Imprint/ViaVision (Australia) Thread: New Announcements

[John Johnson]

Available 26th March.








UFO became Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s first live-action series – the ‘supermarionation’ strings were gone but the incredible special effects-model work and exciting, intelligent storylines remained, with Ed Bishop leading a talented ensemble cast including George Sewell, Michael Billington, Gabrielle Drake and Wanda Ventham. This 8-disc Blu-ray collection brings together all 26 episodes and the 1980 film compilation version, restored in high-definition from the original film elements with an out-of-this-world assembly of brand NEW and archival Special Features. It’s no surprise UFO was lauded at the time as being “the greatest ever space series!”

8-DISC BLU-RAY SET + 120-page collectable booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox packaging.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

1080p high-definition presentation of all 26 episodes, restored from the original film elements with original LPCM 2.0 Mono audio and optional DTS-HD 5.1 Surround, in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio
NEW! Grading work and updates have been applied to select episodes, correcting specific flaws in the original restoration
Invasion: UFO – the 1980 feature-film version restored in high-definition from the original film elements, presented in a newly created 1.78:1 aspect ratio + original 1980 videotape version in 1.33:1
Audio Commentary on Identified by producer/writer/director Gerry Anderson (2002)
NEW! Audio Commentary on Survival by “Fanderson” members Ian Fryer and Chris Drake (2024)
Audio Commentary on E.S.P. by actor George Sewell (2007)
Audio Commentary on Kill Straker! by director Alan Perry and actor Michael Billington (2003)
Audio Commentary on Sub-Smash by actor Ed Bishop (2002)
NEW! Audio Commentary on The Cat With Ten Lives by “Fanderson” members Ian Fryer and Chris Drake (2024)
Audio Commentary by guest artist Deborah Grant and Jonathan Wood (2007)
Audio Commentary by co-creator/co-producer Sylvia Anderson and actress Wanda Ventham (2003)
NEW! Audio Commentary on Invasion: UFO feature-film version by ITC historians Jonathan Wood and Rick Davy (2024)
From Earth to the Moon – feature-length documentary on the making of the series including interviews with Gerry Anderson, Ed Bishop, Wanda Ventham, Ayshea Brough, Georgina Moon, Jane Merrow, Deborah Grant, Susan Jameson, Matt Zimmerman, Jeremy Wilkin, Shane Rimmer, Michael Jayston, Alan Shubrook and David Collings (2016)
The UFO Documentary – “Fanderson” produced documentary on the making of the series, narrated by Shane Rimmer, including interviews with Gerry Anderson, Bob Bell, Ed Bishop, Delores Mantez, Derek Meddings, Christopher Penfold, Alan Perry, George Sewell and Vladek Sheybal (1993)
The Women of UFO – documentary charting the female characters in the series including interviews with Wanda Ventham, Ayshea Brough, Georgina Moon, Jane Merrow, Deborah Grant and Gabrielle Drake (2016)
Identified: S.H.A.D.O. New Recruits Briefing – featurette (2016)
Meeting Commander Straker – interview with actor Ed Bishop
NEW! Reality Sets In – interview with guest artist Jane Merrow (2024)
NEW! The Man Who Came Back Again – interview with guest artist Derren Nesbitt (2024)
Ken Turner: ISOSHADO interview with the actor
The Doppelcars – featurette on the UFO vehicles, narrated by Ed Bishop
21st Century Craft Design – featurette on special effects designer Mike Trim, introduced by Ed Bishop
Tomorrow Today: episode of the science magazine series featuring Sylvia Anderson discussing UFO fashions (1970)
Rare Collectables / Memorabilia Photo Gallery
Series Archival Vault Material:

Identified: Original opening sequence and alternative ending / S.I.D. Voice Sessions
Exposed: Extended scenes
The Square Triangle: Clean closing credits
Kill Straker!: Original raw studio takes (audio)
Timelash: Day for night grading example / clapperboard sequence
The Long Sleep: Unused footage
Invasion: UFO – Full frame opening titles / closing credits & textless end credits
Invasion: UFO Trailer
Textless series end titles and textless episodic material/stock footage
Original TV Spots for the series
Italian Trailers
Extensive Photo Galleries
Plus a 120-page booklet featuring the extensive Pressbook information for the series + Story Information, all taken from the original studio files.

https://viavision.com.au/shop/ufo-the-c ... vision-11/

[Eric Paddon]

I ordered that a month ago to upgrade even though to be honest the series underwhelmed more than it impressed me.

[John Johnson]

I ordered that a month ago to upgrade even though to be honest the series underwhelmed more than it impressed me.

I have the standard Network release but will upgrade to this new version. I believe some restoration work done for this release. This only leaves Department S to be released on Blu-ray.

One of ITC's top tier shows.

[John Johnson]

Australian label Imprint Films has provided a promotional trailer for its upcoming Blu-ray release of Daniel Petrie's Lifeguard (1976), starring Sam Elliott, Anne Archer, Stephen Young, Parker Stevenson, and Kathleen Quinlan. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on February 26.

Label description: Lifeguard is a stunning 70's drama directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Daniel Petrie (A Raisin in the Sun), described by Time Out as an "autopsy on the psyche of the American male".

Starring Sam Elliott in his breakout role as a So-Cal Lifeguard entering a mid-life crisis, alongside early performances from Academy Award-nominated actresses Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction) and Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13).

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
NEW Audio Commentary by film historians Scout Tafoya and Daniel Kremer
Theatrical Trailer
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35988

[AndyDursin]

Should just buy the cheaper Fun City release which I reviewed this week and is now available. Same remastered tansfer with the alternate soundtrack available which the Imprint disc doesn't look to have.

[Paul MacLean]

I ordered that a month ago to upgrade even though to be honest the series underwhelmed more than it impressed me.

As can be a problem with TV series, the actual writing doesn't always live up to the premise.

UFO isn't without some clunky episodes, but I think it boasts some excellent episodes as well. I think once they created the character of Colonel Foster and cast Michael Billington, it really improved. Also, the effects and design work were years ahead of any other science fiction series at the time.

It's a shame ITC wouldn't give it another season to really hit its stride. A second season was proposed, to be set primarily on moonbase, and larger and more impressive sets were being designed. However it was decided to scrap UFO and make a new series, and season two's preproduction work morphed into Space: 1999.

[Eric Paddon]

My biggest complaint about UFO? The utterly ridiculous civilian wardrobes in which Nehru fashion was being pushed as the default of the future at a time when it was already going out of style!

[Paul MacLean]

My biggest complaint about UFO? The utterly ridiculous civilian wardrobes in which Nehru fashion was being pushed as the default of the future at a time when it was already going out of style!

You forgot to mention Commander Straker's eyeliner!

But, I think in fairness, the show would have been in preproduction in 1969, at which point Nehru jackets and the "Mod London" zeitgeist were still current. Nobody had any idea that styles (fashion, music, etc.) would change rather suddenly in the early 70s.

In any case, that is one of the things I actually love about UFO -- the way it depicts a future that is rooted in the style of when it was made. And I'm all about 1960s Britain anyway!

But this is common in sci-fi -- such as the miniskirts and Eames chairs in in Star Trek, the bellbottoms and injection-molded furniture in Space: 1999, the 80s style living quarters of Star Trek: The Next Generation, etc.

Then you have the supposedly "historic" period pieces like The Bounty and Amadeus -- in which characters sport trendy 80s rock star hairstyles!

[John Johnson]

I ordered that a month ago to upgrade even though to be honest the series underwhelmed more than it impressed me.

As can be a problem with TV series, the actual writing doesn't always live up to the premise.

UFO isn't without some clunky episodes, but I think it boasts some excellent episodes as well. I think once they created the character of Colonel Foster and cast Michael Billington, it really improved. Also, the effects and design work were years ahead of any other science fiction series at the time.

It's a shame ITC wouldn't give it another season to really hit its stride. A second season was proposed, to be set primarily on moonbase, and larger and more impressive sets were being designed. However it was decided to scrap UFO and make a new series, and season two's preproduction work morphed into Space: 1999.

UFO was filmed in two shooting blocks at two studios, due to an unexpected closure of the first studio after 17 episodes had been filmed. There was a 6 month period spent waiting for soundstages to become available at the second studio, and since many of the actors were not contractually obligated to stay with the series, they went and found jobs elsewhere. The episodes in the second shooting block are missing many of the regular characters from the first block, including Col. Alec Freeman, Lt. Gay Ellis, Lt. Keith Ford, Capt. Lew Waterman, and Lt. Joan Harrington. Many of these characters were replaced with new ones -- Col. Virginia Lake was added to replace Col. Freeman, and Lt. Nina Barry was promoted to replace Lt. Ellis.

The first 17 episodes were filmed at MGM Borehamwood studios from May to December 1969, while the remaining 9 were filmed at Pinewood studios from May to September 1970.

There were a few other significant character/cast changes made while the series was in production. Capt. Peter Carlin was originally intended to be a main character, but was dropped early in the production because the actor's agent feared he would become typecast as a sci-fi television series actor. Col. Paul Foster was added after a few episodes had been made to give the series a more youthful and appealing male lead. Dr. Jackson was added because the producers liked the actor, and the actor playing Dr. Shroeder had become ill. And Interceptor pilot Mark Bradley disappeared because the actor was frustrated by the week-to-week contracts for the minor characters.

[Paul MacLean]

The episodes in the second shooting block are missing many of the regular characters from the first block, including Col. Alec Freeman, Lt. Gay Ellis, Lt. Keith Ford, Capt. Lew Waterman, and Lt. Joan Harrington. Many of these characters were replaced with new ones -- Col. Virginia Lake was added to replace Col. Freeman, and Lt. Nina Barry was promoted to replace Lt. Ellis.

But Col. Lake and Col. Foster have a scene together in the pilot episode. Or was her character made more "full time" after George Sewell left?

[John Johnson]

The episodes in the second shooting block are missing many of the regular characters from the first block, including Col. Alec Freeman, Lt. Gay Ellis, Lt. Keith Ford, Capt. Lew Waterman, and Lt. Joan Harrington. Many of these characters were replaced with new ones -- Col. Virginia Lake was added to replace Col. Freeman, and Lt. Nina Barry was promoted to replace Lt. Ellis.

But Col. Lake and Col. Foster have a scene together in the pilot episode. Or was her character made more "full time" after George Sewell left?

Foster isn't in the pilot episode. He doesn't appear until the episode, 'Exposed'. She is in the pilot and has several scenes with Alex Freeman (George Sewell). On a side note, George Sewell didn't sit well with the US network, they weren't too kind about his facial features.

Jamie Anderson talks about the cast changes in UFO.

[John Johnson]

Australian label Imprint Films has provided a promotional trailer for its new 2K restoration of Daniel Petrie's The Betsy (1978), starring Laurence Olivier, Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Jane Alexander, and Joseph Wiseman. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on February 26.

Description: Bestselling American author Harold Robbins' novel comes to life in this sizzling drama, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Daniel Petrie (A Raisin in the Sun).

Featuring an all-star cast including Laurence Olivier, Robert Duvall, Katharine Ross, Tommy Lee Jones and Jane Alexander, with a score by the genius composer behind the early James Bond films, John Barry.

The aging retired founder of an auto giant comes out of retirement to try to develop a safe, fuel-efficient car.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
EXCLUSIVE NEW 2K RESTORATION BY IMPRINT FILMS
NEW Audio Commentary by critics Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson (2025)
Archival interview with Harold Robbins
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Optional English SDH Subtitles
Limited Edition Slipcase

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35992

[Paul MacLean]

The episodes in the second shooting block are missing many of the regular characters from the first block, including Col. Alec Freeman, Lt. Gay Ellis, Lt. Keith Ford, Capt. Lew Waterman, and Lt. Joan Harrington. Many of these characters were replaced with new ones -- Col. Virginia Lake was added to replace Col. Freeman, and Lt. Nina Barry was promoted to replace Lt. Ellis.

But Col. Lake and Col. Foster have a scene together in the pilot episode. Or was her character made more "full time" after George Sewell left?

Foster isn't in the pilot episode. He doesn't appear until the episode, 'Exposed'. She is in the pilot and has several scenes with Alex Freeman (George Sewell). On a side note, George Sewell didn't sit well with the US network, they weren't too kind about his facial features.

Silly me! I mean to write Col. Freeman!

I was just confused as Wanda Ventham and George Sewell have a scene together in the pilot.

[John Johnson]

But Col. Lake and Col. Foster have a scene together in the pilot episode. Or was her character made more "full time" after George Sewell left?

Foster isn't in the pilot episode. He doesn't appear until the episode, 'Exposed'. She is in the pilot and has several scenes with Alex Freeman (George Sewell). On a side note, George Sewell didn't sit well with the US network, they weren't too kind about his facial features.

Silly me! I mean to write Col. Freeman!

I was just confused as Wanda Ventham and George Sewell have a scene together in the pilot.

I think Anderson's directing was by the numbers for the pilot, he was much better suited as a producer. Although it did give us one of Sewell's best lines in the series, not something that could be repeated today.

[John Johnson]

I decided to order Gerry Anderson's The Protectors before it went out of stock.



Some background information regarding Gerry Anderson and Robert Vaughan.