 |
F.A.B
Get ready for a summer of action, espionage and adventure as International Rescue blasts off on its eternal mission to thwart evil. Yes, you got it folks, your chance to experience the original and digitally re-mastered Thunderbirds is most defiantly GO.
Working for the good of mankind, former astronaut Jeff Tracy and his 5 intrepid sons Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon and John pilot International Rescue’s 5 super secret craft – the Thunderbirds, designed by computer genius Brains and his assistant Tin Tin.
These vehicles, created to tackle every impossible situation comprise rocket Thunderbird 1, Thunderbird 2, which transports the Mole, spaceship Thunderbird 3, while submarine Thunderbird 4 is used for underwater rescues. John Tracy monitors the entire operation up in Thunderbird 5, a space satellite.
Of course, every International Rescue team needs an agent in London, and who better than glamorous Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her faithful butler Parker?
Every action-packed episode brings a new challenge and seemingly impossible mission as International Rescue fight to stop evil mastermind The Hood sabotaging their plans to save Earth!
MEET THE CHARACTERS
JEFF TRACY
Jeff Tracy, the son of a Kansas wheat farmer, was a US Air Force Colonel before transferring to become an astronaut. He has the distinction of being one of the first men on the moon.
Jeff then went into construction engineering and became one of the richest men in the world whilst also raising his five sons after the tragic early death of his wife.
Now 56 years old, his humanity and kindness towards people has led to the creation of International Rescue which he runs from Tracy Island, a secret base located somewhere in the Pacific. He is totally dedicated to the International Rescue team and is rarely found to be enjoying the luxury of time off from his role as leader.
SCOTT TRACY
Scott is the eldest of the Tracy boys. He was educated at Yale and Oxford Universities and then served with the US Air Force, where he was decorated for valour, before joining International Rescue.
Scott's main job is to fly Thunderbird 1, which means that as the first man to arrive on the disaster scene it's his responsibility to assess the situation and decide which rescue craft to use. This task is aided by Scott's confidence to make instant decisions, his brains, brawn, daring and drive. A complete lack of arrogance enables him to assist his brothers with the day-to-day tasks of running International Rescue.
VIRGIL TRACY
A graduate of the Denver School of Advanced Technology, Virgil possesses the mechanical aptitude to handle the complex machinery that his craft Thunderbird 2 carries.
The most serious of all the Tracy family, Virgil has no sense of fear and his iron nerve makes him one of the bravest pilots. As pilot of Thunderbird 2 he cannot afford to put people at risk by acts of carelessness.
JOHN TRACY
Much of John's time is spent as monitor in Thunderbird 5, International Rescue's space station, and his position is generally first to alert the island of any disaster. His hobby is to study astronomy and his job offers him ample opportunity.
Following in his father's footsteps, John became an astronaut after leaving Harvard University. This experience has become invaluable for when Alan Tracy relieves him at the Space Station, Thunderbird 3 is handed over to John.
John is famed with the discovery of the Tracy quasar system which was a result of his incessant space searching. He has also published 4 books on outer space.
GORDON TRACY
Blue-eyed Gordon is the aquanaut in charge of Thunderbird 4. Adventure is Gordon's life and he revels in all water sports from skin-diving to water-skiing. Gordon is the great joker of the Tracy family.
Gordon is one of the world's fastest freestyle swimmers and is a past Olympic champion at the butterfly stroke. Shortly before joining International Rescue, Gordon was involved in a hydrofoil speedboat crash, when his vessel capsized at 400 knots. The craft was completely destroyed and Gordon spent 4 months in hospital.
This accident taught Gordon respect for the sea - an essential ingredient for anyone who pits his wits against the elements
ALAN TRACY
Alan is responsible for Thunderbird 3 and also assists on Thunderbird 5 when older brother John is on leave from the space station.
After attending college at Colorado University his father decided that astronaut training would give Alan a sense of responsibility, and Alan's ability in space is nothing less than outstanding!
Alan sees his work at International Rescue as a vital service to mankind. However, he is also a bit of a joker and somewhat reckless.
Alan has a love of motor racing and was a champion driver but also enjoys exploring the rocks and potholes around Tracy Island.
BRAINS
Knowing that International Rescue would need a mind of super ability, Jeff found teenage Hiram K. Hackenbacker in Paris, nervously delivering a lecture in a culture hall.
Brains, as he is known to everyone, was orphaned at a young age and adopted by a Cambridge University Professor who recognised the boy's genius and encouraged his education.
Brains has brain power and inventive genius beyond his age. As the inventor of all the machines used by the organisation, he is never satisfied with what he produces and is constantly working on modifications to his creations.
LADY PENELOPE
Lady Penelope is the daughter of Sir Hugh Creighton-Ward and his wife Amelia. Operating from her stately home, Creighton-Ward Mansion, Lady Penelope is the British Agent for International Rescue.
Educated by Miss Petherton, her governess, and at Hightower School, Penny led an eventful childhood. Often, though, she was lonely. For the last six years of her schooling, Lady Penelope was sent to boarding school, where she made many friends and soon learned to live the social life that had, for so long, been denied her.
Passing her exams with flying colours and leaving school after being elected 'Head Girl', Penelope went to finishing school in Switzerland where she had a wonderful time ski-skiing and touring. On several occasions she visited other countries in Europe.
She perfected four languages - French, Italian, German and Spanish. These were to greatly assist her role as spy - the profession she was to follow after a dull 'Deb's' social year.
Lady Penelope completed many top-secret assignments for various organisations. Then she took over as Supreme Commander of the Federal Agents' Bureau. It was at this juncture in Penelope's career that Jeff Tracy approached her with a business offer. She jumped at the chance to work for International Rescue, the job was more than a challenge, it was one that she would really enjoy.
The day Lady Penelope passed Jeff Tracy's gruelling tests she, together with Parker, her 'safe-cracking' manservant, joined the International Rescue team, was to prove one of the greatest in International Rescue's history.
PARKER
Aloysius Parker, sometimes known as "Nosey", gave up his criminal life after being caught in the act by the woman he now assists, Lady Penelope.
Parker, believed to be 52 years old, is reputed to be one of the finest safe-breakers in the world and an excellent mechanic. He is devoted to Lady Penelope and fulfils her every wish. As butler, chauffeur, mechanic and safe- breaker, Parker is vital to the International Rescue cause.
TIN TIN KYRANO
Tin Tin, a twenty-two-year-old Malayan girl, is the daughter of Kyrano, Jeff Tracy's faithful servant. She received an education in America and Europe, Jeff Tracy paying all expenses in gratitude for Kyrano's loyal and devoted services.
After completing her studies, Tin Tin joined International Rescue as an active member of the organisation. With her degrees in higher mathematics and advanced technical theory and engineering, she can work closely with International Rescue's engineer and scientist, Brains.
She checks and re-checks all the Thunderbird machines and organises all maintenance - with her skill and knowledge she has repaid Jeff Tracy over and over again for his generosity in financing her schooling.
Feminine and sweet, and yet highly intelligent, Tin Tin is a true credit to International Rescue, proving that women can be a great asset to such an important organisation.
KYRANO
The son of a wealthy Malaysian plantation owner, Kyrano turned his back on material gain after his rightful inheritance was usurped by his evil half-brother, the Hood.
Becoming an expert botanist, Kyrano spent a number of years at Kew Gardens advising on Asian Orchids before being invited to Kennedy Space Centre to help in a project to produce synthetic food from plants. It was here that Kyrano first met Jeff Tracy and the two became firm friends. Later, Kyrano moved to Paris and became head chef at the Paris Hilton, but happily abandoned this prestigious position when he was contacted by Jeff Tracy to help in the running of the Tracy Island domestic chores. This also enabled Kyrano to raise and oversee the education and development of his daughter Tin Tin, who also resides on Tracy Island.
A vital part of the smooth running secret island base, Kyrano's only failing is his susceptibility to the evil influence of his half brother, the Hood, and is often used as an unwitting pawn in the Hood's attempts to learn the secrets of International Rescue and the Thunderbird machines.
THE HOOD
The Hood is known as Public Enemy No.1. The colossal rewards issued and publicised on International Police video services for his arrest make him the most wanted man on Earth. But the evil Hood always manages to evade the lengthy arms of the law.
Within his sinister temple, deep in the heart of the Malayan jungle, the Hood laughs scornfully at all efforts to capture him. It is from this building that the man whose sole aim is to acquire wealth no matter what the cost to others, plans and plots his fateful schemes. At his disposal is the greatest array of devices ever made to further the cause of crime - for nothing can be allowed to hinder his criminal operations.
In an underground room at his temple the Hood keeps a fantastic collection of hoods and masks. There are thousands of them, filling rack after rack, for it is the Hood's amazing ability to change his appearance that has earned him his name and kept him safe from arrest. All the masks have been made by the Hood himself and, working from photographs, he can re-create in rubber any face in a matter of minutes.
One of the greatest interests in the Hood's life are the activities of International Rescue and the Thunderbirds machines. He continually schemes to bring about the destruction of International Rescue. In this aim he has the useful but unwitting help of Kyrano, Jeff Tracy's faithful manservant.
Kyrano is the Hood's half-brother, but any similarity ends there. Kyrano is as honest as the Hood is dishonest. Strangely, uncannily, the Hood wields a commanding power over Kyrano, and this is centred around a huge, glass-sided cabinet that stands in the central temple. Within the box is a lifelike dummy of Kyrano. By concentrating his thoughts on this the Hood is able to place Kyrano in a hypnotic trance - even though he may be thousands of miles away. Kyrano is then at his bidding.
|
|
|
Series