Gerry Anderson's "UFO"

[Boomstick]

Has anyone seen this series from the 70s? I picked it up on DVD, expecting some pretty campy fun, and while it is, I've been impressed with it on a few different levels. The special effects are much better than I thought they'd be, and the writing occasionally surprises. For example, there seems to often be ideological tensions between Straker, the boss, and his top man Alec. Nothing huge, mind you, but I figured this was going to be a very silly show, knowing that Anderson's previous work was with those marionette shows. So I was surprised to find any depth at all. For outright fun, I'm enjoy it lots.

One funny thing, maybe they'll explain it later, for some reason the women on the moonbase all wear purple wigs, but when they come back to HQ on Earth, they've got normal hair!

The opening sequence is hilarious, the upbeat music and quick cuts reminds me of the Hawaii Five-O opening. The "1980" card that's inserted throughout the opening is funny, as though that year would provide a remarkable and exciting future, even though it was only a decade removed from the time the show was made.

[Michael]

I read a novel adaptation of the show during the 1970s. According to this UFO Series FAQ:

6. Why do the women on Moonbase wear purple wigs?

The purple wigs were simply part of the women's Moonbase uniforms. Wigs were very popular in the late 1960's, and Sylvia Anderson envisioned that wigs might someday become part of a uniform. Sylvia designed the Moonbase outfits and the wigs, and has been quoted as saying that the purple wigs came about simply because she liked them!

There have been attempts to give the wigs some sort of scientific explanation, like they protect the wearers from electromagnetic fields caused from the Moonbase command sphere equipment. However, besides being rather farfetched, these explanations always fail to explain why Col. Foster never needed any protection while he was in command of Moonbase!

[Boomstick]

Originally Posted by Michael

However, besides being rather farfetched, these explanations always fail to explain why Col. Foster never needed any protection while he was in command of Moonbase!

That would have been great.

[evaine]

And then there were the string vests that all the submarine crews wore! (Even the women). I watched this as a kid in the early seventies, with my gran, who rather fancied Peter Gordino, the submarine commander (who was more of a dancer than an actor, really).

[Boomstick]

Originally Posted by evaine

And then there were the string vests that all the submarine crews wore! (Even the women).

Yes, I rather like those!