Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons - Captain Black and the Spectrum
Dutch postcard by Gebr. Spanjersberg N.V., Rotterdam. Sent by mail in 1976. Photo: Century 21Ltd., 1968. Publicity picture for Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Pictured here are Captain Black and the Spectrum.
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967), often referred to as Captain Scarlet, is a British science-fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Productions company of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, John Read and Reg Hill. First broadcast on ATV Midlands between September 1967 and May 1968, it has since been transmitted in more than 40 other countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the Netherlands. Combined with scale model special effects, characters are presented as marionette puppets in a filming technique that the Andersons dubbed "Supermarionation", a technology that incorporated internal solenoid motors as a means of producing mouth movements synchronised with pre-recorded dialogue.
Set in 2068, the series charts the hostilities between Earth and a race of Martians known as the Mysterons. After a misunderstanding results in human astronauts obliterating their base, the vengeful Mysterons declare war on Earth, initiating a succession of reprisal attacks that are countered by Spectrum, an international security organisation. Spectrum boasts the remarkable abilities of its top agent, Captain Scarlet, who comes to possess the Mysteron healing power of 'retro-metabolism'. This ability to return to life, even after suffering fatal injuries, essentially makes Scarlet 'indestructible'.
Captain Scarlet, the eighth of ten puppet series that the Andersons produced in the 1950's and 60's, follows Thunderbirds and precedes Joe 90 and the little-seen The Secret Service. In terms of visual aesthetic, the series represents a departure from the style of Thunderbirds due to its use of non-caricatured marionette puppets of realistic bodily proportions. Re-run a number of times on British television and purchased by the BBC in 1993, the 32-episode series has been the foundation of merchandising campaigns since its first appearance, leading to the release of items such as toy dolls and other associated media, including novels, comic strips in the Anderson-related children's magazine, TV Century 21, and postcards.
Captain Black is the fictional nemesis of Captain Scarlet and recurring Mysteron agent in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Actor Francis Matthews gave the captain his voice. 'Captain Black' is a code name; his real name is never revealed in the series, although subsequent publications have given this as Conrad Turner. His transformation from human to Mysteron agent occurs on Mars in the first episode of the series; The Mysterons. Captain Scarlet is indestructible. You are not! Remember this. Do not try to imitate him!
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons - Captain Black and the Spectrum
Dutch postcard by Gebr. Spanjersberg N.V., Rotterdam. Sent by mail in 1976. Photo: Century 21Ltd., 1968. Publicity picture for Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Pictured here are Captain Black and the Spectrum.
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967), often referred to as Captain Scarlet, is a British science-fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Productions company of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, John Read and Reg Hill. First broadcast on ATV Midlands between September 1967 and May 1968, it has since been transmitted in more than 40 other countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the Netherlands. Combined with scale model special effects, characters are presented as marionette puppets in a filming technique that the Andersons dubbed "Supermarionation", a technology that incorporated internal solenoid motors as a means of producing mouth movements synchronised with pre-recorded dialogue.
Set in 2068, the series charts the hostilities between Earth and a race of Martians known as the Mysterons. After a misunderstanding results in human astronauts obliterating their base, the vengeful Mysterons declare war on Earth, initiating a succession of reprisal attacks that are countered by Spectrum, an international security organisation. Spectrum boasts the remarkable abilities of its top agent, Captain Scarlet, who comes to possess the Mysteron healing power of 'retro-metabolism'. This ability to return to life, even after suffering fatal injuries, essentially makes Scarlet 'indestructible'.
Captain Scarlet, the eighth of ten puppet series that the Andersons produced in the 1950's and 60's, follows Thunderbirds and precedes Joe 90 and the little-seen The Secret Service. In terms of visual aesthetic, the series represents a departure from the style of Thunderbirds due to its use of non-caricatured marionette puppets of realistic bodily proportions. Re-run a number of times on British television and purchased by the BBC in 1993, the 32-episode series has been the foundation of merchandising campaigns since its first appearance, leading to the release of items such as toy dolls and other associated media, including novels, comic strips in the Anderson-related children's magazine, TV Century 21, and postcards.
Captain Black is the fictional nemesis of Captain Scarlet and recurring Mysteron agent in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Actor Francis Matthews gave the captain his voice. 'Captain Black' is a code name; his real name is never revealed in the series, although subsequent publications have given this as Conrad Turner. His transformation from human to Mysteron agent occurs on Mars in the first episode of the series; The Mysterons. Captain Scarlet is indestructible. You are not! Remember this. Do not try to imitate him!
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.