setnakht Reviews

Undermind (1965)

More great, but lost, British TV sci-fi

[17 December 2001]

Only 3 of the original episodes exist of 'Undermind', but they are enough to show what a subtle and marvelous series this was, building suspense on suspense with ease. And this time it wasn't the BBC who lost the missing episodes, but ABC.

The story revolved around Drew Herriot and his sister-in-law Anne (played by Department S girl Rosemary Nicols) who realise that something is seriously wrong with Drew's brother Frank. As time goes on they uncover an alien plot to take over the earth, their human agents first destabilising and undermining world economies and politics. This was a vastly enjoyable and moody production, and benefitted from the absence of a single alien, a little like 'Quatermass 2' (with the exception of the final episode).

If you get a chance to see any of it, then do, and marvel at the lost arts of TV production and writing - nothing like this will ever be made again.

A come Andromeda (1972– )

Italian remake of 'A For Andromeda'

[14 December 2001]

This production is of interest to non-Italian speakers probably for one reason only: it is an Italian remake of the BBC's classic science fiction series 'A For Andromeda'. It's interest lies in the fact that only about 20 minutes of the original series now remains in the BBC's archives, the rest having been wiped in their purge of old programmes in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

This is apparently available on video, so perhaps the ideal solution is to first read the book 'A For Andromeda' by Fred Hoyle and John Elliott (a great book in its own right), and then sit down and watch this. Then it might be possible to imagine just how amazing the original series must have been.

I don't speak Italian, so I can't comment on the cast interaction, but it certainly looks faithful to the original, and for that we must be truly thankful. How strange, though, that they didn't bother to remake the second part of the series, 'The Andromeda Breakthrough'.

The Andromeda Breakthrough (1962)

The second part of 'A For Andromeda'

[14 December 2001]

'A For Andromeda' (AFA), the BBC's great lost sci-fi TV series of 1961, can be viewed as a single story in its own right. And, perhaps because of this, public awareness of this, the second part of the story, is very low. But it is every bit as good and thought-provoking as AFA.

Featuring Susan Hampshire as Andromeda (replacing the unavailable Julie Christie) and the continuing cast from AFA (including the superb Peter Halliday), and again written by Fred Hoyle and John Elliott, the story begins where AFA left off. AFA ends with Andromeda being feared drowned in a cavepool. 'The Andromeda Breakthrough' (TAB) beings with her being found almost dead on the edge of an adjoining pool. Fleming escapes with her and they seek shelter on a remote Scottish island. However, Andromeda's hands were badly damaged during her attack on the now 'dead' computer at Thorness, and Fleming has to seek help from his colleague Professor Dawnay to heal them. This enables the government to track them down, and they end up back in London. However, they are then kidnapped by Intel and taken to their secluded base in the newly liberated Republic of Azeran. Fleming is shocked to find that a new 'computer' is awaiting them. Apparently his colleague Dennis Bridger had supplied blueprints to Intel as part of his deal with them (in AFA). At least he has some support, Professor Dawnay is already there, having been recruited to work on increasing crop yields.

As the story progresses, two main things happen. The first is that the world's weather deteriorates to the extent that it is apparent that something is seriously wrong. And the second is that Azeran is wracked with civil strife, fuelled by Intel.

The weather situation, it transpires, was caused by the original Thorness computer, a response to Dr Fleming's continual attempts to sabotage it. An apparently harmless formula was produced, which Dawnay washed down the sink when it apparently did nothing. Now it has spread throughout the world's oceans, and is removing all the nitrogen from the atmosphere, worsening weather conditions and making it impossible to breathe. Humanity is doomed unless it can be stopped. The new 'computer' continues blithely with its mission, unaware that the world is dying.

The political situation is made worse when Andromeda reveals the 'message' to Madame Gamboulle, the Intel leader in Azeran. She has been given a message that has no understanding of the current world situation, and she is therefore uninterested in dealing with it, except in any way that it can benefit Intel and her.

To make matters worse, Andromeda's body is lacking something, and she is slowly dying, and there is no time to waste the computer's functions on finding a cure.

The story is as good as AFA, and very satisfyingly different in the way it progresses. That said, it is hard to believe that this series wasn't conceived before AFA started, as it ties up so many loose ends and dovetails so neatly with the original story. Fleming is once again superb, wracked with doubt and guilt, and there are also excellent performances from Mary Morris as Dawnay and John Hollis as Kaufmann.

This is a vastly under-rated and sadly neglected series, which, as is apparent, not so much a story in its own right, but part two of AFA. It is not just a rehashing of the original ideas, as with so many sequels, but is a development and continuation of the original story, leading to a definite conclusion.

One of the strengths of sci-fi TV series of this era, such as the Quatermass stories, is the characterisation and the story, as opposed to the almost total reliance on effects nowadays, and these stories are no exception. They are gripping, compulsive, entertaining and totally fascinating, but you are also drawn in to empathise and sympathise and care about the characters. And, as I've said, Dr John Fleming is one of the great sci-fi characterisations, a truly memorable piece of writing and an equally memorable performance by the grossly under-rated Peter Halliday.

Unlike AFA, this series exists in its entirety in the BBC's archives, but they seem to have little interest in exposing it to a modern audience, which is a minor tragedy. If, however, you can't find a copy of it anywhere, then buy the book of the same name by Fred Hoyle and John Elliott, which is a superb book in its own right. But, if you haven't read AFA, by the same authors, get that and read it first. You won't be disappointed.

This was classic science fiction, worthy of the name, and it is very sad to think that we will never see a series like this again.

A for Andromeda (1961)

A 'perfect' science fiction series

[14 December 2001]

'A For Andromeda' (AFA) is renowned as one of the great science fiction series of the 1960's. Produced by the BBC in 1961 and co-written by revered and controversial scientist Fred Hoyle, the programme made a star of Julie Christie and also featured a superb performance from Peter Halliday as the scientist with a conscience, Dr John Fleming.

AFA is basically the story of the events following the receipt of a message transmitted from the Andromeda galaxy. The message, once decoded, gives instructions for building a massive and very advanced computer. Once built, it is clear that the computer is not a gift, it has its own agenda and after giving instructions on 'building' a giant eye, it then gives out some DNA coding which leads to the creation of a beautiful girl called 'Andromeda' (Christie). What makes this even more sinister is that she is a blonde replica of a brunette lab assistant who apparently committed suicide in the computer block....

What follows is a superb drama, and the interplay between Mary Morris' Professor Dawnay and Dr Fleming is something that is impossibly rare in modern science fiction - superb characterisation, superb dialogue, and genuine unease being built through the discussion of ideas alone. Is it good, is it evil, or is it just so far beyond our understanding that we can't hope to grasp what is happening? Dr Fleming, whose scientific curiosity was instrumental in its creation, cannot come to terms with what is happening and is burdened by guilt. The other side of the coin is Dawnay, who is driven by her scientific curiosity to see what will emerge, regardless of the outcome.

The story is complicated by the world situation. It is set in a near future where a large corporation called 'Intel' (spooky!) calls the tune and Britain is a minor power. The British hope is that the computer will help to increase their position in the game of world politics.

The story has often been criticised by devotees of the 'Quatermass' school of science fiction for being too slow and wordy, but this is a sad comment on the critics rather than a valid flaw in the series. AFA is not just a 'sci-fi' story - it deals with many concepts and ideas, as well as the basic human struggle of everyday survival. We don't even know if the enemy is an enemy - it is a story of ideas and suggestion, and such it is superb. If you want to know how good it is, just compare it with two recent films that have blatantly stolen its initial premise - 'Species' and 'Contact'. I rest my case!

Sadly, like so much TV produced by the BBC in the 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's, it doesn't exist anymore, having been wiped. There are some extracts remaining, mainly filmed inserts and the last 15 minutes or so of the final episode. There are also rumours of an episode existing in the hands of a private collector, but this has yet to be confirmed. It is a terrible loss, for which the BBC can have no valid excuse, but for them it is just one of many.

However, the series was remade in Italy in 1971, as 'A Come Andromeda', so it is possible to see it and visualise what went on, even if you don't speak Italian. And, perhaps more importantly, the series writers Fred Hoyle and John Elliott turned out a novel that is a superb work in its own right, and is a worthy substitute for the series itself. Combine the Italian series and the book and you might at least feel you have gained a glimpse into what was a ground-breaking and superb series.

The story doesn't end here, however. What is less well known is that there was a sequel, 'The Andromeda Breakthrough'. This featured the same cast, with the exception of Julie Christie, who, for whatever reason, was replaced by Susan Hampshire. This series does exist in its entirety in the BBC's vaults, but they seem unwilling to release it, which is a shame because it is a seamless and logical progression of the original story, leading to a revealing and satisfying conclusion. There is also a Hoyle and Elliott novel of this story, which is every bit as good as AFA, so if you can't get to see the series, then the book is, again, a worthy substitute.

In summary, AFA was epoch-breaking television, the like of which has rarely been seen since, and also features one of the most under-rated and underused actors of the late 20th century - Peter Halliday, whose performance as Dr John Fleming is not only superb, but is perhaps a defining role in science fiction.