COLOUR BEHIND THE SCENES: STINGRAY AND THUNDERBIRDS

Another slice of Gerry Anderson TV behind the scenes on You Tube, this time in colour! Its just fab to see how those mega-talented guys and gals actually did it decades ago. Could we even pull it off nowadays?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8NiazTbLyI

Signals from Space

A recent visit to a local antiques emporium brought me this lovely 1980's radio. Made by Lloytron, it could be tuned by turning the green rocket, which also acts as a switch.

Unfortunately, a previous owner had left batteries in, which had corroded the contacts and some of the circuits. Although, it no longer functions as a radio, I was able to hitch it up to an auxillary line and play cds through the little speaker, with marvellously tinny effect!

 https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/lloytron_amfm_space_radio_n721.html

RETURN TO CROMFORD

 As it's just over two weeks to the third Cromford Mills Sci-fi model and costume display, I thought it's time for a reminder of last year's event.

Models and props from a variety of TV and film shows including Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's series, Blake's 7 and classic Doctor Who can all be seen at this free event .It's also a chance to meet up with fellow fans, and old friends.

Apart from the display, Cromford Mills is a wonderful place of interest in itself, 

Cromford Mills, Mill Road, Matlock, DE4 3RQ

Here's a few photos from Cromford 2021:

Here's my original Cromford Mills post from last year: https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-visit-to-cromford-mills-sci-fi-model.html

Green Garlands and Shady Men

 I'm not generally a fan of Alex Garland's work, 'Sunshine' was pretty dull, 'Annihilation' left me for dead and '28 days later' just seemed endless. I did enjoy his interpretation of Judge Dredd, although some of the scenery and effects could have benefitted from a bigger budget. So it was with some trepidation that I approached his latest opus, the folk horror 'Men'. Had it not been badged a folk horror, I would not have bothered, as I am not a horror film fan as most modern films go way to far in terms of gore and excess.

I had recently watched the 'Green Knight' film, which was excellent and I was hoping for something in a similar vein. The trailer doesn't give much away, but does feature a green man motif, something which I have always been fascinated by from a folklore and mythological basis, so I thought 'Men' might be worth a go.

It opens quite innocuously, with a lady driving into the country, to a pleasant vocal and I
quickly realised that the actress was Jesse Buckley, a singer/actress who had been in the recent BBC drama 'Taboo' with Tom Hardy and directed by Ridley Scott, which was extremely well made.

Buckley plays a young woman who is trying to recover from the recent separation and death of her husband and who has booked herself into a large country house in the middle of nowhere, to gather her thoughts and try to come to terms with recent harrowing events. The scenery is stunning, rolling fields, deep woodland, abandoned railways and derelict buildings. The house itself is like something from a Bronte novel, rambling and secluded, but with modern touches.

Buckley is shown around the house by her landlord, played by Rory Kinnear, to a stereotypical and comedic effect - but whose bumbling country manner also manages to infer a slightly sinister aspect to his personality. After getting settled in, Buckley takes off to explore the surrounding village and woods and get 'back to nature'. Its during this sojourn that she comes across a disused railway tunnel; long and dark and dripping with soakwater. It's at this point that Buckley reminds us of her more primary skill of singing - issuing three flawless notes into the dark, to catch their echo, which she immediately counterpoints with more effortless falsetto. Unfortunately, her curious trilling invites an intruder into her peaceful reverie and a lone figure appears at the end of the tunnel.

From this point, the plot begins its inevitable convolution into the mysterious and ultimately downright weird, as Buckley meets a sucession of characters - all remarkably and very distinctly performed once more by Rory Kinnear. The film is scored by Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow, with a wonderfully eerie, soaring combination of choral and electronic ambience, which wends its way through the film and is somehow reminiscent of Nigel Kneale's 'Stone Tape' era.

Whilst it is not entirely clear how the story eventually resolves, the set pieces and visceral ending are well worth waiting for. Visually impressive and tense throughout, it is carried by the two actors alone, with extremely solid and from Kinnear's standpoint, powerful and versatile performances.

Definitely one to watch with the lights off and the sound up.

PAINT YOUR WAGON

 I saw this on auction earlier in the year and kept the pic. Some of the spacemen and space toys have been painted, possibly by a kid. I think the X's mean they've not been painted.

Did you ever paint your toys?

KEV'S MINI ORAC FROM SCRATCH

Hi,

Just made a scratchbuild replica of the mini Orac from the Blake's 7 episode 'Gambit'. In the episode, whilst Blake searches for information that will aid his revolution, Avon and Vila decide to go and cheat in a casino! They smuggle a shrunken Orac in to help!

Mine does lights and sound.

Safe bet,

Kevin

UK

PUSH THE CARD IN FOR CREDIT POWER!

 

This is odd, the Credit Car racers from 1981. What a strange gimmick, push the card in for credit power! Its certainly nothing I've ever come across, part of the 80's credit boom and yuppiedom I guess.

Do you know the Credit card Racers?

Red Sonja

We're currently watching Red Sonja at Moonbase. A great Sword and Sorcery flick in the tradition of Conan. Arnie makes a few appearances for good measure but it's Brigitte Neilson's show. Seen it a few times and always good fun. I'm convinced the head priest is the Nazi who gets his face melted off in Ark of the Covenant!

Do you like Red Sonja?