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TRADING PAGE
RELATED INTERESTS
This page doesn't list merchandise from the many Gerry Anderson's universes (except for one or two mentions), but instead, offers to fans a samples of items that are somehow related to one aspect of another to the TV series "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons". You will find here available movies, or TV shows, that features actors who were part of the series; movies, TV series or books of a related subject or themes (alien invasions, mind and body control, indestructibility, etc.) This list is not exhaustive, of course, and might grow in the future to include other items as well. Readers of this page are invited to present their own suggestions of what could be added here. Just drop us a note at scarlet1bishop@hotmail.com with your suggestions, and we will check them out!
July 6, 2014: New items listed in DVD/BLU-RAY/AUDIO : INDESTRUCTIBLE HEROES and in BOOKS
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PLEASE! CAREFULLY READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TAPES AND DVD: Be aware of the different Regions and recording Formats. UK tapes and DVD are PAL format - and DVD discs are Region 2, which means that PAL TAPES ARE ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH UK VIDEO SYSTEMS AND REGION 2 DVD DISCS ARE ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH EUROPEAN PLAYERS -- THEY WILL NOT WORK IN US EQUIPMENT. Unless you have a system that will enable you to, you will not be able to view these medias in North American machines, which use NTSC recording format, and Region 1 for DVD discs. The same is true the other way around. Please note that some DVD players can play any format. Check the compatibility of your equipment before ordering. |
CAST-FEATURED MOVIES/TELEVISION SERIES/AUDIO
The cast of "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" and "New Captain Scarlet" also starred in various works before and after the series. It is not the aim of this website to make a complete list of their works, but rather, to present movies and TV series of more importance, or that made an impact in the world of television and cinema, and where the artist in question was greatly featured.
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THE PAUL TEMPLE BLACK AND WHITE COLLECTION - DVD (U.K., REGION 2, PAL)
Starring Francis Matthews, the voice of Captain Scarlet.
Stylish, cool, incisive - protective of his loving wife Steve - Paul Temple was an exemplary crime writer turned crime solver who operated like a cross-between Miss Marple and Poirot with the slick cutting-edge style of The Saint. This collection captures the final five episodes of the classic TV series: The Guilty Must Die, Game, Set and Match, Long Ride to Red Gap, Winner Take All, Critics, Yes! But This is Ridiculous!
Item added March 28, 2013
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THE PAUL TEMPLE COLLECTION - DVD (U.K., REGION 2, PAL)
Starring Francis Matthews, the voice of Captain Scarlet.
Acorn Media steps back in time to a
world of cool glamour and intrigue with the DVD release of Francis
Durbridge's The Paul Temple Collection. The unflappable and
irrepressible crime writer turned sleuth Paul Temple (Francis
Matthews) and his captivating wife Steve (Ros Drinkwater) form a
formidable team in this retro detective drama. This four disc
special edition features the eleven surviving colour episodes of the
series.
Item added August 30, 2010
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DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS - DVD
Starring Francis Matthews, the voice of Captain Scarlet, and Charles Tingwell, the voice of Doctor Fawn.
Francis Matthews is the hero facing the famous vampire, and Charles Tingwell, his brother, n this Hammer Productions, the second of their Dracula series.
When two couples of English travellers visit Carlstad, they ignore many warnings, and end up spending the night at a local castle. They soon find out that the gracious host, Klove (Philip Latham), has a hidden agenda. Apparently the castle's owner, Count Dracula (Christopher Lee), passed on 10 years before, but has been waiting for an opportunity such as this to return to the world. Bloodcurdling mayhem ensues...
Actors: Christopher Lee,
Francis Matthews, Charles Tingwell, Andrew Keir, Barbara
Shelley, Suzan Farmer
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RASPUTIN, THE MAD MONK - DVD
Starring Francis Matthews.
This other Hammer Productions movie is worth mentioning as it was filmed at the same time as "Dracula, Prince of Darkness", using some of the same set and most of the same actors. Francis Matthews is one of the conspirators set to break the influence of Mad Monk Rasputin on the Tsarina. Not all historically faithful, but a good, enjoyable movie for Hammer fans.
Actors: Christopher Lee, Barbara
Shelley, Richard Pasco, Francis Matthews, Joss Ackland
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THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN - DVD
Starring Francis Matthews.
Yet another Hammer Productions movie. In this sequel to "Curse of Frankenstein", Francis Matthews plays the doctor's assistant, as Frankenstein, (played by the excellent Peter Cushing) escaping his death by guillotine from the previous film, continues his nefarious experiments. This movie is considered one of the best of the Hammer's Frankenstein franchise.
Actors: Peter Cushing, Francis
Matthews, Eunice Gayson, Michael Gwynn, John Welsh
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THE ADVENTURES OF SEXTON BLAKE - BBC AUDIO (AUDIO CD) Item added July 22, 2011
Starring Wayne Forester, the voice of New Captain Scarlet.
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Starring Ed Bishop, the voice of Captain Blue.
In all the series created by Gerry Anderson, U.F.O. is one of the most recognised, well-remembered, and beloved series. It's not only regarded as one of Anderson's best, but also as one of the best science-fiction television series of all time. The first live action TV series, it featured Ed Bishop, the voice of Captain Blue, as tough-as-nails Commander Ed Straker. As a Gerry Anderson production, the available merchandises of this series have been listed on its own page, instead of this page. So you just need to follow this link to check it out.
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PHILIP MARLOWE - BBC RADIO CRIMES (AUDIO-BOOKS) Items added September 12, 2010
Starring Ed Bishop, the voice of Captain Blue.
Ed Bishop starred as Philip Marlowe, in these BBC radio drama adaptations of the original novels written by Raymond Chandler. Under the title "BBC Presents: Philip Marlowe", the series ran from 1977 to 1978, and again in 1988. The radio show adapted six out of the seven Philip Marlowe novels, which were adapted by Bill Morrison and produced by John Tydeman. The ten year gap between the release of "The Long Goodbye" and "Farewell My Lovely" was due to the rights for the latter being held by the makers of the 1975 film adaptation.
Between 2001 and 2004, each of the shows was released on CD under the BBC Radio Collection label. They are presently available at Amazon.co.uk
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THE VISE - DVD (Region 2)
Featuring Donald Gray, the voice of Colonel White, in the role of Mark Saber.
This collector's edition features 5 episodes of The Vise all starring Donald Gray as the charming super sleuth who told viewers after every episode see you again to tell you another story of those who were caught in the jaws of a vise.
Item added March 28, 2013
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THE VISE (VOLUME 1 & 2) - DVD
Featuring Donald Gray, the voice of Colonel White, in the role of Mark Saber.
This popular anthology of mystery stories was originally produced for British television in 1954-55, presenting dramatic tales of individuals whose bad choices lead to their downfall. Many of the shows featured private investigator Mark Saber, portrayed by English actor Donald Gray. The show later on changed its title to become "The Vise: Mark Saber" (or simply "Mark Saber").
This collection contains some of the Mark Saber episodes.
Actors: Donald Gray
Item added August 30, 2010
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BEST OF BRITISH TV CRIME SERIES (1953) - DVD (U.K., REGION 2, PAL)
Featuring "Saber of London", with Donald Gray, the voice of Colonel White
This release includes episodes from a selection of classic crime series; SABER OF LONDON (1954-1960), MAN FROM INTERPOL (1960), TALES OF EDGAR WALLACE (1960-1962), and SCOTLAND YARD (1953-1961).
Detectives and master criminals come together for the first time in a DVD box set as Pegasus Entertainment Ltd presents 'The Best Of Classic British TV Crime Series' featuring episodes from four nostalgic TV shows of the early 60s.
Saber Of London|: The long running TV series proved a hit with audience on both sides of the Atlantic under various titles including 'Detective s Dairy' and 'The Vise'. Whatever the title, the hit show featured the crime-solving exploits of the gallant and charming one-armed private investigator, who greeted his viewers with the famous words 'I m Mark Saber and this is London'.
Man From Interpol : 'Crime is international but so is the law'. The series plotted the globetrotting adventures of Anthony Smith, the man from Interpol, as he sort to bring master criminals from all corners of the world to justice. Special attach� to Scotland Yard, Agent Smith proved a charismatic and adaptable crime fighter as no one knew where in the world evil would strike next.
Tales Of Edgar Wallace: Based on the works of English crime writer Edgar Wallace, the series was updated adaptations of his stories, with each episode providing an unusual mystery to be solved. A celluloid penny dreadful, the stories twisted and turned at a fabulous pace keeping the armchair detectives guessing until the very end.
Scotland Yard: Introduced by novelist and broadcaster Edgar Lustgarten, the series focused on cases from the records room of the most famous police force in the world, Scotland Yard. Regular viewers were drawn into a murky world of mystery, murder and mayhem as each episode explained or helped to solve a hideous crime.
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2010
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THE FOUR FEATHERS (1939) - DVD
Starring Donald Gray
John Clements is the hero in this 1939 adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's story about courage, friendship and redemption. Donald Gray plays one of the three army buddies of Harry Faversham, who, along with Faversham's fianc�e, give him a white feathers, symbol of cowardise, when he resigned his army commission. However, when he finds out that his three friends are held captured by the enemy in Egypt, Faversham sets up on his own to free them. Reprised many times, this version of the story, directed by Zoltan Korda, is one of the best epic adventures ever filmed.
Actors: June Duprez,
John Clements, Ralph Richardson, Donald Gray,
C. Aubrey Smith
Item added August 30, 2010
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RELATED THEMES
INDESTRUCTIBLE HEROES!
Captain Scarlet will ALWAYS be the best for his fans! But there are other indestructible heroes who have adorned both the small screen and the big screen. Here's only a sample of these characters, whose adventures can be found on DVD.
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CONNOR MACLEOD (HIGHLANDER) - DVD/BLU-RAY Items added August 23, 2011
The movie series "Highlander" doesn't only present one indestructible hero - but a full cast of indestructible characters, villains as well, as Immortals of hundreds and thousands of years old battle one against another in order to acquire 'the prize'. In the original 1985 movie, Christophe Lambert plays Connor MacLeod, a 400 years old Scottish warrior, one of the last of these Immortals, who had lived through the ages, without aging, without dying and seeing all of his close ones going one by one around him. At the end, he must face his greatest challenge: the Immortal he hates the most in the world with whom he has a personal score to settle.
Also starring Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery, with music by Queen.
The first movie spawned three follow-ups (also starring Christophe Lambert), two TV series spin-offs, an anime series and an anime movie.
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DUNCAN MACLEOD (HIGHLANDER TV SERIES) - DVD Items added August 23, 2011
Spin-off of the original Highlander movie, "Highlander the Series" started in 1992 and lasted six seasons. It featured Adrian Paul in the role of Duncan MacLeod, cousin to Connor MacLeod, the character played by Christophe Lambert in the original movies. Lambert appeared a few times in the series, as a guest star, visiting his cousin. The treatment of the series would be similar to that of the movies: week after week, Duncan would face other immortals, in the pursuit of winning 'The Game', and viewers were able to go from 'present story' to 'flashbacks' relating the past life of the characters.
The end of the series would culminate into the movie "Highlander: Endgame", in which both Duncan and Connor MacLeod will join force against evil in a last attempt to win the Game. The highly popular series in turn spawned a new series "Highlander: the Raven", which lasted only one season.
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AMANDA (HIGHLANDER: THE RAVEN) - DVD Items added August 23, 2011
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QUENTIN MACLEOD (HIGHLANDER: THE ANIMATED SERIES) - DVD Items added August 23, 2011
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COLIN MACLEOD (HIGHLANDER: THE SEARCH FOR VENGEANCE) - DVD Items added August 23, 2011
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CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS (TORCHWOOD) - DVD/BLU-RAY
When Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, appeared for the first time in Doctor Who (in the 2005 episode "The Empty Child"), the character made a huge impact on viewers! The bisexual, philandering, often morally ambivalent character gains an instant popularity amongst.
A regular on several episodes, he sacrifices himself while fighting the Daleks in this season's last episode - to be revived afterwards par character Rose Tyler, while suffused by the power of the Time Vortex. From then on, Jack is immortal, and indestructible, able to withstand any injury and revive if he should die.
The popularity of the character amongst multiple audiences directly influenced the development of a spin-off series. In 2007, "Torchwood" premieres, with Captain Jack Harkness as its main character, leading a small group of alien hunters, which formed the Cardiff branch of the Torchwood institute. While "Doctor Who" is more family-oriented, "Torchwood" addresses a more adult audience. The character would continue to appear in episodes of "Doctor Who".
Along with the three existing series, four Torchwood radio plays were aired by BBC between 2008 and 2009, set between Series 2 and 3. Series 3 was created as a mini-series of five episodes under the generic title: "Torchwood: Children of Earth". An upcoming Series 4 has been confirmed.
The character of Jack Harkness also appeared in Torchwood books, as well as in some Doctor Who books.
Item added August 30, 2010
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page to take your pick!
to check it out. If you don't find the same item, you can
ALWAYS order through the U.K. website.
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WOLVERINE (X-MEN) DVD/BLU-RAY
Probably the most known and recognisable indestructible hero of the World, and that was even before the wonderful portrayal actor Hugh Jackman made of the character in the first X-Men live action movie. However, Jackman made the character even more famous, and to this webmaster's opinion, and gave it even more depth than in the comic book. For thousands of fans around the world, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is the definite Wolverine.
The adamantium clawed mutant with a healing factor appeared in all three of the X-Men movies, and also in a fourth movie, totally devoted to his character, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". A follow up to that movie is also on the work. The four first movies are all available on DVD. There are other DVD featuring the character, from the collection of the X-Men animated series from the 90s, to the excellent "Wolverine and the X-Men" of recent years. All worth to be added to any fan's collection!
Actors: Hugh Jackman, Patrick
Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Masters, Halle Berry
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JANE VASCO
(PAINKILLER JANE) - DVD The concept is VERY familiar. While investigating a pharmaceutical company, Jane Vasco is murdered by someone who pushed her to her death from a very high building. Yet, she survives, and for some weird reason is now indestructible and revives from each subsequent deaths, but feels the pain of every injuries she receives. Now part of a mystery organisation, she tracks down genetically altered human beings (such as herself) which posed a menace to society. One reviewer on Amazon.co.uk described the show as "Captain Scarlet & the Mysterons with sex appeal". Only one season was produced of the series, which is available on DVD in UK and North America. The series was inspired by a comic book of the same title, created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. Although the title character shares the same name, the TV series differs considerably. Actors: Kristanna Loken, Noah Danby, Stephen Lobo, Sean O Roberts, Nathaniel DeVeaux Item added August 30, 2010
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CLAIRE BENNETT (HEROES) DVD/BLU-RAY
When the pilot episode of the first season of 'Heroes' hit the TV screen, the success was huge. And all through the season, viewers came in and followed this series, written by Tim Kring, which borrowed quite a lot from the super-heroes comic book style, by its plot and aesthetics, and writing. Each season is a complete and complete story, written as a multi-parts like often seen in comic books. (except with Season 3, which present two such stories).
The success of 'Heroes' benefited from of large promotional operation, which included an interactive website, where fans were able to interact, discuss about the ongoing plot, read web comics and later watch web episodes which were like a continuation from the TV series. Books, comic books and other merchandising were produced, subsequently to the show's success.
The character of Claire Bennett, the indestructible cheerleader, (played by Hayden Panetierre) was one of the most popular of the series. Claire was the focus of the first season (where the characters must 'Save the cheerleader, to save the world', as she became the most price target of powers-stealing villain Sylar (wonderfully played by Zachary Quinto) - who also ended up becoming indestructible at the start of season 3. Throughout the series of 4 seasons, Claire's popularity - and consequently screening appearance - continued to stay consistent - and the character had the last words, in more ways than one, in the finale episode.
The series is available in DVD and Blu-Ray on both sides of the Atlantic.
Item added August 30, 2010
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DAVID DUNN (UNBREAKABLE) - DVD/BLU-RAY
'Unbreakable' tells the story of David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, the sole survivor of a train wreck, with not a scratch on him. He soon finds himself stalked by a comic books dealer, Elijah Price, who suffers from a rare brittle bone syndrome, and who tries to persuade Dunn that he might have superhuman abilities. As the story unfolds and Dunn starts to remember details of some strange occurrences in his past, he also come to wonder if, by any chance, their might not be some truth to Price's allegations, and that maybe he is indeed 'unbreakable'.
This story, which is directly inspired by comic books mythology, is one of M. Knight Shyamalan's early successes and with "The Sixth Sense" (also starring Bruce Willis) serves to establish him as one of the more inventive movie directors/producers of Hollywood.
Actors: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson,
Robin Wright, Spencer Treat Clark, Charlayne Woodard
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ALIEN POSSESSION AND SUBSTITUTION
The Mysterons were not the first and only aliens using and/or possessing Earthmen's body and mind to carry on their evil deeds on Earth. There were others in the past, and they are still out there! They can replace a very inoffensive, or well-known individual and this impostor will work until his masters' plans are carried on. This theme is well-known through-out sci-fi history, as the movies below are but a sample of what could be found on the market.
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THE PUPPET MASTERS - DVD
With a title like this and the premise of the movie, it sure was enough for it to be included in this list!
Sci-fi author Robert A. Heinlein wrote the novel "The Puppet Masters" in 1951 before Jack Finney ripped the premise for his novel "Invasion of the body snatchers" in 1955, which later spawned the classic movie in 1956, et the other movies that followed throughout the years. "The Puppet Masters" is a better story with clever dialogue and action, the parasites are well thought out and this movie stays true to Heinlein's work.
This is the story that inspired movies like: Invasion of the body snatchers, The Faculty, Invasion, Invasion (TV series) and even the 1951 & 1988 versions of The Thing! which told similar stories.
Actors: Donald Sutherland, Eric Thal,
Julie Warner, Keith David, Will Patton
Item added August 30, 2010
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INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - 1956 - DVD
The classic original alien human-possession movie!
Considered one of the best science fiction films of the 1950s and '60s, this classic paranoid thriller was widely interpreted as a criticism of the McCarthy era, which was characterised by anticommunist witch-hunts and fear of the dreaded blacklist. Some hailed it as an attack on the oppressive power of government as Big Brother. However viewers interpret it, this original 1956 version of Invaders of the Body Snatchers (based on Jack Finney's serialised novel The Body Snatchers) remains a milestone movie in its genre.
Directed by Don Siegel with an inventive intensity that continues to pack an entertaining wallop. This film spawns numerous remakes or re-inventions, that you'll also find on this page.
Actors: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones
Item added August 30, 2010
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INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - 1978 - DVD/BLU-RAY
This is very much an ensemble movie, with outstanding performances from Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams, and what proved to be the first of several key genre roles for Jeff (The Fly, Jurassic Park, Independence Day) Goldblum.
With minimal effects and very little gore, but filled with unnerving camera angles and a underpinned by a chillingly effective score, the film is relentlessly suspenseful, culminating in a sequence of terrifying set-pieces and a truly spine-tingling finale. More resonant with each passing year, the story was reworked in 1993 as Body Snatchers.
Actors: Donald Sutherland,
Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Leonard
Nimoy Item added August 30, 2010
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BODY SNATCHERS -1993 - DVD
Directed by Abel Ferrara (the director
of Bad Lieutenant and Driller Killer), with the story co-adapted by
B-movie auteur Larry Cohen, and a screenplay co-written by
Re-Animator's Stuart Gordon and Nicholas St. John. The film stars
Gabrielle Anwar, Billy Wirth, Terry Kinney, Meg Tilly, R. Lee Ermey
and Forest Whitaker.
Actors: Gabrielle Anwar, Meg Tilly,
Terry Kinney, Reilly Murphy, Billy Wirth Directors: Abel Ferrara
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THE INVASION - 2004 - DVD/BLU-RAY
This ambitious sci-fi thriller represents a flawed yet worthy attempt to bring contemporary vitality to Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel, previously filmed as Don Siegel's 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Philip Kaufman's suspenseful 1978 remake, and Abel Ferrara's highly underrated Body Snatchers from 1994. And while those earlier films are superior in many respects, The Invasion is not without strengths of its own, particularly for those who prefer action and suspense.
Actors: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig,
Jeremy Northam, Jeffrey Wright
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THE IMPOSTOR - DVD
"Imagine being accused of being someone else - someone dangerous, potentially lethal, yet resembling you in every way. You are, as far as you�re concerned, still you. How do you convince your accusers that you are you and not some evil, alien clone?"
Gary Sinise enters the world of futuristic action heroes in Gary Fleder's sci-fi thriller IMPOSTOR, based on a story by Philip K. Dick.
Sinise stars as Spencer Olham, a
weapons expert in 2079 who wakes up one morning to find himself
accused of being an alien. He sets out on the run, being hunted down
by Major Hathaway (Vincent D'Onofrio). He receives help from an
underground leader (Mekhi Phifer), and upon returning to the city,
he must convince his wife, Maya (Madeleine Stowe), and his best
friend, Nelson (Tony Shalhoub), that he is indeed her husband and
not some kind of robot monster with a bomb in his chest. Actors: Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Shalhoub, Tim Guinee
Item added August 30, 2010
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THE FACULTY - DVD/BLU-RAY
Okay, you knew everyone in high school was just a little different: everyone looked at you strangely, the teachers were freaky, and you never could find the right groove to fit into. What if it turned out that it was all because your school was inhabited by creepy aliens from outer space?
Actors: Michelle
Holmes, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Christopher
McDonald, Bebe Neuwirth
Item added August 30, 2010
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MARS AND MARTIAN INVADERS
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GHOSTS OF MARS (2001) also known as JOHN CARPENTER'S GHOSTS OF MARS - DVD/BLU-RAY
Set in a almost completely terraformed Mars of the 22th Century, the movie follows a team of police officers as they come to a small remote mining town to pick up a prisoner held there. When they arrive, it is to discover that nearly all the inhabitants have disappeared - and when they finally turned out, they are shown to be possessed by evil ancient Martian spirits, set to destroy them (familiar, isn't it?). Fighting the Martian spirits is complicated by the fact that when a human host is killed, the now freed spirit will immediately possess a new body... Starring Natasha Henstridge, Pam Grier, Jason Stratham and Ice Cube, this movie is full of gore and violence, just like you would expect in a John Carpenter's movie! Item added March 3rd, 2013
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INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) - DVD
A young boy is awakened during a storm to witness a flying saucer land in the field behind his home. No one will believe his story as, one by one, the townspeople are captured and put under the control of sinister forces from the planet Mars! Brilliantly created by visionary set designer and director William Cameron Menzies (designer of "Gone with the Wind" and H.G. Wells' "Things to Come") with a haunting musical score by Raoul Kraushaar, this golden age sci-fi classic has lost none of its chilling power. Surreal imagery brought to terrifying life in a Cinecolor world just beyond our nightmares!
Actors: Helena Carter, Arthur Franz, Jimmy Hunt, Leif Erickson, Hillary Brooke Director: William Cameron Menzies
Item added July 22, 2011
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INVADERS FROM MARS (1986) - NTSC, REGION 1, NORTH AMERICA - DVD
From Amazon.com:
Tobe Hooper's remake of the 1953 classic Invaders from Mars is a total hoot, remaining loyal to the original while serving up a kaleidoscopic orgy of fang-toothed beasties, dazzling pyrotechnics, and enough wretched dialogue to choke its enthusiastic cast. If anything, Hooper's too enamored of the original, and with amateur actor Hunter Carson (Paris, Texas) as the boy-who-cried-Martian, he can't sustain the original's eerily paranoid atmosphere. This big-budget Invaders compensates with campy humor (especially from evil schoolmarm Fletcher) and cool special effects by Star Wars innovator John Dykstra. Carson's real-life mom (Karen Black) plays the school nurse who believes the boy's warning of invasion, and Jimmy Hunt--who played the kid in the original--brings everything full circle as a Martian-possessed policeman. Watch the original, then enjoy this less effective but equally entertaining remake.
Director: Tobe Hooper
Item added July 22, 2011
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MARS ATTACKS! (2008) - DVD/BLU-RAY
From Amazon.com:
Burton's eye-popping, schlock tribute to 1950s UFO movies actually plays better on video than it did in theaters. The idea of invading aliens ray gunning the big-name movie stars in the cast is a cleverly subversive one, and the bulb-headed, funny-sounding animated Martians are pretty nifty, but it all seemed to be spread thin on the big screen. On video, however, the movie's kooky humor seems a bit more concentrated. The Earth actors (most of whom get zapped or kidnapped for alien science experiments) include Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rod Steiger, Michael J. Fox, Lukas Haas, Jim Brown, Tom Jones, and Pam Grier. The digital video disc features an isolated track for Danny Elfman's score, as well as a few other clever and nasty little Martian surprises.
Item added July 22, 2011
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THE ANGRY RED PLANET (1960) - NTSC, REGION 1, NORTH AMERICA - DVD
From IMDB.com:
Our first manned flight to Mars returns after being thought lost in space. Only two survivors (Mohr & Hayden) of the original four are on board. Mohr has a green growth on his arm, and nothing that the doctors do will kill it. Hayden, under hypnosis, tells of their adventures on Mars. Thought to be a dead planet, it's inhabited with man-eating plants, giant Bat-Rat-Spider-Crab monsters, a strange city on a lake, and a one-eyed monster that dissolves anything that it swallows or touches.
Actors: Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen, Paul Hahn
Item added July 22, 2011
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INVISIBLE INVADERS / JOURNEY TO THE 7TH PLANET (1959) - NTSC, REGION 1, NORTH AMERICA - DVD
From Amazon.com:
(Synopsis and review of firs movie only): Essentially a didactic play of ideas--closer to Shaw than Spielberg--the story line follows a reluctant nuclear scientist (played with genuine sensitivity by Philip Tonge) whose conscience forces him out of the military-industrial complex. When a race of invisible aliens declares its intention to destroy Earth, Tonge must scramble to find their weakness. Veteran B-movie hunk John Agar lends support as a courageous army major who takes charge of the experimentation, and, in the process, supplies the film with its only shred of a subplot by romancing the scientist's daughter (spunky Jean Byron). Substantial newsreel footage and seemingly unrelated canned shots add to the creepy atmosphere, and the film's one real special effect--concentric circles representing sound waves--proves quite effective in its pure minimalism.
Item added July 22, 2011
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SIMILAR ANIMATION TECHNIQUES
Television shows come to mind in this category, especially in regard of the earlier animation, as it was used in "Supercar" and "Fireball", and there are a handful of movies, which also make the list, which also use a similar puppetry technique as used in the Supermarionation era. Fan of Gerry Anderson's shows might find these very interesting as well.
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SPACE PATROL - DVD
Product Description from Amazon.co.uk: Remember the 1960s? Programs like Supercar and Fireball XL-5 created a huge market for children's SF, and even Gerry Anderson couldn't fill it. One of the programs that tried to bridge the gap was Space Patrol, a puppet show made by Frank Goulding, Roberta Leigh, and other defectors from the Anderson empire.
Filmed on a shoestring in black and white, it had some interesting ideas that could have usefully been transferred to later series; spaceships used antigravity, not rockets, and took weeks to reach the outer planets, aliens weren't always humanoid and had their own languages and customs (and it took several days to program the translating computers), and gadgets took time to develop and tended to be reused once they'd appeared. There were even vague signs of a story arc occasionally, something singularly lacking in most of its rivals. It's an acknowledged source for several programs including Babylon 5 (whose director talks about the show in one of the extra features).
For many years it was believed that most of the episodes had been lost, with the rest in very poor condition, but in the nineties Roberta Leigh found that she had a complete run of the series on 16mm film in her garage. Eventually the episodes were transferred to tape and later DVD. This set collects all of the episodes and includes all of the extras from the tapes; interviews with animators, cast, and fans of the show (most notably Joe Michael Straczynski), samples of the other programmes made by the company, advertising, and so forth. It's an extraordinarily complete archive. Today some of the ideas in the show seem a little odd - and some of the tricks used to save money, such as recycled footage and reused puppets which give the impression of a very small cast of actors. American buyers: This program was shown as "Planet Patrol" in the USA; it isn't the same program as the earlier American live-action "Space Patrol".
Actors: Ysanne Churchman, Murray Kash, Ronnie Stevens,
Dick Vosburgh, Libby Morris The DVDs are Region 0 (all regions) .
Item added August 30, 2010
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STAR
FLEET - THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD SET (U.K., REGION 2, PAL) - DVD Product Description from Amazon.co.uk: An action-packed, space-age puppet programme with dazzling special effects. Features the complete series. Drawing heavily on diverse
influences such as Star Wars, Japanese Anime and Gerry Anderson's
various 'Supermarionation' series, this stellar series ran for
twenty-four half hour episodes on UK TV beaming to our TV screens
every Saturday morning starting in October 1982. Item added August 30, 2010
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TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE! - DVD
Okay, not REALLY something for under-aged kids to watch. But definitely worth mentioning on this site for any interested adult to see. Team America: World Police is the crude, explicit, violent, sometimes bad-tasted, and controversial movie by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of the equally non-politically correct South Park TV series), where all the characters are puppets - a-la-Thunderbirds style. The movie follows the adventures of a team of not-so-apt terrorist fighters, who watch over the world from their secret headquarters inside Mount Rushmore - and leap into action whenever stereotyped baddies threaten world peace.
To order any of the copies of Team America: World Police, either in U.K. at Amazon.co.uk , or North America, at Amazon.com , you can simply click one of the links below.
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STRINGS - DVD
Description from Wikipedia:
Strings is a mythic fantasy film about
the son of an ostensibly assassinated ruler who sets out to avenge
his father but through a series of revelations comes to a much
clearer understanding of the conflict between the two peoples
concerned.
Actors: James McAvoy,
Catherine McCormack, Samantha Bond, Derek Jacobi
Writers: Anders R�nnow Klarlund, Naja Marie Aidt
Item added August 30, 2010
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JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT!
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PAUL (2011) DVD/BLU-RAY
Why include this? Why, an
alien named 'Paul', that doesn't sound related to you?! Simon Pegg and Nick Frost ('Hot Fuzz', 'Shaun of the Dead') reunite as sci-fi geeks taking a pilgrimage to America�s UFO heartland. There they meet a smart-ass alien, named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) who takes them on an insane road trip. As they struggle to return Paul home, the little green man might just take the outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes. From the director of Superbad Greg Mottola and with a stellar supporting cast including Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Sigourney Weaver, Paul is a must-own comedy adventure not to be missed!
Actors: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth
Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver
Item added July 22, 2011
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BOOKS
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by Simon Messingham
Doctor Who meets Captain Scarlet (sort of)...
A very intriguing new book from the Doctor Who's series, has been released a couple of weeks ago by BBC Books. "The Indestructible Man" is set in a future world inspired by Gerry Anderson's universes, in an obvious tribute to them. The story brings The Doctor in 2069, where he meets with an international organisation, PRISM, who is fighting alien invaders using terrorist tactics to bring about Earth's downfall - and who have the power to possess and duplicate, in order to destroy their enemy from within. With the help of PRISM agent , Captain Grant Matthews, who has accidentally became indestructible during the war against the Myloki, the Doctor seeks out the truth behind the so-called 'war-of-nerves'.
Available in any bookstores, the book will certainly interest Doctor Who's and Gerry Anderson's fans alike.
You can order your copy of "The Indestructible Man" at Amazon.co.uk.
Item updated August 30, 2010
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THE PUPPET MASTERS
by Robert A. Heinlein
Paperback: 320 pages
First published in 1951. The book that inspired the movie by the same title.
When a flying saucer lands in Iowa, the head of a
very secret intelligence agency in the U.S. and his two top agents go to
investigate, to discover that an invasion is underway by slug-like
aliens who, by the simple touch, can completely take control of a human,
body and mind... And most of Iowa is already under their
control... Item added August 30, 2010
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Available at Amazon.com |
Available at Amazon.co.uk |
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INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (American title) THE BODY SNATCHERS (U.K. Title)
by Jack Finney
Paperback The original, invasion novel, that inspired the many "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" movies.
While Miles's patients start remarking
about loved ones not seeming to be themselves, he merely chalks it up to
paranoia. However, when he becomes witness to a distinct but subtle
change in the personality of some townspeople, he and his friends
realize something is afoot. Their fears are realized as they stumble
upon faceless corpses and strange pods. But the pod people are spreading
fast, and Miles is running out of places to hide and people to help him. Item added August 30, 2010
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The Body Snatchers 240 pages Publisher: Gollantz
Available at Amazon.co.uk |
Invasion of the Body Snatchers 224 pages Publisher: Touchtone
Available at Amazon.com |
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BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES (COMICS GRAPHIC NOVELS)
by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis Hardcover: 304 pages
During Summer 2010, DC Comics launched the "Blackest Night" comic books mini-series, directly from the pages of their "Green Lantern" and "Green Lantern Corps" regular series. This massive crossover has been saluted as one of the best series in recent years.
The "Blackest Night" is a prophecy feared by the Guardians of the Galaxy, as the night when Death will triumph over all lives. To face this approaching menace, it will take more than the Green Lantern Corps: all the other Lights Corps (each colour representing the emotional spectrum) will have to join the fight, if there should be only one chance of survival against this entity that holds the most fearful weapon of all: the rings of the Black Lanterns, which can give a semblance of life to the dead heroes of Earth, warp their half-rotten mind and use them against their former friends and allies. And all who are killed by these Black Lanterns immediately join their ranks!
All the issues of the mini-series, as well as the issues of the regular series that crossed over with it, have been collected into seven hard-cover edition books.
The U.K. Edition of the books (by Titan Books Ltd.) is not available in its entirety right now, but you can buy the American Edition (by DC Comics) at Amazon.com.
Item added August 30, 2010
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by Elizabeth Morgan
Yes, the very same who was the voice of Destiny and Rhapsody Angels. Elizabeth Morgan is also a writer, and with this novel, set in occupied France during World War II, she shows yet again another facet of her multiple talents.
Description from the Amazon site: Immediately following the French Vichy Government�s armistice with Hitler in July 1940, a group of handpicked German soldier musicians is billeted in the west wing of prestigious Chateau de Lazarin in southern unoccupied France, to create a �cultural presence.� The de Lazarin family are deeply affronted by this invasion of their chateau, but when Catherine their beautiful daughter, meets Major Freddy von Langdorf there is an immediate mutual attraction, powerful and obvious. There is no logic in love, no rationale. They are enemies. They know their relationship can only be fraught with danger. Catherine, half way through her abandoned medical degree is involved in the Resistance through her cousin Max, who is working with Jean Moulin, a Resistance leader. The pugilistic SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Muller, already known to the young Major, arrives in the south of France with the complete Nazi take-over of the country; a brute with swaggering fanaticism who hates Freddy and his privileged class as vehemently as he does Jews and the Resistance. Extracting confessions from victims through torture is his speciality, and insists that Major von Langdorf is his interpreter during these obscene interrogations. High in the Cevennes, Catherine is working in a makeshift Resistance hospital. Freddy passes vital information to her for the Resistance, creating a perilous situation for both of them. Muller certainly knows something. But how much and what? A sadist, who twists the knife slowly before striking, he is out for blood. Whose will it be?
Paperback: 344 pages
Available at Amazon.co.uk.
Item updated July 6, 2014
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GAMES
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CLUEDO / CLUE
This classic, always popular
murder/mystery-themed board game is one of the oldies but also of the goodies!
Originally published in 1949 in Leeds, Englands, by Waddington, it was created
by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk from Birmingham, England. Today, the
always popular game is published by Hasbro, the American game and toy
companyTand toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S. publisher Parker
Brothers as well as Waddingtons.
Item updated August 30, 2010
U.K.
You can also buy other Assorted Cluedo Games and products at Amazon.co.uk.
U.S.A.
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