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Product Description
This 1977 spoof documentary caused uproar when first broadcast on Anglia Television. Taking its premise that there was a colony of scientists on Mars, viewers thought that this meant the end of life on Earth as they knew it. Originally the programme was scheduled for April 1st as an updated hoax of Orson Welles 'War of the World' broadcast. After the broadcast the ITV switchboard was jammed with shocked viewers but 30 years later life on Mars seems less of an outrageous statement. Extras: 30 min featurette with the creative team who revisit Alternative 3 and sort out fact from fiction. Stills and original press clippings gallery.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: First broadcast as part of a "Science Report" documentary series, Alternative 3 uncovered an astonishing link between britain's "brain drain" of disappearing experts, climate change and the start of an extra-terrestial colony. The programme ended with the credit "Anglia Television, April 1st 1977", and was in fact a Sci-fi drama, and a deadpan heir to "The War Of The Worlds". But after its broadcasts world wide that same week, Alternative 3 clearly showed how the medium can manipulate the message, as millions were fooled by the programme which provoked front page headlines and has inspired conspiracy theories ever since. ...Alternative 3 ( Science Report ) ( Alternative Three )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a 13 year-old in 1977, this "documentary" scared the hell out of me when screened in June of that year. Too quickly it was declared a "hoax" by the production team and writers - but not before many people phoned and wrote to their local ITV stations demanding answers, and firmly advising their MPs that they should tell us the truth!
The writer and director suggested that people should appreciate that we should not believe everything we read or see in the media - a lesson which today we could all benefit from remembering. This 30 year old bit of fun, according to some, revealed far more of the true nature of things than any spoof should do. Get hold of a copy and judge for yourself in what has become one of the most cruelly forgotten April-Fools-style hoaxes (albeit held over to June due to scheduling problems!) of the 20th Century. Want to know where the panic began over global warming? This is where it all started ...
The writer and director suggested that people should appreciate that we should not believe everything we read or see in the media - a lesson which today we could all benefit from remembering. This 30 year old bit of fun, according to some, revealed far more of the true nature of things than any spoof should do. Get hold of a copy and judge for yourself in what has become one of the most cruelly forgotten April-Fools-style hoaxes (albeit held over to June due to scheduling problems!) of the 20th Century. Want to know where the panic began over global warming? This is where it all started ...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can see why so many were suckered by this. But looking at it now you will recognise all the famous faces. Still worth watching though.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Anne Clarke-Robert Patterson and Brian Pendlebury..all part of the 'so-called' brain drain from Britain..simply dissapeared..from London's Heathrow Airport!! They were going to another planet! As far from this one as they can! but why?..So they interviewed 'Bob Grodin' a former Astronaut!..
Can you believe they showed this 'end of series' of 'Science report' on Anglia Television in JUNE 1977..what fools we were to believe this!
Colin Benson..a fake news reporter..and 'Tim Brinton, as host on this documentary..
Buy this again and find out on the extras why this was a giant hoax to the general public..ALL telephone lines were jammed..at the time..and scared!
This has never been allowed to be shown again since!
Can you believe they showed this 'end of series' of 'Science report' on Anglia Television in JUNE 1977..what fools we were to believe this!
Colin Benson..a fake news reporter..and 'Tim Brinton, as host on this documentary..
Buy this again and find out on the extras why this was a giant hoax to the general public..ALL telephone lines were jammed..at the time..and scared!
This has never been allowed to be shown again since!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the greatest pratical jokes in TV history
Originally meant to be broadcasted in April Fools Day 1977, techinitians strikes delayed it for months. However, this timing made this "joke" more beleivable. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Prof Wallace
Timeless mockumentary
What a brilliant film to see! At less than an hour in length, this gem is the godfather of mockumentaries and proves that despite sub-par acting on a 70's backdrop, this film is... Read more
Published 5 months ago by XanCarlos
Very enjoyable drama documentary
This has aged really well. The performances are excellent making it all very convincing. The picture and sound quality is good and the accompanying discussion is entertaing and... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Benny
Prophetic Hoax
I was twelve years old when I saw this programme on television and was totally and utterly taken in by its conclusion that impending climate change (how prescient! Read more
Published 9 months ago by Nicholas Casley
Old joke still works well
I remember seeing this spoof when it first aired way back in 1977. It worked well then and it still does. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Commodore
You can fool all of the people some of the time
I watched this back in the 1970s and believed then as I do now that it was not a hoax. It was a little heavy handed and relied on a certain amount of dramatic licence as they could... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Mr. C. Edgecombe
A MASTERPIECE
When British TV mattered and analogue values reigned. This is one of the greatest events in UK TV history as a teenager I believed it. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by H S Marks
Dated but modern in its implications
Alternative 3 is quite dated but very well done. I can see why some thought it was for real, although in reality if it was real and the corporate owned media knew about it, they... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by David Walton
Tim Brinton..and the crew..
This T.V.Gem of pure piece artwork..was designed in 1976..and aired on British T.V in June the following year..and the general public were very scared.. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2009 by Anthony Cox
How on earth were we fooled by this one?
I can't get over my gullibility as an 18-year-old at the time. There were so many signs: a. grammatically speaking, there can only be two alternatives; b. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2008 by Gavin Wilson
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