Catacombs Reference LibraryPublicity
Production Notes
Catacombs Reference LibraryThis 6 page document is dated 25th March 1974, and states that 3 episodes have been filmed. Note the intention is still to launch the series for the "1974-75 season" (it would soon be delayed until 1975-1976).
SPACE:1999
(Production Notes)
Pre-production phases of SPACE: 1999, ITC's new science-fiction series, ended last December and we went "on the floor" just before the end of last year. Perhaps this is an omen: we turned the corner of a year in our production of this new series, and the series turns the corner of a century, predicting what life will be like in our universe around the bend of time when 1999 gives way to the year 2000!
It is the turn of the century and The Moon, blasted out of its earth orbit, wanders in space. On it are 300 men and women from all nations of earth, originally there to man an early-warning system and to repel invaders. Now they are marooned in space on a quest for a new planet. Ironically, they are considered the invaders by inhabitants of other planets. Their conflict is with the life forms encountered on other worlds, with the elements of outer-space - and with the problems of sustaining life on their new world as it wanders on its unexpected odyssey across the universe.
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MARTIN LANDAU and BARBARA BAIN star in the series, and to do so they have moved to London, where it is being filmed at Pinewood Studios. They've settled into a picturesque canal-side Georgian house in London's "Little Venice" area. It's in marked contrast to the futuristic settings of SPACE:1999, but quite in keeping with their English Tudor-style Beverly Hills home, built 70 years ago by an English architect. Also, it's within easy reach of the American School, where daughters Susan and Juliet have been enrolled to maintain the continuity of their American curriculum.
This is the first time the Landaus have co-starred in a series since their memorable 80 episode run on "Mission: Impossible, and the first time the family can be together and working at the same time. With one or the other of them on location for individual roles, and the children in school in California, there has been no way until now for the Landaus to stay as close as they want to be, and they're taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Barry Morse co-stars as Professor Bergman, the scientist who developed most of the sophisticated equipment used on the moon. Best known to American audiences for his running role as Lieutenant Gerard in "The Fugitive" and Mr. Parminter in "The Adventurer", Morse will soon be seen on NBC-TV in ITC's new series, "The Zoo Gang," in which he co-stars with Brian Keith, John Mills and
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Lilli Palmer. Other important roles in SPACE: 1999 have been cast, including those played by Roy Dotrice and Stuart Damon. Richard Johnson, who stars in ITC's "Antony and Cleopatra" drama, to be aired on the ABC television network, has taken a small hiatus from the Royal Shakespeare Company to guest star on SPACE:1999.
For the series, Barbara Bain had her hair done by famed British stylist Michael Rasser, of Michaeljohn. He's the man who did Princess Anne's hair for the wedding. He calls the style he gave Barbara "The Timeless Look" predicting that it is the kind of easy-to-care-for "do" that could be worn in space in 1999 - which is what it's all about. "It's basically classical," Rasser said. "The colouring is very much her own, but I have taken the silver of the moon to symbolize the setting (the setting is the moon) by introducing blond highlights which give a subtle lift to the hair. Rasser' s considerations in developing a distinctive "1999" look for Barbara in the series included the fact that she will not wear a wig for any reason. Realizing that Barbara would have to wear, off-camera, whatever style he created for her for SPACE : 1999, Rasser's rationale also included the fact that a woman in space, in the future, would be unlikely to have a beauty parlour nearby. He kept it simple.
Costumes for SPACE: 1999 have been designed by Rudi Gernreich, and they're colour coordinated! This is for practical purposes, as well as
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style: the 300 men and women on the moon are assigned to different jobs, and the colour-coding distinguishes them. Barbara Bain, for example, is the chief medical officer, and her sleeve's colour so identifies her. Martin Landau is Commander of Alpha Base, and he - together with his staff - have specific colour-coded uniforms. All the uniforms, incidentally, have been designed without pockets, but since the personnel need carry no money, no keys and no personal effects there is no need for the pockets, according to Gernreich (who has been known to omit parts of costumes altogether! ). Identification and lock-unlock devices are part of a belt-rigged, programmed mini-computer all moonbase personnel wear.
Lee H. Katzin directed the first and third episodes and Charles Crichton the second. Each of these directors has prestigious credits, both for television and motion picture films. Katzin, one of the most prolific and highly regarded craftsmen in the industry, has directed "The Salzburg Connection, " "Le Mans" , "Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice?", "Angry Odyssey" and other feature films. For television he has directed made-for-tv movies for all three networks, and his work includes "Ordeal", "Along Came A Spider", "Hondo," "The Stranger", "The Voyage of the Yes", "The American Eagle" and "Visions". In demand for network series, Katzin has directed episodes of "McMillan and Wife", "Mod Squad", "The Felony Squad," "It Takes A Thief, " "Mannix", "Rat Patrol", "Wild Wild West", "Rawhide," "Branded," "Stoney Burke" and many more including "Mission : Impossible - the long-running series in which Martin Landau and
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Barbara Bain originally starred.
Charles Crichton's internationally hailed feature films include the supernatural classic, "Dead of Night". Other movies which bear the Crichton touch are the Alec Guinness comedy, "The Lavender Hill Mob", "Hue and Cry" and "The Titfield Thunderbolt". For television, Mr. Crichton has directed many of the leading programs and numbers among his previous assignments for ITC episodes in such series as "The Protectors," "Man in a Suitcase, " "Danger Man", "Secret Agent", and "Strange Report". He has also directed segments of "The Avengers" and "Black Beauty. "
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, long associated with ITC, are producing SPACE: 1999. For the past 12 years, they have produced science-fiction feature films for Universal and United Artists and outer-space television series for ITC, working with a virtual 'repertory company' of special-effects technicians, designers, architects and engineers to achieve some of the most spectacular effects on the screen, many of which have since become standard.
Roughly that's where we are, so far. If there is any additional information you can use, or if you'd like us to expand on anything mentioned in this production wrapup, please let us know. Phoners can be set up, working around shooting schedules - and keeping in mind
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the time difference between where you are and where they are, in England. If you want more stills, or certain photos, just write or call collect and ask for them.
From time to time we'll keep you advised of our progress on this new series. We expect to have SPACE: 1999 ready for network programming in this country during the 1974-75 season ... and intend to set the standard for this kind of programming with episodes that are both thought provoking and visually exciting, (for openers, we blow up the moon!) written by the best writers, directed by the best directors, starring and featuring the best actors... and produced by the best technical personnel available. It's the first ITC series we have specifically tailor-made for U.S. audiences, and every guarantee for its success that we can think of is being built into it.
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