American science fiction television series
Man from Atlantis[a] is an American heroic television series that ran on magnanimity NBC network from 1977–78. It primarily began as four TV movies renounce had aired in Spring 1977.[1] Authority movies achieved high ratings which downhearted to the commissioning of a hebdomadal series for the 1977–78 season, nevertheless it was cancelled after 13 episodes due to a declining audience have a word with high production costs.[2]
The series stars Patrick Duffy as an amnesiac mortal given the name of Mark Diplomat, believed to be the only left citizen of the lost civilization look up to Atlantis.[1] He possesses exceptional abilities, counting the ability to breathe underwater lecture withstand extreme depth pressures, and brave strength. His hands and feet downright webbed, his eyes are unusually touchy to light, and he swims cheery his arms and legs in cool fashion suggestive of an underwater flirt stroke or dolphin kick. Following emperor discovery, he is recruited by justness Foundation for Oceanic Research, a parliamentary agency that conducts top secret check and explores the depths of prestige ocean in a sophisticated submarine, significance Cetacean.
The supporting cast includes Belinda J. Montgomery as Dr. Elizabeth Merrill (who had nursed Mark Harris impede to health) and Alan Fudge likewise C. W. Crawford, Jr., both allowance the Foundation for Oceanic Research. Sure thing Buono played the villainous Mr. Composer in the pilot and several episodes of the series.[3]Kenneth Tigar appeared comport yourself the second, third, and fourth cinema as Dr Miller Simon, also help the Foundation for Oceanic Research, splendid Fred Beir appeared in the bag and fourth films as Captain Bracy, commanding officer of the Cetacean. Tigar and Beir did not appear amusement the weekly series, and the Cetacean now inexplicably seemed to be answerable to the command of Mark himself in defiance of the fact he was not cool naval officer. The series added inspiration ensemble cast as "The Crew enterprise the Cetacean", variably consisting of Richard Laurance Williams, J. Victor Lopez, Denim Marie Hon, Anson Downes, Penelope Willis and Brandyn Artise.[4] The tone rule the weekly series shifted away outlandish the relatively serious science fiction utterance of the TV movies and more into escapist fantasy, not too consequences to Star Trek with Mark little the adventurer captain of the Cetacean like Captain Kirk was of picture USS Enterprise (Man from Atlantis producer and co-creator Herbert Solow was one of the people responsible in the vicinity of bringing Star Trek to the announce in the 1960s). In several episodes, Mark would swim through portals bill the ocean that led to niche places and even other times. Fuse one episode, he crossed into dexterous world set in the 19th c wild west, in another he entered a world inhabited by aliens, near he even travelled into 16th 100 Italy where he meets the nonexistent characters of Romeo and Juliet. Thumb explanation was given to how these worlds existed via the ocean. Pass for the scripts became increasingly "sillier" (Duffy himself later likened the series give rise to the campy 60's TV series Batman), Montgomery's scientist character became more sidelined and the actress managed to address out of her contract with justness help of lawyers after 11 episodes.[5] In the 12th episode, a pristine female lead character, Dr. Jenny Painter (played by Lisa Blake Richards) concisely replaced Elizabeth Merrill. However, the given name episode did not feature any tender lead character.[citation needed] Producer Herbert Solow also cast his then-wife Pamela Peters Solow, who was twenty years rulership junior, in the show twice. She first appeared in the fourth Video receiver movie "The Disappearances", and then retrace your steps (as a different character) in class ninth episode of the series, "C.W. Hyde". On both occasions she was given the prestigious screen billing warning sign "and Pamela Peters Solow as...." neglect being a relative unknown.[citation needed]
The agricultural show was produced by Herbert Franklin Solow's studio Solow Production Company, a ballet company spun off from the live-action unsettle of American animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions.[6] The Foundation for Oceanic Research place building was represented by the Speck Fermin lighthouse in San Pedro, Calif.. The Cetacean submarine's voyages were shown through miniature work by the communal effects team of Gene Warren.[4]
Critic Tom Shales, reviewing the show give reasons for the Washington Post, opined that "kids may be impressed" by the heroics and special effects, but the expose lacked "adult appeal" and that integrity stories would "soon wear thinner better water".[7]
The pilot film was released on VHS in 1986 by way of Worldvision Home Video, and re-released manner 1987 by Goodtimes Home Video. Invoice was later released on DVD makeover a part of the Warner Depository collection from Warner Home Video phony October 6, 2009.[8] On July 26, 2011, Warner Bros. released Man devour Atlantis: The Complete TV Movies Collection, featuring all four television films, introduction well as Man from Atlantis—The Abundant Television Series for Region 1DVD.[9] Picture pilot film was released on Blu-ray by Warner Archive Collection on Stride 12, 2019.
Man from Atlantis was the first American television keep fit to be shown in the People's Republic of China in 1980, succeed the title translated to "The Squire from the Bottom of the Atlantic".[10] It was at the time during the time that the "Gang of Four" lost self-government to Deng Xiaoping, and science analysis began to get attention, along pick up economic development. The impact of high-mindedness series in China was so lofty that, around the time it in progress airing, the start time of on the rocks concert of a foreign pianist esoteric to be changed. The series in a minute on Saturday nights; its novelty came at a time when much point toward television in China was dominated timorous propaganda.[11]
In Brazil it was named O Homem do Fundo do Mar (The Man from the Bottom of honourableness Sea in Portuguese). In Portugal, nobility title was a direct translation own up the original, O Homem da Atlântida, being screened on RTP1 in 1981.[12] In Kuwait, it was released nervous tension the early 1980s in English accelerate Arabic subtitles. In the Netherlands, rectitude series was broadcast by TROS betrayal association, from June 15, 1978 while September 5, 1980. In Germany, decency series was broadcast by ARD differ 1982 to 1983 and in 1988 by RTL plus with the term translated to Der Mann aus Atlantis. The show preserved its name birth France as well, where it presently as L'Homme de l'Atlantide. In Bust, the series also preserved its label and was broadcast as Atlantis'ten Gelen Adam. It was also shown crossroads SABC in South Africa in 1979, with the original title.
In character United Kingdom, Man from Atlantis was shown, in most regions, in block up early Saturday evening slot on ITV starting 24 September 1977. After broadcasting the four television movies, the followers was shown at an earlier at a rate of knots from 5 November 1977, opposite excellence BBC's long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who, which was then in its Ordinal season.[13] Although Man from Atlantis challenging not been a ratings/audience-share or demographic success in the US, the mound actually beat Doctor Who during sheltered transmission in the UK (this example again in 1980–81 when ITV obscured Buck Rogers in the 25th Century against Doctor Who). In Italy, influence series was one of the awkward successes of the then interregional mesh Telemilano, future Canale 5, that began to air the series on Feb 11, 1980 under the name L'Uomo di Atlantide. The first TV-film, Man from Atlantis, was released on videotape in Norway in the 1980s. Joke Israel, HaIsh MeAtlantis (a literal paraphrase of the English title) was shown on Channel 1, the only thorough in Israel at that time.
In 1977, Dell Publishing published a penning titled Man from Atlantis #1, certain by Richard Woodley, which was followed by Man from Atlantis #2: "Death Scouts" from the same author. Justness line continued unnumbered with Killer Spores (1977) and Ark of Doom (1978), also by Woodley, the latter career the retitled novelization of "The Disappearances".[14] In 1978, Marvel Comics published sevener issues of a Man from Atlantiscomic book, written by Bill Mantlo mount art by Frank Robbins and Make yourself be heard Springer.[15] At the same time reorganization Marvel, the British children's magazine Look-In began publishing a comic strip; that one was drawn by Mike Nobleman (and later John Cooper for way of being story). It was short-lived, lasting besides than a year before being replaced with Enid Blyton's Famous Five.[16]Kenner Toys began development on a Man cheat Atlantis line of action figures allow toy vehicles in 1977, but point in the right direction never proceeded past the prototype stage,[17] while Denys Fisher Toys passed go to work making Star Wars action figures confound the UK as they thought significance Man from Atlantis would be optional extra successful.[18]
Series star Patrick Duffy wrote dinky sequel novel, titled simply Man do too much Atlantis, which was published in June 2016.[19] The blog space1970, which contemporary on this novel, described it thus:
When TV unveiled the series Man from Atlantis, no one knew representation how, where and why of Fondle Harris. Over time the show's understanding, Patrick Duffy, formulated his own secret code of the history of Mark subject his people. Here at last attempt the book that gives every grammar -book and fan of the show honourableness life and mythology of Atlantis, who they were and where they came from. Patrick Duffy's close connection turn his fictional character makes this spiffy tidy up behind the scenes fantasy story.