The Triffids 1981

[Sam@Cult Labs]

There's loads of Triffid ephemera on the official site...

http://www.dayofthetriffids.co.uk/

One the best discoveries for me while I trawled looking for the great content on the official site was that the early 80s series from the BBC was available to watch online. this was a show that scared me witless as a kid.

Let's watch it together, view Episode 1 then tell us your thoughts, tomorrow we'll watch episode two and so forth.

Embedding is blocked (I just discovered in my first attempt to post this), so here's the channel link...

Click

Post your comments!

[sam tyler]

Hey Sam, just noticed your post,

Day of the Triffids 1981, you have picked on a passion of mine with this one.

An absolutely fantastic and riveting piece of classic tv drama which the bbc excelled at during this period.

I was 7 at the time of watching this and I recorded every episode on video tape and kept it to re-watch many times after.

The hospital scenes where Bill awakens to silence absolutely terrified me from the very beginning and the series just got better as it went along.

The locations seemed so eerie and yet somehow exiting that the series put you right into the story along with the characters.

The only problem I remembered, was the ending - in that I wanted it to continue further.

Having recently purchased the dvd it hasn't aged that badly at all. It seemed so much fuller than the remake series (which I also quite liked)

Having researched some of the filming locations online most of it is unrecognisable now, but along with other series of the time like The Tripods and Sapphire and Steel, this will long be a favourite that I will keep revisiting on regular occasions.

My one wish for this series (well actually I have 2) would have been a modern day continuation picking up with the same cast so many years later.

The second wish is much more simple, Day of the Triffids 1981 for Blu-ray

[pedromonkey]

good call on the BBC's 81 version of Triffids, a great show with some great performances by John Duttine and Emma Relph and a sinister early role for Gary Olson, Reminds me of the Original Survivors...

and does anyone know if Tripods series 2 is a available on it's own instead of the box set as i have series 1?

[sam tyler]

Originally Posted by pedromonkey

good call on the BBC's 81 version of Triffids, a great show with some great performances by John Duttine and Emma Relph and a sinister early role for Gary Olson, Reminds me of the Original Survivors...

and does anyone know if Tripods series 2 is a available on it's own instead of the box set as i have series 1?

It is not unfortunately, but there is a series 1 + 2 dvd set on play at the moment for £12.50 delivered. You may even get a couple of quid for the first series.

The 2 series set is fantastic value, it also includes the cult of the tripods documentary, a new audio soundtrack, an animated photo gallery and Tripods - the unmade series, which is a booklet detailing the story that would have been series 3 before it was cancelled. The cover art and slipcase rocks as well. In total there are 4 discs.

Altogether a fantastic set,


If you like The Tripods mate, just buy it,

you won't be disappointed.

[shawnduhast]

My favourite version too.

Just re-watched it again on DVD with my two children, 6 & 9, who loved it as well.

I think practical effects beat CGI every time which was the problem I had with the 2009 version. Good though the CGI was the triffids were not physically there and therefore all threat and menace was gone as well...

Also true that the 1981 version just had a lot more eeriness and atmosphere!

Excellent thread Sam

[J.R.]

The 81 version of TDotT is easily the best. I recently watched the latest version and the on;ly positive was Eddie Izzard!

Someone recently pointed out to me that he has the potential of becoming the new Oliver Reed!

[Splatterdragon73]

Originally Posted by pedromonkey

Good call on the BBC's 81 version of Triffids, a great show with some great performances by John Duttine and Emma Relph and a sinister early role for Gary Olson.

Damn right and this victorious vintage version is enjoyable in pretty much every way with a suitably sinister music score and unnerving Triffid sound FX.

Olson's line "Some people don't want to be governed anymore." also strikes a chord with me. Must have something to do with yours truly being a political atheist.