In 1997 astrophysicist Dr. John Robinson (Guy Williams), his wife Maureen (June Lockhart) and their children, Judy (Marta Kristen), Will (Bill Mumy), and Penny (Angela Cartwritght) blast into space on the Jupiter 2. Major Don West (Mark Goddard) is the pilot and a nameless model B-9 robot (Bob May) is also on board. The family is on a mission to colonize a planet in the Alpha Centauri star system, four light years from earth. An enemy agent, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) sneaks aboard to sabotage the misssion, but his chronic ineptitude only damages the ship, which lands on another unchartered planet.
LOST IN SPACE is a simplistic space saga aimed at kids and is essentially a futuristic version of Johann David Wyss' 1812 novel, "Swiss Family Robinson". There is a severe limitation with a desert island scenario, so other characters turn up primarily as a plot device. The straightforward stories almost always start or end with a cliff-hanger.
The most entertaining character is Dr. Zachary Smith, the slimiest villain imaginable. He is greedy, vain, pompous, incompetent, deceitful, obnoxious--and those are his good qualities! His interaction with the robot is more interesting than the dialogue with the rest of the crew. The robot is cute and charming, a clone of Robby the Robot from FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956), which actually is a guest star in two episodes. Most fans remember the robot's often repeated lines: "Warning! Warning!", "That does not compute", and "Danger, Will Robinson!"
(Dr. Smith's repeated lines)
"Silence, you ninny."
"Silence, you mental midget."
"Never fear, Smith is here."
(Dr. Smith to robot)
"You bubble-headed booby! You realize what you've done?"
"Yours not to question why; yours to do as I say or die."
"Now come along with me, you ludicrous lump, there's much to be done."
(robot)
"I cannot accept that course of action."
"I compute it to be an ionic directional probe searching for receiving outlets."
"My micromechanism thanks you, my computer tapes thank you, and I thank you."
"I am sorry, Will Robinson, I am afraid I goofed."
"Warning! Warning! Alien approaching!"
CBS chose this series instead of STAR TREK. It was broadcast opposite BATMAN, and the producers felt a light and whimsical approach was needed to compete. There are 83 episodes. The first season has 29 black and white episodes. The second and third seasons produced 54 episodes in colour.
The series is supposed to be fun, as opposed to educational, although the first season is relatively serious. Many episodes revolve around the theme of love as a source of strength. The production is high quality, with good special effects, costumes, props, and sets.
Others who appear include: Dawson Palmer (Monster), Sheila Allen (Aunt Gamma), Dee Hartford (Verda), Frtz Feld (Zumdish), Byron Morrow (General), Don Matheson (Idak), Vintina Marcus (Athena), Albert Salmi (Alonzo P. Tucker), Ronald Weber (Gromack), Robert Foulk (Cragmire), Leonard Stone (Farnum), Larry Dean (Mummy), and many others. There were 17 writers, especially Irwin Allen, and 15 directors, notably Don Richardson. Music is mostly by John Williams, with 4 others contributing occasionally.
LOST IN SPACE (1998) is a feature-length movie adaptation of the TV series. In 2058, hoping to colonize planet Alpha Prime for an overcrowded Earth, the Robinson family, a pilot, and Dr. Smith blast off in the Jupiter 2, which features hyperdrive. Hypergates are critical to their trip. The film retains the plot and premise of the original, but the story is crudely episodic with a grim tone and shallow characters. Professor John Robinson (William Hurt) has poor parenting skills, which his kids resent. Dr. Smith (Gary Oldman) is a strangely underplayed villain. There are brief appearances by the TV cast and some witty inside jokes about the show. A time travel portal sub-plot is peculiar and unconvincing, but the special effects are impressive. Reviewers are mostly disappointed. Some of their comments are: "confusing, awful, hollow and pointless, forgettable, too slow, a waste, dull, boring, lacks tension and fun, a truck load of turkeys". However, I enjoy watching it. Stephen Hopkins directed.
