this episode, released in 1969, which is about the same time this episode was filmed originally.
2) This episode also introduces the new Skydiver Captain Lew Waterman played by Gary Myers, who was an Interceptor Pilot in the previous episodes.

8] E.S.P.

A man with ESP knowledge of SHADO is co-opted by the aliens.

9] CLOSE UP

SHADO obtains what may be the first photos of the alien home-world.

10] COURT MARTIAL

Foster is tried and sentenced to death after a security leak is traced to him.

11] CONFETTI CHECK A-OK

A flashback episode focusing on SHADO's formation and Straker's failed marriage.

Personal Comment: With this episode we get to see Straker in the early days before and during SHADO's formation, and how it destroyed his marriage to Mary Nightingale; a sad episode to put it mildly, but a great one nonetheless.

12] KILL STRAKER!

Foster and his lunar module co-pilot are brainwashed by aliens to kill Straker.

Personal Comment: This is the last appearance of Interceptor Leader Mark Bradley played by Harry Baird.

17] THE RESPONSIBILITY SEAT

Straker is attracted to a reporter who poses a possible security leak to SHADO.

Personal Comment:
1) In this episode we see how Alec Freeman played by George Sewell, handles the hot seat, and thus strengthens his respect and friendship with Straker because of it.
2) This also marks the last appearance of Alec Freeman, Moonbase Commander Gay Ellis played by Gabrielle Drake & SHADO Radio Operator Lt. Keith Ford played by Keith Alexander.
3) This was the last episode to be made in 1969, with the remaining nine episodes being filmed to complete the series in 1970.
4) Gabrielle Drake is the sister of singer Nick Drake.

13] SUB-SMASH

Straker must face his claustrophobia when Skydiver 1 is damaged and is unable to surface.

Version 1 Order of the next nine episodes:

21] THE MAN WHO CAME BACK

A SHADO pilot believed dead suddenly turns up alive--much to Straker's suspicion.

Personal Comment:
1) Col. Virginia Lake played by Wanda Ventham returns in this episode; she was first seen in episode 1 `Identified'.
2) Miss Ealand played by Norma Ronald, Straker's secretary takes a two-week break and is replaced in this episode and the next by Miss Holland played by Lois Maxwell.
3) A new SHADO Radio Operator is introduced here, actress Anouska Hempel, taking over from Lt. Keith Ford, but Lt. Ayshea played by Ayshea Brough, who we see in previous episodes, will also share this role.

18] THE CAT WITH TEN LIVES

A SHADO pilot is placed under an hypnotic spell by an alien-influenced Siamese cat.

Personal Comment:
1) This episode introduces the new Interceptor Leader Steve Phillips played by Steven Berkoff, thus replacing Mark Bradley.
2) Lt. Nina Barry played by Dolores Mantez, becomes the new Moonbase Commander for the rest of the series.

19] THE SOUND OF SILENCE

A showjumper is abducted by the aliens.

20] DESTRUCTION

The aliens attempt to destroy a naval ship dumping toxic nerve gas into the ocean.

Personal Comment:
1) Within this episode, Straker gives a time reference of 5-6 years ago, when Moonbase was being built; if Moonbase was completed in early 1980, then this episode maybe dated around 1984. (see below, thus Moonbase was still under construction around 1978-79).
2) Straker is reading a newspaper dated Friday 3rd of February, but the year is hard to make out-even if you freeze frame the scene the year is blurred, but some sources state that the year is 1983-but this is not concrete if you can't see the year clearly.
3) As with the above date (unclear) another date has been made clear (and concrete)-12th of September 1984 was seen on the Admiral's desk on the front of a `Top Secret' folder, pertaining to the secret mission. This of course stuffs up my chronology, but I'm looking for aesthetic listing/viewing of the episodes. (but it does throw a spanner in the works).
4) The episode introduces the new Skydriver 1 Captain, actor David Warbeck.

22] THE PSYCHBOMBS

The aliens transform three humans into walking bombs.

Personal Comment: This episode shows Skydriver 3, which proves that SHADO has more than one Skydiver, thus perhaps a fleet of them.

26] TIMELASH

Time stands still at the film studio for everyone but Straker & Col. Lake and a mysterious enemy.

Personal Comment:
1) This is one of my personal favourite episodes.
2) Miss Ealand reappears in this episode, replacing Miss Holland, but we assume after a two week holiday she is back at work, and this is the first time we see her again.

24] REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER

Straker and Foster investigate an undersea alien base.

23] MINDBENDER

An alien device causes Straker and other SHADO operatives to hallucinate.

Personal Comment:
1) Ed Straker hallucinates that he is an actor in a television series about UFOs and aliens. He then steps out of the set and onto the real-world sound stage where UFO is filmed, and we can see all the sets that were used to film the series. Also, in Straker's hallucination, all the actors (except Ed Bishop) are called by their real names: Paul Foster is called "Mike" (as in Mike Billington), General Henderson is called "Grant" (as in Grant Taylor), and so on.
2) With actor David Warbeck as the new Skydriver 1 Captain, Lew Waterman makes a 2-3 second appearance as it's Captain, this I believe was a mistake, (using stock footage), as this stuffs up episode/series chronology; because this leads me to create a second version order of nine episodes-see below.

25] THE LONG SLEEP

A woman awakening from a decade-long coma sparks a hunt for an alien bomb.

Personal Comment:
1) It is often reported that the references to drug use in this episode led to several regional networks dropping it from the original UK run, but this is a fallacy.
2) This is a better episode to finish the series, as we see Straker and Lake walk off into the distance from the hospital at the end sequence, and I believe more fitting, instead of the episode `Timelash' or `Reflections in the Water'.

Version 2 Order of the next nine episodes:

21] THE MAN WHO CAME BACK
18] THE CAT WITH TEN LIVES
19] THE SOUND OF SILENCE
22] THE PSYCHOBOMBS
26] TIMELASH
23] MINDBENDER
25] THE LONG SLEEP
20] DESTRUCTION
24] REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER

As you can see I presented a second version order of the last 9 episodes; but I feel it's really is up to you how you view UFO in the long run, perhaps my listing is slightly better, as it makes sense to me-and hopefully to you too. But no matter how you watch/view the show, I can guarantee you will enjoy one of the best science fiction shows ever made in the 1960s-70s (arguably). After watching the series again I felt that an episode should have been dedicated to the aliens themselves, to at least explain their reasons for coming to Earth (even though we know why), but from their point-of-view. (Production costs may not have allowed this) It would have been a great episode-but one can only dream.

So in closing, the edition of UFO that I have is `Gerry Anderson's UFO, The Complete Shado File', a Collector's Edition, which is an 8 disc set that has been `Digitally Restored' to its former glory. This edition has extras like - Audio & Exclusive Commentaries, Audio Intros, UFO Documentary, Unaired Footage, and the Full-length Feature Version of "Invasion UFO" plus Trailer, and other great extra stuff for you to experience. So I would definitely recommend UFO and Space: 1999 as well for your collection.

Thanks to Wikipedia and the DVD notes of UFO for additional information.

Les DVD ont été empaquetés adéquatement et expédiés rapidement. La qualité des DVD est très bonne considérant l'époque dans laquelle la série a été enregistrée.

The shipment arrived quickly and the item was properly packaged. The video quality is very good considering that the series was recorded in the early 70's

This DVD set is great, I normally do not write reviews but for this one I will. As a kid I remember the Saturday late afternoon line up UFO, Star Trek then Space 1999 which myself and my best friends in the world used to watch Mike, Jim and Bob. When I received it I had to watch them all the first night, watching this DVD set reminded me of younger years with my friends alternating houses to watch it together. GREAT SET!!! I highly recommend it to any Sci-Fi buff.

Gerry Anderson's first live-action adventure remains a unique television effort worth at least one viewing by sci-fi buffs. For starters, "UFO" features the funky groove, jazzy music, and moody themes that signified the waning days of the 1960s (even if the show is set in the "distant" future of the 1980s). Beyond that, it's got some of the coolest toys of any show of the period--not very realistic, of course, but certainly enough to get the 12-year-olds in all of us salivating. Predicting the X-Files (but aping the Quatermass films and others of the genre), the show presupposes that Earth is already under attack by alien forces, and it's up to a supersecret government agency (under the guise of a movie studio--brilliant!) to foil the invasion. Ed Bishop plays Commander Straker, the cerebral leader of SHADO, with exactly the correct grounding to make purple-haired moonmaidens, a jet-firing submarine, and wobbly flying saucers believable. What's more, many episodes have a truly creepy edge, especially when we get glimpses of the humanoid aliens, here to steal our organs! Anderson would have slightly more success with this show's sequel, "Space: 1999," but never with the same combination of sheer imagination and atmosphere, even if many of the elements will seem campy to contemporary viewers. (...)

This brought back memories from childhood watching this all over again. Styles and cliches from the 70's. Recommend to all sci fi buffs.

Wow! Has it been 40 years? Does this box set of the UFO series bring back memories. The picture quality, detail and colours in this UFO Mega Set are excellent too. I think the last time I saw UFO was on my grandmothers old 21 inch black and white Admiral TV! Remember tubes?

Escape to the past-future with this Mission Impossible-esque Gerry Anderson treasure. Yes, some may find the actors' performances, well, "wooden"; my personal belief though is that this is intentional self-reference (perhaps even self-reverence) by Anderson - creator of all those Super-Marionation sagas (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, etc.). This series, I hate to admit, surpasses Anderson's other live-action classic, Space 99, although they are both tons of fun. UFO is also fun to watch visually - the wild colours, weird hair & costumes, the anime-like staging - all make multiple viewings always entertaining. UFO is a must-have for the well-rounded sci-fi fan, and recommended for all family members.

I ordered the complete set from caiman. It was delivered very promptly. The set was at a lower priced, but It was in its original package. The seller was also very kind as to includea complementary cassette of latin music.
I was very pleased.

F. A. Lafayette, Louisiana