21 September 2021

Review: Thunderbirds Are Go / Thunderbird 6

DVD: Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) Thunderbird 6 (1968)

For people of a certain age (myself included), the words “Filmed in Supermarionation” appearing on your screen meant that something very special was about to begin.

Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, along with the rest of the team at AP Films, thrilled me with Supercar , Fireball XL5, Stingray, and of course Thunderbirds. So I was delighted to see that Fabulous Films have released the 2 Thunderbirds movies (Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6), complete with some fantastic special features, for a whole new generation to enjoy…along with us parents/grandparents too of course.

Both films focus on ‘International Rescue’; a team of people (the Tracy family plus their associates) who utilise their spectacular arsenal of vehicles to save people worldwide…and sometimes further still! All done while accompanied by a bombastic soundtrack, puppets on strings for actors, and visual effects that you can’t help but love…though the inclusion of real life hands when it goes to close-ups still unnerves me a little.

The narrative of each film (and every episode of the TV show) is basically the same: people are in peril and International Rescue are sent to save them.

It’s not the storylines that keep you glued to the TV though, it is the way that they are presented. Puppets are brought to life by great voice acting and costumes, while the action is heightened by inventive camera work and lots of in-camera effects…plus a fair old dose of explosions too.

Thunderbirds Are Go also has the added bonus of a scene with the puppet versions of Cliff Richard and The Shadows performing a song…honestly! Cliff even reappears (in disguise) in Thunderbird 6…see if you can spot him!

These are 2 films that I absolutely adore, and having them accompanied by a slew of informative and entertaining special features means that they will be a permanent fixture in my collection.

Make them comfortable in your collection too.

Thunderbirds Are Go Special Features:

Gerry Anderson’s Countdown to Thunderbirds – all new 2015 production interviews and facts (15 minutes)
Entertainment is Go – the making of Thunderbirds (21 minutes)
Audio Commentary with Producer Slyvia Anderson and Director David Lane
Isolated Score track
Cliff Richard and The Shadows unseen test footage
History and Appeal
Factory of Dolls and Rockets
Epics in Miniature
Photo Gallery
Come with me to the rushes
What does F.A.B mean?
Original UK Theatrical Trailer

Thunderbird 6 Special Features: