Fireball XL5

Fireball XL5
Genre Action
Adventure
Children's
Science fiction
Created by Gerry Anderson
Sylvia Anderson
Written by Gerry Anderson
Alan Fennell
Anthony Marriott
Dennis Spooner
Directed by Gerry Anderson
David Elliott
Bill Harris
John Kelly
Alan Pattillo
Voices of Gerry Anderson (uncredited)
Sylvia Anderson
John Bluthal
David Graham
Paul Maxwell
Theme music composer Barry Gray
Charles Blackwell (lyrics)
Don Spencer (vocals)
Composer(s) Barry Gray
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 39 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Gerry Anderson
Editor(s) Gordon Davie
Eric Pask
Cinematography John Read
Ian Struthers
Camera setup Single
Running time 25 mins approx. per episode
(excluding advertisements)
Production company(s) AP Films
Distributor ITC Entertainment
Release
Original network ATV
Picture format Black and white
Film (35 mm)
Audio format Mono
Original release 28 October 1962 (1962-10-28) – 27 October 1963 (1963-10-27)
Chronology
Preceded by Supercar
Followed by Stingray

Fireball XL5 is a science fiction themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced from 1962 to 1963 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment, and first transmitted on ATV on Sunday 28 October 1962. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral.

The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls (1960) and Supercar (1961) and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all subsequent Anderson series were produced in colour.

Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC (the National Broadcasting Company) ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965.

A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 due to a number of similarities and settings is Space Patrol (known as Planet Patrol in the U.S.), produced by Gerry Anderson's former business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis.

The complete series is available on DVD in the UK, Australia, Canada and the U.S..

Setting

Set between the years 2062 and 2063, the series featured the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The crew included glamorous Doctor Venus, a doctor of space medicine; middle-aged navigator and engineer Professor Matthew Matic and co-pilot Robert, a transparent anthropomorphic robot who would most commonly proclaim ON-OUR-WAY-HOME.. Robert was the only character in an Anderson series that was actually voiced by Anderson himself, albeit with the aid of an artificial larynx.

In the series, the World Space Patrol is based at Space City, located on an unnamed island in the South Pacific, headed by Commander Zero. Zero is assisted by Lieutenant Ninety. For unspecified reasons the 25-storey T-shaped control tower at Space City rotates; in one episode a character inadvertently makes it rotate fast enough for those inside to suffer from vertigo.

Fireball XL5 patrolled Sector 25 of charted interstellar space (although there only appeared to be three sectors marked on the space chart seen in the Space City control room). The patrols were missions of three months' duration but the ship was also on call when at base.

Fireball XL5 space ship

The patrol space ship Fireball XL5 takes off utilising a mile-long launch rail culminating in a 40-degree incline, or sky ramp, which, as Anderson claimed, was inspired by an old Soviet design, a concept also used in the film When Worlds Collide.

The World Space Patrol apparently operates a fleet of at least thirty 'Fireball XL' ships (an XL30 is referred to in the episode The Firefighters), of which XL5 is the most famous. The ship itself is made up of two detachable sections. A winged nose cone, known as Fireball Junior, contains the cockpit and separates from the main body to land on other worlds. The rest of the ship contains a navigation bay, laboratory, a large lounge, workshops and separate crew quarters, together with fuel and the main rocket motors used for interstellar travel. The main ship generally remains stationed in orbit after arriving at an alien planet. When Fireball XL5 returns to its base on Earth, Space City, the whole ship lands horizontally, without separating, using underside-mounted retro-rockets.

Although the series uses many classic, early 20th-century science fiction themes reminiscent of the space opera of E. E. "Doc" Smith, it was a children's show and not intended to be realistic. Fireball XL5 is portrayed travelling around the galaxy at sub-light speeds (until the episode Faster than Light), and the series observed few of the limitations of known science and rocketry. Viewers were informed that the ship's rocket motors were powered by a 'nutomic reactor' and that XL5 could travel safely at speeds up to 'Space Velocity 7', enabling it to reach the outlying star systems of charted space within a few months. Furthermore, the crew never wore space suits; instead they took "oxygen pills" to survive in the vacuum of space, where they manoeuvred in zero gravity with the aid of thruster packs. 'Neutroni radio' enabled virtually instantaneous communication within the sectors of charted space, and XL5 and her sister ships were fitted with 'gravity activators' that generated artificial gravity fields within them.

Character voices

Regular characters were voiced by Paul Maxwell, Sylvia Anderson, David Graham and John Bluthal. In common with many of the Anderson puppet shows, most of the important characters have American accents, with some notable exceptions: Dr. Venus is French, Jock the engineer is Scottish and some of the aliens have remarkably sedate British accents (e.g. episode 33, the Day the Earth Froze). Language issues between alien races and Earth were rarely encountered as most races appeared to speak perfect English.

Theme song and merchandising

Fireball XL5 had separate opening instrumental theme music and a closing theme song. The closing theme, Fireball, written by Barry Gray and sung by Don Spencer, became a minor hit in Britain. Gray would have a long relationship with the Andersons' productions, writing themes for such series as Thunderbirds and Space: 1999. Don Spencer would become Australia's premier children's entertainer and founder of the Australian Children's Music Foundation. A group, The Flee-Rekkers, produced by Joe Meek, came out with an instrumental version in the style of Telstar.[1]

In addition to the theme song, the series spawned a number of other licensed merchandising spin-offs including toys, an MPC playset with rocket ship and figures, model kits including a plastic kit of Fireball XL5 itself, puppets, ray guns, comic strips and annuals. In Britain, a 2-page black-and-white Fireball XL5 comic strip appeared in the weekly TV Comic between 1962–1964 before moving to the newly launched weekly TV Century 21 comic in January 1965 for another 5 years. The strips that appeared between 1965–1968 were in colour only reverting to black-and-white in 1969. Four hard cover Annual books were published in Britain by Collins between 1963–1966 featuring colour and black and white comic strip and text stories, while in the United States Gold Key Comics printed a single-issue colour comic book in 1963. Little Golden Books published a hard-cover colour illustrated story book in 1964 (later released as 'Fireball XL5 – A Big Television Book' in Britain).

During the mid 1960s there were also three soft cover colouring/puzzle books published in Britain and one soft cover colouring/story book published in the United States.

Home video releases

Like most of Anderson's Supermarionation series, this one was given a "complete series" release in Region 1 by A&E Home Video.[2] A Region 2 version featuring new bonus material was released on DVD in those territories in 2009, superseding a 2004 release with no extras. On 22 October in Region B territories, an individual Blu-ray featuring a colorised version of the episode A Day in the Life of a Space General was released. The disc also includes an episode of Four Feather Falls and an extended version of the Wonderland of Stardust documentary released as a bonus on the Region B box set released earlier in 2009.

Cast of characters

Planets

Many episodes of Fireball XL5 were set on exotic planets:

Episodes

No. Title Directed by[3] Written by[3] Original air date Production
code[3]
1"Planet 46"Gerry AndersonGerry & Sylvia Anderson28 October 1962 (1962-10-28)1
Fireball XL5 intercepts a planetomic (sic) missile sent to destroy Earth. On Planet 46 Steve and Venus are captured by the Subterrains –who promptly launch a second missile, with Venus on board!
2"The Doomed Planet"Alan PattilloAlan Fennell4 November 1962 (1962-11-04)5
The investigation of a flying saucer leads to Steve Zodiac attempting to save a planet which has broken out of its orbit and is on a collision course with another planet.
3"Space Immigrants"Alan PattilloAnthony Marriott11 November 1962 (1962-11-11)8
The Mayflower III, piloted by Venus, is carrying pioneers to a new planet. But the indigenous Lillispatians have objections to their world being colonized!
4"Plant Man From Space"John KellyAnthony Marriott18 November 1962 (1962-11-18)6
Prof. Matic's old friend, Dr. Rootes, attempts to conquer Earth using an invasive species of alien plant life –which promptly runs amok!
5"Spy In Space"Alan PattilloAlan Fennell25 November 1962 (1962-11-25)11
Espionage at a fueling depot, courtesy of that notorious couple, Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy. Venus is held hostage yet again!
6"The Sun Temple"Bill HarrisAlan Fennell2 December 1962 (1962-12-02)7
On Rejusca, Steve and Zoonie must rescue the much-captured Venus from sun worshippers who intend to make a sizzling sacrifice of her to their solar deity.
7"XL5 To H2O"John KellyAlan Fennell9 December 1962 (1962-12-09)12
Fireball responds to an urgent distress call from the last two survivors of a planet menaced by a weird fish man armed with a poisonous smoke gun.
8"Space Pirates"Bill HarrisAnthony Marriott16 December 1962 (1962-12-16)13
The Fireball crew gets entangled in a complicated game of bluff and double bluff in order to outwit a gang of space pirates plundering freighters from the mineral-rich planet Minera.
9"Flying Zodiac"Bill HarrisAnthony Marriott23 December 1962 (1962-12-23)10
Steve nearly falls victim to sabotage at a Space City circus as part of a complicated scheme by Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy to help alien nomads take over Earth.
10"Space Pen"John KellyDennis Spooner30 December 1962 (1962-12-30)15
Posing as criminals, the Fireball crew head for the prison planet Conva in pursuit of two Space City raiders, only to end up in Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy's lethal water chamber!
11"Space Monster"John KellyGerry & Sylvia Anderson6 January 1963 (1963-01-06)9
Zoonie's talent for mimicry gets the Fireball crew out of a tight spot when they investigate the disappearance of the XL2 and find themselves menaced by a space monster.
12"The Last of the Zanadus"Alan PattilloAnthony Marriott13 January 1963 (1963-01-13)14
Zoonie falls sick –a victim of a plot by the evil Kudos, lone inhabitant of the planet Zanadu, to destroy all Lazoons with a deadly virus. Can Fireball XL5 obtain the antidote in time?
13"Planet Of Platonia"David ElliottAlan Fennell20 January 1963 (1963-01-20)3
While bringing the King of the Plantium Planet to Earth for trade talks, the Fireball crew foils a bomb plot by the king's aide, Volvo, to kill his ruler and plunge the two planets into war.
14"The Triads"Alan PattilloAlan Fennell27 January 1963 (1963-01-27)18
Steve, Venus, and Mat encounter Graff and Snaff, a couple of friendly giants, on Triad –a planet three times the size of Earth– and help them in their efforts to explore space.
15"Wings of Danger"David ElliottAlan Fennell3 February 1963 (1963-02-03)17
While investigating strange signals coming from Planet 46, Steve Zodiac is unknowingly poisoned by a robot bird equipped with deadly radium capsules. Swift surgery by Venus saves his life, but the bird is waiting to "pounce" again...
16"Convict in Space"Bill HarrisAlan Fennell10 February 1963 (1963-02-10)16
Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy issue a fake distress call. But this time a convict being transported, not the XL5, is their primary target...
17"Space Vacation"Alan PattilloDennis Spooner17 February 1963 (1963-02-17)22
A well-deserved vacation on the opulent planet of Olympus turns into a frenzied race against time when the crew becomes embroiled in a bizarre interplanetary feud.
18"Flight to Danger"David ElliottAlan Fennell24 February 1963 (1963-02-24)21
To win his astronaut's wings Lt. Ninety must complete a solo orbit of the moon. But disaster strikes when his rocket catches fire, and he is feared lost... or is he?
19"Prisoner on the Lost Planet"Bill HarrisAnthony Marriott3 March 1963 (1963-03-03)20
Answering a distress call from uncharted space, Steve finds himself on a misty planet dominated by a giant smoldering volcano where he meets a beautiful Amazonian exile who threatens to activate said volcano if she is not helped to escape!
20"The Forbidden Planet"David ElliottAnthony Marriott10 March 1963 (1963-03-10)25
Prof. Matic's newest invention, the Ultrascope, obtains the planet Nutopia –never before seen by eyes from Earth, and reputed to be the perfect planet. But Nutopians have an invention of their own... a matter transporter!
21"Robert to the Rescue"Bill HarrisDennis Spooner17 March 1963 (1963-03-17)24
Steve, Mat, and Venus are imprisoned on an unknown world by two Domeheads, Magar and Proton, who propose to wipe their Earth memories and keep them there forever. Before being brainwashed, Steve cleverly orders Robert the Robot to rescue them... with curious results!
22"Dangerous Cargo"John KellyDennis Spooner24 March 1963 (1963-03-24)27
On a mission to destroy an unstable ghost planet, Steve and Mat set explosives in a mineshaft –only to find themselves trapped by the Subterrains!
23"Mystery of the TA2"John KellyDennis Spooner31 March 1963 (1963-03-31)23
When the crew finds the wreck of a spaceship that disappeared decades before, their search for the lost pilot, Col. Denton, leads them to the planet Arctan –where they discover Denton living quite happily as king of the Ice People.
24"Drama at Space City"Alan PattilloAnthony Marriott7 April 1963 (1963-04-07)30
Jonathan Zero's highly unauthorized midnight exploration of Fireball XL5 turns into a terrifying adventure when the ship launches and catches fire!
25"1875"Bill HarrisAnthony Marriott14 April 1963 (1963-04-14)28
Mat Matic's new time machine whisks Steve, Venus and Cmdr. Zero back to the Wild West of 1875, where Steve becomes Sheriff and Venus and Zero are bank robbers!
26"The Granatoid Tanks"Alan PattilloAlan Fennell21 April 1963 (1963-04-21)26
Scientists on a glass-surfaced planet radio for help when they are menaced by six Granatoid tanks. Fireball XL5 responds but is powerless to halt the assault. Fortunately, a stowaway proves to be of unexpected help!
27"The Robot Freighter Mystery"David ElliottAlan Fennell28 April 1963 (1963-04-28)29
Steve Zodiac resorts to subterfuge to prove that an unscrupulous pair of space salvage contractors, the Briggs Brothers, are sabotaging robot supply freighters so that they can pick up the pieces.
28"Whistle for Danger"John KellyDennis Spooner5 May 1963 (1963-05-05)31
A plant disease has wiped out all vegetation on the jungle planet of Floran. The Fireball XL5 explodes an Ellvium bomb to eradicate the disease and restore the plant life –but the inhabitants are suspicious of their motives and imprison Steve, Mat and Venus in a 100-foot-tall (30 m) tower.
29"Trial by Robot"Bill HarrisAlan Fennell12 May 1963 (1963-05-12)36
Robots have vanished from four planets –and the disappearances are linked to visits by a famous robot scientist, Prof. Himber. When Robert also goes missing, Steve and Mat undertake the three-month journey to Planet 82, only to be put on trial by the mad professor –the ruler of his kidnapped robot race!
30"A Day in the Life of a Space General"David ElliottAlan Fennell19 May 1963 (1963-05-19)37
Lt. Ninety is promoted to general, but his erratic command wreaks havoc. A cascading series of disasters reaches its spectacular climax when Fireball XL5 itself crashes into Space City. What a nightmare... which is exactly what the hapless Lt. Ninety is having!
31"Invasion Earth"Alan PattilloDennis Spooner26 May 1963 (1963-05-26)34
A strange cloud hides an invading alien fleet.
32"Faster Than Light"Bill HarrisDennis Spooner2 June 1963 (1963-06-02)32
An out-of-control Fireball breaks the light barrier only to emerge in a sea of air.
33"The Day the Earth Froze"David ElliottAlan Fennell9 June 1963 (1963-06-09)33
Icemen from the planet Zavia deflect the sun's rays, sending the Earth into a deep freeze.
34"The Fire Fighters"John KellyAlan Fennell16 June 1963 (1963-06-16)39
Fireballs are plunging to Earth from a mysterious gas cloud in space. Steve and his crew must contain the cloud before it reaches the atmosphere. Their plan goes smoothly until a technical fault forces Steve to complete the work by hand.
35"Space City Special"Alan PattilloDennis Spooner23 June 1963 (1963-06-23)38
Astronaut of the Year Steve Zodiac needs all his skill to talk Venus down after she takes over the controls of a supersonic airliner whose pilot has been sent into a trance by Subterrains.
36"Ghosts of Space"John KellyAlan Fennell6 October 1963 (1963-10-06)35
Steve and a geologist attempt to solve the manifold mysteries of the seemingly deserted planet Electron, which is replete with electric rocks and weird, poltergeist-like happenings.
37"Hypnotic Sphere"Alan PattilloAlan Fennell13 October 1963 (1963-10-13)2
Robert the Robot saves the day when the rest of the crew is thrown into a trance by a hypnotic sphere which has been spacejacking freighters.
38"Sabotage"John KellyAnthony Marriott20 October 1963 (1963-10-20)19
A neutroni bomb (sic) is planted on board the XL5 and the crew is kidnapped.
39"Space Magnet"Bill HarrisAnthony Marriott27 October 1963 (1963-10-27)4
The Solars have their own use for our Moon.

Translations

See also

References

  1. http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/flee-rekkers.htm
  2. Amazon.com – Fireball XL5 – The Complete Series (1963)
  3. 1 2 3 Bentley, Chris (2008) [2001]. The Complete Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Episode Guide (4 ed.). Richmond, London: Reynolds and Hearn. ISBN 978-1-905287-74-1.

External links

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