Stingray (1964 TV series)



""Anything can happen in the next half-hour!""

""It dives under the sea, into the world below

Where beauty and mystery can always be found

It dives fearless and free, chasing the strangest foe

But against all adversity, sails homeward BOOOOOOUND!"'"

Stingray is a children's marionette television show, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, that ran from 1964-65. Stingray was also the first British television programme to be filmed entirely in colour (the earlier series The Adventures Of Sir Lancelot had been made in colour from halfway through its run).

Set Twenty Minutes Into the Future, the show's focus was the day-to-day adventures of the crew of WASP, the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (why, what WASP were you thinking of?), a Californian naval organization dedicated to keeping the world's waters free of any danger -- in particular, any danger caused by the Aquaphibians, a race of evil fish-men. Helping them to lead the way is Captain Troy Tempest, who pilots the titular Stingray submarine alongside George Lee "Phones" Sheridan (so named because he operates the ship's hydrophones).

The organization falls under the direction of Commander Sam Shore, who as a result of a submarine accident is now confined to a hoverchair around the base. His daughter is Atlanta Shore, the assistant communications officer who loves Troy Tempest from afar.

Tagging along with the two pilots is a mute, tail-less mermaid by the name of Marina, who is forbidden by her ruler Titan to ever speak (if she does so, he will destroy her people). Unfortunately for Atlanta, Troy seems to be attracted to her.

It has nothing to do with the American '80s series of the same name.

Tropes:

 * All Just a Dream: "The Cool Cave Man," "Tom Thumb Tempest" and "Raptures Of The Deep" (that's right, they did it three times!).
 * Apparently Human Merfolk: Marina and some of the Aquaphibians, others of the species are more Fish People.
 * Atlantis Is Boring: Thoroughly averted throughout.
 * Compilation Movie: Two, under the umbrella title Super Space Theater.
 * The Incredible Voyage of Stingray, featuring the episodes "Stingray," "Plant of Doom," "Count Down, and "The Master Plan," in 1980.
 * Invaders of the Deep, featuring the episodes "Hostages of the Deep," "The Big Gun," "Emergency Marineville" and "Deep Heat," in 1981. Notable for being the first movie featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (ever).
 * Cool Boat: Stingray.
 * Cryptid Episode: One episode has the crew shipped to Scotland to find the Loch Ness Monster.
 * Cute Mute: Marina
 * Elaborate Underground Base: Marineville's buildings could be retracted underground in an emergency.
 * Ending Theme: "Marina...aqua Marina...what are these strange enchantments that start when ever you're near?"
 * Human Aliens: Some of the Aquaphibians, including the love interest Marina, are quite human in appearance, despite their aquatic origins.
 * Love Triangle: Troy, Atlanta, and Marina.
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: Surface agent X20, who sounded like Peter Lorre, though his appearance was based on Claude Rains. Troy Tempest was modelled on James Garner, and Marina on Brigitte Bardot.
 * X20's voice actor, Robert Easton, also did the voice of Phones, who was an Expy of Sparks (played by Easton) from the Irwin Allen movie Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.
 * Punny Name: Atlanta Shore, Marina, Troy Tempest; also, the Titanians worship the living fish-god Teufel (German for "Devil"), and their maximim security prison is named Aquatraz.
 * Sound to Screen Adaptation: inverted with a series of original cast 'audio adventures', originally released on vinyl and included as DVD extras.
 * Theme Tune Cameo: In "Raptures Of The Deep," a hallucinating Troy sings "Aqua Marina" (the Ending Theme) to Marina.
 * Ultraterrestrials: The various aquatic races.