Fireball XL5 – The Complete Series (A&E U.S. NTSC DVD Box Set Version)
Picture: B-
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes Overall: C
NOTE: Since this edition, two other box sets of the show
have been issued and all have different extras, so fans will want all three
versions and everyone else will do fine to start with any edition. The other editions, both in the PAL format,
can be found at these links:
Network
U.K. Region 2 Set
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8696/Fireball+XL5+%E2%80%93+Special+Edition
Umbrella
Australian Region-Free Set
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6343/The+Gerry+Anderson+Collection+(Umb
Now, the original review…
One of the earliest of the SuperMarionation TV
series from the UK is Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s Fireball XL5. So old in fact, that it is in black and
white, you can see the strings on the puppets, and the sets are limited. These early shows were aimed strictly at a
juvenile audience, but the show has its charms.
It features Steve Zodiac, the man who can best handle the “amazing”
title spaceship. The adventures deal
with alien beings and evil plots, the standard fare many later Anderson series
would handle.
However, in this case, the plots are very simple
and basic. The new DVD boxed set from
A&E offers all 39 shows intended for half-hour broadcast slots. Despite it budget and technical limits, the
show holds up very well, considering it was originally broadcast in 1962. The basic ness of it will remind you of
everything from the old Flash Gordon TV show (the West German-produced
black and white one,) the early days of NET/ PBS, and the early days of even
live TV.
The 1.33 X 1 black & white is amazing
here. For full-frame/screen transfers,
this even rivals A&E’s black & white Mrs. Peel Avengers episodes
for clarity and depth. The video black
level, gray scale, and cleanness of the source prints are exceptional. As a matter of fact, these are even a step
higher than the already amazing transfers we have been getting from A&E on
their TV series DVD releases. These are
a real pleasure to watch, long after the very simple plots have worn out their
welcome.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound has been remixed for
simple stereo, but does not have the slight harshness experienced with UFO
Set One in its initial Stereo remix outing (see the Set Two and MegaSet
reviews for clarification elsewhere on this site), though these are simpler
soundtracks to begin with. In this case,
the stereo is nothing dramatic, best described as a way to make the original
sound audible. The original mono was
likely too low, so this was necessary, despite what purists might object
to. A&E continues to have the
highest bit-rates for TV releases in their picture and sound, with this set
being one of the best examples to date.
With all the possibilities of full color, Fireball
XL5 reminds us how great black & white can really look. This is the real black & white with
silver content and real darkness that does not get produced today. Despite the explosion of diverse product on
DVD, the classic days of black & white TV is just now getting its due this
much later in DVD’s “just won’t quit” boom.
Outside of the original Rod Serling Twilight Zone (1959 – 1964,)
most classic black & white TV has been restricted to cable, but I Love
Lucy and the original Outer Limits
are leading the way in such reissues along with A&E boxes like this one.
As for the episodes, they are recommended for
juvenile audiences, diehard Anderson fans, and make for a great set for
children. These shows are both charming
and imaginative. The extras are fewer
than other A&E boxed sets, but there are still two commentaries
offered. “The Doomed Planet”
episode has reflections by voice artist David Graham on DVD #1, while director
Alan Patillo offers an even wider perspective on “Space
City Special” on the final DVD #5.
There are photo galleries on all 5 DVDs with a mix of promo and
behind-the-scenes shots, while DVD #5 adds the terrific Noble Art Of
Fireball XL5, which runs nearly 18 minutes.
This special shows how artists kept the adventures
of all the SuperMarionation shows alive in exceptional comic book art, with a
special focus with interviewee Mike Noble.
It also shows how all these franchises grew up, including modifying
early shows like Fireball XL5 to look more mature, detailed, and
substantial in both story and plot. This
was something very special, a glory of which all these DVD sets are reviving in
a way unimaginable four decades ago. Fireball
XL5 should be seen by at least once by anyone who is interested.
For the series, Derek Meddings did some of his earliest
special visual effects. John Read shot virtually all of the main
cinematography, though Ian Struthers also stepped in on one of the shows, so
the look of the show can be attributed to them, as well as the puppet
producers. The show only used five
voices for its entire run. Paul Maxwell
voiced Steve Zodiac, David Graham voiced Professor Matic, Sylvia Anderson
voiced Venus, Gerry Anderson voiced Robert The Robot,
and John Bluthal covered the rest of the voices,
though the main voices seem to have added their talents elsewhere when needed.
Barry Gray did the music, The Andersons, Alan
Fennel, Anthony Marriott, and Dennis Spooner did all the teleplays, Alan Patillo, David Elliott, John Kelly, Bill
Harris, and Desmond Saunders did all the directing, while The Andersons also
were the script supervisors. Fireball
XL5 is a vital piece of TV history that will endure for decades to come.
- Nicholas
Sheffo
