Space Patrol

7 episodes1 season

US Release

Overview:

Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion, also known as Raumpatrouille Orion, and Space Patrol Orion in English, was the first German science fiction television series. Its seven episodes were broadcast by ARD beginning September 17, 1966 six years before Star Trek first aired in West Germany. Being a huge success with several reruns audience ratings went up to 56%. Over the years, the series acquired a distinct cult status in Germany.

Created by:

Rolf Honold & Hans Gottschalk

Status:

Ended

Language:

German

First air date:

9/17/1966

Last air date:

12/10/1966

Key words:

alien attack
advanced civilization

Seasons

Season 1

7 Episodes

Cast

Dietmar Schönherr

~ as ~

Major Cliff Allister McLane

Eva Pflug

~ as ~

Leutnant Tamara Jagellovsk

Wolfgang Völz

~ as ~

Leutnant Mario de Monti

Charlotte Kerr

~ as ~

General Lydia van Dyke

Claus Holm

~ as ~

Leutnant Hasso Sigbjörnson

Friedrich G. Beckhaus

~ as ~

Leutnant Atan Shubashi

Ursula Lillig

~ as ~

Leutnant Helga Legrelle

Benno Sterzenbach

~ as ~

General Winston W. Wamsler

Friedrich Joloff

~ as ~

Oberst Villa

Franz Schafheitlin

~ as ~

Sir Arthur

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

PE
Patrick E. Abe
Written 7 year(s) ago
6
A mid-1960's black-and-white German TV series, this production was even more bare bones than soon-to-appear "Star Trek." The adventures of the space faring "Orion" start with a routine survey mission to a border outpost by a less than enthusiastic demoted-from-exploration crew.

They find that the station doesn't respond when contacted, which lads to a recon mission by shuttle. The station crew is dead; frozen at their posts, with most systems turned off.

The landing party quickly discovers the presence of an apparently non-corporeal Alien that isn't affected by ordinary weapons. Exploiting the only apparent enemy weakness, the crew of the "Orion" barely survives first contact with a hostile race.

If this sounds a bit like a "Star Trek" episode where Kirk & company discover the Romulan sublight attack ship and it's Plasma-like weapon, it is as exciting.

Another thing that sets this series apart is set design. Using common household items in creative ways, The Future looks visually exciting. Special effects are optical, for the most part, but they work as well as modern DFX to create (somewhat) believable results.

For the curious English apeaking SF fan, there are English-subtitled episodes on YouTube. It is interesting to note that this takes place some time AFTER "Star Trek.";)