ReBook: Filmed in Supermarionation (La Rivière)

When the feature film Thunderbird 6 hit The Astra's big screen at CFB Baden-Soellingen (West Germany), I was there with friends... and sister. We really enjoyed the flick, so much so that my sister and I raved about it afterwards to our parents ― we were the right ages! After eventually returning to Canada, I watched the earlier Thunderbirds television series when it ran in repeat on Saturdays at noon. (Thank you, CFTO. "Channel Nine, Toronto.")

The book: It is absorbing reading for any fan of the Supermarionation process and its creators, Gerry & Sylvia Anderson and their talented team. It's not all about their most famous creation, however. There is fascinating coverage of all their puppet shows: The Adventures of Twizzle, Torchy the Battery Boy, Four Feather Falls, Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray ("Stingray!"), Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90, and The Secret Service. The years covered are 1957 to 1969. Not only was that a good run in production and longevity terms, but it was a marked increase in puppet show technology and techniques.

Author Stephen La Rivière does a commendable job of telling an entertaining and informative story... it could very well have been too dry; even for old and new Supermarionation fans.

Postscript: In 2004 a DVD titled The Best of Thunderbirds hit store shelves ― it was a top-ten seller at my local "Sam's" here in Toronto ― and I picked it up with the intention of revisiting part of my childhood. I just now realized that I haven't watched it at all; not one of the "six best episodes as voted by fans". Terrible. Perhaps I should pop an episode on....

Filmed in Supermarionation

- The Story of the Pioneering Team that Launched Thunderbirds -

by

Stephen La Rivière

Century 22

2015