The Tripods - Opening Titles

[meadowlane37]

this does remind me of the Casualty theme.

[chewreece]

NC, USA; PBS in the 80's, later read novels, so awesome!

[Animeman73]

I'ma Gen Xer a child of the 70's and I remember watching this show when it was on Oregon Public Broadcasting years ago. This was a interesting show.

[snaggle90]

Good stuff. Top Saturday teatime TV =)

Seem to remember this, Terry and June(!) and Noel Edmonds - Late Late Breakfast Show?

No 2 hours of dancing in the 80s.

[Project25o1]

Thi sused to scare the shit outof me when I was a kid!!!! Good Stuff.

[DGneoseeker1]

Son of a bitch. I had no idea this ever made it to TV! I only knew about the books! I must watch this now....

[hordichuck]

ive got respect if you were born in the 80s!!

[4setto]

The second series was excellent. You really got a sense of how powerful the Tripods were and how insignificant the human race was. Shame the third series was never done but it's best just left now. It'll be all be poor acting and cheesy cgi now.

[supermark69]

would ya look at them graphics!

[ededdneddyluv3r]

I LOVE these books, and supposedly, a movie is being made. I hope it's professionally done and not cheesy, and that they ACTUALLY finish it. I remeber this series on TV when I was young, I loved it!

[Professor6871]

I suppose this could of been the future possible outcome if the Martians had won in HG Well's War of the Worlds. If he had been alive I think would of liked it. I remember watching this as a teenager in 80s. I think used to be on a Sunday afternoon this. If anybody got any episodes from this could they upload them thank you.

[evilmoif]

They should remake these and finsih the job!

[jackcarterful]

@evilmoif

I agree. I read the books and can remember feeling gutted when i finished them.

Apparently somebody is making a film. I hope they don't ruin it.

[sarsiebear1]

Beanpole (Ceri seel) is now my english teacher! OMG

[LimaLima95]

Series three would make my life complete.

[PedalSteelKing]

Not many people know this but daughter of the 4th Vicount Charlotte Long who played Eloise died just after the making of the first series in a car crash she was just 19. Strange that when she was taken away to the Tripods in their city that she really would disappear as if a hand from above had taken her. Here is to you Charlotte may you rest in piece along with my childhood...GOD BLESS!

[ralexnicholas]

I still love this theme song, after all these years. I am such a nerd! But, hey, nerds make the world function!

[paulmorris7777]

Thought the books were brilliant. However, the series was so slow, and boring. The acting was pretty poor, as well.

[jvforever72]

I love this show , it may seem low tech now but it doesn't matter, it's the narrative and characters that are the foundation to this series. It predates the Matrix and i would say it is a pre cursor to that film series. It's so much more though, this is just about the best sci fi series ever made, i'm pissed they didn't make a third season, still holding out hope for that to happen though.

[therookpiece]

Legendary!

[digipeeper]

Shame the third series The Pool of lead and Fire was never produced! A excellent series and it was a series that was to replace Doctor Who during 1985 when the series was on a unnessecary Hiatus.

[KaitainCPS]

@digipeeper

I think you're mixing up "The City of Gold and Lead" and "The Pool of Fire".

[LoonyYuna]

Kids of today couldn't watch this. Ironically, it's my generation who would complain to the watchdogs about unsuitable programs.

But man, I loved this. And Chocky.

[Cool2BCeltic]

Very primitive computer graphics introduce a TV adaptation of a novel that obviously ripped off The War of the Worlds . The Tripods are just H G Wells' Martian fighting machines minus the heat ray.

[Kniteraver]

@Cool2BCeltic

Nope, no computer graphics there my friend, the intro was an animated illustration. A computer animation of that level at that time would have cost more than your little mind could imagine;) This was awesome shame they never finished it.

[airtech4]

@Kniteraver

Sorry pal, wrong, it has both, the first part with the "roots" looks like cell animation, but everything after that is just vector graphics extruded & rotated. Not too much for computer animation of the time.

I contracted an advert in the mid eighties that used all of these effects. It took awhile to render (a couple of days) but sixty seconds of flying geometry with simple shading was very doable back then and I recognize the look very well.

[eatmykids]

@airtech4 just like tron

[erol12345]

should be remaked soon. it was my fav show in childhood.

[FeralWarpwolf]

@erol12345

Tja, well! Disney is owning the rights and planning to do a trilogy starting in 2012. Don't know if it's a good thing, though...! :/

[Laura041974]

The Chateau de la Tour Rouge scenes were filmed in MP Alan Clarke's Castle. The filming is mentioned in his published diaries. The girl who played Hortense was killed shortly after and he was very upset by this. The Tripod models were demonstrated on Blue Peter.

[thekroton]

I HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THAT SERIES WAS VERY EXPENSIVE

FOR THE BBC TO MAKE -SO ALL OF THE BOOKS WEREN'T ADAPTED

FOR TV.

[RandyLahey911]

The books of this are good too if you like a fiction thriller, credible total alien takeover, no fighting.

[winguln]

I have never seen this series, because I fear that has never been transmitted in Italy.

Can you tell me if it is a better TV series?!

Thank you.

[gazzmatronix]

I never saw the TV series, I read the amazing books, and they were scary enough!

[SalusNovus]

im mates with ken freeman who wrote the music for this, really nice guy :)

[irulandotnet]

@SalusNovus What else did he compose? I'm really interested to know.

[musicmanfelipe]

@irulandotnet Casualty

[SalusNovus]

@irulandotnet well he did the Casualty theme tune i know for sure, but ill ask him next time i see him :)

[PascalRubicon]

@irulandotnet He's my uncle, he wrote the Casualty and Holby City theme tunes, did a bit of advert work and played on Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. He's a legend.

His current jazz project is called Orion

[thekroton]

@irulandotnet -He composed the original theme to the

BBC show-CASUALTY.

[DaveNightingale]

@irulandotnet He composed the theme to Casualty and Holby City (which bear a similiarity to this) and he was one of the main lead musicians on Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds.

[hombrerelents]

@irulandotnet watch?v=4hfkGV1_Ads

And LOL watch?v=AZ-27rdwJPs

[PedalSteelKing]

@irulandotnet Freeman has his own website where you can buy CDs directly signed by him. The re-working for the non existant series 3 is brilliant although you get this soundtrack free on the complete series 1 and 2 now cheap on line. I hope this helps.

[pupsmaschine]

@irulandotnet Casualty ;)

[randomdave30]

@irulandotnet Reminds me of the score to the original Terminator - dated but still futuristic

[862leon]

@irulandotnet he was the main keyboardist on the war of the worlds by jeff wayne

[DN21Media]

@irulandotnet I think the theme to Casualty too?

[CalmCaterpillar]

@SalusNovus Please tell him that he's in part responsible for nightmares I had as a kid. And please tell him that I enjoyed every single one of them. And that I just love that theme.

[Laura041974]

He's mentioned in Analog Synthesizers by Mark Jenkins. He invented the Freeman String symphonizer but there's not many left. He also built the SZ3540 Thunderchild Synth for the album. Jeff Wayne has the only one. They didn't have the resources to build more and sell them but perhaps now with vintage synth prices going up and up...does he still have all his plans for them?

[theviker]

@SalusNovus the man behind casualty, worked with him myself, ask him if he remembers the guy that designed his Tripod remix CD at the BBC

[dexterbeatz]

i played that melody a million times on our piano when i was a child.... i was obsessed by them lol

thanks alot for that upload!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JoeAcid69]

YES THE TRIPODS !!! I loved that TV-Show in the early 1980tees. I never forgotten this show and looked and waited so many years for repeat on TV, but it wouldn't come back again.

Good that is now on DVD... Hurraayyy!!! ;-)

[sebastianthebear]

I just Googled Tripods and apparently there is a movie version due for release 2012.

[sebastianthebear]

I mentioned this show to someone at work today but she didn't remember it. I loved watching it when I was younger, I'd rush home from school cos it was on in the afternoons.

[lisab436]

Another one of those series that I didnt forget. Loved it.

[dazzerc007]

A classic 80's TV theme!!

[Brenzilla4698]

I saw this and read the books in school. It's very awsome.

[kyon813]

Is this on DVD yet? Cause I wanna see it.

[Methos343]

Both seasons (finally) were released on DVD on March 23rd 2009.

[dermotoblong]

sounds like casualty!

[feverpitch96]

Both theme tunes were written by the same guy. :)

[therealMrMackem]

it was the same composer.

[mrs7195]

I LOVED this show as a kid! I still cringe because they didn't make the third and final season. I naturally devoured the book trilogy as well.

I didn't remember the opening looked so cool. Very nice graphics for it's time ('84-'85)...

[nicktubara]

the theme music i just love how it set the tone, very atmospheric :) just sounds so 80s :D

[robinalexlewis]

I remember this shiw frim when I was a kid, I would love for the BBC to re-make the whow, but this time, FINNISH IT

[Thelistener60]

If the BBC's remake last years of 'Survives' has anything to go by then I don't have much confidence of them doing a good job of a remake of this class kids programme.

[TheSoul1977]

Ich hab die 1.Staffel heute per Post gekriegt und die ersten paar Folgen auf der ersten DVD bereits geschaut. Einfach klasse. :o)

[HelenaVenom]

sind eigentlich extras drauf?

[TheSoul1977]

Ja :o) Ein 28 - Seitiges Booklet mit Episodenguide, Promoreel von 1984, hinter den Kulissen der 2.Staffel, Stuntproben, 5 Audiokommentare und Visual Effects Tests. :o)

[kisstv1]

i like cheese :).

[58ultra]

Am 23.10.2009 erscheint die erste Staffel auf DVD (in deutsch).

[TheSoul1977]

Ich habe diese Serie als Kind geliebt. :o) Zu schade, dass sie im deutschen Fernsehen nicht mehr wiederholt werden. :o(

[BrionyCoote]

I love the theme music too! Pity they didn't complete the trilogy. That spoils it for me watching this series again.

[trekmaster78]

Hm, dann müssten die bald voran machen. Ich denke, wie bei "Star Trek remastered" wird es die "Tripods" erst 2012 im Vorfeld des Kinofilmes geben. Hoffe ich zumindest.

[TheTripodsOnlineCom]

Such a great tune. Still sends shivers down my spine!

[dac100]

Really Great - love this theme music - daveac (dac100)

[gavinpow77]

Tripods, Chocky, the earlier Doctors.... and I wonder now why I watch Torchwood/Life on Mars/ Ashes2Ashes! lol

Tripods was wonderful. I used to go to bed fearing I'd get one of those stud things stapled into my skin!

[trekmaster78]

Die erste Staffel lief damals aufm ZDF und war wohl das geilste, was ich je als Kind sehen durfte!!! Hatte mir vor ein paar Jahren beide Staffeln auf CD(!!) reingezogen, und das Feeling war wieder da! Also einfach nur eine super Serie - auch heute noch!

[Celeon999A]

Koch Media hat sich die DVD Rechte im November letzten Jahres gesichert.

Beide sollen angeblich noch dieses Jahr veröffentlicht werden. Inklusive der deutschen Synchro versteht sich. ;-)

Außerdem hat Touchstone für 2012 einen Kinofilm angekündigt.

[INUID]

hehe

Wie ein deutscher Philosoph mal treffend formulierte:

Gänsehautreibend !!!

5 Sterne

[CLEMOtheGREAT]

Terrified the hell out of me!!!

[Dinobot2468]

is this copied of war of the worlds

[Daniel4646]

Perhaps, but you've got to ask John Christopher for that. Tripods is his original story.

[3dollarbrain]

yeah but he has admitted that the tripods was inspired by War of the Worlds

[AnitaLife27]

In a lot of ways it's taken from Wells, but Christopher really takes off from there and weaves a wonderful tale.

Looks liek BBC has done us the favor of getting rid of all the great tripods stuff that was posted here! If i could buy the darn series, I would, but even whe it was avail. on VHS it was insanely expensive!

I'm glad I watched them when I did! Imissed this series so much! Thanks!

[Kaagh178]

You can now get the complete series on DVD for a good price.

[Loki0115]

Yes, it was meant as a homage of H G Wells' war of the worlds, but aimed at an audience of children.

[sromag]

The 80s were cool... none of this namby pamby shit to protect kids nowadays... loads of programs were around that scared us.. and it was great.

[chrisMortimer66]

Terrahawks, transformers, Knightmare, centaurians, ghostbusters, visionaries, thundercats, could go on for an hour!!! The 80's was the golden age for kids TV, as well as Horror and actions movies!

[admiraldma]

Yeah man, Terrahawks ruled!!

[ar4216]

@sromag

Yeah, this book really freaked me out. Very disturbing for a children's book. But it was great.

[Gryfu1]

@sromag Yeah, nobody likes new stuff. But maybe people just don't like new stuff because it's new.

[sibeliandrift]

@Gryfu1 People love stuff because it's new. There reason people don't like any of the new stuff that's CURRENTLY new is because it ISN'T new. It's all pasty, badly done, unimaginative re-hashes of old things.

[mikkifly]

they call me the tripod..lol

[Ogma01]

So sad that they were never able to complete the series. It was pretty excellent.

[ACTopher315]

My class read the books in 5th grade.

Man I wish I was around back then! Those books were awesome!!

[Boardy1976]

Takes me way back!

Used to watch with my dad on Sunday when i was a kid.

[djhagler]

What a great opening and synth theme music- it gave me chills as kid! Reminds me of TRON and the BBC Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy opening. 80's glory!!!

[ajos14]

I was watching War of the Worlds the other night and thought of this! Haven't seen it since i was a kid and it scared the shit out of me then! I still get shivers from it!

[azrael666ethereal]

This was a great take on the "War of the worlds" thing.... I loved this when I was a kid!!!

[xentrix66]

Thx for the video, I have the full version of the tune it was great at its time ;)

[conradragzoff]

They're going to be releasing it on DVD here in the US this year-- can't wait, used to watch it on PBS, and was so sorry to see it go!

[belsizeg]

great theme tune - I wish the original TV show had been remade. The original TV series was good, but there were flaws:- the first series was a bit dull in parts, though it had a great atmosphere, and the 2nd series wasn't firghtening enough, really, by comparison to the original books.

[thomashulk]

Finally found it this scared the shit out of me as a kid. Childens television was so much scarier in the early eighties.

[alastairward]

Scared me too, but I'd forgotten the theme completely.

[McLarenMercedes]

hell yes

glad to be have a kid in those days too

[60sThru80s]

"Ruined" is the perfect word. There is no classic they won't besmirch by throwing CGI grafitti all over it, to disguise the fact that every other aspect of what they do is awful.

[peteandurnot]

Nothing wrong with CGI, especially as its helped previously 'unfilmable' Films like Lord of the Rings truly come to life. Having said that I do agree that the old Tripods series was the best and that theres no point re-making it into a film. The precise reason why I have no interest in seeing the new 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[Ashworth6]

Well, the point of remaking the series would be to finish the whole trilogy, something the BBC failed to do back in the mid-80s. The climax of series 2 was supposed to be a cliffhanger which would lead into series 3 based on the last book "The Pool of Fire", but the BBC cancelled the series at that point, so the series ended on an unintentionally downbeat note.

[dancingduade]

Perranporth - You have put the hex on this!! According to website IMDB, a film version isbeing made for release in 2009!!! Another show ruined.

[falconlem]

Yes, that's about the 5th time.. one's never seen the light of day yet. Only another TV series done by the BBC could do it justice. But perhaps one done by Carlton would be a lot better, I'm sure it would. Book 3 is pretty awesome though.

[Perranporth]

Happy memories. Great show. But how long until Hollywood decides to *ahem* ruin it?

[newsoftheworld]

thx for uploading!!!

[lowenia]

Thank you! This was a marvellous series!