Rewind: Martin Landau talks about "Space: 1999"

Here's a portion of my 1994 interview with Martin Landau where we discussed his sci-fi series, "Space: 1999." For more movie and TV trivia, please subscribe to my channel: take2markTV

[@stanswitek]

I hope Martin Landau would be glad to know that Space: 1999 is still enjoyed by many in 2022.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@stanswitek still enjoying it 50 years later. This was my first television Sci-Fi show growing up. Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th century season 1. Star Wars Trilogy. Such great times in the 1970s.

[@Willpower-74205]

2024 now, since I started watching the complete series on DVD. True, it got really weird in the first season, but it's starting to grow on me. Plus, the Moonbase interiors and the Eagle landers were really cool given the time period. 😎👍

[@TheMindverse]

That episode with the Graveyard of Ships still haunts me to this day. In a good way.

[@stanswitek]

@@TheMindverse dragon's Domain!

[@user-il5oq5df6l]

Landau didn't just portray John Koenig, he WAS John Koenig! Rest in peace, Martin.

[@gieselats]

R.I.P. Martin Landau. One of my favorite sci-fi commanders ever. John Koenig. The ninth commander of moonbase alpha. Such a fantastic series. Thanks for the upload.

[@allgood6760]

RIP Martin Landau.. Space 1999 is in my DNA.. thank you 👍🇳🇿

[@aguage99]

Yes, in my DNA too!

[@bhodili-3396]

Sad that Space 1999 only lasted two seasons. It was a Great Show.

[@battlestarmarc]

Good sci fi series that should have lasted longer.

[@operasinger2126]

Perhaps that is also part of the mystique. Fans wanting more!

[@hairyrichardson8921]

However, we're still aware and talking about it decades later ... that's kind of amazing!

[@startorfinish]

the first season could stand alone as an epic miniseries, but I gotta admit the changes they made in the second season really didn't work, because they began to rely more on sci fi instead of the humanist observations of alien life they did in the first season. Still got the intro theme to season 1 in my YT bookmarks, because that never gets old!

[@James-fo4un]

Too bad second season was unwatchable

[@batphink2655]

Martin was a 'Classic Actor' and a gentleman always came across as a class act! RIP!

[@ericipericie]

Loved this show when I was a kid. First season was my favorite, but the second one also had its moments. I didn't like the fact that professor Bergman (Barry Morse) was left out of the second season. He brought an extra quality to it all.

[@batphink2655]

I couldn;t agree more that was a huge thing not to notice.

[@MrMusicbyMartin]

Season 1 was genuinely terrifying, smartly written and it looked beautiful. Season 2 was dumber and jollier, but I did have a monster crush on Maya when I was 10.

[@ericipericie]

@@MrMusicbyMartin She certainly was a foxy lady. Gerry Anderson had a beautiful black girl in mind to play Maya, but the racist American producer didn't like the idea, so it was eventually a white actress. I liked Catherine Schell too.

[@ShireIO]

@@ericipericie Give it a rest mate. Victor Bergman and Catherine Schell had already worked together on "The Adventurer" and had a rapport. She was an excellent choice. And how do you reconcile your little "racist" jab with the fact that Bergman, ya know, a white male, was cut. Race had nothing to do with it bub.

[@ericipericie]

@@ShireIO Bergman quit himself because he wanted to "play with the big kids" as he self told in an interview, so he wasn't fired. But apparently you didn't know that. So......shhhhhhh.

[@wulphstein]

Space 1999 was one of the best science fiction shows out there. Thank you.

[@purefoldnz3070]

worst more like.

[@Mr_Spock512]

Season 2 was ridiculous ... Googly Eyed monsters every week.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@purefoldnz3070 who are you? Fred Frieberger?

[@traceypowers4341]

The show was such a breakthrough at the time! I still watch it regularly in 2023!!! Fantastic

[@purefoldnz3070]

one of the dumbest shows ever made.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@purefoldnz3070 who are you? Fred Frieberger?

[@herby4215]

I had seen the reruns of the show throughout the years It remains inside of you.....God bless Martin

[@tedski69]

My favourite sci-fi show and even nowadays I'll watch every episode in a lazy weekend. RIP to those who are no longer with us.

[@NetTubeUser]

The good news is that the series is on KZbin! Just type "Space: 1999 playlist", and voila! Enjoy!

[@operasinger2126]

Thank you, Martin! RIP.

[@aguage99]

Thanks to Martin Landau for his many magnificent performances. And about Space:1999, loved all my life: Thanks for his John Koenig. Thanks to the whole cast, to Gerry Anderson, to the whole crew. And thanks to you for this video.

[@PurityVendetta]

I couldn't have said it better.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

Such a good actor.

[@battlestarmarc]

Good sci fi series. Eagle ships looked awesome.

[@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882]

Martin Landau’s commentary on Cleopatra is so insightful and reveals anecdotes on such acting greats as Richard Burton. I really enjoyed this short interview segment and his Oscar was long overdue and well deserved. Watch him in Tucker and Crimes and Misdemeanors, he is at the height of his powers there. For me though, it was Space:1999 that I will remember him the most, his performance in ‘Collision Course’ was one of his best performances on the series!

[@aguage99]

For example... Victor, if you're trying to tell me I made the wrong decision, tell me that. If you're trying to tell me that I'm wasting my time trying to reach Alan out there, through that radiation cloud, tell me that. But if you're telling me that you don't think Alan is alive out there... I don't want to hear that!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

R.I.P., Commander Koenig.

[@MrMusicbyMartin]

As I kid I always thought the Koenig character was really stern and businesslike. As an adult, I realise that Martin was playing it in opposition to Captain Kirk’s impulsive man-child. Landau was a great actor - in North By Northwest he’s as sinister as they come, in Ed Wood, lovable and batty, and in Crimes and Misdemeanours, astoundingly human.

[@mdsf01]

It got him an Academy Award for his role in Crimes and Misdemeanors. Wonderful actor...

[@MrMusicbyMartin]

@@mdsf01 Yes well deserved, I think he got one for Ed Wood too

[@mdsf01]

@@MrMusicbyMartin You are correct sir. He did.

[@allenjones3130]

Martin's characterization of John Koenig was a great deal gutsier than Shatner's portrayal of Jim Kirk.

[@rickjohnston2667]

Avery Brooks portrayal ot Sisko on Deep Space Nine reminded me more of Commander Koenig of Moonbase Alpha than Captain Kirk.

[@picassoboy52]

loved the show as a kid and still do......then in 1986 got to see mr landau in person in his off broadway production of dracula at a local theater in washington state.....so glad i got to see him

[@elissouza1844]

Perfect! A gentleman!

[@trevorbrown6654]

I always liked Martin Landau. Not just a good actor but even as a child I was struck by how much he looked like my dad, both in S 1999 and as old men. They also both died just under a year apart.

[@pmafterdark]

Remember as a 10yo when it premiered here in the U.S. Loved the show and Martin on it.

[@brianwalsh7991]

John Koenig forever!

[@tindepapp]

Oh I watched it in Yugoslavia like a child , about 1976-7. And I loved it ,I only remember adoreing Helena . But loved all of if. Now it is so cool watching it on KZbin.

[@petelove9731]

Hi everyone. I just loved Saturday mornings when this was running in the U.K. one thing I wasn’t aware of was that Martin had a business interest in Space 1999. I was under the impression that himself and Barbara Bain hated working on the show. Great clip.

[@richardgregory3684]

The first season, Year One, of the show is brilliant, It has a _very_ unique style ; the Alphans really did feel as though they were lost and adrift in a very large, very strange and mysterious universe. Som eof the episode shad an almost mystical feel about them. Then we got Year Two, which was Americanised rubber monsters and love-interest rubbish.

[@susanpage2522]

I remember watching it in college. Had trouble finding a station to watch it on but once I did I was hooked. Before cable so reception was bad LOL. Agree with the season 1 vs season 2 comparison. Season2 got to be like the monster of the week show. Have read that was due to the producer’s attempt to cater to US audiences. A shame because I think most of us here really liked what season 1 began and would have liked to see that expanded upon. And given us an explanation of what happened to Bergman and the other characters that were suddenly gone. I will say that I did like the season 2 characters being more multidimensional. But the stories and feel of the show was totally different.

[@richardgregory3684]

@@susanpage2522 Year One had, dare I said, a very _british_ style of science fiction. And year two was very _American_. Freiberger came in and decided it had to be "real sci fi" which meant, monsters and lots of "love interest" type stuff. Year one has a very cold, clinical feel about it, an some of the stories delve into the near mystical. One of the series finest moment sis, IMHO, the one in *Black Sun* where Bergman and Koenig enoounter the "cosmic friend" during the transit through the black hole.

[@Turrican60]

Year One = brilliantly British. Year 2 = ruined by Freiberger. A truly unforgivable catastrophe caused by a serial meddler who tried to fix something that wasn't broken.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@richardgregory3684 there were episodes of season 2 I loved. Brian the brain The metamorph The taybor Bringers of Wonder parts 1 & 2 The themes to both seasons 1 & 2 were killer which set the stage on what a sci Fi show should sound like. Imagine if they had stereo television back then!

[@DL30Creations]

Koenig didn't die, he is just running things on Moonbase Alpha with Bergman again a long, long way from home.

[@Turrican60]

Martin Landau was, and still is, one of my more favourite actors of his generation. A very talented man indeed, and iconic as John Koenig in my eyes. Rest peacefully, Martin, and thank you for visiting, and gracing, England's green and pleasant land. You were a truly fine actor.

[@bstafford112]

Thank you Martin for space 1999 and mission impossible Rolland hand.

[@federicoTM]

Great carisma Martin and intense drama classic actor coming from theatre !!! Ps. First season is off course the real one . The second has lost the deep serious screenplay of the first , you still can watch it but just more " a divertisment " !!!

[@user-dh9om1ry8f]

A legend. 👍👍👍👍

[@toddpeterson5904]

Thank you for sharing this. I didn't know he was part owner/creator of the show. I wish there were more season ones. BTW, the watermark is quite annoying

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Alfred Hitchcock said to Landau, "Martin, you have a circus going on inside you ..."

[@stevesgaming7475]

RIP Commander Koenig and Rollin Hand!

[@digipeeper]

Though it was both pitched by Anderson and Landau. It is a fusion of Star Trek and Lost in Space(60s Sci-Fi classics). Of course Star Trek:Voyager attempted to mimic the creativity Space:1999 once was. Overall Season 1 is the best as Johnny Byrne was producing quality drama and money was spent then.

[@user-yt2ur1fp4z]

I still watch the show

[@nsnopper]

While I liked Martin Landau and Barbara Bain as leads, my favourite characters were Victor Bergman (Barry Morse) and Sandra Benes (Zienia Merton). Morse for his cerebral qualities and quiet demeanour (to me, sort of like Spock), and Merton because I was a teen boy and I found her hot. And I still have a thing for her, at least when I watch the series today. Sadly, we lost her a couple of years ago.

[@LearnOffice365]

Great series…

[@iowa_don]

Though Gerry Anderson, who produced the British "UFO" series, said "Space: 1999" was conceived as a direct follow-on from "UFO".

[@Paul_1971]

As a sci-fi kid, Space 1999 scared the sh!te out of me as young'un!

[@KlingonGamerYT]

still waiting for a reboot :(

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@KlingonGamerYT I am waiting for season 3 where professor Bergman and the science team giving the moon warp speed capability on a mission to find earth. You know you are waiting for that episode to emerge!

[@airdriver]

What they should have done was gone with the thirteen episodes that the network wanted and used the remaining thirteen for a second season to be shown the next season. That would have been attractive to the network because the first two season were in the can already.

[@Hal09i]

A little off the mark. The "Space 1999" pilot was filmed in 1973. By that time "Star Trek" was long established as a hit in syndication. The conventions were going strong and there was even an animated series. Also, the involvement and contribution of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson is not even mentioned.

[@dahawk8574]

0:28 - He spouted that with a straight face.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@Hal09i still liked space:1999 better than star trek. Never got into star trek the television series.

[@collegeman1988]

I read a book called Destination: Moonbase Alpha, and in it, the author of that book stated Gerry Anderson and Lew Grade naively assumed they could produce 24 episodes of Space: 1999 and give it to one of the three networks in the United States and they would show it on television during their regular season prime time lineup, which is not how television in America works. Sure, episodes of The Avengers and Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner, which was only 17 episodes and shown on CBS in the summer of 1968 were exceptions to that rule, but American television was only produced by the big three networks. A similar issue happened with Star Trek: The Next Generation when Gene Roddenberry wanted to pitch the new show to a network. CBS greenlit a Star Trek TNG miniseries, followed by an order for 13 episodes of the new series. If TNG were introduced in that format, it most certainly would have failed in the Nielsen ratings and been canceled after less than one season. It was syndication that allowed TNG to limp along for the first two seasons and then blossom into a fantastic show beginning with the third season, which allowed for the creation of DS9, Voyager and Enterprise.

[@danmacneil1895]

I'd at least give a reboot a chance! Eagle scenes alone wouldn't make it fly(get it!) Being serious i was a fan of the original i don't know if it would work!

[@dalethelander3781]

We tried. ITV Global shot it down after two years of development and went with "Thunderbirds Are Go."

[@mikecane]

It's understandable that he has his TV history mixed up. He was busy making TV, not watching it. But ABC had The Avengers and CBS had Danger Man (as Secret Agent) and then The Prisoner in the 1960s, well before 1999 was made. The networks were no stranger to British TV. But by the time of the 1970s, they were rich enough to buy only local productions. Saying they'd air just 13 of 1999 was their way of saying No. The critics lambasted the networks for that because that year had some really bad TV.

[@echozgus]

The new Avengers was a seventies show.

[@mikecane]

@@echozgus That was a reboot. And it went on CBS late night.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

Im still waiting for season 3 - where we see technological advances where the moon can approach warp speeds, thanks to Professor Bergman and the Science Department. You know you want to see that episode !!!

[@Emdee5632]

There is never going to be a Season Three. At best we can hope for a reboot.

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

@@Emdee5632 yes I know. I grew up watching it. One can dream though of what could have been. What will never be.

[@Turrican60]

@@jediknightdiscomike22 I think he missed the point...it must've gone over his head. Fortunately, everyone else will understand what you meant, lol ;-)

[@ih9368]

Where are the missing episodes?

[@dalethelander3781]

I think he meant "The New Avengers."

[@rocanrolafx2179]

For me the two best series in space were always Star Trek in the 60s and Space1999 in the 70s, the rest is well below that level ... Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit ... But, tell me another What do you think they can, overcome them? Hahaha...✨💖✌️

[@wburman63]

Have you seen UFO? Fantastic series.

[@rocanrolafx2179]

@@wburman63 Haha sure!Another Gerry & Sylvia Anderson production....

[@bhodili-3396]

Battlestar Galactica was good, Until it became Galactica 1980.

[@rocanrolafx2179]

@@bhodili-3396True, it was like a movie that they later turned into a series, but then it wasn't that cool anymore...

[@newYorkStories]

2:17 Who were the two American actors?

[@theliberatorszen2916]

"Part owner of the show" - never ever heard either Gerry or Sylvia Anderson mention that nor Lew Grade or being the only show in production in the UK at that time. Someone was blowing his own trumpet and the late Sylvia Anderson said what awful people he and Bain were to work with.

[@gianlucarossi38]

I seem to recall that there is a part of the interview where Martin Landau talks in more detail about some episodes of the first series and that the second series progressively turned into a sort of cartoon such as Mr. Magoo, according to him. But I am no longer able to find it. Do you happen to have it? If so could you upload the full interview?

[@MrDavey2010]

I’d never heard that Landau was a producer. Anderson refers to him as being the hired hand, and certainly not a producer.

[@danielroberts6212]

Star Trek the next generation copied the way Space was syndicated. STTNG also copied some episodes.

[@dalethelander3781]

And UFO before 1999, and Captain Scarlet before UFO, and Thunderbirds before Captain Scarlet...

[@nicholassheffo5723]

Landau meant THE NEW AVENGERS.

[@philmarsh5593]

Interesting but how much of that is anything like true?! A part owner of Space 1999...?!! That's a new one. Dearie me, haha!

[@Duane8472]

He sure got Cary Grant liquored up. 😜

[@mikerochburns4104]

I especially liked the bit (not) where Landau the egomaniac fked over Nick Tate and had his scenes and screen time drastically reduced in season 2.

[@rosetinteddays2605]

Still wondering why it was titled space 1999?...2099 would have been more accurate?

[@echozgus]

Maybe because of 2001 Space Odyssey.

[@richardgregory3684]

Errr..because it's set in the year 1999?

[@rosetinteddays2605]

@@richardgregory3684 Never mind, I don’t think you got the point? I’ll try again… it’s 2023 now,and it’s nothing like that today?

[@nsnopper]

Because in 1975 - 77, the year 2000 (and 1999) still seemed so far away. The last moon landing had been in December 1972. We didn’t know (or even imagine) that we wouldn’t return. We thought it was just a hiatus and we’d be back to establish a permanent base on the moon by the 80s at least. So it seemed a futuristic date. Of course, 1999 is now almost a quarter century behind us - almost ancient history.

[@mr.ree...5390]

Neither Gerry or Sylvia had nice memories of Landau & bain!!( Being prima Donnas!!) & Barry Morse left as he couldn't work with Landau!! ( Who was severely flat footed..!!.. As you'll see..!!) Season 1 is the best!! Season 2 got silly thanx 2 Freddie frieburger!!! ...😉👌

[@analuciatrielli1253]

I believe Gerry and Sylvia were used to working with puppets, and once they had to deal with two professional actors, they saw it as “being divas.” Both were truly experienced and knowledgeable actors and were not about to allow certain things to get out of hand. Many of the writers and directors have commented over the years how much they learned from them.

[@momporto]

Not true about Barry Morse. You're just making stuff up. Look into the real reason.

[@analuciatrielli1253]

@@momporto No, I’m not. I just am able to read and have done so extensively. It’s better than having just one or two biased sources.

[@bethporto3011]

@Analucia Trielli I was replying to Mr.Ree, not you. I totally agreed with what you said!

[@analuciatrielli1253]

@@bethporto3011 Thanks for the clarification. I guess the answer just went to the wrong person. 👍🏻

[@davidcritchley3509]

These showbiz types talk all ways. He was on about the second series of Space 1999 on set. Gushing on set about how it was better than series 1. Later he said the opposite. After others said it wasn't as good. Consistently isn't a strong trait in the acting profession!

[@batphink2655]

Great actor no dobut but they are told what to say by their 'Handlers' just like all the famous musicians pushing the C-vid 'arm spear'

[@kurtb8474]

Personally, I didn't like Space: 1999. I tried to like it, but it just didn't awe me like Star Trek. Him and Barbara and some of the British actors were the only highlights of that show. And the visuals weren't bad. But, story is the most important part of any production and to me it was like watching a high-end version of Lost In Space. Nice visuals, bad stories.

[@adrianb5601]

What’s he taking about? Colors? Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, Alien Bla bla bla all shot in the UK

[@AirwolfArchive]

Martin “The Hand Actor” Landau, lol. Great performer, but with an ego the size of Texas. At least when they were doing “1999”. Too possessive as a leading man. It wasn’t the only “film show in the British Isles” at that time, either. Nor did “The Avengers” come along the year after. That was in the 60’s, for god’s sake. This was the 70’s!

[@Si-ew3ff]

He means the only film show, as in the only TV show shot on 16mm film on film stages for TV that year on the British Isles and next year, when he said Avengers, he meant The New Avengers.

[@AirwolfArchive]

@@Si-ew3ff Like I said...it wasn’t the only one.

[@brainlessspudlogic4875]

@@Si-ew3ff 1999 was shot on 35mm film which was unusual as 16mm was the standard for British TV location work at the time and video in studios.

[@dalethelander3781]

The New Avengers started in 1976 with the characters of Purdey and Gambit taking the place of Mrs. Peel.

[@echozgus]

Well he won an Oscar, no?

[@kadiummusic]

He completely held that series together because pretty much all the other actors (and the script) were dreadful. 😎

[@purefoldnz3070]

one of the dumbest ideas for a show in history.

[@jamesohara4295]

Did STAR MAIDENS never make it to the States?. Also known as Les Filles Du Ciel (France and French Canada) Die Mädchen aus dem Weltraum (Germany). kzbin.info/aero/PLw6gg897HVfsVjD-tYyGP9RbjIsXc_78V