Stingray: the Complete Series [DVD] [1964]

You wouldn't think it would be possible to imbue a puppet series with all the flamboyant colour and camp of the 1960's - yet here it is.

'Stingray' is gloriously of its time. A deliciously CGI-free world of deep-sea despots, mechanical war-fish, relentless xenophobia and populist rough justice.
It's the completely believable adventures of the Marineville-based World Aquanaut Security Patrol: Troy Tempest, Phones, Atlanta, Commander Shore, exiled sea-nymph Marina, and their self-righteous policing of nasty races, skulking and scheming at the bottom of the sea.

Much fun's to be had spotting the real folk the puppets are based on: Marina is obviously Ursula Andress, Shore displays more than a hint of Spencer Tracy, evil scourge Surface Agent X 2 Zero's voice is clearly Peter Lorre - in fact there's only Tempest himself a tad unclear. I've always thought it was probably some early 60's crooner like Dickie Valentine - the jury's out.

'Stingray' has the most exciting opening credit sequence of any tv series ever. Oil rigs collapse, a whole marine base disappears underground, huge noisy war-planes raze the sky, explosions, shootings, missiles, a jarring jump from black and white to vivid colour; all accompanied by the rousing and urgent theme music - in my opinion never bettered - by Barry Gray.

On the un-PC front 'Stingray' is a joy. The 'Loch Ness Monster' episode is APPALLINGLY offensive and the WASPs seem to a have a very civilised - if unfashionable - shoot-on-site policy:
Phones: "Hey Troy, I'm picking up a small craft on the echo-finder."
Tempest: "Prepare Sting Missiles!" .
They smoke, drink, play poker and there's an underwater prison called Aquatraz (!) which makes Guantanamo Bay look like the Holiday Inn.

The 60's endorsed sexism is admirably emphatic. Both female characters have massive crushes on Tempest (of course) but instead of filling his boots, he acts so gallant, coy and condescending - he gets neither.
Personally, although Andress/Marina is desirably mute, I'd go for Atlanta. She's a hot red-head, dreamily voiced by old Moneypenny herself - Lois Maxwell, and is the daughter of Commander Shore, so there's more chance of promotion.

The only down-side to 'Stingray' is that it was commissioned for children so no-one gets even slightly killed....

As a child in the suburbs of New York City in 1965, I was enchanted by Stingray. We had a color TV back then and this was one of my favorite shows. Being able to watch Stingray again is a real treat. (Of course having a region-free/multistandard player helps quite a bit). The episodes are quite entertaining, and there is still a little rush of adrenaline when I hear "Stand by for Action!" and the roll of the drums... The quality of the set is excellent and the navigation through the menus is a breeze. An absolute must have for all Supermarionation fans...

First off, I have kids, two 'Big Fellas' and I bought the Thunderbirds DVD set. Obviously, not for them, for me. In the age of special effects etc, what would possibly be compared to some silly puppets bouncing about the screen. Well.... For a start, the sets, Look at the detail, look at the plot, look at the entire scene. Make believe but oh so sweet. It doesn't matter that you see some stupid strings dangling down from the nether regions, your enticed, you picture yourself in there. Yes, I know, the flames look to big....... So what!!!! when there is a splash in the water, its way to big...... So what!!! Troy can sort it. Send Marina down to investigate. Tell you what..... Go buy the damn thing!!! The most enjoyable experience sitting down :) Times change, visual identity grows. Its 40 years of glorious age and it still hangs on in there. Hail Gerry/Silvia. In the word of the all mighty.... Long live Supermarionation!!