A LOOK AT STAR MAIDENS

As Woodsy mentioned Star Maidens in his previous post I thought I’d do a short piece about it myself, as there is one or two Space: 1999 connections.

I'm quite fond of Star Maidens, and for anyone who isn’t aware of it is an Anglo-German 13 part TV series produced in 1975, and shown in 1976 in between the first and second series of Space:1999.

The premise of the series begins with a wandering planet called Medusa entering our Solar System after catastrophically colliding with a giant comet called Dyonethis . The surface of the planet is ravaged and the surviving Medusans retreat underground.

The technologically advanced Medusan society is ruled by women, with men totally subservient to them. After entering our system the Medusans discover Earth, and perceive it to be ruled by men, and a threat to their peaceful existence. However, two Medusan men, Adam and Shem like the idea of living on Earth away from female domination. They steal a space yacht and flee to Earth only to be pursued by the head of Medusan Security, Octavia and Grand Councillor Fulvia  in their spaceship, ‘Nemisis’.

Meanwhile, a British Astronomical Institute here on Earth, using their radio telescopes have already detected the new planet, and soon begin to track the ships.  

After the Yacht crash lands in a wooded area, scientists from the Institute, along with the local police force embark to check out the site. 

Led by Institute director Professor Evans, and accompanied by fellow scientists, Dr Rudi Schmidt and Dr Liz Becker investigate and soon after witness the landing of the ‘Nemesis’.

The story continues over the following episodes using the sexual equality revolution as its theme, and examining how both cultures adapt to one another.

 Its obvious camp look, and clichéd premise, with female Medusan guards dressed in hot pants, platform boots and sun hat helmets, plus the fact that the Medusan women were ultimately incapable of dealing with conflict and enemy invasion, only to be finally saved by an Earth man meant that no one could see it as serious attempt at addressing the’ Battle of the Sexes’ idea.  

I remember watching it at the time and just thinking it’s a bit like Space: 1999 but on a much smaller budget, which it pretty much was. Space: 1999’s production designer Keith Wilson worked on the series, and many of the sound effects for Star Maidens are the same as Space: 1999.

Two of the lead actresses turn up in separate episodes of 1999. Judy Geeson, who played Fulvia features in ‘Another Time, Another Place’, and Lisa Harrow, who plays Dr Liz Becker is in the episode, ‘The Testament of Arkadia’. (Lisa Harrow is due to appear as one of the guests, next year at the Space: 1999 Convention, ‘Breakaway: 2019 to be held in Pennsylvania, USA.)

Space: 1999 background extra Pam Rose, another convention favourite also appeared in Star Maidens.

I don’t have much in the way of Star Maidens merchandise:  

The annual is a nice addition, although inside it looks as cheap as the series.  There’s a photo on the front showing the quality of the special effects with flaming ball, apparently hitting a Medusan city, looking like it’s made from cardboard toilet roll tubes and egg trays. Inside, it even shows you how to make the city yourself. There’s also the usual character biography’s, illustrated text stories and astronomical filler material.

I’ve got the paperback book, written by Angus Wells (using the pseudonym Ian Evans)

I also picked up the German soundtrack CD by Berry Lipman and his orchestra. For anyone who likes music with a distinct seventies sound this is the one for you. Needless to say I love it.

There’s an accompanying booklet with it, written in German of course, but with some nice photos.

Finally, the DVD set. From its original screening in 1976, here in the UK, I don’t think the series has even been repeated. I did watch a compilation movie of it at a Cult TV convention in the nineties, but after seeing a few individual episodes on YouTube I thought I’d invest in a proper set.