The Invaders

Re: The Invaders

I am now sure that it's only a matter of time before this one gets a release. With Untouchables, Fugitive and Streets of SF coming, Invaders is inevitable. Maybe not in 07 but it will happen.

IT'S NOT 'ME' SAYING THAT!!!!!

I'm not trashing anything here! Those are comments made by a professional...to be accepted or rejected! It does provide some (interesting) contrast to the other SF tv series contemporaries of THE INVADERS however (and which I do happen to agree with).

If you like a tv show then you (properly) promote it with valid reasons more relevant than "I think it's a really great tv show" which to the average DVD consumer out there doesn't really mean too much. Some of the tv properties being suggested for release here quite frankly sound about as captivating as yesterday's leftovers!

People want something that they will enjoy again and again and again...in other words rewatchability!

Of course these are all the perspectives of a bona fide SF fan and contrary to what has been suggested here such genre programs like THE TWILIGHT ZONE, WAY OUT!, THE OUTER LIMITS, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE TIME TUNNEL, THE PRISONER and THE INVADERS despite their definite superior quality, creative innovation and undeniable mass appeal are not necessarily popular with the average classic tv series buff per se.

Do not make the mistake of generically lumping them all together!

In response to Michael's message post THE UNTOUCHABLES (ABC 1959-63) is not a QM Production but Mr. Martin was a staff producer for this Desilu Production's first season (1959-60) only before going off to establish his own television dynasty.

Jeff T.

Re: The Invaders

Agreed. This was Thinnes' penultimate role and he just fit so seamlessly into the fabric of the series in much the same way as Janssen did in "Fugitive". Of all the QM shows this is the one I'm most familiar with eventhough I've probably only seen slightly more than half of the series. My Dad never really committed to memory or spoke of actors in their roles but Roy Thinnes was one he sure raved over.

I did have a few segments when they came out on video around 20 years ago. I practically wore out "The Saucer" (starred Anne Francis).


True--I stand corrected on that one.

Re: IT'S NOT 'ME' SAYING THAT!!!!!

I thought that post came from you Jeff. I didnt see a credit to a reviewer on it. Course comparing some Trek to The Invaders is apples to oranges IMO. I always thought The Invaders was more like The Fugitive, or even The Incredible Hulk. I see a bit of X Files, but its not a contemporary of The Invaders.

I do hope that it comes out on DVD soon. Plenty of classic shows need to turn up, and most are worlds better than current TV fare.

PET FAVOURITES...WHO DOESN'T HAVE THEM?!!!!!!

Pertaining to my "pet favourites" I have lent my support to (classic) tv series that I feel should be more on the public consciousness and warrant a DVD release.

I have started two successful discussion threads on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA which I strongly felt (at the time) should have been made available on DVD.

As the Amazon.com (and Amazon.ca) sales results have proven both did outstandingly well indeed!

I would have loved to started a discussion thread on THE INVADERS but I was preoccupied with getting my VOYAGE discussion thread (successfully) launched and someone else just happened to beat me to it.

I have further contributed to many other (prospective) tv series in discussion threads begun by others here (as my message post history will confirm).

Generally I like to give attention to those dormant and inaccessible tv properties that are not necessarily front runners...but (in my estimation) should be!

Both LOST IN SPACE and STAR TREK were produced and aired around the same time as THE INVADERS which (in my view) makes them its contemporaries.

The quotes provided are meant to establish a distinctive identity for THE INVADERS and illustrate its place in television history.

Jeff T.

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I don't doubt The Invaders would do at least as well as many of its contemporaries have on DVD. I hope it gets released soon. I can't imagine what the hold up is. But if The Fugitive and other era shows prove to be successful in 2007, perhaps that will help The Invaders.

Re: IT'S NOT 'ME' SAYING THAT!!!!!

Agree 100% That's one of the most important parameters that I look at before buying a TV/DVD set. Invaders is an automatic-buy for me. "They will land".

Re: The Invaders

Well as the studios continue their search for things to release onto DVD - moving down the ladder from "obvious sure fire blockbuster sellers" (like Star Trek) to "less obvious cult shows that are surefire sellers but to a smaller market" (like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) The Invaders is a pretty obvious choice.

Of course sadly, certain shows are casualties of the dreaded Rights.

It may be that The Invaders will get held up in Rights Hell, suffering the fate of the Batman TV series...

Let's hope not but it does show that popularity and virtually certain good sales don't guarantee a release for anything.

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This show will be a must buy for me, I remember watching it on weekends and loving it. Thinnes was excellent and the special effects were great, I love how the aliens desintegrated. Hopefully it will be released sometime soon.

THE INVADERS - THE 40th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION!!!!!

Well hopefully THE GREEN HORNET (ABC 1966-67) will ultimately be able to extricate itself from the legal gridlock that this popular Bruce Lee tv classic is currently entangled in.

Pertaining specifically to THE INVADERS I can't help but intuit that there are certain (influencial) administrative proponents that are mulling over something more ambitious for this 1960s SF tv classic which has a wealth of material and potential for a more substantial DVD release above a mere domestic issue of just the episodes themselves. Especially an extensive overhall involving a full restoration and digital remastering of all 43 colour hour long episodes.

- There is the 75 minute unaired pilot of "Beachhead" (10/01/1967)

- Roy Thinnes is still very much alive and can (significantly) provide a firsthand background account on his participation in addition to this show's fascinating history.

- Many of the key QM production personnel who were involved are also still readily available for consultation and extensive audio commentaries and taped oncamera interviews

- THE INVADERS had virtually many of the identical guest performers who participated in THE TWILIGHT ZONE - THE DEFINITIVE EDITION multi-season collections and could (likely) be approached and encouraged in providing audio commentaries and taped interviews for such a DVD release

- There is THE INVADERS (1995) two part four hour mini-series (starring Scott Bakula with an appearance made by Roy Thinnes) that could be included as a bonus extra

- The original tv promos (for both seasons)

The fact that there is (a manageable) 43 episodes works very well in such an extensive project's favour as it won't (overall) incur too heavily an expense on the consumer making it a very attractive acquisition.

THE INVADERS (confortably) enjoys the identical (formidable) consumer demographic as such other noteworthy classic genre tv series that includes THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., STAR TREK, THE TIME TUNNEL, THE PRISONER, ROD SERLING'S NIGHT GALLERY, KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER, SPACE: 1999, et al.

SF fans demand and expect more from their (favourite) film and tv series DVD commodities...and are willing to pay the (extra) cost for them (ie. THE TWILIGHT ZONE - THE DEFINITIVE EDITION COLLECTION, THE PRISONER - THE 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, FORBIDDEN PLANET - THE 50th ANNIVERSARY 'SPECIAL EDITION').

Yes, we just may be in for a very pleasant surprise indeed!

Jeff T.

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Thanks for the compliment on my box art. That's actually my designed image of the front DVD box insert art of my personal Invaders DVD disks. Jeff asked to post the image I had over at The Invaders Yahoo group he moderates. I created art labels for the DVD's too.

I was just so frustrated that I made my own set that looks like an official release. BTW, I'm a Graphic Artist.

Here's what the completed set looks like.

I'M SOLD!!!!!!

Let's see some of the other tv properties being proposed for a DVD release come up with a graphic design better than that!

This goes well beyond the opinions of a single individual but THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) is going to be a sleeper commercial success and that's just the (limitless) potential of the packaging design being previewed...just wait until awestruck consumers see the actual tv series itself!

This is one of those classic 1960s tv series not unlike VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (ABC 1964-68) and THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67) that is waiting to be rediscovered and prove its clout in DVD retail sales with today's discerning purchasing demographic.

This is one television show DVD collection that won't end up in the Walmart bargain basement bin like so many other previous failures have!

Jeff T.

THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVADERS!!!!!

Just in case any INVADERS aficionados here are interested 2007 marks the 40th Anniversary of this groundbreaking 1960s SF tv series landmark and if you would like to share your (enthusiastic) interest with like-minded fans then you are cordially welcomed to join our discussion group:

THE INVADERS FAN FORUM (Click Here)

Let's see an INVADERS DVD release in 2007!

Jeff T.

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Jeff, I didn't know if you'd heard that Laurence Heath, the writer of four episodes of The Invaders, died recently? Sad news.

Re: The Invaders

BTW anyone interested in The Invaders should join the Yahoo Group that Jeff moderates. It's a fantastic resource and has other people that are passionate about the show and share great information.

Tom

LAURENCE HEATH!!!!!

Thank you for the notification Julian!

I was able to glean some information on Mr. Heath's recent passing and promptly reported it to our INVADERS forum membership.

Jeff T.

Re: The Invaders

Does anyone think they'll laser scan the film like the Star Trek Remastered episodes to give "The Invaders" in an HD-DVD release? I'd be happy if they redid the Special FX shots of the saucers so it looked better in HD-DVD.

Tom

A STATE-OF-THE-ART DVD RELEASE!!!!!

People here can rattle off their favourite television series (new and old) all they want to but the fact remains that THE INVADERS will be one of those enduring tv properties that will always sustain considerable interest especially among SF enthusiasts generation-after-generation.

In that context I am certain Paramount-CBS Television Home Entertainment will endeavour to restore and preserve the original 35 mm colour source elements to optimum condition for continued reuse when the need arises.

With the considerable success of its more respectable contemporaries like THE TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1959-64), VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (ABC 1964-68) and THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67) setting the proper example and pointing the way to just what the public out there is really willing to buy it still remains to be seen when Paramount is going to finally get on the ball and get things started on this.

There is nothing more reprehensibly absurd and imbelically foolish than holding back inevitable progress. SF is extremely popular especially now in the 21st Century more than ever...and always will be! So let's stop living in the Stone Age on this and advance forward by getting this exceptional 1960s classic SF tv series available on a quality DVD release.

Pertaining to any dramatic changes or technical alterations of the original visual effects are concerned I have already stated my definite (guarded) reluctance toward any such deliberate tampering myself. My acceptance would really depend upon the actual results.

Jeff T.

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I only saw one show of this series and it was the first episode off of a VHS tape a few years ago. I very much enjoyed it between the mood in that episode, its storyline, the acting, the music and the suspense. I came away from it thinking that all sci fi shows that have been released in the past several years are not nearly as good as this (for the record my favorite sci fi franchise is Space 1999 followed by Planet of the Apes, however this is probably right up there with them from what I saw). This left me with an impression that would certainly have me motivated to buy the series if it were available on DVD.

If it were released I would not want the shows to be tampered with in any way. I would want to view the shows as they originally aired. Any attempt to make it "better" would make me feel as though I was being robbed of that experience.

Re: The Invaders

As I recall (I've got about a dozen of the old Goodtimes taped episodes), there wasn't very much in the way of spaceship effects anyway in the series. It was essentially about the Earthbound paranoia of our hero David Vincent as he tried to convince others of the truth as he knew it. Special effects were relegated to occasional weapons, tools, and equipment that the invaders used in their pursuit and evasion of Mr. Vincent, and the still-cool effect of them disappearing in the red heat/light as they died.

This just wasn't a special effects-fest in any way.

Harry

Re: The Invaders

I'd agree with that - the show is basically about a covert "Invasion" by stealth rather than by the use of overwhelming force and (very!) superior technology.

It fits in the the story line of the aliens being from a "dying planet" and thus without the resources to stage a classic invasion. And also conveniently avoided the practical and financial impossibilities of doing a show featuring just that!

In many ways, the theme was echoed in the later TV series "U.F.O." which featured a similar sort of "invasion".

Re: The Invaders

Harry, Richard, your posts are Invaders will "land" sooner or later to DVD. It's only the waiting that's tough for this one. Great series and as you guys said, ground-breakng in several ways.

Jeff "We're with you, Jeff T and we'll be 'ing when the 's land" Willis

HAPPY 69th BIRTHDAY TO ROY THINNES!!!!!

THE INVADERS FAN FORUM joyously acknowledges the 69th birthday of Roy Thinnes (born on April 06th, 1938) and his (now) legendary characterization as David Vincent on the classic 1960s SF tv series THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007.

A most HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Roy Thinnes!

What a fine tribute to both if Paramount Pictures-CBS Television Home Entertainment would finally get around to making this exceptional Quinn Martin Productions show available on a (quality) DVD release to commemorate its 40th anniversary.

It still isn't too late for such a deadline...the year isn't finished yet!

THE INVADERS FAN FORUM (Click Here.)

Jeff T.

Re: The Invaders

The Invaders is definitely coming to DVD courtesy of Paramount.

A *UK* release has just been announced (on http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=64790 - a very reputable news site) for a release date of 17th September.

So expect an announcement for Region 1 very soon!

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Did i judt hear JeffT's heart stop?

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Oh my! Fantastic news! JeffT, your (space)ship has arrived... "The Fugitive" and "The Invaders"--what a great 1-2 for '07!

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Yeah, I bet JeffT's 'ing in the streets right now

"All of us at HTF are happy for you, dude!" Let's

One thing's for sure...if this release gets delayed in R1, I'm sure glad I bought that R-free/PAL player But, wait....we're getting the word from the VLA site in Socorro, New Mexico....tracking an Unidentified Object passing Proxima Centauri (4.22 Light-Years from us). Factoring the Hubble Constant at 77, they should land in R1 territory in November (I was an Astronomer buff at one time...)

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Glad to see there will be some relief for the fans of the series...if only imports for a little while (as a bionic fan I sympathize)

as a kid in the late 70's, I recall seeing odd bits of Invaders merchandise here and there at flea markets all the time. Being a monster kid/sci-fi/fantasy fan, I always wondered what the shows was like, and to this day still have yet to be able to see one ep of it. They had an entry for it in a book I used to have as a kid called Fantastic Television, which is basically an episode guide to all the fantasy series produced up to that time (about 1976 iirc).
Sounds good, though the writer of the book believed that the series started to spin its wheels in the second season. At the very least, I would happily blind buy a season one (or, groan, S1 vol 1) set to check it out.

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As a fellow Bionic fan, you said it, Paul That's the big advantage, for me, with the R-free player. I doubt the Invaders will fall into that Black Hole of no R1 release though. No legal logjam appears present as is the case with the 2 Bionic series.

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I still have that book. I also had a model of the alien space ship. It was a crappy model, but a cool ship.