Endeavour, a spin-
off of the Inspector Morse TV series, which was set in contemporary times, and
starred the late John Thaw, is set in 1969, and features a younger Detective
Sergeant Endeavour Morse, (played by Shaun Evans) earlier in his police career .
Photo: ITV/Radio Times
The episode is called ‘Apollo’,
and takes place at the time of the first Moon Landing. According to an online
Radio Times article by Mark Braxton, Endeavour creator & writer Russell
Lewis says that the episode is a love letter to the puppet era of the
Andersons, and goes on to say that without Gerry Anderson’s imagination firing
his own, Russell doubts he would be doing what he does today.
The talented folk behind the Thunderbirds 1965 project, and
the Halifax Bank advert featuring Lady Penelope and Parker were brought in to
help film the puppet /marionette scenes, along with original Thunderbirds’
director, David Elliot, and original Thunderbirds puppeteer Mary Turner.
In the episode the drama takes place in a fictional film
studio with Supermarionation influences, where a puppet series called Moon Rangers, which features a
square-jawed hero called Major Rock Renton is being filmed.
Photo: ITV/Radio Times
As a minor point of interest, most Anderson fans will be
aware that in 1969 the last Supermarionation puppet series, The Secret Service had completed filming in January at the Anderson’s
Stirling Road Century 21 studio in Slough.
Endeavour ‘Apollo’
first airs on ITV at 8.00 pm on Sunday, 17th February 2019
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-02-17/endeavour-apollo-moon-rangers-studio-gerry-anderson-thunderbirds-stingray-supermarionation/
Quick update: Well, I watched it, but of course I wouldn't dream of giving the plot away. The puppet scenes are uncannily reminiscent of the earlier A.P. Films series, and there's one or two in- jokes for the Anderson aficionado. The location chosen for the fictional film studio do bear a passing resemblance to the buildings used at Stirling Road in Slough, and a couple of genuine vintage toys can be seen in the studio office sets. Well worth a watch if you like a quality feature-length period crime drama with a little extra added.
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-02-17/endeavour-apollo-moon-rangers-studio-gerry-anderson-thunderbirds-stingray-supermarionation/
Quick update: Well, I watched it, but of course I wouldn't dream of giving the plot away. The puppet scenes are uncannily reminiscent of the earlier A.P. Films series, and there's one or two in- jokes for the Anderson aficionado. The location chosen for the fictional film studio do bear a passing resemblance to the buildings used at Stirling Road in Slough, and a couple of genuine vintage toys can be seen in the studio office sets. Well worth a watch if you like a quality feature-length period crime drama with a little extra added.
Wow! Sounds like a labour of love, very meticulous and true to the Supermarionation tradition, with original crew members involved.
ReplyDeleteSorry to miss this special occasion, hoping we will get to see this episode later on. First impressions, please!
Hi Arto, I don't normally watch these crime dramas but I'll try and catch this and let you know. I believe there's around two minutes of puppet filming in the episode.
ReplyDeleteExcellent episode of 'Endeavour', as ever, and a nice nod to the Century 21 shows.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the butler did it !
Mish.
Ha,ha! Close but no cigar, Mish. Yes, it did feature an affectionate homáge to the Anderson series'.
DeleteThanks for your comments Scoop, 'Endeavour' is shown here in Finland under the title 'Nuori Morse' ('Young Morse') and I'm sure the latest season will be seen later this year. Something to wait for!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear,Arto,well worth a watch.
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