Which Captain Scarlet: original, new, or live-action?

[Clya Brown]

I never objected to "Scarletinis". Actually, I have a feeling that I may possibly have coined the term in the first place. My daughter affectionately refers to my friends collectively as "the nerd herd", but that isn't really Scarlet-specific (it also refers to my Whovian associates), so we'll discount it as a contender. What do other groups get referred to, apart from the Trekkies (no explanation needed there)? Star Wars fans got "the Jedi" imposed on them as a collective name almost by default, unless there's another one I haven't come across. (Actually, I've just got on Google and found "Binksians", "Padewans" and "Chewbaccae", plus another two or three less affectionate epithets that I shan't repeat.) Fans of the immortal Ed Wood could only be the "Plan Niners", I suspect, while Flash Gordon aficionados would have to be... well, never mind about that one.

Interestingly when I googled "Scarletini" and "Spectrum" I got just the one hit, namely http://www.aap.org/sections/infectdis/ABPExamContent.pdf, in which you'll find the fascinating sentence: "Recognise Arcanobacterium as a cause of pharyngitis with scarletini-form rash predominantly in adolescents, and manage appropriately". Okaaaaay... so what else can we dream up? SPVeepers? Colourcoats? Mysteroni? "Spectrum Shades" was used in TV21 many years ago, but it's a bit long-winded. No - I'll vote for Scarletinis any day.

Sorry - what was the question? Oh yes - which would I prefer out of old, new or live action. Not live action, puh-lease! There's no way it would work. I mean, how would you react if a guy dressed from head to toe in a pink (sorry, magenta) uniform turned up at your door and told you that he was looking for another guy in an identical black uniform, and that he's got a big armoured car-thing with a steering wheel facing backwards outside to drive him off to his base that floats in the sky where a doctor who's really good at curing indestructible people is going to try to make him well again? You'd slam the door in his face and ring the police, right? That's why it wouldn't work: there's just plain too much disbelief to suspend. My feelings about the CGI series are on record elsewhere: basically it was an opportunity lost. I'll just stay with my fond memories of the original, thanks.

[Marion]

Toss you for the creation of 'the Scarletinis', Doc! I remember having a chat with some of our North American chums, who preferred, Scarleteers; but vague memories of Mickey Mouse and his 'mouseketeers' made me decide I didn't like that. I went for Ovaltinis - sorry Scarletinis (which is probably spelt wrong) instead...

scarletini-form rash predominantly in adolescents

Yeah, can relate to that!

[MMK]

Here's a one word reminder before considering a live version - Thunderbirds.

Thats what I was thinking: I like OCS and NCS but if live-action version - if and when there is one - is anything like Thunderbirds, then no, I would not watch it.

how would you react if a guy dressed from head to toe in a pink (sorry, magenta) uniform turned up at your door

It depends on which Spectrum uniform you are talking about... OCS? or NCS? I presume your talking about the OCS version, because technically in NCS he wouldn't be

head to toe in a pink (sorry, magenta)

because they have 'some' black as part of their uniform too...

[Sage]

They do in OCS too; the trousers & tunic are black. And they aren't always wearing their caps. So it's not that bad really.
If anything it was Magenta's sunglasses that damaged his credibility far more than his colour.

[Clya Brown]

Er..... actually yes, he would be head to toe in pink (assuming he was wearing his cap, that is) because his boots are the same colour as his tunic - at least in OCS they were. There'd just be one or two black bits in the middle*, that's all. There's a full-screen shot of him manning the road block in "Heart of New York" which gives a pretty good impression of the overall effect. Now... imagine seeing somebody dressed like that through the frosted glass pane of your front door! Personally, I think I'd be more likely to assume that somebody had come to offer me a free trial of a new washing powder than that they wanted to arrest somebody. (Though either way I'd probably ask him where he got those sunglasses from - they looked rather cool.)

[* No doubt to reduce the likelihood of senior officers giving each other headaches during briefings.]

[Mary Metcalfe]

I find it intriguing that many of you think that the non-colour-coded portion of my son's (original series) uniform is black. If one looks closely it is actually a shade of charcoal-grey. One can especially see this in the case of the uniformed Captain Black in the first series episode and then in every episode after that during the 'credits' where the characters are introduced.

I suppose it is understandable given the quality of television sets at the time the series was originally broadcast, but it is easy to see the difference once one knows to look for it.

And let me tell you how difficult those trousers are to keep clean! I am SO grateful Spectrum have their own laundry facilities...

[MMK]

They do in OCS too

I wasn't too sure about that... the last time I watched OCS was during the 1990's re-run .

But, yes the NCS uniform is partly charcoal-grey... probably to make the black in Black's uniform obvious (amongst other reasons).

imagine seeing somebody dressed like that through the frosted glass pane of your front door!

We (family and I) don't have a frosted glass pane in our door but I can understand what you're saying... we have a 'spy-hole', but would probably have the same/a similar effect.

Back to the subject:
If there ever was a live-action version, I think it would probably be similar to OCS... i.e. they would show the way the characters get to places, the characterisation, relationship between characters, give some sort of an idea of each characters background etc.
(I'm currently studying 'Film Studies')

[Sage]

You should see them, bad fan lol.
Then again I haven't seen all of NCS yet, so hmm.

Oh yes, so it is. Knew it was one or the other, it's hard to tell even on the DVDs.

Very true, but I'm sure they manage.

I like that idea too, of there being more of a background to it. I've just finished a media writing degree, between us we could do the script.

[MMK]

You should see them, bad fan lol.
Then again I haven't seen all of NCS yet, so hmm.

Touche'

I like that idea too, of there being more of a background to it. I've just finished a media writing degree, between us we could do the script.

They'd need to show the action too.
Now, we just need some one for the finance side of things and 'away we go'... not forgetting the actors and actresses, of course ...

[Marion]

Mary Metcalfe said:

I find it intriguing that many of you think that the non-colour-coded portion of my son's (original series) uniform is black. If one looks closely it is actually a shade of charcoal-grey.

I know the dollies that were produced in the 90s have a charcoal-grey one piece (jump) suit under their colour tunics - and I can see that Captain Black's pullover is dark-grey - but, quite honestly, especially in illustrations from comics and photographs, it is hard to tell that they're not black, because they are so dark.


That said, Doc Brown's comment that:

There'd just be one or two black bits in the middle*, that's all

Could refer to the zips and belt, rather than the pullovers and trousers.
With all due respect, Mrs. M, I don't see Spectrum Officers bringing their washing home at weekends either... Although, some of them might well be too 'thrifty' - or too broke because they're paying for the last SPV they crashed - to pay for extra laundry services..

[MMK]

Although, some of them might well be too 'thrifty' - or too broke because they're paying for the last SPV they crashed - to pay for extra laundry services..

I probably know the answer already... but, who? Scarlet? Symphony ?

[Marion]

I was thinking of Scarlet - but Symphony did crash the only SPV we know she ever drove!
Maybe she got let off the first one - after all, she'd been captured by Captain Black, AND lost her medallion - not to mention her Angel Interceptor...
Maybe that's why SHE's always so broke?

Adam, honey, please charge my Spectramart card for me. I haven't eaten for 24 hours - the colonel deducted my monthly payment towards replacing that jet I lost at Culver... I'll pay you back - honest

[MMK]

Whilst talking about SPVs, would it be possible for them to be driven facing backwards (in a live action version)? I mean, the character/actor/actress would have to not be/feel sick whilst driving/being driven around facing backwards. I know someone who does feel sick in that situation.

Sage, we'll have to start a new thread about making a (new) live-action version. Then who ever takes the idea on, will know what to/not to include/do. *thinks of Thunderbirds* All of us will show them how its really done.

[DartBrat701]

Symphony did crash the only SPV we know she ever drove!
Maybe she got let off the first one - after all, she'd been captured by Captain Black, AND lost her medallion - not to mention her Angel Interceptor...
Maybe that's why SHE's always so broke?

Adam, honey, please charge my Spectramart card for me. I haven't eaten for 24 hours - the colonel deducted my monthly payment towards replacing that jet I lost at Culver... I'll pay you back - honest

That's funny, Marion!

Don't forget about the body work on the SPC!!

[Scarlet Lady]

Whilst talking about SPVs, would it be possible for them to be driven facing backwards (in a live action version)? I mean, the character/actor/actress would have to not be/feel sick whilst driving/being driven around facing backwards. I know someone who does feel sick in that situation.

Seeing as travel sickness is caused by an imbalance between what your eyes see and what your balance tells you, I'd imagine most people would become ill whilst driving like that...