Yesterday, I finished watching The Martian Chronicles, a miniseries in three parts that originally aired in late January 1980, less than a month before the original Miracle on Ice. I was reminded of the series when I was looking up episodes where Roddy McDowell appeared in Fantasy Island (or as Mr. Rourke would say it, "Faan-Ta-see EYE-land"). A search that was prompted by the shock realization that Roku wasn't streaming all the episodes of the series. (They were missing episode 4 from season 1, and had switched the order of 3 and 5. Their order for UFO was really jumbled a few years ago.) I realized I had watched some of this when I was 9, but I doubt I got past the first episode back then. Compared to Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (still in its superior first season) or even Galatica 1980, which premiered the hour before (with flying motorcycles!), The Martian Chronicles had little of the Sci-Fi space action that I was accustomed to since seeing Star Wars a mere three years prior (with The Empire Strikes Back only 4 months away). Instead, it was atmospheric, philosophical, thought-provoking, and methodical (a bit slow at times) - it's like a mash-up of The Twilight Zone and Space:1999 (first season). Anyway, I definitely appreciated it more as an adult than as a kid. Although each viewing left an impression on me.
One of the reasons I went to the trouble of researching so many TV shows for my 1970s Imponderable Prompt posts was to rediscover forgotten gems like this. The bitter irony being that this series wasn't captured in my list! Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind were recollections that I began to recognize upon viewing. Most notable was the music by Stanley Myers, which I haven't heard in over 4.5 decades. It certainly has familiar notes of Barry Gary's Space:1999 or Jerry Goldsmith's Planet of the Apes or Logan's Run work, but still with its own unique flavor, elevating the material from forgettable to memorable. So much so that I immediately ordered a copy of the soundtrack for my collection (and have listened to it on Apple Music several times already).
The visual aesthetics are a bit of a mismash of standard 70s TV drama sets (wallpaper in space!) and some very interesting choices for the Martians, sparse but inventive none the less. The Martians wear simplistic white robes/gowns, and often either use unique silver facial masks or head ornaments, since they have no hair or ears. The Martian gun is a conical sleeve that fits completely over their forearm. But most impressive is the ruined Martian city set, which I would totally want to visit in person if it still existed:
The series stars a whole slew of veteran B/C actors who proliferated the airways back then, including Nicolas (Spider-Man '77) Hammond, who I just learned was Fredriech from The Sound of Music! (Mind. officially. blown. - I can totally see it now.) There's also Bernie "How's he going to go to the bathroom...?" Cassie, the aforementioned Roddy McDowell, and of course, the star of the assemblage, Rock Hudson (still in his full vitality).
The series was directed by Michael Anderson of Logan's Run fame and Orca infamy (it's not that bad), and written by Richard Matheson, Twilight Zone alum and author of I Am Legend (a.k.a. The Omega Man) and Bid Time Return (a.k.a Somewhere In Time). (I'm still looking for that latter novel). No wonder I liked the series, the creators were involved in so many other things I enjoy!
Similar to Fantasy Island (everything is connected), each episode consists of two or three major plot threads that are somewhat entwined to various degrees. I had to read the novel for a class in college (my copy [same cover as shown below] resides in my secret library), so it's been 33 years since I've read it, and I don't recall how much the series differs from the book. But I would like to read the original source material again.
Part 1 - The Expeditions
Three expeditions are detailed. The first one ends abruptly when a jealous Martian husband murders the two astronauts upon arrival because his wife was having (prophetic?) thought fantasies about one of them. The second one is strictly Twilight Zone fare, where the astronauts inexplicably find an Earth town after they land. Each is entranced by someone familiar from their past, which puts them at ease but doesn't quite satisfy all of their suspicions. It's pretty chilling when Hammond's character suspects the truth, which is confirmed by a Martian who admits to poisoning him. The Martians are just trying to discourage these invaders and protect themselves from invasion; their reluctance to resort to murdering the astronauts varies by the individual. By the time the third expedition arrives, most of the Martians have died from the Chickenpox virus brought by one of the earlier expeditions. The Bernie Casey character, who was apparently scrubbed from the first mission for being black, begins to sympathize with the Martians; eventually, he either goes crazy, is possessed, or is replaced by a Martian. He ends up killing most of the crew, until Rock Hudson finally finishes him off with deep regret. With the "last" Martian down, the human race is now free to colonize and screw-up Mars the same way they did Earth.
Part 2 - The Settlers
Again, we have three stories. In one, we have a Martian assuming the identity of one of the dead astronauts from the second expedition. His parents now live on Mars, and the father longs so deeply for his son that the Martian is drawn to their household. With no malicious intent, the Martian sings to the parents in their sleep (in the wallpapered bedroom) so that they'll readily accept him. (You've got to think how lonely the Martian is now that most of his race has been extinguished.) It's going along okay until the mother insists that they go to town for a night of fun. The Martian urges the father to stay near him, afraid of the townspeople. His fear is justified because when he encounters other people's thoughts and desires, he starts to lose his identity and become the person they envision. Most shockingly, when a priest unintentionally causes him to appear as Jesus Christ, crucified, experiencing the physical suffering Jesus was subject to on the cross, and bleeding profusely. (If only they had sent a Baptist to Mars instead.) The tale ends in tragedy when too many people are putting the Martian into all sorts of forms, and he can't take the strain.
The priest, Father Peregrine, and another, Father Stone (Roddy McDowell), have come to Mars to set up a church. The Mars colony is like the old west, and bad riffraff has come with the "good", so a lot of people need salvation and Biblical guidance. But Father Peregrine is more interested in Martians than lost souls. The two encounter some higher elevated Martians (three blue spheres), which "have put sin behind them". Peregrine tests their goodwill by jumping off a cliff, and they save him through teleportation. Stupidly, he vows to establish a church in their image, replacing the cross with the spherical symbols. Thankfully, the Martians are much wiser and tell him to build a regular church. He's convinced he's heard the voice of God, regardless. He's been longing to see the true Christ, so that's why he was so reluctant to let the impostor Martian go in the other story.
Rock Hudson, Colonel John Wilder, is involved in each of these stories as well as the last one. War has broken out on Earth, and much of the colony is evacuating back home, since they'll no longer get support in the future. He stops by a mining truck stop, where his old crewmate is hoping to strike it rich when the miners start roaring down the highway. After the friend refuses to leave, a Martian appears to him. He rashly shoots the Martian, thinking he's aiming a gun at him. Instead, we find that the Martian was only deeding him about half of the entire planet, since "tonight is the night". (No, he wasn't singing Rod Stewart.) Nope, mankind blows itself up in a nuclear war. Seems like President Trump and the USA are trying to stop that from happening right now with the attacks on Iran (who says I can't be topical).
Part 3 - The Martians
Each installment is steadily less than the one before, but all maintain worthy elements to watch and consider. Rock Hudson (selfishly) goes to Earth after the nuclear war to see if his brother is still alive. He finds no one, along with evidence that they were all vaporized without destroying all the infrastructure (convenient). It's probably the most unbelievable plot point of the whole series (where's the radiation - didn't he read On the Beach?), but it's not a total loss given the music and Rock's sorrow. So most of the people are gone, I guess they made it back to Earth just in time to get wiped out.
There is a humorous tale involving a lonely guy and a lonely girl (Bernadette Peters). He travels 1500 miles to see her using a Little Nellie-style whirly-bird (that happened to be part of the third expedition [rummage sale?]). And she's gorgeous, but all she wants is a man to cook, clean, and fix things for her. She can't even listen to a simple conversation, spending all her time gazing into mirrors. With zero prospects of intimacy, he doesn't stick around for a second date.
Meanwhile, another man (Barry Morse from Space:1999 but with an American accent), whose family lives in an isolated area, is searching for rescue to return home (not knowing Earth has been destroyed). Rock and Roddy (wasn't that hit song?) arrive only to discover that the man's wife and daughter are actually androids he built after his family succumbed to a plague. They leave the androids alone (after the man dies of a heart attack), but luckily, the jilted whirly-bird guy shows up for some companionship, and you assume they all live happily ever after.
Finally, Rock gets his chance to meet a real Martian. But the encounter (in the way-cool city) is not what he expected. He and the Martian exist in different times. The Martian sees the city as thriving, but Rock sees it as deserted for millennia. In a really cool twist, the Martian claims to be from the future, not the past, which brings up all sorts of paradoxical possibilities. It's left to the viewer to imagine which is the truth. The two part as friends, and Rock vows to put Earth-ways behind him and go full Martian, eventually moving his family to the city. There, he shows them "real" Martians as they stare into a pool that reveals their own reflections.
If you like speculative Sci-Fi and atmospheric music, give it a go. Sure, it can be slow in some spots, but overall it was quite enjoyable.
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