Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Lost in Space: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray Movie Review

Find this set ASAP.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 29, 2015

If you’re a male Baby Boomer (as I am), chances are at some point during your formative years you really wanted to be Billy (as he was billed back then) Mumy. Some cynics who disparaged your childhood behavior may have insisted that this somewhat odd wish may have started with Mumy’s terrifying appearance in the iconic “It’s a Good Life” episode from The Twilight Zone: Season 3, where his performance as pint sized omniscient Anthony Fremont led to several horrifying results, including one poor townsman being turned into a jack in the box. Curmudgeonly joking aside, for a lot of boys who were at least around Mumy’s age (give or take a couple of years on either side of the spectrum), Lost in Space’s 1965 debut left an indelible impression, as millions of young males imagined what it would be like if they could blast off into outer space, even if that were attended by the twin discomforts of being lost and being with one’s family. Lost in Space supposedly never quite attracted the rabid fan following of its eventual cosmic “rival”, Star Trek: The Original Series , though it’s notable that this Irwin Allen production actually rated significantly higher during its original broadcast run than Gene Roddenberry’s space opera ever did. That said, Lost in Space fell victim to a couple of somewhat linked phenomena that occurred shortly after the show’s debut in late 1965. The 1965-66 television season was the last to feature at least a few series which were still being produced and broadcast in black and white, including Lost in Space. By the time the 1966-67 season debuted in September 1966, the multicolored handwriting was on the wall, and virtually every show on the three major networks had shifted to color. In the interim, however, (January 1966, to be exact), a little show called Batman: The Complete Series came along, and in fact was scheduled opposite Lost in Space on ABC (where Irwin Allen’s “other” adventure-fantasy series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was already happily ensconced on Sunday evenings). When Batman became something of a cultural watershed seemingly overnight, Lost in Space underwent a rather major shift in tone, becoming distinctly campier and more outlandish, with more of an emphasis on the comedy relief provided by Jonathan Harris’ scheming Dr. Smith. In a way, therefore, Lost in Space is almost like two somewhat linked series, rather than an organic whole. There’s the at least relatively more “serious” first season, which finds the Space Family Robinson undergoing the trauma of hurtling through space to destinations unknown (and perhaps unknowable), and then the second two seasons, which tend to be just flat out goofy a lot of the time.

The basic setup of Lost in Space is simplicity itself, though as fans of the series know, it actually took the creative team a little while to get there. In the final version of the show’s premise, the Space Family Robinson, father John (Guy Williams), mother Maureen (June Lockhart), daughters Judy (Marta Kristen) and Penny (Angela Cartwright), and son Will (Billy Mumy), along with pilot Don West (Mark Goddard), set off on a journey to find a potential “duplicate Earth” that can be colonized. Unfortunately, the Robinsons’ trek (sorry) is confounded by the dastardly efforts of saboteur stowaway Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), whose shenanigans end up leaving the astronauts (not to mention Smith himself), well, lost in space.

What’s fascinating about Lost in Space is the tonal disconnect between the early episodes and where the show ended up spending the bulk of its three seasons. The first several episodes are pretty much straight ahead action-adventure fare, with a fun science fiction twist, and Smith is a much more menacing villain than the buffoon he became somewhat later. While most cultural analysts tend to posit that Lost in Space fell victim to Batman’s campy impact, it’s actually obvious that the show was already moving at least somewhat more toward a comedic environment in what would have been late 1965, at least a few weeks before the Caped Crusader arrived to take the United States by storm. However, by the time the color second and third seasons came around, there is little doubt that Lost in Space had become something of a goof, an often ridiculous show that recycled silly “monster and/or wacky alien of the week” premises while also at times aping ideas from its supposed nemesis Star Trek (this is not to say that Lost in Space wasn't enjoyable on its own terms). There’s a certain irony to the whole Batman phenomenon in one central gambit that Lost in Space employed from the very beginning—both series utilized the old Saturday morning (movie) serial approach of “to be continued”, with cliffhanger endings to episodes, something that actually helped to define Batman's curious popularity, but which Lost in Space obviously got to first.

Diehard fans of Lost in Space may take umbrage at the “mere” 3.5 score afforded the series in the above scores, but even the show’s cast seems more than aware with how patently ridiculous the show often was (or at least became). Lost in Space never had the high-falutin’ intentions of a Gene Roddenberry guiding its journey through the stars, and Irwin Allen seemed more than happy to simply provide a little lowbrow fare that offered lots of color (even in black and white!) and silliness that was obviously designed to appeal to the younger viewer, or at least the undemanding adult. Watching the series now from the vantage point of the euphemistically entitled “middle age”, it’s hard not to recognize the series’ lack of subtlety (to say the least), but it’s also hard not to surrender to its outright whimsy. The characters are all lovable in their own ways (even that dastardly Dr. Smith), and the show’s production design and special effects are really quite remarkable for mid-sixties’ series television. Hopefully this new Blu-ray release will mean lots of contemporary kids will find Lost in Space for the first time, maybe in concert with their nostalgic parents or grandparents.

Notes:

A Note on the Packaging: The marketing mavens at Fox evidently did not hire a rocket scientist to design this deluxe set's packaging, for Lost in Space is offered somewhat clumsily, in my not so humble opinion. Each of the seasons comes housed in a cardboard "accordion" folder that has the discs on either side of the sections that fold out. Because there are only small cutouts for a finger hold, and the "tightness" of the cardboard sleeves makes them relatively inflexible, it's virtually impossible to get the discs out without touching both sides of the discs, and I personally encountered discs that were almost comically able to slip further into their pockets when I tried to get them. I repeatedly had to clean discs after removing them from the package, as they had fingerprints and even little bits of dust and cardboard detritus on them. A couple of discs refused to load in my PC drive, though had no problem loading on my PS3.

A Note on Playing/Loading Issues. As mentioned above, I had recurrent problems with getting individual discs to load on my PC drive (albeit I am always more than willing to blame PowerDVD, one of the glitchiest programs I've personally encountered). Several readers have mentioned they've encountered playback issues on various model Blu-ray players, so my advice is to carefully look through our forum posts about the series (go toward the last pages, after members had already started receiving their sets and started posting about various issues). Some members also encountered a freeze/skip at around 18:05 of "Island in the Sky", but for me personally, that particular anomaly did not show up and my disc played perfectly.

Lost in Space: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Lost in Space is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.37:1. Fans of the series should be very pleased with the results of these new high definition transfers, generally speaking at least. The first season's black and white episodes offer good gradation of gray scale and generally consistent contrast, with some convincing black levels. Grain levels are surprisingly high quite a bit of the time, and not just because of effects or process shots. That can give the "desert skies" (once the Jupiter 2 crash lands for the first time) a bit of a speckled ambience. Detail is sharp and precise on elements like the velour outfits. The second season fares least well in these presentations, in my estimation. There's a bit more wear and tear at times, with little nicks and scratches occasionally showing up, and a somewhat inconsistent palette, with some evidence of fade. Some episodes offer slightly peachy looking flesh tones, while others have a more vivid, lifelike hue. The overall palette is more robust in the third season, admittedly part of which can be attributed to an increased emphasis on over the top production design. Detail is quite appealing in the second two color seasons, and with the show's continued use of psychedelic lighting techniques, many episodes have beautifully saturated colors that are one of this new Blu-ray set's best attributes. There have evidently been some digital "modifications" like wire removal done on some practical effects shots in certain episodes, but there are no real overt signs of intrusive tweaking of any kind done to the image.

Note: Screenshots 1-5 offer a sampling of all three seasons. Screenshots 6-15 are of season one, screenshots 16-25 are of season two, and screenshots 26-35 are of season three.

Lost in Space: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lost in Space features a forceful if narrow DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that offers a good, problem free recreation of the series' original sound design. For this admitted and unapologetic "tv theme geek", especially for series from the 1960s and 1970s, hearing John(ny) Williams' two fantastic themes for the series in this environment was an exciting trip down sonic memory lane (Williams' almost patented use of a swirling, glistening rhythmic motif evident in both of his Lost in Space themes was also featured in his themes for Allen's The Time Tunnel and both themes for Allen's Land of the Giants). Dialogue is rendered cleanly, and the really inventive use of sound effects is afforded good reproduction here.

Lost in Space: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Season One

• Disc One:
  
  
  • Commentary on "The Reluctant Stowaway" by Mike Clark and Kevin Burns. This is a fantastically interesting and informative commentary, helmed by two obvious fans of the series. Everything from the cost of the high definition transfer (upwards of $700,000, incredibly) to aspects of the shoot and how this aired pilot differed from the first two versions is covered in this consistently well done piece.
  
  
  • Guy Williams Screen Test (1080p; 4:16) finds a gray templed Williams having a conversation about the show with an off screen voice, presumably Irwin Allen. A couple of cast members of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea were evidently on set with Williams, as they're referenced at one point.
  
  
  • Seven Wonderful Nights - Lost in Space Excerpt (1080p; 5:24). Along with their memories of Lost in Space itself, Boomers will no doubt recall the days when each of the three broadcast networks "branded" their new seasons and typically unveiled both endless promos (which usually aired as bumpers throughout the broadcast day) as well as a special to introduce their fall seasons. This excerpt is lifted from CBS' special for the upcoming 1965-66 season, hosted by Dick Van Dyke.
  
  
  • Original Network Versions of Episodes. Several discs contain the original network versions of episodes (in addition to the "regular" versions), which include bumpers and commercials. These are not accessed through the Extras menu, but instead can be found in the Episodes menu under each specific episode listing. This disc features network versions of "The Reluctant Stowaway" and "The Derelict".
  
  
• Disc Two:
  
  
  • Commentary on "My Friend, Mr. Nobody" by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. All of the cast commentaries spread throughout the 18 discs are a lot of fun, if not overly informative. Mumy tends to crack wise a lot of the time, while Goddard seems slightly befuddled and keeps returning to the fact that Don never had a belt. Scattered throughout the chitchat are various nuggets of info, like the cast's preference for certain directors, and how this was the first episode that didn't rely on the stock footage created for the series.


• Disc Three:
  
  
  • Commentary on "Attack of the Monster Plants" by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. More tidbits are dispersed intermittently in this enjoyable commentary, including the fact that the plants came from Journey to the Center of the Earth. There's also a brief but nice shout out to the families of Williams and Lockhart. Trivia fans may want to compare this episode's opening with the closing of the season finale.
  
  
  • Commentary on "Return from Outer Space" by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Kevin Burns and Mike Clark. This was Mumy's favorite episode from the series and he takes a bit more of a lead here, since the episode focuses on Will returning to Earth for a little while.


• Disc Four:
  
  
  • "The Ballad of William Robinson" Music Video by Bill Mumy (1080p; 3:07) is a "fan produced celebration".
  
  
  • Bob May's Home Movies (1080p; 5:18) has some fun footage of May being suited up as the Robot, as well as some passing views of sets and players in candid moments. This was filmed by Judy May during the production of "The Sky Pirate".


• Disc Five:
  
  
  • Original Network Version of "The Magic Mirror" (accessed under the Episodes menu).


• Disc Six:
  
  
  • "No Place to Hide" Unaired Pilot - Long Version (1080p; 52:17)
  
  
  • Commentary on "No Place to Hide" by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. This commentary has some fun anecdotes about Irwin Allen, as well as passing comments about the score (lifted from The Day the Earth Stood Still), and the pluses and minuses of black and white versus color shooting.
  
  
  • Original Network Presentation (1965) (1080p; 5:48) is a promo piece that was prepared for affiliates.
  
  
  • Network Television Spot #1 (1965) (1080p; 1:01)
  
  
  • Network Television Spot #2 (1965) (1080p; 0:22)
  
  
  • Original Network Version of "Follow the Leader" (accessed under the Episodes menu).

Season Two

• Disc One:
  
  
  • Jonathan Harris - Never Fear, Smith is Here (1080p; 43:03) is from A&E's Biography series.
  
  
  • Original Network Version of "Blast off Into Space", including bumpers and tags (accessed under the Episodes menu).
  
  
  • Network TV Spot #1 (1966) (1080p; 1:02)
  
  
  • Network TV Spot #2 (1966) (1080p; 00:23)
  
  
• Disc Four:
  
  
  • Sheila Mathews Allen Tribute (1080p; 4:14) features some fun reminiscences by Allen about her work in the "Space Pirates" episode, as well as some background on her relationship with Irwin.


• Disc Five:
  
  
  • Jonathan Harris and Al Lewis on Mancow's Morning Madhouse (1998) (1080p; 7:08) is basically an audio supplement that plays to stills from the series.


• Disc Six:
  
  
  • Commentary on "The Phantom Family" by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. This is another fun and chatty commentary that addresses elements like the show's shift to color.
  
  
  • Original Network Preemption Bumpers with Jonathan Harris and the Robot (Season Two):

    Bumper 1 (1080p; 00:11) looks slightly anamorphically stretched to my eyes

    Bumper 2 (1080p; 00:13)

  • Lost in Space Season Two Main Title Alternate Theme by Warren Barker (1080p; 1:03) is just flat out ridiculously carnival-esque (perhaps meant to indicate the show's increased emphasis on humor), but simply can't hold a patch to Johnny Williams' epic work on the series. True fans of Lost in Space know that Williams did provide a new theme for the series' third season.
  
  
  • Dick Strout Promotional Interview with June Lockhart and Guy Williams (1966) (1080p; 8:30) is an audio supplement which plays to stills from the series as well as other promotional stills (like Lockhart with a certain collie).
  
  
  • Dick Strout Promotional Interview with Jonathan Harris (1966) (1080p; 7:15) is another radio supplement that features stills of the nefarious Dr. Smith.
  
  
  • Network Television Spot #3 (1080p; 1:02)
  
  
  • Network Television Spot #4 (1080p; 1:00)

Season Three:

• Disc One:
  
  
  • Lost in Space Special FX Outtakes (1080p; 36:01)
  
  
• Disc Two:
  
  
  • Lost in Space Special FX Outtakes (1080p; 22:40)
  
  
• Disc Three:
  
  
  • Lost in Space Special FX Outtakes (1080p; 31:30)
  
  
  • "The Anti Matter Matter Man" Commentary by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. This is one of the more hilariously raucous commentaries on the set, and yet another one where Mark Goddard may strike some as something like that uncle who shows up to Thanksgiving dinner and has just a wee bit too much to drink.
  
  
• Disc Four:
  
  
  • Original Network Version of "Target Earth", including bumpers and tags (accessible under the Episodes menu).
  
  
  • "The Promised Land" Commentary by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. There's some kind of fun references to the cultural zeitgeist of the day on this commentary, what with the episode's emphasis on "youth culture" and psychedelia. Some of Mumy's comments about Lockhart are amazing, including the fact that she was (in his words) a "rock 'n' roller" and that she carried a photo of David Bowie in her wallet. Mumy is also beyond excited to spot a Beatles poster in one sequence.
  
  
• Disc Five:
  
  
  • "No Place to Hide" Original Unaired Series Pilot, Short Version (1080p; 44:23)
  
  
  • "Studs" Radio Promos feature Mark DeCarlo with June Lockhart, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Jonathan Harris and Dick Tufeld and play to stills:

    Promo 1 (1080p; 1:01)

    Promo 2 (1080p; 1:02)

  • "The Great Vegetable Rebellion" Commentary by Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Mike Clark. One of the more infamous episodes of the series' last season gets a surprisingly respectful commentary, with little nuggets like what's going on with Mumy's eye (it's a sty caused by sand) and a nice shout out to the show's make-up artists. Fans of the Planet of the Apes movies will get a kick out of one of the connections between Lost in Space and that franchise.
  
  
  • Syndication TV Spots (1970s and 80s) (1080p; 3:39)
  
  
  • Segment from 'Lost in Space Forever' (featuring Bill Mumy, Jonathan Harris, Bob May and Dick Tufeld) (1080p; 5:16)
  
  
• Disc Six (Special Features Bonus Disc):
  
  
  • "Lost in Space: The Epilogue" (1080p; 1:33:08) is a 2015 table read of a script by Bill Mumy that updates the story of the Robinson clan. This features an optional intro and outro from Mumy.
  
  
  • "Condemned in Space" (1080p; 51:23) is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio with a 5.1 surround remix.
  
  
  • "Lost in Space" Animated TV Special (1973) (1080p; 43:49)
  
  
  • "Lost in Space" Animated TV Series Pitch (2005, by Scott O'Brien) (1080p; 3:19)
  
  
  • The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen (1080p; 1:34:55) is a 1995 documentary about the famed producer.
  
  
  • "Lost in Space" Memories (1080p; 12:50) are interstitials from the 1995 Sci-Fi Channel special.
  
  
  • On-Camera Original Cast Interviews (1080p; 18:08) feature 2015 reminiscences from Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy and Angela Cartwright, as well as Guy Williams' kids.
  
  
  • 20th Anniversary Interview with Irwin Allen (1080p; 3:12) is from 1985 and features Mike Clark.
  
  
  • Dick Tufeld Tribute (1080p; 5:40)
  
  
  • Photo Galleries:

    Publicity (1080p; 5:48)

    Episodes (1080p; 18:09)

    Behind the Scenes (1080p; 11:08)

    Blu-ray Cast Reunion (2015) (1080p; 00:38)

    Vintage Merchandise (1080p; 6:18)

    Props and Sets (1080p; 5:08)

    Artwork (1080p; 00:58)

    Lost in Space Saturday Superstar Movie (1080p; 1:03)

Non Disc Swag includes 8 character cards printed on cardstock, a blueprint of Robot B9 and a miniature replica of Bill Mumy's script from the first episode (replete with the different colored pages indicating various versions).

Lost in Space: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you grew up with Lost in Space, not much more need be said, other than that Fox has provided generally wonderful looking and sounding episodes here, along with an embarrassment of riches in the supplements department. If you're new to the Space Family Robinson, especially if you're younger, chances are you may find many, maybe even most, of the series unavoidably hokey, so a certain set of realistic expectations needs to be fostered. For those who like to chart the course of cult television, Lost in Space is one of the prime examples of a show bending its tone to fit the tenor of the times. Highly recommended.