Raumpatrouille

Eva Pflug (1929 - 2008)
You can hear her song 'Das Mädchen vom Mond' (Girl from the Moon) thanks to our big friends from BEAT MÄDCHEN on the 'raumpatrouille TV music' MySpace page (see Top Friends No.1)
PLEASE MIND:
This is strictly a FAN-site, NOT a commercial one! We just provide information about probably the first continental European Sci-Fi TV Show ever.
However here is one important fact:
The German DVD of the 2003 movie "Raumpatrouille Orion - Rücksturz ins Kino" (composed of various scenes from the original series and some new footage) contains English subtitles!
It would make a real good starter then for all you not German speaking spaceheads!
"Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion", colloquially also known as Raumpatrouille Orion is the first German science fiction TV series. Its seven episodes were broadcast by the ARD in 1966, with the first episode aired on Sept. 17th. It achieved audience ratings of up to 80 %. The series has since acquired cult status in Germany. Raumpatrouille translates as "Space Patrol" in English.
The occasionally ironic series focuses on the adventures of commander Cliff Allister McLane (Dietmar Schönherr) who commands the fast cruiser Orion during a war with the alien "Frogs" and often gets in trouble with the government of Earth.
His crew is of international composition, namely the Italian weapons officer Mario de Monti (Wolfgang Völz), Japanese astronavigator Atan Shubashi (Friedrich G. Beckhaus), Scandinavian engineer Hasso Sigbjörnson (Claus Holm), French communications officer Helga Legrelle (Ursula Lillig), and the Galactic Security Service officer, Russian Tamara Jagellovsk (Eva Pflug).
In addition to the set design, the terminology of the series was memorable to the German audience. Instead of using or translating English terms, which still is the way most contemporary shows are handled in Germany, the series created original German terms.
The special effects of the black and white series, which were spectacular at the time, now possess a certain quaint charm. Many of them, like the undersea-casino and space port, where done by means of the Schüfftan process.
The series' budget was comparatively low, but the set designers proved very creative in making the best of their limited means. Flat irons were used as part of the command console, for instance, and plastic beakers as ceiling lighting. In an interview it was claimed that the designers were getting part of their inspiration by using design catalogues.
The stage designer was Rolf Zehetbauer, who later won an Academy Award for his work on Cabaret; other productions include Das Boot by Wolfgang Petersen. Nonetheless, the considerable costs of the series led to its termination after only seven episodes. 2003 saw a movie composed of various scenes from the original series and some new footage.
The soundtrack was composed by Peter Thomas.
As emblematic as Thomas' catchy soundtrack was the voiceover introduction, which both, like used in Star Trek of the same year, set tone and atmosphere of the series (see the video on this site!).
The Episodes (60 mimutes)
1. Angriff aus dem All (Attack from Space)
2. Planet außer Kurs (Planet off Course)
3. Die Hüter des Gesetzes (Keepers of the Law)
4. Deserteure (Deserters)
5. Kampf um die Sonne (Battle for the Sun)
6. Die Raumfalle (The Space Trap)
7. Invasion (Invasion)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Excerpt from Episode No. 2 "Planet off course" (english subtitles)
The best website regarding 'Raumpatrouille' (including a lot of information in English!) is http://www.orionspace.de