ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster

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One of several multi-episode, feature-length versions of the brief but enjoyable series starring Patrick Duffy as a water-breathing, web-fingered descendant of the legendary lost continent.

This one involves Duffy's fight to save Earth from an invasion by aquatic aliens. Not badly done. Directed by Marc Danials.

_________________ The main titles are on Youtube.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:42 pm Post subject:

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Apparently we don't have a single Man from Atlantis fan on All Sci-Fi. Sad

Well, since I'm not one myself, I completely understand. But couldn't we at least discuss why we didn't like the series and present some suggestions for improving it! Confused

Like, what if they'd added Victoria Principal to the cast as The Wife of the Man From Atlantis?

By God, I'd watch THAT show! Shocked

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Just think of the outfits they could dress Miss Principal in for both her underwater and land-based scenes!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:27 pm Post subject:

Wow, haven't thought about this show in ages, Bud.

Maybe "Woman From Atlantis" with Victoria would have stood a better chance of succeeding. At least with the males.

Noted TV critic Tom Shales wrote that the show was more aimed at the kids than adults.

So that could be one of the reasons it failed to grab an adult audience.

Other issues for this not being an engaging series was the scripting. While some plots had intriguing ideas they were usually poorly executed. Still other plots were s-f cliches that were not done with any fresh or original insights.

Some stories were just absurd such as the episode "Shoot Out at Land's End" where Mark Harris (Patrick Duffy) travels back through time via an underwater wormhole.

He then arrives in the 19th century wild west where he encounters his doppleganger!

That episode didn't just jump a shark; it jumped an ocean.

MFA also could have a Batman TV show camp-style to it which hurt.

The audience wasn't supposed to take it too seriously as the producers & writers would grin and wink at the viewers.

All these factors conspired to sink the show.

I did admire the Cetacean submarine they traveled in for their adventures.

One of the crew of the sub was played by Jean Marie Hon (Jane) who co-starred on the Saturday morning TV show "Ark II."

Since the show was produced before CGI; all of its FX were practical in nature.

Patrick Duffy had to wear painful contacts for his character. Makeup put the webbing between his fingers.
The underwater scenes were shot in large studio tanks.

Duffy had to inhale water into his sinuses in order for his character not to display underwater bubbles.
Ouch!

For me, the series just never peaked my interest with its concept. I did manage to watch a few episodes and had the feeling that the plots were recycled from other s-f shows.

I'm not surprised that this show went under.

But hey, Patrick Duffy said that while shooting TMFA he met a producer who was shooting a series next to TMFA.

The producer offered Patrick the role of Bobby Ewing on the smash hit "Dallas."

ralfy · Mission Specialist Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Posts: 473

Duffy on Man from Atlantis, with references to green screen tech, storyline, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLPmrWp8VVA