DVD. MGM Entertainment 10005400 MZ1. 26 hours 17 minutes. 32 * 50 minute episodes and no extras. Price: £39.99 to £17.99 (UK) so shop around for the best deal).

at statement.





The last time I saw 'The Outer Limits' was in the mid-80s on a late night re-run and even then, not all of the episodes were shown. Having them out on DVD is something that was long over-due. Granted not all the episodes are perfect. A lot of the time, I suspected they were also feeling their way with what to do with the 50 minute format. With anthology series, there was always the opportunity to do better providing the core audience was strong enough. For its first season, 'The Outer Limits' survived rather well.

It's interesting to note the number of times Martin Landau, Robert Culp and David McCallum were recast in different star roles. Picking out highlights from this series is always going to be difficult. You no doubt have seen stills from 'The Galaxy Being'; 'The Sixth Finger' and 'The Zanti Misfits' amongst others. Did you know that 'The Form Of Things Unknown' was the first time that composer Dominic Frontiere (who has an album of his TV work due out) used the music that eventually ended up as being the theme tune for 'The Invaders'? 'The Architects Of Fear' was also the inspiration for Alan Moore's plot behind 'The Watchmen' limited series comicbook. Leonard Nimoy had a brief part in 'Production And Decay Of Strange Particles'. Hell, even Simon Oakland (who later played Kolchak's editor) appeared as an alien in 'Second Chance'. If you enjoy spotting actors who went on to bigger or different things, you're going to love having your memory stirred.

Picking out favourites from this series is always tough but lets go beyond the ones I listed above. A surprise favourite from this viewing was 'ZZZZZ' where a queen bee becomes human to study humans who have been studying her swarm. Likewise, the rather humorous 'Controlled Experiment' where a pair of aliens were determining human behaviour from replaying the actions leading up to and after a murder to study the motivation. I can pick out many more but why spoil your fun or enjoyment.

Much of the time, the stories were strong and rarely followed any kind of pattern although I think there's a strong element of not taking things at face value that is incorporated here.

For us of the older generation - and doesn't that date me - I'm sure it's a nostalgic bent. For you youngsters out there, it's an opportunity to see how current TV SF anthologies evolved from early shows. I think you'll be surprised.

GF Willmetts