Captain Scarlet compilation movies

by **Ziggy Shadow-Dust** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:19 pm

First topic this. Don't know how this will turn out.

This thread is about the two Captain Scarlet compilation movies; Captain Scarlet vs. The Mysterons and Revenge Of The Mysterons From Mars. Two ITC productions which took 4 episodes from the series, put them into one big episode. Add extra music cues (including a spooky space music heard 5 times in the first movie and 3 times in the second. I mentioned that because I love it :-D

) then they add new visuals like those lasers in plase of missiles along with new sound effects. Personally I really like those two movies. Although others personally hate them.

Have your say.
Ziggy Shadow-Dust

by **Kambei** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:33 pm

I have both of these tapes. I have to say that I screamed with happiness when they released the episodes in proper episodic format on the DVDs. The laser effects were an inprovement, though. But some of the music was very badly dubbed over, and was far too loud in places. I was watching them the other day.

by **Mary** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:21 pm

I was VERY pleased to find out the tapes were available, back in... oh, what? the late 80s/early 90s? because other than watching the original series on an independent TV station after school in the early 70s there was absolutely NOTHING ELSE on this side of the pond all those years. Yes, they were put together rather clumsily, but they do have their moments. My favorite is in the beginning, after Scarlet's reconstruction, when he is on Cloudbase...

White: You're a very lucky man, Captain Scarlet.
(OMINOUS MUSICAL CHORD as camera focuses on Mysteronized Scarlet)

I thought that one was right on the money. Some of the other differences, though, are cringe-worthy.

by **Kinggodzillak** » Fri May 19, 2006 11:30 am

I liked these at the time, and I still like them now. In particular I love the extra music - especially in scenes where nothing at all is happening, and yet chase music is playing. Also, when Green is trying to contact Rhapsody just after she gets killed, they added this sound effect which sounds...well, empty. It really added to the scene.

The lasers...didn't see the point, but they weren't too distracting.

Title sequences - cheap and cheesy, but great at the same time.

A few good cuts - much of Seek and Destroy, the bizarre 'Scarlet and White nearly snog' scene, and White ordering Scarlet and co to go to Lunarville 7..."on the Moon!"

The threat sequences were often played against generic spaceshots, although the sound effects would still be there, so you would still hear Colonel White's desk turn, and that owl hooting out in deep space...

Good choice of episodes...although personally, I'd swap Shadow of Fear and Attack on Cloudbase to the other film.

Attack on Cloudbase's ending...hmm. Part of me likes it, part of me says it's better than 'It was all a dream'...but it still isn't very satisfying...

by **Kinggodzillak** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:44 pm

I finally picked up these films on proper video this week (as opposed to old versions that were copied for me). I'd forgotten just how bizarrely edited Captain Scarlet vs the Mysterons is. Just a few points that struck me as odd...not cuts, just other odd things...

The Mysteron threat from Winged Assassin is made over the scene where the sniper tries to kill the Director General. In fact, it looks like they've woken him up, and he's lying in bed listening to their threat. Then Captain Grey arrives on the scene all of one second after the Mysterons have stopped talking and blows the sniper away. He's fast, that one.

Fawn having Destiny identify Scarlet's body is moved to the end of Winged Assassin, rather than being left at the end of the first episode. Why do they need to ID him at that point? Also, his face is suddenly covered with bruises from the fall from the Car-Vu, whereas at the end of Assassin he'd just cracked his head open.

Symphony is seen being recalled to Cloudbase at the end of Seek and Destroy - an episode that she doesn't even appear in - in order to provide a link to Attack on Cloudbase. This gives the impression that either the Sahara desert is located just outside of Paris, or that she's gotten herself lost.

by **shaqui** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:55 pm

Like Mary I was quite overjoyed when these came out, even though they were re-issued by Channel 5 as ITV in the UK were getting round to showing the series the first time in over 10 years (i.e. around 1985/86). I got 'Revenge' before the regions I was in got round to showing those four, so it was good to see them all in one go, and interesting to see what was cut when the originals finally rolled round!

:grin: