Land Of The Giants - The Complete Series One [DVD] [1968]

For the very first time this fantastic science fiction series comes to DVD in the UK. There were actually two seasons and this is just season one which contains 26 episodes. It comes in an excellent package. There are seven discs in a slim plastic tray container. Each Disc has the same "Land of the Giants" logo on it and there is a lovely booklet with 10 pages of interesting facts about the development of the series with some good pictures and artwork presentation. The Back of the booklet has a chart of the episode listing and original episode title, filming order, broadcast order and airdate. All of this comes in an attractive card sleeve container. There are some brief but welcome special features. The unaired version of the pilot episode doesn't differ much from the aired version but it's interesting to look at. The interviews with stars Gary Conway and Don Marshall are worth seeing and the presentation reel, special effects shots and broadcast information are also good additions.

On 12th June 1983 a sub orbital commercial flight from America to London hits a mysterious cloud storm and crash lands on a planet just like earth. The only thing is that the people on this earth are 12 times bigger in height. The series follows the space travellers attempts to repair their space craft the "spindrift" and return home while tackling giant insects and animals or fleeing from the giants who having discovered the existence of the little people want to catch them usually to experiment on them.
The crew are Captain Steve Burton, his co pilot Dan Erickson, and stewardess Betty Hamilton. The passengers are engineering executive Mark Wilson, wealthy heiress Valerie Scott, 12 year old Barry Lockbridge and his dog chipper. Finally there is the intriguing, unscrupulous Commander Fitzhugh who is wanted by the police and carries a briefcase with a lot of money in it. This character is similar to Dr Zackary Smith in "Lost in space" in so much that it is often his greed and stupidity that gets the rest of the crew into sticky situations with the giants. Also in this series is the Giants bad guy Inspector Kobrick who works for the SIB security service. He becomes set on hunting down the "little people".
The series was noted for its elaborate special effects with giant sized props. The series was created by producer Irwin Allen who also created The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the sea and lost in space.

It is pure escapist fun in these shows and is still entertaining over 40 years after its creation.

This was Irwin Allen's fourth TV series, and in my opinion his best.
At least season one anyway, unfortunately season two started to drift into Allens usual hack writer's world of silliness and "Pied Piper's", exemplified by episodes like "Pay The Piper".
One thing which has always struck me was, how come the giants never discovered the "Spindrift" more often, with those two big brightly pulsating orange lights on either side - why not switch them off? - but maybe the giants suffered from Nyctalopia.
The design of the "Spindrift" was amazing. It reminds me of an orange "Flying sub" - Mr Allen did have some good designers working on his shows.
US premiere 22 sept. 1968 - UK premiere 7 dec. 1968.
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Season one,
Episode titles, and brief synopsis- 26 episodes.
The Crash - A London bound spacecraft passes through a mysterious cloud, and ends up on an Earth like world: but everything is 12 times bigger! (All is relative!)
Ghost Town - The "little people" find that even the children of this world can be very dangerous.
Framed - The "little people" try to clear a tramp of murder.
Underground - The "little people" help an underground leader destroy some incriminating papers.
Terror-go-round - A giant gypsy captures the travellers...to sell to a circus!.
Flight Plan - A miniaturised giant attempts to learn about Earth technology.
Manhunt - The travellers risk their lives trying to save a giant convict.
The Trap - Betty and Valerie are captured, the travellers must sacrifice some of their scarce fuel to save them.
The Creed - When young Barry gets appendicitis aid comes from an unexpected quarter.
Double-Cross - The travellers get involved with two giant thieves.
The Weird World - The Spindrift crew encounter a nearly-mad survivor of an earlier space mission.
The Golden Cage - The giants try and trick Mark into betrayal.
The Lost Ones - The travellers help four teenage boys from a space-wreck two years earlier.
Brainwash - Steve is brainwashed, but why?.
The Bounty Hunter - The giant authorities try and caputure the "Spindrift" crew by offering a big reward.
On A Clear Night You Can See Earth - Murtrah a mad giant scientist captures two of the "little people".
Deadly Lodestone - Spying on the giants two of the group hear the giants outlining a new method of finding them. (First appearance of Inspector Kobick.)
The Night Of Thrombeldinar - Fitzhugh is caught by two giant orphans.
Seven Little Indians - When four members of the group are caught the others plan a daring rescue.
Target Earth - The giants need Marks knowledge to perfect a guidance system.
Genius At Work - Fitzhugh becomes giant sized, this presents big problems for the others.
Return Of Inidu - The travellers must prove a giant magician is innocent of murder.
Rescue - Two giant children chase the travellers into a storm drain and become trapped, but only the "little people" can save them.
Sabotage - The "little people" are caught up in a struggle between a kind giant Senator and a power-mad chief of Police.
The Shell Game - The travellers build a hearing aid for a giant deaf boy.
The Chase - Insp. Kobick forces the travellers to help him trap some freedom fighters.
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Season two - 25 episodes, coming soon.

Following the success of Irwin Allen's "Lost In Space", the same man then presented us with another entertaining sci-fi/adventure series here.
First broadcast in 1968, the series opens in the year 1983, with the sub-orbital spacecraft "The Spindrift" on a journey from Los Angeles to London.

En route the craft, piloted by Captain Steve Burton, (Gary Conway) with it's crew and passengers, are pulled into a space storm which forces the craft into a crash landing on a mysterious planet.
Everything appears to be Earthlike except for one considerable difference: Everyone and everything is twelve times it's size on Earth. The Earthlings now face a continual battle for survival, while attempting to repair the spacecraft for a return to Earth.
The giants are now attempting to hunt them down, the giant animal population also poses a great threat, the "giant" countryside provides some cover for the shipwrecked party.

As with Dr Smith in "Lost In Space", the show features a resident rascal amongst the passengers - the shifty and cowardly Commander Fitzhugh, (played by Kurt Kazner).
The scenery and effects are very good, especially when considering the series was made over 40 years ago. For those like me with fond memories of when this series was first broadcast, this is a very enjoyable trip down memory lane, and good entertainment for all the family.

The 4:3 colour picture and sound quality are excellent. This complete first series of twenty-six, 50 minute episodes is spread over seven discs.
Here is a list of the special features:

*Unaired Version Of The Pilot Episode (The Crash).
*Gary Conway Interview.
*Don Marshall Interview.
*Presentation Reel.
*Special Effects Shots (No Audio).
*Original US Broadcast information.
*Exclusive Booklet.
*English Subtitles.