Unused Thunderbirds Scenes in COI Film

[Rick O'Shea]

I have seen a COI film on YouTube which I think was originally on one of the old Channel 5 Thunderbirds videos where behind the scenes shots are featured. As well as a clip from the first episode (which according to the narrator was set "in the year 2000") and a shot of many of the puppets hanging on a rail, there were two strange scenes that never featured in a Thunderbirds episode - there was a scene with Derek Meddings's team blowing up a ship and another scene with John (yes, John!) and Virgil in some kind of control room which looked like a set that was never in the series. Were these deleted scenes?

[Picasso61]

Rick - I think that scene with John and Virgil was in Thunderbird 5 from memory and it must be a deleted scene because I can't recall these two being together in that situation. This film and the shot of Derek Medding's team appears on the 9 disc Carlton DVD box set which came out in 2000 although I can't think which particular DVD.

[colin]

well, the ship blowing up could possibly have been from the beginning of 'The Man from MI5'

The other scene could well have been a test scene to check on lighting or perhaps puppet operation.

Of course, they could well have been set up specifically for the Central Office of Information (who produced the film)

[Picasso61]

Rick - I think that scene with John and Virgil was in Thunderbird 5 from memory and it must be a deleted scene because I can't recall these two being together in that situation. This film and the shot of Derek Medding's team appears on the 9 disc Carlton DVD box set which came out in 2000 although I can't think which particular DVD.Just watched the film again and it's not Thunderbird 5. Any ideas?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPD_CO8rvQ

[Purupuss]

Since John was originally going to have a bigger role until Gerry Anderson decided he didn't like him, perhaps it is a cutting room floor clip?

[Chrisof]

I Think it was specially filmed for parade, it was quite a big deal back then i think. The control room looks like the almalgamtion of a number of sets, Is that the console from city of fire?

[air terrainean]

Pretty sure you're right Chris - I think the crew came in on a Saturday to film the two scenes specifically for the documentary - though I can't really understand why they should go that trouble ! The model shot indicates that Day of Disaster effects were being shot by Derek's unit during that week, and they probably got the Wadi off the shelf to stage the sequence as it was probably one of the better looking boat models they had at the time. The puppet unit set looks similar the airport control room seen in Edge of Impact, though I'm not sure it's exactly the same. Again, the puppets used were probably those nearest to hand when the documentary was filmed, which would probably have been around April/May 1965

[Rick O'Shea]

Thanks for the new info. I am quite surprised they decided to shoot these scenes specifically for the documentary. I also like the scene where the automatic mouth movement is being demonstrated with Sir Jeremy Hodge's head!

[kennetzel]

Hey Rich, I am glad you posted this question because the same question ran through my head the other day. I was watching the Thunderbirds the other day and checked out this special feature and saw the same scene with John and VIrgil in the control room and realizing I never saw that scene before and what was it for. Thanks guys for the explinations. These boards are very informative thanks the all the experts here.