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Young Ysanne ChurchmanThe Swamps Of Jupiter (Super 8mm)

The Super 8mm version of The Swamps Of Jupiter runs to about fifteen minutes long. Instead of trimming padding and tightening up the episode (which in hindsight would have been a costly exercise considering the consumers aimed at), literally the first ten minutes have just been cut out. After the intact title sequence, and episode title caption, the film cuts direct to the scene where Colonel Raeburn contacts Larry Dart as Galasphere 024 is approaching Jupiter. The episode then plays without further edits until the end of the episode and the intact end titles.

There are a few points of interest. The first is there is no introductory "This is Earth, the year 2100..." prologue outlining the format. Examination of the film shows no edit or join, so this was always missing from it.

Young Ysanne ChurchmanSecondly, the break between parts one and two has been retained, with the film fading out and back in again. This is actually after the Galasphere is seen vanishing into Jupiter and not, as previously thought, straight after the next shot of the Galasphere orbiting the planet.

Finally, the leader tape of the film itself, prior to the countdown. Three frames have been exposed and are, presumably, from the original 35mm or 16mm print/negative used to make the 8mm version. These read:

(Frame 1) SPACE PATROL EPISODE I
(Frame 2) SWAMPS OF JUPITER
(Frame 3) REEL I

While it is fairly well established The Swamps Of Jupiter was intended to play as the introductory episode, this is the first proof this was actually the case. One can only wonder if any of the other episodes have numbers exposed in the first few frames, revealing an intended order...

(Left: Galasphere 347 flies past Saturn in the titles of The Swamps Of Jupiter and right: the frames indicating the title and episode number)


The Robot Revolution (Standard 8mm)

Young Ysanne ChurchmanThe Standard 8mm version of The Robot Revolution also runs to about fifteen minutes long. There is a noticeable difference and drop in quality to the Super 8mm film, with the image appearing quite 'soft'. However, the sound quality is notably superior.

Like The Swamps Of Jupiter about the first ten minutes have also just been cut out. However, on this version, the titles are not intact and the leader countdown is missing - the episode starts with the shot of the Galasphere passing the moon before the series title shot. It is believed, as another Super 8mm version of The Swamps Of Jupiter has been seen with a similar cut, that this was made at some point after issue either by a seller or owner, possibly due to damage.

After the episode title caption, the film then has the introductory prologue and continues with the shot of Space Headquartes and the landing stage rising to meet the approaching Galasphere. The Galasphere lands (see left) and the connection module extends to meet it. Then the film cuts direct to an establishing shot of the Scientific Headquarters, and continues from there with Colonel Raeburn enquiring if the mechanism is from one of the destroyed robots.

As with The Swamps Of Jupiter, a break fade has been retained but this is in an wholly different place than expected. It occurs at the end of the scene where a robot chases Larry Dart after he has left Raeburn's office, fading out as the door shuts the robot out. The film then fades back in with an establishing shot of Space Headquarters and continues from there without further edits.

(Left: Galasphere 347 lands at Space Headquarters at the start of The Robot Revolution: note the larger sprockets in comparison to the Super 8 films)


Mystery On The Moon

No details of either version available.


The Miracle Tree Of Saturn (Super 8mm)

Young Ysanne ChurchmanThe Miracle Tree Of Saturn also runs to about fifteen minutes long - again the first ten minutes have just been completely excised. After the title sequence, episode title caption and introductory prologue, the film jumps to an establishing shot of the Space Headquarters Rest Room building before continuing where Professor Haggarty asks Colonel Raeburn if there is any news of Larry Dart. Again, after this, the film pays with no further edits until the end where the titles are again complete.

Strangely, there is no commercial fade apparent on this film unlike The Swamps Of Jupiter or The Robot Revolution.

But like The Swamps Of Jupiter, there are a couple of exposed frames again giving the episode title and reel (se right), though regrettably no episode number!



If you have any of the home movie versions of Space Patrol, or documented details, please do contact us and we will add them in an update.
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The Swamps Of Jupiter
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Mystery On The Moon
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Episode Guide Series Two
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'