Journey to the Unknown

1968 - United Kingdom, United States

The seventeen episodes that made up Journey to the Unknown were a mixture of psychological suspense, medical experimentation and science fiction with a little murder and mystery thrown in for good measure -So it's not surprising to learn that executive producers Joan Harrison and Norman Lloyd had previously worked on another TV series, with the master of suspense himself...Alfred Hitchcock. 

Hammer Films made the series in Britain although US filmmakers Twentieth Century Fox financed it to the tune of £70,000 per episode. This was Hammer's first venture into TV after establishing itself in the mid 1950's with cinematic retellings of such classics as Frankenstein and Dracula (although its first international success came in 1955 with The Quatermass Xperiment - US title The Creeping Unknown.) 

The series premiered in the US several weeks prior to its UK debut (on ABC) but even then it was not afforded a steady run, being shown mainly in the London area with only sporadic viewings elsewhere. A steady mixture of American and British stars appeared and they included Michael Gough, Dennis Waterman (pictured above), Milo O'Shea, Stephanie Powers, George Maharis, Joseph Cotton, Nanette Newman, David Hedison, Jane Asher, Bernard Lee, Roddy McDowell, Ingrid Pitt, Barbara Bel Geddes, Jack Hedley, and Paul Daneman. The 'Unknown' referred to in the title was the Human Mind. 

Published on December 28th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

"If the quality of the writing was a major factor in Dad's Army's resounding success, then that quality was more than matched by a cast which not so much interpreted the writing, as physically embodied it."

Also released in 1968

Introduced by Roald Dahl, Tales of the Unexpected was a weekly, dark suspense filled anthology series with a different cast every week. Each story, with an unexpected and quirky twist in its tail had a moralistic message

Also tagged Suspense Series

FBI agent Dale Cooper remains trapped in the extra-dimensional Black Lodge, and 25 years after the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer, there are still many questions left unanswered.

Also tagged Mystery

Ray Saxon has a nose for sports racketeers. Working for the Sunday Globe he investigates corruption and murder.

Also released in 1968

The gruesome discovery of a mutilated female body begins a frightening science fiction tale.

Also tagged Suspense Series

Television's first attempt to poke fun at the world of politics from within the Houses of Parliament in a situation comedy...

Also released in 1968

Based on Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel of suspicion, mistrust and murder.

Also tagged Mystery

Animated series of stories set round the ancient city of Baghdad which is under the rule of the evil Sultan Bakaar, who has usurped the throne from the rightful inheritance of the young Prince Turham

Also released in 1968

Following the demise of The Monkees, NBC put four actors into oversize animal costumes, brought in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In dancer Byron Gillian as choreographer and threw in some Hannah-Barbera cartoons...

Also released in 1968