Journey to the Unknown

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...

Crown Court TV series

Courtroom drama in which the jury, who were made up of members of the public, would decide the verdict.

Also starring Michael Gough

Arabian Knights

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

Dennis Waterman

Set partly on a building site, a boy (15-year old Dennis Waterman) and a girl (16-year old Judith Geeson) meet secretly in a partly-built block of flats each day after the builders leave.

Also starring Dennis Waterman

Nightmare Man

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

Also tagged Suspense Series

Minder

Dodgy dealings of a wheeler and dealer and his bodyguard for hire.

Also starring Dennis Waterman

Albert TV Play 1951

Single play based on a true story about an ingenious and daring escape from a German POW camp for Allied naval officers during WW2

Also starring Michael Gough

On the Up tv series

Sitcom starring Dennis Waterman as self-made millionaire Tony Carpenter who struggles in the circles of high society. His snooty wife is the exact opposite. After years of bickering she has finally walked out on him - it must be serious - she's taken the BMW!

Also starring Dennis Waterman

Freewheelers

Teenage high-action, high-adventure series about a group of teenage agents working under the umbrella of MI5

Also released in 1968

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil

BBC drama serial adapted from Fay Weldon's 1983 novel about the destruction of love and the burning need for revenge when a dowdy wife discovers her husband is having an affair with a glamourous romantic novelist

Also starring Dennis Waterman