I doubt there have been many television shows where most of the main characters have been reduced to about an inch in height. Nevertheless, this is what we have with "Land of the Giants." Having that kind of story angle makes this series slightly unique. From what I've seen thus far, the show hasn't been disappointing by a long way. The episodes depict the various challenges that the main characters face from episode to episode. There is a fair degree of intrigue and suspense, as the characters narrowly avoid being wiped out by the full grown people - be it accidentally or otherwise. The budget for this series is a very good one, which is just as well. A lack of money would have been a considerable hindrance. The stories and the writing in general is very good. There aren't any famous or familiar faces amongst the main cast but that isn't a problem with me. An enjoyable slice of hokum that the whole family can enjoy.
48 Reviews
A Big Hand For The Little People!
ShadeGrenade22 August 2006
Scientists may not approve ( I don't think it was aimed at them anyway! ) but in the U.K. in 1969 'Land Of The Giants' was a smash hit. At school on Monday mornings, the number one talking point in the playground was the latest episode of 'Land'. I would try to steer the conversation towards the ongoing saga of 'Dr.Who' in 'The War Games', but it was no use. 'Land' had Britain's children ensnared in its grip. It was kind of like 'Planet Of The Apes' in that it too featured a group of humans who, after passing through a 'space warp', find themselves marooned on a strange world where evolution has taken a different turn. As you'd expect from an Irwin Allen series, characterisation was barely in evidence, but the show boasted some amazing S.F.X. sequences, intriguing story lines such as 'Ghost Town', and the excellent Kevin Hagen as the sinister Inspector Kobick of the S.I.D. As was the case with a lot of U.S. sci-fi shows, the novelty soon wore off - 'Land' was cancelled after two seasons.
Cheesy sci-fi or Cold War Metaphor?
atman9879 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Having watched the whole run, it strikes me that Land of the Giants is really an elaborate Cold War metaphor. The giants themselves are like the old Soviet Empire during its heyday. At first blush they seem imposing, intimidating, seemingly impossible to overcome. Yet the giants are also clumsy and slow. Their society is like an old Marxist republic: dull, repressed, technologically backward; its denizens sullen if not malevolent. The giants are unwieldy and inefficient, like the bureaucracy of the state itself. The American "little people," thwart them time and again with Yankee ingenuity, creativity, and teamwork.
The passengers and crew of the Spindrift are a disparate group with characteristics of "western decadence," (e.g., a rich, arrogant capitalist, a spoiled, shallow socialite, an opportunistic con artist.) Yet reflecting the ideal of American democracy, everyone pulls together when it counts, though perhaps after heated--and sometimes violent--debate.
On the downside, the show often seems to be "Land of the Giant Plot-holes." At a twelfth size, the little people often seem to traverse the city impossibly fast. The Spindrift lights flash day and night, inviting investigation from any passerby. The idea of camouflage doesn't seem to occur to the little people. Maybe a canary yellow blouse and a fire engine red jumpsuit aren't the best fashion choices for avoiding notice. They're constantly hunting for food because grocery stores are hard to break into, yet they have little trouble in pharmacies when there's a need for medicine.
I'll pass no judgment on the special effects; they were the best that TV could produce at the time, and many times hold up pretty well. However, the novelty of giant props like pencils and telephones wears off after a bit. The little people are forever climbing up and down the same table legs, ducking under the same doors, hiding against the same street curbs. It seems in retrospect that whole episodes could have been devoted to the problems of basic survival at a small size. How do they cross a small stream that to little people appears a mighty river? How do they deal with a nearby ant-hill? Instead, the plots are often fantastical and surreal, stretching the belief factor in a show that is pushing that envelope in the premise already.
On the upside, the cast is a pretty good set of actors. Kurt Kaszner seems to have the most fun, and his brilliant panache at playing Fitzhugh is the only thing that makes that character tolerable. Don Matheson gets to have the next most fun as hot-headed Mark Wilson. Matheson shows great aplomb at spewing the techno-babble required of the character. It's also good to see an engineer who isn't portrayed as an awkward nerd. Kudos also to Gary Conaway for his understated hand with Captain Burton. Conaway looks like he came out of the same TV leading man factory that produced Robert Conrad and Christopher George. But I think Conaway was the better actor and it's a wonder he didn't have a more notable career.
The women are good but horribly underwritten. Heather Young as Betty does get to show off her dancing and singing talents in the marionette episode. Otherwise, the character seems a template for a bland future soccer mom. One gets the impression that being a stewardess was just a prelude to catching a handsome pilot and having babies. The writers should have written her as a trained nurse, so at least they could involve her more for medical necessity. Deanna Lund gets to hint at Valerie's inner vixen, but never fully show it. This is a shame; they should have played it up, making her a foil for the dominant Burton and Wilson.
This show is ripe for a reboot/revival. It would be cool to see the Sci-Fi Channel tackle Land of the Giants in the same way they did Battlestar: Galactica.
The passengers and crew of the Spindrift are a disparate group with characteristics of "western decadence," (e.g., a rich, arrogant capitalist, a spoiled, shallow socialite, an opportunistic con artist.) Yet reflecting the ideal of American democracy, everyone pulls together when it counts, though perhaps after heated--and sometimes violent--debate.
On the downside, the show often seems to be "Land of the Giant Plot-holes." At a twelfth size, the little people often seem to traverse the city impossibly fast. The Spindrift lights flash day and night, inviting investigation from any passerby. The idea of camouflage doesn't seem to occur to the little people. Maybe a canary yellow blouse and a fire engine red jumpsuit aren't the best fashion choices for avoiding notice. They're constantly hunting for food because grocery stores are hard to break into, yet they have little trouble in pharmacies when there's a need for medicine.
I'll pass no judgment on the special effects; they were the best that TV could produce at the time, and many times hold up pretty well. However, the novelty of giant props like pencils and telephones wears off after a bit. The little people are forever climbing up and down the same table legs, ducking under the same doors, hiding against the same street curbs. It seems in retrospect that whole episodes could have been devoted to the problems of basic survival at a small size. How do they cross a small stream that to little people appears a mighty river? How do they deal with a nearby ant-hill? Instead, the plots are often fantastical and surreal, stretching the belief factor in a show that is pushing that envelope in the premise already.
On the upside, the cast is a pretty good set of actors. Kurt Kaszner seems to have the most fun, and his brilliant panache at playing Fitzhugh is the only thing that makes that character tolerable. Don Matheson gets to have the next most fun as hot-headed Mark Wilson. Matheson shows great aplomb at spewing the techno-babble required of the character. It's also good to see an engineer who isn't portrayed as an awkward nerd. Kudos also to Gary Conaway for his understated hand with Captain Burton. Conaway looks like he came out of the same TV leading man factory that produced Robert Conrad and Christopher George. But I think Conaway was the better actor and it's a wonder he didn't have a more notable career.
The women are good but horribly underwritten. Heather Young as Betty does get to show off her dancing and singing talents in the marionette episode. Otherwise, the character seems a template for a bland future soccer mom. One gets the impression that being a stewardess was just a prelude to catching a handsome pilot and having babies. The writers should have written her as a trained nurse, so at least they could involve her more for medical necessity. Deanna Lund gets to hint at Valerie's inner vixen, but never fully show it. This is a shame; they should have played it up, making her a foil for the dominant Burton and Wilson.
This show is ripe for a reboot/revival. It would be cool to see the Sci-Fi Channel tackle Land of the Giants in the same way they did Battlestar: Galactica.
Missing the point
hernebay24 April 2001
As a child growing up in England in the late 60s, my favourite TV show was "Lost in Space", but "Land of the Giants", which replaced it from time to time in the schedules, was only slightly less intriguing. It didn't boast a character quite so camply magnificent as Dr Zachary Smith (my lifelong hero!), but its parallel-world scenario struck me as deeply haunting and thought-provoking. All of the reviewers who berate LIS and LOTG for their creaky plots and primitive special effects are missing the point; these shows relied on a willing suspension of disbelief, and the imaginative collaboration of their audience (for the most part, children). I pity rather than envy the present generation of children, whose dreams are delivered to them ready made.
Time jump to Brobdingnag
bkoganbing7 November 2016
Passing through a mysterious cloud a small subspace vehicle with the speed of the Concorde the passengers and crew of the futuristic ship land on an earth like planet. Only the people are giants compared to them about 12 times bigger. Funny thing is that they all speak perfect English.
But so did the giants of Brobdingnag in Jonathan Swift's classic Gulliver's Travels. Seven people and a dog now have to survive in a very horrible place where you have to fear the house cat. Seven people on Gilligan's Island as well, 7 people on Lost In Space as well. Seems to be the right number for a television series.
Lost In Space also had as its main feature the relationship between the boy, the rogue, and a robot. Here it was boy Stefan Arngrim, rogue Kurt Kaszner and a dog instead of a robot.
The rest of the cast was Gary Conway, Don Marshall, Don Matheson, Deanna Lund, and Heather Young. Like in Lost In Space they took a backseat to the aforementioned.
Surprised how few credit Irwin Allen from using Jonathan Swift as an inspiration. Land Of The Giants was not a classic, still it has a following to this day and rightly so.
But so did the giants of Brobdingnag in Jonathan Swift's classic Gulliver's Travels. Seven people and a dog now have to survive in a very horrible place where you have to fear the house cat. Seven people on Gilligan's Island as well, 7 people on Lost In Space as well. Seems to be the right number for a television series.
Lost In Space also had as its main feature the relationship between the boy, the rogue, and a robot. Here it was boy Stefan Arngrim, rogue Kurt Kaszner and a dog instead of a robot.
The rest of the cast was Gary Conway, Don Marshall, Don Matheson, Deanna Lund, and Heather Young. Like in Lost In Space they took a backseat to the aforementioned.
Surprised how few credit Irwin Allen from using Jonathan Swift as an inspiration. Land Of The Giants was not a classic, still it has a following to this day and rightly so.
Pure Hokum But Great Fun
screenman29 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
What nonsense! But what clever effects!
So far as set-pieces and effects were concerned, someone had really tried. And quite a lot of money must have been stumped-up to produce it - which was brave for such an implausible sci-fi fantasy of 1960's vintage. The big problem (for me) was the fact the the land of the giants looked suspiciously like a normal terrestrial environment with normal human beings. It could as easily have been called 'Land Of The Midgets', but that we were presented the scenario from the midgets' perspective and induced to empathise with them.
The colossal furniture and contrived gadgets were great fun to see and at times there was some genuine drama and tension. But - as usual - with so much investment, the idea was milked for all it was worth and went on far too long. That was a problem with a lot of American 'concept' series, including 'Lost In Space', which it rather resembled, 'The Invaders', 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea', and the seemingly interminable 'Fugitive'.
I was also a little amazed how these 'castaways' always managed to remain so well groomed. Every episode saw them neatly permed and coiffured, clean-shaven, and never a smudge on their faces or a tear in their clothing (until they had an adventure). Their slacks were so tightly creased they might have come fresh off the peg from the local outfitters. Which they probably did. And this despite endlessly scrabbling through drain-pipes, air-ducts, and sundry rat-runs. In the real world these places would be wet, slimy, mouldy, smelly and crawling with unpleasant life-forms on a comparable scale to the giants. Where were all the other life forms? Things seemed a little too hygienic to be believable. Even for 1968.
Still, it was a fun programme for kids, before it overstayed its welcome and turned into a repetitive little-'n'-large soap-opera. With such comely wenches and handsome dudes, one can't help thinking that sooner or later there's have been some hanky-panky in the pipes.
So far as set-pieces and effects were concerned, someone had really tried. And quite a lot of money must have been stumped-up to produce it - which was brave for such an implausible sci-fi fantasy of 1960's vintage. The big problem (for me) was the fact the the land of the giants looked suspiciously like a normal terrestrial environment with normal human beings. It could as easily have been called 'Land Of The Midgets', but that we were presented the scenario from the midgets' perspective and induced to empathise with them.
The colossal furniture and contrived gadgets were great fun to see and at times there was some genuine drama and tension. But - as usual - with so much investment, the idea was milked for all it was worth and went on far too long. That was a problem with a lot of American 'concept' series, including 'Lost In Space', which it rather resembled, 'The Invaders', 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea', and the seemingly interminable 'Fugitive'.
I was also a little amazed how these 'castaways' always managed to remain so well groomed. Every episode saw them neatly permed and coiffured, clean-shaven, and never a smudge on their faces or a tear in their clothing (until they had an adventure). Their slacks were so tightly creased they might have come fresh off the peg from the local outfitters. Which they probably did. And this despite endlessly scrabbling through drain-pipes, air-ducts, and sundry rat-runs. In the real world these places would be wet, slimy, mouldy, smelly and crawling with unpleasant life-forms on a comparable scale to the giants. Where were all the other life forms? Things seemed a little too hygienic to be believable. Even for 1968.
Still, it was a fun programme for kids, before it overstayed its welcome and turned into a repetitive little-'n'-large soap-opera. With such comely wenches and handsome dudes, one can't help thinking that sooner or later there's have been some hanky-panky in the pipes.
Interesting show
qywtntq3 July 2022
A memorable show.....
contradad-13 October 2004
At a cost of over $250,000 per episode, "Land of the Giants" was the most expensive show of its time.(As well as the highest rated
when it premiered in October of 1968). That money was well spent on impressive visual effects, camera tricks, and enormous realistic props that had the audience believing they were watching 7 space travellers accidentally stranded on a world where everything was twelve times the size of the equivalent things on earth. This show remains visually quite impressive and is well remembered by those of us old enough to have seen it during its first run. Gary Conway and Don Marshall lead the cast as the pilot and co-pilot of the ill-fated 'Spindrift' spacecraft and
and Kevin Hagen is extremely effective in several episodes as the government agent of the giant world with the assigned task of hunting the earthmen down.
when it premiered in October of 1968). That money was well spent on impressive visual effects, camera tricks, and enormous realistic props that had the audience believing they were watching 7 space travellers accidentally stranded on a world where everything was twelve times the size of the equivalent things on earth. This show remains visually quite impressive and is well remembered by those of us old enough to have seen it during its first run. Gary Conway and Don Marshall lead the cast as the pilot and co-pilot of the ill-fated 'Spindrift' spacecraft and
and Kevin Hagen is extremely effective in several episodes as the government agent of the giant world with the assigned task of hunting the earthmen down.
Unexplained plot point
mgmstar12827 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
What is never explained to us is why the giants are taking care of the girl Marna. What did they want her for? What would they have done with all the others? How did her parents die? Did they kill them, and were they experimented upon too? It was an interesting episode featuring other shipwrecked passengers, but this plot line was not explored enough. It shows that perhaps not all giants wanted to harm the little people, but why not? This sort of built up a nice possibility to connect the giants with the stranded castaways, but then the link was broken quickly. Land of the Giants share much with its sister show Lost in Space, but this gaping plot hole might have been addressed there better in that series.
Brilliant 60s TV Show
adamtheactor-9767710 October 2019
Land of the Giants will always hold great memories of the 1980s re-runs which I saw as a child.
I remember asking my Dad to record the first episode "The Crash" onto VHS for me. It was being broadcast on a Sunday morning on Channel 4 in the UK.
I was hooked, and loved the concept of the Giant world, it utterly fascinated me, and made my imagination soar.
So, for the next year or more I had my Dad record every last episode (51 in total) of Land of the giants, every Sunday as it was broadcast. In fact I did miss one episode (Shell Game) as we went on holiday to Devon, and my Dad messed up the timer on the video recorder. Heartbroken.
What caught my attention, was the wonderful acting from all the cast, and their plight of living on this strange world, and having to hunt and fight for survival.
I always enjoyed watching the group at camp, cooking up some stew on the fire, or having a discussion under the tree that they had turned into an outside den of sorts. Most episodes would involve them being caught by a giant and put into a cage, and the others mounting a rescue, which would always end up being successful, but this didn't matter.
The enjoyment of Land of the Giants is of course the peril the group find themselves in each time, giant cats, crossing the road, or getting caught up in a terrorist plot (Doomsday).
As most will remember, the group are desperately trying to fix their damaged ship and fly back home to earth. The show never really came to a conclusion as it was cancelled after two seasons due to the huge budget. This of course does not matter, as it still holds up surprisingly well as a great bit of escapism.
My only criticism, would be that not enough about the character's backgrounds was explored. In the 51 episodes we never find out if any of the 7 crew is married, or has children, or if any of them has plans if they ever make it out of this dreadful planet. We do know that young Barry is an orphan and was supposed to meet cousins in London who would have taken him under their wing, had the Spindrift spaceship not crashed on the Giant land.
Perhaps had a 3rd season been commissioned this would have been developed somewhat, but I doubt it.
Best show when I was a kid
angelabaz15 November 2016
Absolutely loved this show, watched every Sunday morning as a child. And have been watching land of the giants on the horror channel recently and still love it. The cast must of been so fit to do all the climbing. Gary Conway who plays captain Steve Burton is nice eye candy. fantastic cast and a few guest stars who I recognize. I think my favorite episodes are with Kevin Hagen as inspector Kobick. I only wished they had made more seasons or they had found there way back home. I wouldn't like to see a remake of this as I prefer the original cast as they made the show and no other actors of today could ever replace them as each actor/actress made the character their own on the show.
THE LAGGEST OF THE IRWIN ALLEN SERIES
asalerno1016 August 2022
A ship with three crew members and four passengers falls into a kind of black hole during one of its trips and lands in a strange world inhabited by giants, from there they will live disturbing adventures trying to avoid being caught and at the same time get the ship repaired to return to your world. This would be Irwin Allen's last production of the 1960s after the successful Voyage To the Bottom of The Sea, Lost in Space and The Time Tunnel. The premise is similar to Lost in Space in that we have a group of people lost in another world and one of them (Kurt Kasznar) would play a character similar to Dr. Smith but not as picturesque as Jonathan Harris. For my taste, the problem with this series is that the argument was too repetitive, in almost all the episodes one of the protagonists was trapped by the giants and the rest had to go to their rescue, which ended with stories that were almost the same as each other. The protagonists never became as picturesque as those of other series, the effects were well done if we see them with a late 60's look, but after seeing two or three episodes they ceased to impress.
We were all in a Land of Giants
jimprax-11 May 2007
Having just read all the comments I had an idea of why this show made such a strong impression on so many.
It seems many of the people that were fans were kids when this first aired (I was six, probably became truly imprinted on my neural circuits in early syndication). I believe this show connected so much with its audience because as young children we all felt in some way that we were living in a Land of the Giants and so we identified very much with all the characters.
Anyway, sorry for the cheesy pop psychiatry, but that's my theory and I'm sticking with it.
Now if I can only figure out why I loved so many other 60's/70's TV sci-fi (Star Trek, Lost In Space, UFO, Space 1999, etc)
It seems many of the people that were fans were kids when this first aired (I was six, probably became truly imprinted on my neural circuits in early syndication). I believe this show connected so much with its audience because as young children we all felt in some way that we were living in a Land of the Giants and so we identified very much with all the characters.
Anyway, sorry for the cheesy pop psychiatry, but that's my theory and I'm sticking with it.
Now if I can only figure out why I loved so many other 60's/70's TV sci-fi (Star Trek, Lost In Space, UFO, Space 1999, etc)
Deserves a reboot
safenoe8 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Land of the Giants deserved a longer run and one episode I recall was when Stefan Arngrim's character was saved from being spider food by an l guy who became the sacrificial lamb. This series, along with The Time Tunnel, were excellent 60s series and perhaps really deserves a reboot.
I wonder how the family managed to eat and find miniature toilets and so on. Makes you wonder.
I wonder how the family managed to eat and find miniature toilets and so on. Makes you wonder.
Effects Stand the Test of Time
andy-234012 October 2009
in 1968, this show costed $250,000 per episode. Converting that to the modern dollar, that ranges from $1.5-3 million, depending on the index you use. I have rediscovered this gem from my childhood, thanks to Hulu. Comparing it to other Irwin Allen productions of the same era, the acting in this was not that bad, the characters likable, and the effects still stand up, even 40+ years later. I have heard Fitzhue compared to Dr. Smith, but where Fitzhue was surely a heal, he was not pure evil and self serving like Smith. I still love Lost in Space, but rediscovering this intelligent, well made show has given me a good second choice for favorite 60s sifi! I would love to see some of these props, I bet they would be a cool museum!
All Time Favorite Show
fuzzyfacefreak6 December 2001
I first saw this fantastic show when it originally aired. I have watched it every time it's on tv (and when it's taken off the air I watch my tapes of the show!) It is the best sci-fi show ever made! The camera angles and the realistic props are excellent. Great story lines and even greater actors made it a wonderful show! My favorite was beautiful and sexy Deanna Lund as Valerie. I wish it had lasted more than just 51 episodes. If you love sci-fi this show is a MUST see!!
Kind of a lot of mad scientists
ghoolsby27 June 2011
I know it's just science fiction but I'm surprised by the sheer number of mad scientists. Did they land in a mad scientist gated community? And the same critter cage in every episode. Cut your way out once and you're good for two seasons.
And there are more humans coming and going in that same patch of forest. Are there human airliners crashing every day? And how does something 80 feet tall sneak up on them.
I've heard the novelizations are actually pretty good.
Irwin Allen was no Gene Roddenberry but his shows were more popular at the time than Trek was.
And there are more humans coming and going in that same patch of forest. Are there human airliners crashing every day? And how does something 80 feet tall sneak up on them.
I've heard the novelizations are actually pretty good.
Irwin Allen was no Gene Roddenberry but his shows were more popular at the time than Trek was.
Best Sci-fi TV series!!!
cayetanoeustaquio9 September 2005
In 1968, when Land of the Giants first aired, I was a 9 year old kid back home in the Philippines. I do not remember much of the episodes by story, only bits and pieces of it. Like the giant gun the little guys used to shoot the giant that was after them. The ax they used made of a match stick and half a razor blade. Air ducts to escape and of course, my personal favorite... the Spindrift! I was most fascinated by the realistic props that were created than the plot of the whole thing. I focused on the small items that we normally see around the house and outside our backyards, transformed into colossal objects that can hardly be moved 5 feet without the help of your friends and a serious workout.
The Spindrift is the reason I became a model maker. I do not know how many times I've made the Spindrift out of cardboard. This was because, in my country at the time, there were no merchandising of any kind for any TV series or movie. And now, thanks to the internet, I just purchased a model of the Spindrift and the entire 51 episodes of the series (as I type this comment out, I'm still waiting for my order to get here). This time I can focus more on the storyline. Of course the impact will not be as great considering there have been tons of Sci-fi movies with way more advanced FX since then like Star Wars. But the memories live on and to me, Land of the Giants will always be the best Sci-fi TV series ever made! I don't care what other people say!
The Spindrift is the reason I became a model maker. I do not know how many times I've made the Spindrift out of cardboard. This was because, in my country at the time, there were no merchandising of any kind for any TV series or movie. And now, thanks to the internet, I just purchased a model of the Spindrift and the entire 51 episodes of the series (as I type this comment out, I'm still waiting for my order to get here). This time I can focus more on the storyline. Of course the impact will not be as great considering there have been tons of Sci-fi movies with way more advanced FX since then like Star Wars. But the memories live on and to me, Land of the Giants will always be the best Sci-fi TV series ever made! I don't care what other people say!
GIANTS GIANTS GIANTS !!
marydouros6 September 2018
Great series that's worth watching, with memorable episodes!
leesandy3633hm8 November 2023
Though it may not be very hard science fiction or very hard on detail of plot or things like that, I think it's still a good one that's worth a watch!
Apart from cool giant world special effects I also really enjoyed interaction between main characters and their character development.
First on the special effects, I think for it's time it is fabulous, good efforts like giant props with good amount of details and the "continuity" (details) when cuts between giants and little people are made. I especially like the giant camera, it even comes with all of the numbers on it for adjustments.
For character interaction I think is really interesting to see how all characters with different personalities clashes under different circumstances and this difficult life, especially between Mark and Steve and Fitz that always have scheme bruing, without confinement of ranking like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, there's lots of interesting sometimes hilarious exchange happened!
For character development though sometimes may be episodic or there may not have a very clear arcs but I really enjoy seeing things like how in episodes like Fitz how he choose the team mate over other or how Mark learn to curb his anger and sometime beable to make up with Steve and admit he's not all right.
Lastly, like all of Irwin Allen's series It's quality of episode does have it's up and down, but overall pretty entertaining and even with some great one that's memorable! I think for entertainment it's a nice series!
Apart from cool giant world special effects I also really enjoyed interaction between main characters and their character development.
First on the special effects, I think for it's time it is fabulous, good efforts like giant props with good amount of details and the "continuity" (details) when cuts between giants and little people are made. I especially like the giant camera, it even comes with all of the numbers on it for adjustments.
For character interaction I think is really interesting to see how all characters with different personalities clashes under different circumstances and this difficult life, especially between Mark and Steve and Fitz that always have scheme bruing, without confinement of ranking like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, there's lots of interesting sometimes hilarious exchange happened!
For character development though sometimes may be episodic or there may not have a very clear arcs but I really enjoy seeing things like how in episodes like Fitz how he choose the team mate over other or how Mark learn to curb his anger and sometime beable to make up with Steve and admit he's not all right.
Lastly, like all of Irwin Allen's series It's quality of episode does have it's up and down, but overall pretty entertaining and even with some great one that's memorable! I think for entertainment it's a nice series!
Great show.
dasa1081 December 2022
It is an extraordinary series set in the golden age of television. With an unusual budget (the most expensive in history at the time) and based on an attractive idea and the successful production of the visionary Irwin Allen, we obtained an extraordinary product that could always offer surprise, intrigue and emotion. The introductory music is by the great John Williams and the performances are still remembered today for their reliability. It's a great show from the days when we grew up and had a black and white tv to entertain us. For those of us who were children in the seventies, this series was inevitable.
Nope
sugarmountainf19 June 2019
Irwin's Allen homage to "Dr. Cyclops" and "The Incredible Shrinking Man"
garrard2 April 2006
After "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," along with "Lost in Space" had made their four-year and three-year runs, respectively, Irwin Allen returned to television with this ambitious show about seven travelers (eight, if you count the dog) lost on a world wherein they are "six inch oddities" amongst giant EVERYTHING. The pilot episode, appropriately entitled "The Crash" was, by far, the best of the entire two-year life of the show. Featuring spectacular set pieces, a brilliant John Williams' score, and good (for the budget and the era) special optical effects, though the giant spider didn't work so well.
It's a shame, however, that the show didn't live up to the promise of weekly adventure as exhibited in the pilot. It's obvious that Allen was looking for another Will Robinson/Dr. Smith pairing with the characters of Barry and Commander Fitzhugh. Though actors Stefan Arngrim and Kurt Kaszner did their best, the scripts and the interplay between the two was not convincing.
As far as the other characters, they fit the typical stereotypes: the spoiled rich girl (Deanna Lund), the self-centered businessman (Don Matheson), the brave captain (Gary Conway), the dependable stewardess (Heather Young) and the "token" co-captain (Don Marshall). The latter has the distinction of being the sole African-American to star in an Irwin Allen television production; obviously, the producer was buckling, deservedly so, to have a better representation of the real look of America, as well as the world.
Of the four shows produced by Allen during the 60's, "Land of the Giants" possibly is the most difficult to categorize or even to recommend. It's not campy enough to be remembered as fondly as "Lost in Space"; it's not as adventurous as the underwater adventures of the submarine Seaview in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"; and neither is it as innovative as the time travelers in the shorter-lived "The Time Tunnel" It's just a nice trip down memory lane for those of us that happened to have been around when Sunday nights meant "Lassie," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Bonanza," and, of course, for two years, "Land of The Giants".
It's a shame, however, that the show didn't live up to the promise of weekly adventure as exhibited in the pilot. It's obvious that Allen was looking for another Will Robinson/Dr. Smith pairing with the characters of Barry and Commander Fitzhugh. Though actors Stefan Arngrim and Kurt Kaszner did their best, the scripts and the interplay between the two was not convincing.
As far as the other characters, they fit the typical stereotypes: the spoiled rich girl (Deanna Lund), the self-centered businessman (Don Matheson), the brave captain (Gary Conway), the dependable stewardess (Heather Young) and the "token" co-captain (Don Marshall). The latter has the distinction of being the sole African-American to star in an Irwin Allen television production; obviously, the producer was buckling, deservedly so, to have a better representation of the real look of America, as well as the world.
Of the four shows produced by Allen during the 60's, "Land of the Giants" possibly is the most difficult to categorize or even to recommend. It's not campy enough to be remembered as fondly as "Lost in Space"; it's not as adventurous as the underwater adventures of the submarine Seaview in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"; and neither is it as innovative as the time travelers in the shorter-lived "The Time Tunnel" It's just a nice trip down memory lane for those of us that happened to have been around when Sunday nights meant "Lassie," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Bonanza," and, of course, for two years, "Land of The Giants".
Irwin Allen's Best Series
movieguy810077 September 2006
I think Land of the Giants is Irwin Allen's best series. I think this show is better than Lost in Space. This show is a ride to watch. This show has great special effects and great costume design. I am surprised this show did not get nominated for an Emmy. This show only had two seasons. I am surprised it did not go on longer. Every episode is different. This show has great acting, great sets, great cinematography, and a cool ship. This show had great Special Guest Stars including Alan Hale Jr. and Johnathan Harris. This is a classic television series. This show is one of the best Sci-Fi Shows of all time. I grew up watching this TV show when I was a kid. I also saw Lost in Space when I was a kid too.
The last of Irwin Allen's silly shows
mhorg201830 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Other than, as in all of his shows, the sfx (mostly) and technical stuff (the spindrift is beautiful), this is an incredibly stupid show. Deanna Lund, really a beautiful woman is one of the only reasons to watch this as an adult. Three main problem is this: they should have been squashed flat from the gravity! The second is: like in lost in space, how many little people landed here that the Giants are terrified of them? A little fun trivia, look for the episode with Malachi throne. They use a repainted set from Beneath the planet of the apes! But Irwin found a reason to reuse footage from the lost world (another stinker) in nearly all his shows!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews