As most fans
are aware, this was Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s first Sci-Fi feature film.
The
Andersons’ were keen to move away from programmes aimed at children and wanted
to write and produce a film dealing with adult themes.
The film’s
central premise of a mirror image Earth on the other side of The Sun would take
the viewer on a thrill-a-minute space adventure – or so the press-book
proclaimed.
The original
idea was originally intended as a television hour long special, however after
several re-writes it eventually developed into a movie script.
The final
result was very glossy, with some excellent special effects, especially the spectacular
Sunprobe/Pheonix rocket take off. For added realism this was filmed under God’s own sky, in the
Century 21 slough studios’ car park.
The rocket miniature,
which was based on the Saturn V, was six feet tall, and during filming
unexpectedly burst into flames and had to be completely rebuilt.
Unfortunately,
a similar thing happened to the full size Dove module which was made at the
Slough studios intended to be used for live action filming. However, this was
refused entry at Pinewood as it didn’t meet with union rulings. The original
was utterly destroyed and a brand new one was built by the Pinewood carpenters.
Ultimately, regardless
of its very high production values, the film was a flop. The adult themes had
been all but edited out leaving plot threads that lead nowhere, and generally the
characters came across as somewhat stiff and clichéd.
Another
disappointment was a lack of officially released merchandise at the time of release, not even the usual paperback spin- off as far as I’m aware.
There are
F.O.H. stills about, and various film posters from around the world. I've got the UK press-book which I found at a
film mart well after the film’s original release, but in my opinion that's no substitute for
a Phoenix friction drive toy or a Dinky Dove.
I guess by
the time film was released in 1969 Century 21 Toys was all but gone, and maybe the perceived
adult nature of the film might have put some of the usual licence merchandisers
off. Whatever the reason official toys, models and books just didn't appear.
The Century
21 Project SWORD Cape Kennedy play set would certainly have substituted for the
Sun probe/Phoenix Rocket and the SWORD Space Glider could stand in for the Dove
I suppose.
Nowadays, there are a
limited number of contemporary items around. For the ultimate collector who wants something exclusive, here's an original prop that unfortunately didn't make it to the final edit of the film.
There’s one or two limited
edition resin garage kits and scratch-built models around, although I can’t say whether they’re officially licensed or not. This excellent one below was built by Richard Ashton, based on a kit by Mamas Pitsillis.
The standard
UK DVD and Blu-ray releases. There is also a deluxe Australian release
Fanderson do several good quality items, only
available to members, of course. There
is a badge and a patch of the EUROSEC logo, including a mirrored version.
Fanderson
have also released an excellent soundtrack CD.
Doppelganger
is generally considered to be the precursor for the Anderson’s live action TV
series, UFO, which reused props, music and footage from the film, as well as
several of the actors. Several pieces of made up ephemera were given free to attendees of the SHADO Con 2 convention which as part of the event screened the alternative title sequence of Doppelganger, with featured Ian Hendry's name on screen before Roy Thinnes. In the UK pressbook there are notes which state that if any other star appears, Ian Hendry must appear in same size and prominence. The convention also showed a HD version of Journey to the Far Side of the Sun on the big screen.
And finally, John Kane's resignation letter.
P.S. A letterhead with the EUROSEC logo can be seen in the opening episode of The Persuaders!'Overture'.
I think you have clarified some of the reasons which made me dislike Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (as it was known here in the US) so much. And believe me, I really tried to like it! I even lost a friend over my harsh opinion of the film. The thought of a big-budget, live-action blockbuster Sci-Fi adventure from the team of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson seemed almost too good to be true - and alas, it was. Now remember, I was freshly in awe of the possibilities of big-screen Supermaroination, having just recently seen Thunderbirds Are Go for a second time on the big screen. So when the Century 21 logo came on the screen with JTTFSOTS, my heart skipped a beat. Yet by the end of the film, I was almost in tears. I think alot of the problem was that it tried to be two things at once - a fantastic sci-fi adventure, and a serious, thoughful adult melodrama. The two themes never gelled, for me, at least. (And apparently for the movie audience in general). And the thing I was anticipating the most - those magnificent special effects - were to me, sorely lacking too. Even the much-beloved rocket launch sequence fell flat for me, because it was a model launch of a very pedestrian "realistic" Saturn V-style rocketship, something you could see in any number of other Hollywood SF movies of the day, or in NASA stock footage, for that matter. It just wasn't "fantastic," and "fantastic" is what you expect from the Supermarionation team. Compare the boring (but authentic!) rocket here to the glorious (but utterly impossible!) Zero-X: no contest! Other effects, such as the rocket sled, were promising, but used so sparingly as to be almost invisible. There were a couple souped-up life-size motor vehicles, but, eh... As for the actors, Roy Thinnes is about as dull or bland a protagonist as one could imagine, and he really brought the film down a great deal, IMHO. And the film's ending, to me, was a real-cop-out, and somewhat confusing as well. Personally, I think JTTFSOTS is where Gerry and Sylvia really "jumped the shark." I can't blame them - they were destined to do greater things that little children's "puppet shows," but what they didn't realize is that it was those little children's "puppet shows" which became the iconic legends of 1960s Television. It is their legacy, and an august one at that. This attempt by the Andersons to "grow up" or "go big" showed them stretching their resources, and dreams, a bit too thin, and they fell flat on their faces, critically (and financially appaarently). I wish I was one of those Anderson fans who adored every single thing they did unequivocally, but alas, I am not, which is why I will NEVER call myself a "Fanderson" (And I know for a fact that the feeling is mutual!) Really, only U.F.O. interested me in the least after this point - I can take or leave Space:1999 as well. But thankfully, we will always have the glorious golden age of Supermarionation to enjoy, to remind us that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were true pioneers of British Televison, and no latter-day flops can take that reputation away from them.
ReplyDeletePlenty of fair points there, Zig. I certainly agree with you about Roy Thinnes. I was never a fan of his series,The Invaders.I think there's quite a few redeeming aspects to JTTFSOTS, but sadly not enough to have saved it. Like you I'm not happy with the ending,as you say a cop out, and trying to do a lazy version of 2001.
DeleteI watched this film again on DVD a few nights ago, having seen it decades ago on TV. I thought it was a great film, with wonderful effects, and I really liked the rocket launch. It would have been nice to have seen more of the models, and the vehicles. Roy Thinnes was not that awful. Despite his prominence in the credits, Ian Hendry spends the second half of the film either unconscious in hospital, or dead, one would have expected more of his character given his addition to the mission in the first half. It was fun to see so many familiar faces in the film, mainly from UFO (which was later), and Nicholas Courtney from Doctor Who in a tiny role.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few things I would like to point out. At the beginning of the movie, there is a large rocket sitting on the desk of EUROSEC Director Jason Webb - the top lifts off, showing it to be a cigar holder. Very nice. The shuttle craft in which Roy Thinnes returns to his ship Phoenix is named Doppelganger - with the name written Earth style, rather than in reverse, Far Side style. It is interesting that the Australian Day Bill movie poster gives the film a classification of For General Exhibition. This was the Australian equivalent of a British U Certificate, while in Britain it had an A Certificate, meaning (at the time of its release) those under 16 had to have an adult escort to see it. The rules were changed in 1970, and in the early 1980s A was renamed PG, which is the rating on my DVD.
It is not Thunderbirds, but it is still a good movie. I do agree the ending makes no sense, and is a let down. It is still far better, and makes more sense, than 2001.
It is odd there was so little in the way of collectables, you would expect a paperback with a photo cover at the very least. The only thing I have is the DVD, and the only extra on it is the trailer.
Thanks for your comment,Paul. Well, while opinions on it do divide some fans it's still a good watch, and a welcome addition to the Anderson live action stable.
DeleteYou mentioned the Doppelganger name on the Dove, I believe some cinemas showed a 'flipped'version of that scene in the film at the time. I don't know how true that is, but I have a memory of seeing the name 'Doppelganger' reversed on the Dove. Of course it all depends which of the two Earths we were supposed to be in, ours or the alternative. I haven't seen the full version of the UK 'Doppelganger' titled one for years, maybe I'm thinking of that.
The DVD I have is the British version shown above, with the title Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, and both British and Irish film classification symbols in the lower right hand corner, both of which are PG.
ReplyDeleteThis version of the film has the Dove named Doppelganger, written Earth style. One of the ground crew remarks on it being in reverse, so to him Earth style is wrong, meaning that the film is taking place on the Far Side version of Earth.
Actually, I liked The Invaders, and have both seasons of it on DVD, in a box somewhere.
The British DVD is the same as the U.S. version, Paul as far as I know , and that's what is generally shown. There's an Australian DVD which has both versions,with the alternative titles which I don't have. Apart from my distant memory I've only recently seen the Doppelganger titles with Ian Hendry's name before Roy Thinnes. I understand that Fanderson have the alternative version too.
DeleteObviously,if parts of the film are flopped it wouldn't affect the dialogue.