Thunderbirds ( Ford Thunderbird FAB-1 ) 1964
Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds is a 1960s British science-fiction television series, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, made by their production company AP Films, and distributed by ITC Entertainment. Filmed between 1964 and 1966, it was produced using marionette puppetry interwoven with scale-model special effects sequences, in the form of a mixed technique dubbed ‘Supermarionation’.
Theme Tune
Five-four-three-two-one, Thunderbirds are go
Spring break’s come around and there’s more heroes to be found
There’s something major going down on Tracy island, island
Rockets underground keeping our planet safe and sound
If someone evil’s coming round they should be frightened, frightened
‘Cause now the boys are back in town
No strings to hold them down, down
Don’t be mad please, stop the hating,
Just be glad that they’ll be waiting,
Friends we have are ever changing though,
There’s no need to battle, no, when the thunderbirds are go
Kids are learning fast they know the T-birds kick some ass,
Be sure that there’s no coming last cause you’re on their side, their side
It always looks so cool when spaceships come out of the pool,
You know that you’d just be a fool to be a bad guy, bad guy
‘Cause now the boys are back in town,
No strings to hold them down, down
Don’t be mad please, stop the hating,
Just be glad that they’ll be waiting,
Friends we have are ever changing though,
There’s no need to battle, no, when the thunderbirds are go
Thunderbirds are go
Don’t be mad please, stop the hating,
Just be glad that they’ll be waiting,
Friends we have are ever changing you,
Now the lead’s about to blow, when the thunderbirds are go
Thunderbirds are, thunderbirds are go
Thunderbirds are, thunderbirds are go
Thunderbirds are, Thunderbirds are,
Thunderbirds are, thunderbirds are go
Cast
Sylvia Anderson … Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Peter Dyneley … Jeff Tracy / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Graham … Brains / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Shane Rimmer … Scott Tracy / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Matt Zimmerman … Alan Tracy / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Ray Barrett … John Tracy / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
Christine Finn … Tin-Tin Kyrano / … (32 episodes, 1965-1966)
David Holliday … Virgil Tracy / … (26 episodes, 1965-1966)
Quote
PARKER :You rang, m’lady?
LADY PENELOPE :Yes Parker. Oh, Parker
PARKER :Yes, m’lady?
LADY PENELOPE: I think I’d like to take a little ride. And Parker
PARKER : Yes, m’lady?
LADY PENELOPE : Somewhere just around the countryside.
Have you prepared the Rolls Royce? Is it ready for a run?
PARKER:Oh yes, m’lady? Quite all ready.Everything’s been done.
I’ve lubricated all the cannon
And I’ve polished up the gun,
Headed by English aristocrat Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her Cockney butler and chauffeur Aloysius ‘Nosey’ Parker. Based at Creighton-Ward Mansion in Kent, Penelope and Parker’s primary mode of transport is FAB 1 – a pink, amphibious Rolls-Royce.
In the original Supermarionation TV series Thunderbirds (1965–66), as well as the feature films Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) and Thunderbird 6 (1968), FAB 1 is depicted as a modified Rolls-Royce. Owned by International Rescue agent Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, the car is usually driven by her butler, Parker. The driver sits in a central position at the front of the passenger compartment, which is covered by a bulletproof bubble canopy.
FAB 1 was modified by Brains, the inventor of the Thunderbirds machines, to include weaponry and gadgetry such as front- and rear-mounted machine guns (concealed behind the radiator grille and front and back headlights, although in the episode ‘The Perils of Penelope’, grappling hooks are seen to shoot out of the rear of the car). It is also equipped with a smoke screen canister and oil slick dispenser, extendable tyre-studs (for increased traction), and hydrofoils (or outriggers; for travel on water and snow, respectively).
Rolls-Royce supplied a genuine radiator grille, complete with ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ ornament, for close-up shots of the vehicle.
Trivia
The Thunderbirds’ radio code “F-A-B”, meaning “message received and understood”, didn’t stand for anything, it was just supposed to sound “hip”. In fact, when asked what it stood for, Gerry Anderson once replied, with some bemusement, “Fab,” as though it were obvious. Later, due in part to fan-submitted stories, F-A-B came to mean Fully Advised and Briefed, in keeping with P-W-O-R (Proceeding With Orders Received), a similar radio confirmation code in the series Stingray (1964).
Quote
Jeff Tracy: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Thunderbirds are go!
Trivia
Scott, Virgil and Jeff are the only characters to appear in all 32 episodes
Trivia
Some of the aircraft sound effects were created by recording the RAF’s Red Arrows aerobatics display team in flight.
Trivia
The opening credits include scenes from that week’s episode. Gerry Anderson would later reuse this gimmick in “Space: 1999” (1975) and “Space Precinct” (1995).
Info
| Opening theme | “The Thunderbirds March” |
|---|---|
| Composer | Barry Gray |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 32 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Gerry Anderson (Series Two) |
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company | AP Films |
| Distributor | ITC Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 35 mm film |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 30 September 1965 – 25 December 1966 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Stingray |
| Followed by | Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons |
| Related shows |
Thunderbirds 2086 Thunderbirds Are Go |
Trivia
In five episodes, there are newspapers with the date Friday, 24 December 1964 on the front cover, and was clearly not intended to be seen by viewers. (Oddly enough, 24 December 1964 was a Thursday)
Trivia
The only time Rolls-Royce has officially sanctioned the use of its famous vertical grille and “Spirit of Ecstasy” was on Lady Penelope’s pink six-wheel Rolls.
QUIZ 1
What home kitchen Item can be seen in the background of the model making, on Thunderbirds 1 rocket launch Area sequence ?
A. A Colander/Pasta strainer
B. A Chopping Board
C. A lemon Squeezer
D. A Garlic Press
Press for Answer
C. A lemon Squeezer
Scroll Down for More
QUIZ 2
Which casts voice played in the original “Thunderbirds” series, Was used in the All new ITV “Thunderbird are Go” series.
A. Scott Tracy and Alan Tracy
B. Kayo
C. John Tracy
D. Parker
Press for Answer
D. Parker
Scroll Down for More
QUIZ 1
What home kitchen Item can be seen in the background of the model making, on Thunderbirds 1 rocket launch Area sequence ?
A. A Colander/Pasta strainer
B. A Chopping Board
C. A lemon Squeezer
D. A Garlic Press
The large air purifier air intake on the wall to the right of Thunderbird 1’s launch pad is, in fact, a lemon squeezer.
The length of Thunderbird 1 is a matter of debate, with various sources giving values of 80, 100 and 115 feet (24, 30 and 35 m). However, the last figure is now generally accepted, placing the aircraft wingspan at 80 feet (24 m). With a maximum speed of 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 km/h) (Mach 19.7), it can reach anywhere on Earth within an hour’s flight if a great circle route can be flown. Thunderbird 1 is hangared beneath the main house on Tracy Island, and launches vertically from a pad camouflaged by a swimming pool which slides aside. The aircraft is primarily piloted by Scott Tracy,
QUIZ 2
Which casts voice played in the original “Thunderbirds” series, Was used in the All new ITV “Thunderbird are Go” series.
A. Scott Tracy and Alan Tracy
B. Kayo
C. John Tracy
D. Parker
David Graham provides the voice for Parker; a role he originally played in the original Thunderbirds series, and revives for Thunderbirds Are Go!.
Thunderbirds Are Go is a 2015 British animated science fiction television programme, created by Richard Taylor, and produced by ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures. The programme, which uses a mixture of model sets and computer-animated graphics for each episode, is a remake of the 1965 Supermarionation series Thunderbirds, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson,
Graham also provided the voices of Grandpa in Peppa Pig and Wise Old Elf in Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom
Famous Cars from TV, Film ( www.gadgetshowprizes.co.uk ) is unofficial and for information only. It is in no way linked to any official companies. All Amazon Links are linked directly to an official Amazon associates affiliated website ( www.amazon.co.uk )