JOE 90: THE MOST SPECIAL AGENT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The pilot episode in this “Supermarionation”-styled sci-fi series about nine-year-old Joe McClaine who lives a double life as schoolboy and international spy for the World Intelligence Network. In this episode, Joe’s adoptive father, Professor Ian “Mac” McClaine secretly records the brain patterns of a Russian pilot and transfers his knowledge to Joe via a special pair of glasses equipped with an electrode. With the help of Joe’s Uncle Sam, he is also given a high-tech pistol and a transceiver, but what he wants most of all is a badge, as he is now a "most special agent." Joe, Mac and Sam then head to a Russian air base, where they are shown the top-secret 242 model plane, and the Russian agent is surprised to see a young boy amidst the aviation experts. Mac casually explains that Joe is going to steal the plane and fly it to Britain to be analyzed, and the agent is highly entertained until Joe does precisely that. He reports the theft, but his irate commander refuses to believe the absurd story, even when Mac confirms it, and the man is taken away.
Using his special glasses, Joe flies towards Britain, although he faces heavy artillery from Russian planes trying to shoot him down. He manages to defeat them and destroy the Russian base, and he is given clearance to land in Kent. When he lands, the engineer on the ground reports that he saw a young boy leap from the cockpit into a car, which then flew away, and the British commanders are just as doubtful as the Russians. In their airborne vehicle, Mac compliments his son on a job well done…and it is then revealed that the entire thing was a story invented by Mr. Weston, the WIN officer attempting to recruit Joe into the agency, to demonstrate what the boy could do. He encourages Mac to agree, saying that Joe could help prevent war, but Mac refuses because of the danger. Finally, however, he gives in to their arguments and agrees to let Joe work with Weston and his Uncle Sam, and Joe is excited to receive his real badge. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ATV
- DATE: September 29, 1968
- RUNNING TIME: 0:17:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:51456
- GENRE: Children's programs
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Action/Adventure
- SERIES RUN: ATV - TV series, 1968-1969
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Reg Hill … Executive Producer
- Gerry Anderson … Writer
- Sylvia Anderson … Writer, Characters created by
- Desmond Saunders … Director
- Barry Gray … Music by
- Keith Alexander … Cast, Voice, Sam Loover / Director / Russian Pilot / Armoured Vehicle 1
- Rupert Davies … Cast, Voice, Professor Ian McClaine
- Gary Files … Cast, Voice, Red Leader / Guard / Manston Controller / John Woodburn / Farmer / Radio
- Len Jones … Cast, Voice, Joe McClaine
- David Healy … Cast, Voice, Shane Weston / Commander / Base 513
- Martin King … Cast, Voice
- Sylvia Anderson … Cast, Voice
- Jeremy Wilkin … Cast, Voice