New uniforms, additions to the cast, and the unmentioned disappearance of other cast members propels Moonbase Alpha into its second season. The changes aren’t discussed, and we’re thrown into the new season with a brand new theme and opening credits which introduces new cast member Catherine Schell before her character is even introduced in the…
Tag: 1976
Space: 1999 (1976) -The Testament of Arkadia, and The Last Enemy
The Alphans journey aboard the travelling moon continue this week as we come to the conclusion of the first season with this pair of episodes. Airing on 12 February, 1976, and written by Johnny Byrne this episode embraces that line made famous by the 1978 series Battlestar Galactica – “…life here, began out there…” Luna…
Space: 1999 (1976) – Space Brain, and The Troubled Spirit
A Christopher Penfold script takes us farther out into the universe this week with Moonbase Alpha, in this story that first aired on 29 January, 1976. And in what seems to be a recurring theme throughout the first season, a member of Alpha is taken over by an alien presence, one that is a big…
Space: 1999 (1976) – Ring Around the Moon, and Missing Link
Ring Around the Moon is the first episode up this week, as I continue my travels with Moonbase Alpha. Written by Edward di Lorenzo this story first debuted on 15 January, 1976. A strange yellow energy field has an adverse effect on one of the Alphan techs, as a strange planet pulls it into temporary…
Space: 1999 (1975/1976) – Matter of Life and Death, and Earthbound
Doctor Helena Russell’s (Barbara Bain) presumed dead husband, Lee Russell (Richard Johnson) mysteriously appears on a planet christened Terra Nova in this episode penned by Art Wallace and Johnny Byrne. This one first debuted on 27 November, 1975, and honestly, is a bit of a low point for the first season. It’s obvious that Lee…
Taxi Driver (1976) – Martin Scorsese
Out of all of Scorsese’s work, I think Taxi Driver, the next stop on the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book as I return to the Thriller genre, is my favourite. It also features one of my top performances by Robert De Niro. Much has been said and written about Taxi Driver since…
Children of Dune (1976) – Frank Herbert
Thus week, I returned to the desert planet of Arrakis, also known as Dune. The third book in the series picks up some nine to ten years after the last novel, Dune Messiah. The last novel ended with Paul Atreides, Maud’Dib, wandering into the deep desert in the Fremen tradition of discarding the old and…
Futureworld (1976) – Richard T. Heffron
This sequel to Westworld is the next stop on the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. It sees Yul Brynner returning, ever so briefly, and in the oddest way possible, as the Gunslinger, while two reporters, Chuck (Peter Fonda) and Tracy (Blythe Danner)investigate the strange theme park, Futureworld, after another reporter is killed while trying to get…
King Kong (1976) – John Guillermin
In 1976, Kong returned to the big screen in an American remake as I continue my exploration of Sci-Fi Chronicles. Taking its cue from the Japanese films in the decades since the original film, this film forgoes the miniature route (to its detriment I think) and replaces Kong with a man in a suit,…
Kings of the Road (1976) – Wim Wenders
The next road movie following my viewing of Easy Rider for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this German road film. It definitely falls into the road movie category, but there is a somberness to it, that doesn’t seem to be reflected in its North American counterparts, no matter what…
The Mind Reels 