LAND OF THE GIANTS






By the fall of 1968, three of Irwin Allen's famed science fiction television series had been canceled. VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, LOST IN SPACE, and THE TIME TUNNEL had finished their network runs and were about to go into syndication. Yet Allen's newest idea was in many ways his most ambitious yet. He called it LAND OF THE GIANTS.

Seven Lilliputians in a world of Gullivers.That was Allen's concept for this special effects filled hour, at the time the most expensive series on T.V. at $250,000 per episode.





It began with the pilot, set in the then-far-off time of 1983.The Los Angeles-to-London suborbital flight of the Spindrift with three crew members and four passengers aboard, goes awry when it encounters a giant, green flaming mass of energy. Unable to resist its pull the Spindrift flies directly into it, emerging minutes later apparently back on course.





Captain Steve Burton (Gary Conway) and co-pilot Dan Erickson (Don Marshall) soon learn otherwise. Unable to raise London on the radio, they land in a fog- shrouded place and go exploring, only to be nearly run over by a speeding automobile 12 times normal size. The ship itself is picked up by a giant boy, and later buffeted about by a housecat of equally terrifying proprotions.





As the passengers disembark-mostly against order by the crew, including stewardess Betty Hamilton (Heather Young)-we learn more about each one. Mark Wilson (Don Matheson) is an impatient tycoon on his way to an important business meeting. Valerie Scott (Deanna Lund) is a jet-setting heiress who craves adventure. Barry Lockridge (Stefan Amgrim) is a 12-year- old orphan traveling with his dog, Chipper. And, most intriguingly, nervous Alexander Fitzhugh (Kurt Kasznar) appears to be a naval officer but turns out to be a con artist who is fleeing America with a stolen million dollars.





In the pilot, titled "The Crash", Steve and Valerie are captured by a giant entomologist who literally scotch-tapes them to microscope slides for examination, Mark joins Dan's efforts to rescue them using make shift implements, and Barry convinces Fitzhugh to help them, particularly since only Fitzhugh is armed. In later episodes, Inspector Kobick (Kevin Hagen) is introduced as the security officer in charge of tracking "the little people" as they became known.





As the series continued, the Spindrift travelers discovered fellow humans, also trapped on this strange planet, worked and tried to repair their damaged spacecraft, met some giants who were friendly and helpful to their cause, but encountered many more giants in league with the totalitarian government whose aim was the capture of the Earthlings for purposes of experimentation or exhibition.





But for many fans, the elaborate props, superbly executed photographic effects and the Emmy-nominated cinematography were a primary reason to tune in: oversize pencils, giant dollhouses, monstrous insects of every description.





Episodes:


Season1

  • THE CRASH

  • GHOST TOWN

  • FRAMED

  • UNDERGROUND

  • TERROR-GO-ROUND

  • THE FLIGHT PLAN

  • MANHUNT

  • THE TRAP

  • THE CREED

  • DOUBLE CROSS

  • THE WEIRD WORLD

  • THE GOLDEN CAGE

  • THE LOST ONES

  • BRAINWASH

  • THE BOUNTY HUNTER

  • ON A CLEAR NIGHT YOU CAN SEE EARTH

  • DEADLY LODESTONE

  • THE NIGHT OF THROMBELDINBAR

  • SEVEN LITTLE INDIANS

  • TARGET:EARTH

  • GENIUS AT WORK

  • RETURN OF INIDU

  • RESCUE

  • SABOTOGE

  • SHELL GAME

  • THE CHASE






    Season2

  • THE MECHANICIAL MAN

  • SIX HOURS TO LIVE

  • THE INSIDE RAIL

  • DEADLY PAWN

  • THE UNSUSPECTED

  • GIANTS, AND ALL THAT JAZZ

  • COLLECTORS ITEM

  • EVERY DOG NEEDS A BOY

  • CHAMBER OF FEAR

  • THE CLONES

  • COMEBACK

  • A PLACE CALLED EARTH

  • LAND OF THE LOST

  • HOME SWEET HOME

  • OUR MAN O'REILLY

  • THE DELTA EFFECT

  • PAY THE PIPER

  • THE SECRET CITY OF LIMBO

  • PANIC

  • THE RETALIATOR

  • DOOMSDAY

  • A SMALL WAR

  • THE MARIONETTES

  • WILD JOURNEY

  • GRAVEYARD OF FOOLS