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.
