THUNDERBIRDS UNSEEN: The Making of a TV Classic (2024 Documentary)

Anything Can Happen in the Next (half) Hour! We're heading behind the scenes of Thunderbirds like never before with a series of documentary videos which open up the archives to uncover secrets hidden in unearthed footage, original scripts, interviews and other rare items. Join co-creator Gerry Anderson, director David Lane, and historian Stephen La Rivière as we investigate the true story of the series' production with the help of newly discovered 35mm film that has been unseen for 60 years!
Despite all of the books, interviews, and documentaries that have been released over the years, the story behind the making of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic Supermarionation series remains a murky one. This is partly due to a decision early on in its creation - when several episodes had already been shot to fill a 25 minute slot - to extend the series to one hour. It's a familiar story... but it may not be the full story. How exactly did they achieve this?
Thunderbirds was one of the biggest shows of the 1960s… and the 1990s… and the 2000s… and yet despite all the interviews with its cast and crew, the story of its production remains a murky one. This is due to a decision early on in its production - when several episodes had been shot to fill a 25 minute slot - to extend the series to one hour.
To figure it out, we will be drawing on not just interviews with the cast and crew, but from surviving material ranging from surviving scripts and musical scores, to original rushes material digitised for the first time in 4k!
Explore this cult tv show like never before...
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About Us:
About Me:
Century 21 Films Ltd is a multi-faceted production company whose work spans drama to documentary, miniature effects to puppet shows. It was founded by a group of filmmakers who first collaborated on Filmed in Supermarionation, the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's hit puppet shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet.
Since then, we have worked for a multitude of high-profile clients including ITV, BBC, Mammoth Productions, British Film Institute and the Halifax working on projects such Thunderbirds, Endeavour, Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.
In addition to our regular filmmaking services, we specialise in ‘Supermarionation’ - the puppetry filming technique used to make shows like Thunderbirds and have collaborated with ITV repeatedly to provide specialised services. Our work has been featured on The One Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, ITV News and Mastermind.
#filmedinsupermarionation #thunderbirds #century21films

[@brentwestbrook]

I'm 64 now and this has been a feature in my life for almost 60 of them. Grateful for the entertainment and also being Scott in Thunderbirds play.

[@Heavy-Metal-Spike]

Snap on the age & "feature" 🙂

[@dejesteel262]

Thunder birds is by far the best shows I've seen as both a child and an adult. I love them all and never get tired of watching them.

[@maga9571]

Im 62 now, and I never missed an episode. I loved that show.

[@moonbear1st]

these were gods of model making and filming in the age it was. with the tools they had and the pressure they was under..thankyou for all gerry anderson shows that made my life golden and still do....

[@glenncooney3959]

It’s absolutely amazing to see how these tapes have survived so well for almost six decades. Fantastic work and kudos to everyone for sharing this.

[@brianfretwell3886]

They aren't tapes, they are cine films.

[@adriangregg9147]

if not played to death, Film (not tape) could last 100 years!! as you can see on this one the colour is turning we call it. red. Ive thrown away a lot of my films when they get bright red

[@brianfretwell3886]

@@adriangregg9147 If they were acetate or tri-acetate bases fillm at least you got rid of them before vinegar syndrome (the turning of the acetate to acetic acid) took hold.

[@jeffholt9437]

Wonder if the same shed had a copy of "London After Midnight"....😊😊😊

[@Comfortzone99]

Considering one of the canisters themselves is breaking up with corrosion.But steel is probably the best way to contain them as plastic has its own problems sometimes causing chemical reactions to the stored print if it is air tight.

[@edramirez1240]

It was one of the GREATEST TV shows ever!

[@jillyb9995]

Man i absolutely loved Thunderbirds when i was growing up. I'm 65 now and I could quite happily still sit and watch it today😊 Everything about it was wonderful...puppetry, sets, modelling, voices, characterisation, thrills, spills and humour. And what about the music! With Thunderbirds of course we were gifted that fantastic theme tune to get our juices flowing but the music throughout was always brilliant. From enhancing scenes containing the mysterious Hood in his lair to making us chuckle whenever there was a comedy scene (usually involving Parker😂) the tone was always perfect. Ah, happy days, sigh🥰

[@grahamhume5953]

I am 61 and I still fly my Thunderbird 2 around when I rewatch them. I always wanted Thunderbird 3 to go on a mission with Fireball XL5 or Stingray to go on a rescue with Thunderbird 4.

[@25mileswest86]

Completely agree.! The music, the music.!! So crucial to everything on screen. Barry Gray was a genius; you just know he had such a love for what he did. The 'high-action' portrayed was (lets face it) hardly anything - but it just never mattered. Because, it was the soundtrack that 'created/built' all the drama in our imaginations. I was always so gripped with the storytelling, because of the music, propelling it all along. The tone of 'lighter' moments, as you say. Romantic moments, LadyP's soundtrack, 'danger' soundtrack', Tin-Tin and Alan's frolicking poolside. He could be subtle, he was insightful, gently letting us kids watching, be swept along with exactly the right moods or personality 'cues', before we knew anything really of teenage/adult emotions... I mean, I'd so love to see a whole documentary dedicated to him and his VITAL contribution to every episode - and throughout the Anderson 'supermarionation' era..

[@hrrproductions553]

Man, "Thunderbirds" is one of my all time favorite franchises AND I always love the styles and model work that Gerry Anderson and his team put into the production! 😁😉👍

[@clivestuarteardley6049]

Almost the 60th Anniversary. I will definitely be watching this closely

[@Miru_Man]

Wow I don't think I've ever seen a Thunderbirds deleted scene before, that's awesome!!

[@PearTreePal1972]

Absolutely FABulous!

[@sjh-video]

The footage from Trapped In The Sky is phenomenal, even viewed on an iPad Mini. At the age of 63, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen the episode, but I had never noticed the disguise masks the Hood used around Kyrano’s statue until now. Thank you so much for sharing it.

[@MLeoDaalder]

I don't think I ever noticed the rotating carousel of faces for The Hood on TV...

[@shawcdb]

Nor me!!!

[@minicle426]

Oddly I have. But then I completely forgot about that.

[@jackmessent3490]

FAB documentary! Really looking forward to the next installment.

[@johnclay7644]

John read and the other lighting crew worked very hard back then, credit to the editors for making the extended episodes seamless. the rushes would be very interesting to see informative documentary.

[@mdsf01]

60 and still loving this! My favorite show growing up. Even to this day, my favorite number is the number 2 because I loved Virgil's ship. So proud to have backed the Kickstarter for the 3 episodes. :)

[@DeathStar1977]

Just so amazing! I'm looking so forward to seeing more of this in action.

[@RichardBeing]

Watching the opening scene in such pristine condition with Lord Grade's first words to Gerry Anderson in mind, you can really see why he reacted the way he did. The beauty of the sets, the camera movement, even something like the way the beaded curtains sway as they part to reveal the statue of Kyrano -- it's at another level visually from what you'd consider "just a tv show" in the Sixties. Or even today! As presented here, it genuinely looks cinematic.

[@century21films28]

We had the same thought!

[@dejesteel262]

I wish I could purchase the entire series.

[@johnny5805]

The flames on that 4K print look like you could reach out and touch them !!

[@ianprescott4260]

What a marvellous journey of discovery you are on Stephen (and team). That’s a great introduction, really cleverly edited. As a footnote I had never noticed The Hood’s masks rotating beneath Kyrano’s statue before!

[@tonysworkbench6070]

Transfers of these found reels would be an incredible bonus for a 60th Anniversary Blu-ray Special Edition Collection set! ;)

[@merlin5476]

Brilliant work , far better than any of the modern pixar shows of today.

[@Heavy-Metal-Spike]

Brilliant/awesome! - really looking forward to the rest of the episodes.

[@IanJackln-cw5ym]

I hope the recently discovered prints have the original colour advert break bumpers also I hope that you find the serialized versions. Circa 1968

[@Dave_Cymru]

The phrase, "Anything can happen in the next half hour!" is from STINGRAY! However, this film is really bringing back childhood memories, as Thunderbirds was so far advanced of its years; If only the future now the past, could have developed some of the machines used by TB, with the sincerity of life that accompanied this awesome show!

[@century21films28]

@@Dave_Cymru Funnily enough, we know where the phrase comes from.

[@pascallefevre1148]

That's simply AMAZING 🤯🤯🤯 Thank you sooooo much !!

[@Dougurasufilm]

I'm really wondering if they made the pilot as a two-parter then? Cause obviously the other episodes had to be padded to make them hour long episodes... You really got me curious with that remark that the pilot always was half an hour long. I have tried to make a half hour version... potentially it's possible I think.

[@FIREBRAND38]

I'm 65 so this really hits me where I live. Thanks for this upcoming series. From the USA.

[@crazyjedi5994]

What a great find! Keep it up!

[@nigeldewallens1115]

oh! I was transported right back to my first house with my parents, watching an old fashioned Black and white Tube TV in England! That was a real blast from the past! I was the then remote control that turned the TV over too 😉🤣🤣

[@lukegreen5341]

0:04 Awesome Behind The Scenes Look About Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds The Original Series. Thanks Mate. X❤😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂

[@gillianabbott760]

Lucky enough to live near the studios where these were filmed.

[@jeffholt9437]

Lucky enough to live in Slough Gillian? Wow, I don't anyone has ever said that before?!! 😊 Having said that, many's the time I wished that I had lived just over the back of the studios or that my dad had been delivering there when they were clearing out all the props - I reckon that Fanderson should organise a house to house search in the area....!

[@KarelBata]

It was so much of it's time - that sense of optimism, of selfeless do-goodery before 70s cynicism set in, of technology that would create a better world. I'm convinced it made us better people.

[@florianfranken]

This is all very exciting to see! 🎉 F-A-B

[@jeffholt9437]

Tutankhamen? Ark of the Covenant? The Rosewell saucer? Tosh ! This is real history / archaeology!!!

[@iandeeley9033]

This looks really good! FAB!

[@thedesolateone8260]

So cool 😎 🚀

[@ben2692]

What film stock did the studio used. Considering the age and storage conditions they've survived amazingly. I repair and transfer 8mm film as a bit of a hobby and some brands like AGFA and prinz just go to Red over time and are hardly watchable in some cases. Kodachrome on the other hand still looks bright and fresh everytime.

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Im American and only discovered this weird ass show via the band the swell maps.

[@dags1965]

can wait to see the show transferred to 4K from these found prints...

[@mikeonfreeserve2926]

Strings, dear boy, strings. Careful what you wish for 😮

[@jeffholt9437]

​@@mikeonfreeserve2926OK- 4k with a bit of digital editing....

[@mikesilva3868]

Great 😊

[@richfish101]

That’s interesting that you’ve scanned the entire film showing the sprockets and soundtrack - is there a technical reason or is it just to show everything? I used to operate Telecine machines and never transferred film in this way 😁

[@aobadger]

Not that I'm involved in this project, but in the 2010s there was a switch towards using "optical stabilisation" rather than using a pin or just the sprockets physcially for the registration and to be kinder to the film by having the scanner make as little physical contact as possible. It's now more common for the scanners to register the image based upon the sprockets holes via software in the scanner image processing system, hence wider apertures on the film gates, equally having it visible can aid the film restoration process if needed later on. Some softwares also can now use the image of the optical track and extract the waveform rather than putiing it through an optical head. Also just a bit of a different way the files are now used in the file world vs the vidoe tape world. I would imagine in this case it is more to do with curiosity of seeing the parts of the image that would not usually be seen.

[@grahamhume5953]

Why didn't it occur to Gerry Anderson for Thunderbird 3 and Fireball XL5 to go on a mission together, or for Stingray and Thunderbird 4 to go on a rescue, together?

[@highpath4776]

The years they were set in.

[@danielvanmourik]

wish te serie is coming back on tv

[@RichyJVideos]

ssshhhh 😏😏

[@jeffholt9437]

They've been showing all the main puppet series on the Talking Pictures TV channel here in the UK (Currently Captain Scarlet) - great to see it back on TV but a shame it's not one of the main terrestrial channels as, unlike previous reruns, no merchandise is being produced.....

[@grahamhume5953]

Does anybody know who did the voice for The Hood?

[@16e57]

Ray Barrett.

[@jeffholt9437]

​@@16e57I f*****g loved his sweet cigarettes - especially with the UFO cards inside! 😊😊😊

[@Nigelpreece]

Even if the 25 minute prints don't exist anymore, maybe we can find out from this newly acquired material just what EXACTLY was added to Trapped in the Sky. For example, did we see the full launches of both Thunderbirds. These questions I hope can be answered.

[@century21films28]

There probably never were 25 minute prints. Certainly nothing more than rough cuts.

[@Frank_Nemo]

Although I really enjoyed Thunderbirds, I reckon I must have been a very cynical child. I remember when an episode started, this dramatic voice shouting 'ANYTHING can happen in the next half hour!!!' and every time me shouting back at the TV, 'So how come it never does, eh?' I suppose I was taking the meaning of 'anything' a bit too literally.

[@pisynth3784]

"Anything can happen in the next half hour" was of course Stingray, not Thunderbirds. And Stingray was frigging awesome. Mind you I was only 5 at the time ...

[@Frank_Nemo]

@@pisynth3784 Yep, I was about that age. Guess I must have watched Stingray as well.

[@mikeonfreeserve2926]

Oh dear. 😮

[@minicle426]

"So long as it involves water"

[@jeffholt9437]

When I was in middle school I pointed out that it wasn't the real Father Christmas who was visiting as his belt buckle was made of silver foil. I didn't get a present that year. I guess that both of our lives were ruined by our respective cynicisms.....

[@stevesmith3732]

I can’t remember anything about thunderbirds after 1969, sorry