m-ozfirat
The Gerry Anderson shows done in the 1960s especially the puppet entertainment were then as are now very captivating and charming done in an age were animation was the dominant format. Unlike now were everything is digital or electronic based wanting to produce state of the art the puppet format had elegance and was realistic rather then superficial wanting to produce art. In the era of the swinging sixties Anderson produced great entertainment such as Thunderbirds but Stingray has a romantic attraction to it rather then one of espionage although it still follows the same format of Cold War propaganda it is none the less written well for adventure and action that keeps everyone entertained. The characters are not just Macho or Marshall but are genuine and their lead role being based on merit and the key female Marina is a genuine beauty with Grecian elegance. The music is also good and captivating. The setting is very sixties though in a more technological format as it was then. The adventures under water stresses the mystery of the Sea and the use of imagination of the audience for a good thriller. A classic that will stand the test of time in an era of limited creativity.
Jackson Booth-Millard
In the 1960s Gerry Anderson coined the phrase "Supermarionation" (a portmanteau of "super", "marionette" and "animation") for his puppet television shows, this was one of his most successful series, and one I grew up with in childhood. Basically set in the year 2065, the story revolves around the adventures of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP), a security organisation based at Marineville, specifically with the highly sophisticated combat submarine Stingray. Captain Troy Tempest (Don Mason) is the pilot of Stingray, his navigator and hydrophone operator is Lieutenant George Lee "Phones" Sheridan (Robert Easton), and they are joined by regular crew member Marina, a beautiful mute young woman, a rescued slave, who can breathe underwater. Marineville is commanded by "hoverchair"-bound Commander Samuel "Sam" Shore (Ray Barrett), his daughter Lieutenant Atlanta Shore (James Bond's Lois Maxwell) is infatuated with Troy, but he is enamoured with Marina, there is also sub-Lieutenant John Horatio Fisher (Ray Barrett) working in Marineville's control room. The main missions of Marineville are to protect the oceans from attack and investigate strange underwater activities, and when there is trouble the alerts for "action stations", "launch stations", and "battle stations" are sounded, with Marineville safe in underground bunkers, and missiles on standby. Throughout the series the Stingray crew encounter a number of underwater races, both friendly and hostile, their most frequent enemy is tyrannical ruler Titan (Ray Barrett) of the underwater city of Titanica, with his aquatic warrior race the Aquaphibians, and his Surface Agent X-2- Zero (Robert Easton). Also starring David Graham as Oink the seal pup and Doc and Sylvia Anderson as Barry Byrne. Stingray was the first British television series to be broadcast entirely in colour throughout. There were 39 episodes of this classic show, the puppet characters are all likable, the stories all have their own charm, the music by Barry Gray, including the closing credits song "Aqua Marina" by Gary Miller, is great, and there are a good amount of exciting underwater chases, explosions and laughs to keep you watching, it is a most entertaining show for adults and children alike, a great family action adventure. Very good!
StuOz
Of the 39 episodes, the following nine are essential viewing:The Pilot, well filmed Motion Picture TV with wonderful sets, effects, colour and music. Treasure Down Below, an episode driven by characterisation, mainly Phones and Troy getting all worked up about the treasure and taking the sub to dangerous waters, a classic! The Big Gun, wonderful colour, action and effects. The Golden Sea, good science fiction story and great effects.The Ghost Of The Sea, for once, Commander Shore gets out of the office and goes on a Stingray mission with Troy, giving this episode an Admiral Nelson/Captain Crane voyage to the bottom of the sea feel.Emergency Marineville, a wonderful special effects episode. Subterranean Sea, perhaps the best scripted science fiction episode of the series as this very colourful show enters a new sea world and the ending will put a smile on your face, a classic! Pink Ice, perhaps the second best sci-fi outing of the Stingray series, the title says it all, yes pink icebergs all over the world (including Australia!) and the effects will blow you away!.Deep Heat, more sci-fi as this wonderfully filmed adventure goes to the very bottom of the sea!
Big Movie Fan
I liked Stingray a lot. It was a great Gerry Anderson show right up there with Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet.It was quite a depressing show in a way. I don't know what it is but I find anything set underwater depressing. The bottom of the ocean doesn't look like a nice place even in real life. It was quite a gloomy show. I suppose the evil villain called Titan added to the gloom.However, just when things were getting too gloomy Troy Tempest and Phones (and the beautiful Marina) went into action in Stingray to combat Titan and his evil plans. This show was a 25 minute show which was just the right length to set up a story and action.I may be crazy saying this but as a child I found Atlanta and Marina extremely beautiful which probably added to my enjoyment of the show.