"Thunderbirds" (1965) TV series 1965-1966

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Creators:

Gerry Anderson
Sylvia Anderson
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 September 1965 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Action | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the 21st century, the Tracy family operate a unique private mechanized emergency response service.

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Futuristic | Rescue Team | Supermarionation | Disaster

Cast

Peter Dyneley	...	Jeff Tracy / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Shane Rimmer	...	Scott Tracy / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Graham	...	Brains / ... (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Ray Barrett	...	John Tracy / ... (30 episodes, 1965-1966)
Christine Finn	...	Tin-Tin Kyrano / ... (30 episodes, 1965-1966)
Matt Zimmerman	...	Alan Tracy / ... (28 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Holliday	...	Virgil Tracy / ... (26 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson	...	Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward / ... (24 episodes, 1965-1966)

(more)

Series Directed by
Desmond Saunders		(11 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Lane		(9 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Elliott		(8 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo		(4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Brian Burgess		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Writing credits
Gerry Anderson		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Fennell		(10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo		(7 episodes, 1965-1966)
Dennis Spooner		(6 episodes, 1965-1966)
Donald Robertson		(4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Martin Crump		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Tony Barwick		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Produced by
Gerry Anderson	....	producer / executive producer (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Reg Hill	....	associate producer / producer (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
John Read	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1966)

Series Original Music by
Barry Gray		(32 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Cinematography by
Paddy Seale		(4 episodes, 1965)
John Read		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Harry MacDonald		(15 episodes, 1965-1966)
Harry Ledger		(10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Peter Elliott		(6 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Art Direction by
Bob Bell		(26 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Costume Design by
Sylvia Anderson		(unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	sound (4 episodes, 1965)
Roy Lafbery	....	dialogue editor (3 episodes, 1965)
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Derek Meddings	....	supervising special effects director / special effects director (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Joy Cuff	....	model maker (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Geoff Meldrum	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1965)

Series Other crew
Gerry Anderson	....	script supervisor (31 episodes, 1965-1966)
Sylvia Anderson	....	script supervisor (31 episodes, 1965-1966)
Alan Pattillo	....	script editor (25 episodes, 1965-1966)
Mary Turner	....	puppetry supervisor (20 episodes, 1965-1966)
Christine Glanville	....	puppetry supervisor (19 episodes, 1965-1966)

Production Companies

• AP Films (APF)
• Associated Television (ATV)

Distributors

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (1964) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Home Video (????) (Canada) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) (1965-1968) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Carlton International Media
• Epix Media (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Super Channel (2002) (Japan) (TV)
• TechTV Inc. (2002-) (USA) (TV) (syndication)

Also Known As:

International Rescue (UK) (working title)
Tairnearan Tar As (UK: Gaelic title)

Runtime:

50 min (32 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Videcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-G | UK:U

Company:

AP Films (APF)

Trivia:

The script for the first episode of Thunderbirds was dictated by Gerry Anderson to his wife in four parts at their home in Portugal.

Goofs:

Plot holes: There are some episodes in which civilian personnel who are being assisted by International Rescue refer to the Tracy brothers by name. How would they know their names? IR is a secret organization and it's highly unlikely they would give out their names.

Quotes:

[Opening narration]
Jeff Tracy: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Thunderbirds are go!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Operation Double 007 (#6.8)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Flying High

England's answer to Japanese anime

The Thunderbirds used be one of my favorite shows as a child. The other day my son pulled a tape out of our video collection and asked to see it. It warmed my heart to see that he liked it for the same reasons I did. The Thunderbirds is one of several shows done by Gary and Sylvia Anderson. All their shows are the stuff of science fiction legend. These include Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Super car and the Thunderbirds are all puppets shows. The live action shows include the movie "Journey to the Farside of the Sun," the TV shows "UFO" and "Space: 1999" The style of super cool models for cars, planes, ships and spacecraft are common to all the shows. All the shows had a futuristic late 1960's style. Does any one remember the women with the purple hair in mini-skirts from UFO?