Catacombs Reference LibraryEarthbound Fantasy Flashback
Catacombs Reference LibraryReviews from TV Zone, "the monthly magazine of cult television", an early 1990s UK genre magazine
by Richard Houldsworth
TV Zone Number 12 (Nov 1990); p24-27 (3c, 3bw)
Earthbound is one of Space: 1999's most enjoyable episodes. This can be attributed to several factors, perhaps the most notable being an unusual plot twist which has the evil protagonist in the form of an Alphan, while the visiting aliens are peaceful, intelligent and helpful. There are also some memorable performances from guest artists: Roy Dotrice reprises his role from the opening episode Breakaway, and Christopher Lee plays Captain Zantor. Lee, best known for playing Dracula, gave a subdued portrayal of the alien leader, but his enormous stature ensured some screen presence.
The direction by Charles (A Fish Called Wanda) Crichton is effective and atmospheric, making full use of the script's potential for drama. Fifteen years after its original transmission Earthbound stands the test of time rather well. Its only downfall is the very 1970s design: Zantor's ship is all glowing panels and coloured perspex, the Kaldorians are Glam Rockers in mascara, long wigs and shiny, multicoloured kaftans.
Together with the rest of the first season, the story was made during the early months of 1975 at Pinewood Studios. A bid had originally been placed to film at Elstree, but Gerry Anderson chose to pull out when it was threatened with closure. Not that production at Pinewood was without its troubles; filming took place during the three day week era of British industry. With power cuts causing havoc with the production, Anderson arranged for the unit to have its own electrical generator. Unfortunately its capacity was far greater than was needed, and resulted in technicians rigging a row of electrical heaters in the open air. This effectively drained off the excess power, while many of Britain's householders were freezing!
The superb effects, one of the major selling points of the series, were filmed at Bray Studios by Brian Johnson and his team. Johnson was already well experienced in his profession before joining the Space: 1999 crew; he had worked on The Protectors and UFO, and also major feature films including The Tamarind Seed and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Johnson did not work on UFO Effects for Earthbound included stock footage of Eagle Transporters plus newly recorded material of a transporter with detachable pod, shots of the Kaldorian ship; in flight, crashing on the lunar surface, and berthed in the hangar deck. The alien ship was not the most memorable design the series boasted; the bottom heavy shape looked quite ludicrous as it rocked along its haphazard flight path.
It is a great shame that this story has not yet been released on video by Channel Five, because it does characterise all which is best in the series. It also holds the distinction of being the only story of the first season not to have been novelised in the Orbit books range. This just might have been because in his adaptation of Breakaway EC Tubb, for some unknown reason, chose to kill off Commissioner Simmonds!
Earthbound was originally shown in the autumn of 1975. The exact time and date of transmission varied between ITV regions; some chose to place it opposite Doctor Who on Saturdays, others played safe with a Thursday evening slot. Although the series went down well in America ('Leaves Star Trek behind' Tampa Tribune and Tampa Times), the British press had nothing good to write about it. Indeed, the Daily Mail were so cruel as to say, 'Producers Sylvia and Gerry Anderson used to make this Space stuff with remote-controlled puppets. With Martin Landau and Barbara Bain I swear you won't tell the difference'.
Richard Houldsworth