Manhunt (Captain Scarlet episode)
Encyclopedia
"Manhunt" is the fourth episode of the Supermarionation
television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
. It was first broadcast in the UK on 20 October 1967 on ATV Midlands, was written by Tony Barwick
and directed by Alan Perry. In this episode, Spectrum launches a ground search for Captain Black
after he becomes detectable on long-range Geiger counter
s.
, who is forced to quickly slip away after he is discovered by security staff. Entering a radioactive area, he is exposed to a short-life atomic isotope
, which leaves him detectable on long-range Geiger counter
s for a period of 48 hours. Spectrum, which now has proof that Black has been a Mysteron
agent since the Zero-X
mission's return to Earth
, begins a ground search with Detector Trucks in an attempt to capture him.
Within the search area around the Culver Atomic Centre, Black murders a fuel station mechanic to access a concealed Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle
. When Captains Scarlet
and Blue
arrive to requisition the SPV, they encounter the Mysteron reconstruction of the mechanic, who attempts to shoot them but is gunned down by Scarlet. The Detector Trucks pick up Black's trace as he speeds down a highway. Captain Ochre mounts a roadblock
to stop him, but Black is warned of the obstruction by the Mysteron voice and ordered to return to the Culver Atomic Centre, where he will be undetectable to Spectrum within the surrounding radiation. Symphony Angel, sighting Black from the air, lands her interceptor
nearby. She is abducted by Black, who drives through the Culver gates to gain entry to the complex.
By night, the Spectrum forces have converged on the Atomic Centre. Inside, Black forces Symphony into an isolation chamber and subjects her to lethal radiation, but switches off the controls before his hostage dies. Instead, he forces Symphony to drive out of the atomic centre in the SPV. While Scarlet and the others pursue the vehicle, believing that Black is the driver, the entrance to the complex is left unguarded, enabling Black to pass through a cleansing facility to remove his radiation before escaping. Spectrum becomes aware of the deception when Symphony inadvertently crashes the SPV.
's release of Symphony in "Manhunt" marks one of the few occasions in Captain Scarlet when his morality overpower the Mysteron
influence controlling his body. The episode is not the last to feature Spectrum coming within striking distance of Black — the organisation makes a second attempt to capture him in "Treble Cross
", which incorporates footage recycled from this episode. "Manhunt" also introduces David Healy
as a voice actor for Captain Scarlet, here providing the voices of a Culver guard and a Spectrum geiger counter operator.
The music heard on the mechanic's radio in the scene when he is murdered by Black was originally the title music for Gerry Anderson
's film Crossroads to Crime
(1960). Other incidental music
featured in "Manhunt" was recorded by Barry Gray
on 16 April 1967 with tracks for the preceding episode, "Big Ben Strikes Again
". The studio session, which ran for four hours, used a 14 member orchestra and produced 4 minutes 7 seconds of music.
, Martin Day
and Keith Topping
suggest that "Manhunt" amounts to "little more than left-over Thunderbirds
scripts".
Supermarionation
Supermarionation is a puppetry technique devised in the 1960s by British production company AP Films. It was used extensively in the company's numerous Gerry and Sylvia Anderson-produced action-adventure series, the most famous of which was Thunderbirds...
television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often referred to as Captain Scarlet, is a 1960s British science-fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Productions company of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, John Read and Reg Hill...
. It was first broadcast in the UK on 20 October 1967 on ATV Midlands, was written by Tony Barwick
Tony Barwick
Tony Barwick was a British television scriptwriter who worked extensively on series created and produced by Gerry Anderson....
and directed by Alan Perry. In this episode, Spectrum launches a ground search for Captain Black
Captain Black (Captain Scarlet)
Captain Black is the fictional nemesis of Captain Scarlet and recurring Mysteron agent in the 1960s British supermarionation science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet...
after he becomes detectable on long-range Geiger counter
Geiger counter
A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...
s.
Plot
The Culver Atomic Centre has been infiltrated by Captain BlackCaptain Black (Captain Scarlet)
Captain Black is the fictional nemesis of Captain Scarlet and recurring Mysteron agent in the 1960s British supermarionation science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet...
, who is forced to quickly slip away after he is discovered by security staff. Entering a radioactive area, he is exposed to a short-life atomic isotope
Isotope
Isotopes are variants of atoms of a particular chemical element, which have differing numbers of neutrons. Atoms of a particular element by definition must contain the same number of protons but may have a distinct number of neutrons which differs from atom to atom, without changing the designation...
, which leaves him detectable on long-range Geiger counter
Geiger counter
A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...
s for a period of 48 hours. Spectrum, which now has proof that Black has been a Mysteron
Mysteron
The Mysterons are a fictional race of extraterrestrials, native to the planet Mars, which appear in the British science fiction Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet, symbolised by ubiquitous projected green rings and the deep...
agent since the Zero-X
Zero-X
The Zero-X is a fictitious Earth spacecraft that appeared in two of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation productions...
mission's return to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, begins a ground search with Detector Trucks in an attempt to capture him.
Within the search area around the Culver Atomic Centre, Black murders a fuel station mechanic to access a concealed Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle
Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle
The Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle is a fictional pursuit and attack vehicle from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons .-Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons:...
. When Captains Scarlet
Captain Scarlet (character)
Captain Scarlet is the fictional main character in Gerry Anderson's British Supermarionation science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet....
and Blue
Captain Blue (Captain Scarlet)
Captain Blue is a character in the 1967 Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. He is a senior officer of the Spectrum organisation and a close friend of Captain Scarlet....
arrive to requisition the SPV, they encounter the Mysteron reconstruction of the mechanic, who attempts to shoot them but is gunned down by Scarlet. The Detector Trucks pick up Black's trace as he speeds down a highway. Captain Ochre mounts a roadblock
Roadblock
A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be:*Roadworks*Temporary road closure during special events*Police chase*Robbery*Sobriety checkpoint...
to stop him, but Black is warned of the obstruction by the Mysteron voice and ordered to return to the Culver Atomic Centre, where he will be undetectable to Spectrum within the surrounding radiation. Symphony Angel, sighting Black from the air, lands her interceptor
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
nearby. She is abducted by Black, who drives through the Culver gates to gain entry to the complex.
By night, the Spectrum forces have converged on the Atomic Centre. Inside, Black forces Symphony into an isolation chamber and subjects her to lethal radiation, but switches off the controls before his hostage dies. Instead, he forces Symphony to drive out of the atomic centre in the SPV. While Scarlet and the others pursue the vehicle, believing that Black is the driver, the entrance to the complex is left unguarded, enabling Black to pass through a cleansing facility to remove his radiation before escaping. Spectrum becomes aware of the deception when Symphony inadvertently crashes the SPV.
Production
Captain BlackCaptain Black (Captain Scarlet)
Captain Black is the fictional nemesis of Captain Scarlet and recurring Mysteron agent in the 1960s British supermarionation science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet...
's release of Symphony in "Manhunt" marks one of the few occasions in Captain Scarlet when his morality overpower the Mysteron
Mysteron
The Mysterons are a fictional race of extraterrestrials, native to the planet Mars, which appear in the British science fiction Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet, symbolised by ubiquitous projected green rings and the deep...
influence controlling his body. The episode is not the last to feature Spectrum coming within striking distance of Black — the organisation makes a second attempt to capture him in "Treble Cross
Treble Cross
"Treble Cross" is the 21st episode of the Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. It was first broadcast in the UK on on ATV Midlands, was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry....
", which incorporates footage recycled from this episode. "Manhunt" also introduces David Healy
David Healy (actor)
David Healy was an American-born actor who starred in many British and American television shows. His credits include voices for the Supermarionation series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90 and The Secret Service, as well as parts in UFO, The Troubleshooters, Randall and Hopkirk , Space...
as a voice actor for Captain Scarlet, here providing the voices of a Culver guard and a Spectrum geiger counter operator.
The music heard on the mechanic's radio in the scene when he is murdered by Black was originally the title music for Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson MBE is a British publisher, producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called "Supermarionation"....
's film Crossroads to Crime
Crossroads to Crime
Crossroads to Crime is a 1960 British crime film, the directorial debut of Gerry Anderson and the only motion picture of his production company, AP Films...
(1960). Other incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
featured in "Manhunt" was recorded by Barry Gray
Barry Gray
Barry Gray was a British musician and composer who is best known for his work for Gerry Anderson.-Life:...
on 16 April 1967 with tracks for the preceding episode, "Big Ben Strikes Again
Big Ben Strikes Again
"Big Ben Strikes Again" is the third episode of the Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. It was first broadcast in the UK on on ATV Midlands, written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess...
". The studio session, which ran for four hours, used a 14 member orchestra and produced 4 minutes 7 seconds of music.
Reception
In The Guinness Book of Classic British TV, writers Paul CornellPaul Cornell
Paul Cornell is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield....
, Martin Day
Martin Day
Martin Day is a screenwriter and novelist best known for his work on various spin-offs related to the BBC Television series Doctor Who, and many episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and Family Affairs.-Work:...
and Keith Topping
Keith Topping
Keith Andrew Topping , is an author, journalist and broadcaster most closely associated with his work relating to the BBC Television series Doctor Who and for writing numerous official and unofficial guide books to a wide variety of television and film series, specifically Buffy the Vampire...
suggest that "Manhunt" amounts to "little more than left-over Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds (TV series)
Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s science fiction television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation"...
scripts".
External links
- "Manhunt" at Fanderson.org.ukFandersonFanderson is the official appreciation society for the works of Gerry Anderson. It is a not-for-profit organisation endorsed by Anderson Entertainment Ltd, Gerry Anderson Productions plc and ITC Entertainment Group Ltd...
- "Manhunt" at TheVervoid.com