Editing Journey to the Far Side of the Sun

{{Short description|1969 film by Robert Parrish}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Journeyfarsidesun.jpg
| alt            = A bold title at the base of the image reads "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun". An image above it depicts two Earths in space, spread apart with the Sun in between, and a spacecraft travelling from one of the planets to its counterpart. Figures in space suits line images to the left of the main picture.
| caption        = US theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Robert Parrish]]
| screenplay     = {{plainlist|
* [[Gerry Anderson|Gerry]] and [[Sylvia Anderson]]
* [[Donald James]]}}
| story          = Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
| producer       = Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Roy Thinnes]]
* [[Ian Hendry]]
* [[Lynn Loring]]
* [[Patrick Wymark]]
* [[Loni von Friedl]]
* [[Herbert Lom]]
}}
| cinematography = [[John Read (producer)|John Read]]
| editing        = Len Walter
| music          = [[Barry Gray]]
| studio         = [[AP Films#Century 21|Century 21 Cinema Productions]]
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* [[The Rank Organisation]] (UK)
* {{Nowrap|[[Universal Pictures]] (International)}}
}}
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1969|08|27|US|1969|10|08|UK}}
| runtime        = 101 minutes
| country        = United Kingdom
| language       = English
}}

'''''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun''''' (also known as '''''Doppelgänger''''') is a 1969 British [[science fiction film]] directed by [[Robert Parrish]] and starring [[Roy Thinnes]], [[Ian Hendry]], [[Lynn Loring]], [[Loni von Friedl]] and [[Patrick Wymark]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Journey to the Far Side of the Sun |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150148007 |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by [[Gerry Anderson|Gerry]] and [[Sylvia Anderson]] and [[Donald James]], and produced by the Andersons for [[AP Films#Century 21|Century 21]].

Set in the year 2069, the film concerns a joint European-[[NASA]] mission to investigate a newly discovered planet which lies directly opposite Earth on the far side of the [[Sun]]. The mission ends in disaster and the death of one of the astronauts, following which his colleague realises that the planet is a [[Counter-Earth|mirror image of Earth]] in every detail, with a parallel and duplicate timeline.

The film was the first major live-action production by the Andersons, known for their puppet television programmes such as ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]''. Having originally conceived the story as a [[television play]], they were encouraged by their employer [[Lew Grade]] to pitch the project as a [[feature film]] to [[Jay Kanter]] of [[Universal Pictures]]. Though underwhelmed by the script, Kanter greenlit the film after the Andersons hired Parrish as director. The film was shot between July and October 1968 at [[Pinewood Studios]] and on location in England and Portugal. As filming progressed, the working relationship between Parrish and the Andersons became strained. Meanwhile, creative disagreements between Gerry Anderson and business partner [[John Read (producer)|John Read]], the director of photography, led to Read's resignation from Century 21. In an effort to distinguish the film from their puppet productions, the Andersons wrote adult themes into the script, although cuts were required for the film to be awarded an [[History of British film certificates#1951–1970|A certificate]] by the [[British Board of Film Censors]].

The film premiered in August 1969 in the United States and October 1969 in the United Kingdom. It performed poorly at the box office during its initial theatrical run but has since garnered a [[Cult film|cult following]]. The film has received mixed reviews from critics; while the special effects and production design have been praised, some commentators have judged the parallel Earth premise to be clichéd and uninspired. Various plot devices and imagery have been viewed as [[pastiche]]s of other science fiction films, such as ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968). Several members of the cast went on to appear in ''[[UFO (British TV series)|UFO]]'', the Andersons' first live-action TV series, which also re-used many of the film's props.

==Plot==
In 2069,<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> the European Space Exploration Council's (EUROSEC) ''Sun Probe'' discovers a planet in the same orbital path as Earth on the far side of the Sun. The findings are transmitted to a power in the [[Eastern world|East]] by double agent Dr Hassler. Tracing the messages to Hassler's laboratory, Security Chief Mark Neuman corners the scientist and kills him.

EUROSEC director Jason Webb convinces [[NASA]] representative David Poulson that the [[Western world|West]] must send a crewed mission to the planet before Hassler's allies in the East. NASA astronaut Colonel Glenn Ross and EUROSEC astrophysicist Dr John Kane are assigned to the mission. After undergoing training at the EUROSEC Space Centre in Portugal, Ross and Kane blast off in the spacecraft ''Phoenix''. They are put into an artificial [[Hibernation#In humans|hibernation]] for the outbound journey, with "Heart-Lung-Kidney" machines maintaining their vital functions. Three weeks later, ''Phoenix'' reaches the planet and Ross and Kane are revived. Scans for life prove inconclusive, so the astronauts decide to make a surface landing in their auxiliary craft, ''Dove''. During its descent, ''Dove'' is damaged in a thunderstorm and crashes in a mountain range, seriously injuring Kane. The astronauts are picked up by a human rescue team, who tell Ross they have landed near [[Ulaanbaatar]], Mongolia. It appears that Ross and Kane have returned to Earth, and they are flown back to the Space Centre.

Neuman and EUROSEC official Lise Hartman question Ross, who denies that he aborted the mission. Later, Kane dies of his injuries. Ross discovers that people are now driving [[Left- and right-hand traffic|on the wrong side of the road]] and that he can no longer read printed text because it is all backwards. He comes to the realisation that he is indeed on the unknown planet, a [[Counter-Earth]] where every detail is a ''mirror image'' of his Earth. Ross's wife Sharon refuses to accept his claims, but Webb is convinced when Ross demonstrates his ease in reading reflected text and Kane's ''post mortem'' examination reveals that his internal organs are [[Situs inversus|on the "wrong" side of his body]]. Ross theorises that the two Earths are [[Parallel universes in fiction|parallel]] and that his counterpart from this world is experiencing similar events on his Earth. Webb proposes that Ross retrieve the [[flight recorder]] from the orbiting ''Phoenix'' and return home.

EUROSEC builds a new ''Dove'' designed to be compatible with the reversed technologies of ''Phoenix''. Modifications include [[Reverse polarity|reverse-polarisation]] of the electrical circuits. Ross blasts off in the spacecraft, which he has named ''Doppelganger'', and attempts to dock with ''Phoenix''. However, the electrical systems malfunction, crippling the spacecraft, causing it to fall back towards the Space Centre. EUROSEC are unable to correct the fault and ''Doppelganger'' crashes into a parked spacecraft, killing Ross and starting a chain reaction that destroys much of the Space Centre. All records of Ross's presence on the Counter-Earth are lost in the disaster.

Years later, former EUROSEC director Jason Webb, now confined to a wheelchair and in a much diminished mental state, is admitted to a nursing home. He sees his reflection in a mirror. He rolls forward quickly, trying to touch his [[doppelganger]], but crashes into the mirror and dies.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 173"/>

==Cast==
===Credited===
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Roy Thinnes]] as Colonel Glenn Ross
* [[Ian Hendry]] as Dr John Kane
* [[Patrick Wymark]] as Jason Webb
* [[Lynn Loring]] as Sharon Ross
* [[Loni von Friedl]] as Lise Hartman
* [[Franco De Rosa]] as Paulo Landi
* [[George Sewell]] as Mark Neuman
* [[Ed Bishop]] as David Poulson
* [[Philip Madoc]] as Dr Pontini
* [[Vladek Sheybal]] as Dr Beauville
* [[George Mikell]] as Dr Bernhardt Brisson<ref name="Bentley 2016,27">Bentley 2016, p.&nbsp;27.</ref>
* [[Herbert Lom]] as Dr Kurt Hassler
{{Div col end}}

===Uncredited===
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Keith Alexander (actor)|Keith Alexander]] as Launch Controller
* [[Edward Cast]] as Security Vaults Sergeant<ref name="Bentley 2016,27"/>
* [[Peter Burton]] as Medical Technician 
* [[Anthony Chinn]] as Air-Sea Rescue Crew Member
* [[Nicholas Courtney]] as Medical Technician
* [[Arnold Diamond]] as Clavel (Paris delegate)<ref name="Bentley 2016,27"/>
* [[Cy Grant]] as Dr Gordon
* [[Constantine Gregory]] as Launch Control Technician
* [[Annette Kerr]] as Nurse
* [[Martin King (actor)|Martin King]] as ''Dove'' Service Technician
* [[Basil Moss]] as Assistant Doctor<ref name="Bentley 2016,27"/>
* [[Norma Ronald]] as Pam Kirby
* [[John Stone (actor)|John Stone]] as London Delegate
* [[Jeremy Wilkin]] as Launch Control Technician
{{Div col end}}

==Production==
In 1967, producer [[Jay Kanter]] arrived in London to set up a European office for [[Universal Pictures]].<ref name="Bentley, 306">Bentley 2008, p.&nbsp;306.</ref> Kanter was open to funding promising film ideas, so [[Lew Grade]], the Andersons' employer and financial backer, set up a meeting for Gerry Anderson to pitch a story about a hypothetical "mirror" Earth.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 172">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;172.</ref> On the inspiration for the film, Anderson said: "I thought, rather naively, what if there was another planet on the other side of the Sun, orbiting at exactly the same speed and the same size as Earth? That idea then developed into the planet being a replicated Earth and that's how it ended up, a mirrored planet".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 172"/>

The earliest version of the script was written by [[Tony Williamson]].<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Bentley 2016,20">Bentley 2016, p.&nbsp;20.</ref> At one point it ran to 194 pages, enough for a three-hour film.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Bentley 2016,25">Bentley 2016, p.&nbsp;25.</ref> The Andersons had conceived the story as a one-hour drama for [[Associated Television]], but Sylvia thought the premise "too good for a television play" and suggested making it as a [[feature film]] instead.<ref name="Anderson, 65">Anderson 2007, p.&nbsp;65.</ref><ref name="Teletronic">{{cite web|last=Marcus |first=Laurence |title=Gerry Anderson: The Puppet Master – Part 3 |url=http://www.teletronic.co.uk/gerryanderson3.htm |work=teletronic.co.uk |date=October 2005 |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221150836/http://www.teletronic.co.uk/gerryanderson3.htm |archive-date=21 February 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[John Read (producer)|John Read]], the Andersons' business partner, proposed the title "''Doppelgänger''".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 172"/> According to Gerry, the term "means 'a copy of oneself', and the legend goes that if you meet your doppelganger, it is the point of your death. Following that legend, clearly, I had to steer the film so that I could end it illustrating the meaning of that word".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 172"/><ref name="DoGGA"/> Responding to claims that the tone was overly "dark", Anderson said that he wanted the film to have an interesting premise.<ref name="DoGGA">{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/television/105869/the_den_of_geek_interview_gerry_anderson.html |title=The Den of Geek Interview: Gerry Anderson |first=Martin |last=Anderson |date=27 August 2008 |work=[[Den of Geek]] |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] |location=London, UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417004233/http://www.denofgeek.com/television/105869/the_den_of_geek_interview_gerry_anderson.html |archive-date=17 April 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Kanter was dissatisfied with the Williamson script, so the Andersons' began to re-write it themselves and brought in [[Donald James]] as a co-writer to improve the characterisation.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> The revisions included substantial changes to the parts set on the mirror Earth, essentially causing the characters of Ross and Kane to switch roles.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 172"/><ref name="Bentley, 307">Bentley 2008, p.&nbsp;307.</ref> In the original script, Ross was blinded in the ''Dove'' crash, while Kane survived but was declared insane. A structural defect in ''Doppelganger'' caused it to burn up in the atmosphere with Kane inside, and the film ended with Kane's wife, the Rosses and Webb attending his funeral.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/>

Despite James's efforts, Kanter remained unenthusiastic. However, he agreed to finance the film provided that the Andersons chose a "bankable" director who met with his approval.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> Gerry's first choice was [[David Lane (director)|David Lane]], who had directed Century 21's puppet films ''[[Thunderbirds Are Go]]'' (1966) and ''[[Thunderbird 6]]'' (1968), but Kanter wanted an experienced mainstream director.<ref>Fryer 2016, p.&nbsp;139.</ref> After weeks of searching, in June 1968 the Andersons hired [[Robert Parrish]], who had co-directed ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967).<ref>Pixley 2016, p.&nbsp;16.</ref><ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 136">Archer and Nicholls 1996, p.&nbsp;136.</ref> According to Gerry, Parrish "told us he loved the script and said it would be an honour to work with us. Jay Kanter gave Bob the thumbs up and we were in business".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 173">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;173.</ref> Anderson said that while the negative critical response to ''Casino Royale'' raised questions about Parrish's ability, ''Doppelgänger'' could not have been made without him: "It wasn't a question of, 'Will we get on with him?' or, 'Is he the right man?' He was a name director, so we signed him up immediately".<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 136"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;174.</ref>

===Casting===
Leading the cast was Roy Thinnes as Colonel Glenn Ross of NASA. Thinnes was cast on the basis of his starring role in ''[[The Invaders]]'' and his resemblance to [[Paul Newman]].<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/><ref>Pixley 2016, p.&nbsp;17.</ref> In the Andersons' script, Ross's first name was Stewart and he was the [[Human mission to Mars|first person on Mars]].<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> In a 2008 interview, Thinnes said of the film: "I thought [it] was an interesting premise, although now we know that there isn't another planet on the other side of the Sun, through our space exploration and telescopic abilities. But at that time it was conceivable, and it could have been scary".<ref name="PremiumHollywood">{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2008/05/24/a-chat-with-roy-thinnes-the-invaders/|title=A Chat with Roy Thinnes|first=Will|last=Harris|date=24 May 2008|work=premiumhollywood.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602005129/http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2008/05/24/a-chat-with-roy-thinnes-the-invaders/|archive-date=2 June 2008 |access-date=22 July 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> To reflect the script's characterisation of Ross as a heavy smoker, Thinnes went through numerous packets of cigarettes over the course of the production, to the detriment of his health. In September 1969, ''[[The Age]]'' reported that the actor would demand a non-smoking clause for his next film: "He smokes about two packets a day, but the perpetual lighting up of new cigarettes for continuity purposes was too much".<ref name="TheAge">{{cite news|date=18 September 1969|title=Up in Smoke|newspaper=[[The Age]]|page=25|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|location=Melbourne, Victoria|issn=0312-6307|oclc=222703030}}</ref>

[[Ian Hendry]] was cast as Dr John Kane, a British astrophysicist and head of the ''Phoenix'' project. In his biography, Anderson recalled that Hendry "was always drinking" and was visibly intoxicated during the filming of the ''Dove'' crash sequence: "...&nbsp;he was pissed as a newt, and it was as much as he could do to stagger away. Despite all that, it looked exactly as it was supposed to on screen."<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;175.</ref> In the original script, Kane's first name was Philip and he had a wife called Susan.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> Scenes deleted from the finished film showed the character pursuing a romance with EUROSEC official Lise Hartman, played by [[Loni von Friedl]], whom the Andersons cast in Berlin.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/><ref>Pixley 2016, pp.&nbsp;17–18.</ref>

Ross's wife Sharon was played by [[Lynn Loring]]. The role had first gone to either [[Gayle Hunnicutt]] or [[Tisha Sterling]], but the original actress quit early in the production after falling ill.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref>Pixley 2016, pp.&nbsp;17, 21.</ref> This led to the casting of Loring, Thinnes' then wife and a star of TV series ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]''<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> An earlier version of the script had the character appear in a [[nude scene]], written into the film to distinguish it from the Andersons' previous productions.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> In a 1968 interview in the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', Gerry expressed a desire to change the public's perception of Century 21, saying that his company had been "typecast as makers of children's films".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> On rumours that the [[British Board of Film Censors]] (BBFC) would give the film an [[History of British film certificates#1951–1970|X certificate]] for mature content, he stated that it was Century 21's desire to "work with live artists doing subjects unsuitable for children".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> The finished film replaced the nude scene with milder shots showing Sharon stepping into and out of a shower.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> A subplot concerns the Rosses' attempts to conceive a child and Glenn's discovery that Sharon has been taking [[birth control pill]]s.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> The original script described Sharon as the daughter of a [[United States senator]] and had her begin an affair with EUROSEC public relations officer Carlo Monetti.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> In the finished film, this character, played by [[Franco De Rosa]], is renamed Paulo Landi and appears only briefly; the affair is implied in one scene but not explored further.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 193">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;193.</ref><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 190">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;190.</ref> In a deleted scene, Glenn finds Paolo and Sharon in bed together at the Rosses' villa and throws them both into a swimming pool.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/>

[[Patrick Wymark]] played Jason Webb, the director of EUROSEC. Wymark was cast for his performance as antiheroic businessman John Wilder in the TV dramas ''[[The Plane Makers]]'' and ''The Power Game'', which were liked by the Andersons. Publicity material described the character as "John Wilder (2069 model)".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175"/> According to Gerry, Wymark's heavy drinking caused him to slur his lines: in one scene, the actor "had to list these explanations&nbsp;... and on take after take he couldn't remember that 'two' followed 'one'. We had to do it over and over again".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175"/> Anderson's biographers, [[Simon Archer (author)|Simon Archer]] and Marcus Hearn, consider Wymark's portrayal of Webb to be the film's standout performance.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175"/> The original script described Webb as a former [[Minister of Technology]] who is romantically involved with his secretary, Pam Kirby ([[Norma Ronald]], who had played Wilder's secretary in ''The Plane Makers'' and ''The Power Game'').<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> This subplot was one of several that were cut to avoid an X certificate.<ref>Pixley 2016, pp.&nbsp;14–15.</ref>

The supporting cast included [[George Sewell]], [[Philip Madoc]] and [[Ed Bishop]], who respectively played EUROSEC operations chief Mark Neuman (Mark Hallam in the original script), Dr Pontini, and NASA representative David Poulson.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> Sewell and Madoc had both appeared in ''The Power Game''.<ref>Fryer 2016, p.&nbsp;142.</ref> Poulson was to have been played by [[Peter Dyneley]], but the producers thought that he bore a strong resemblance to Wymark and re-cast the role, concerned that scenes with Dyneley and Wymark would cause audiences to confuse the characters of Poulson and Webb.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/>

===Filming===
[[File:Albufeira coast in Portugal.JPG|thumb|alt=A sandy rock face in the sun topped by a line of trees|Location shooting was conducted in [[Albufeira]], Portugal.]]

[[File:Heatherden Hall.jpg|thumb|alt=A three-story building in Victorian style set among trees and gardens|The closing scenes were filmed at [[Heatherden Hall]] in [[Iver Heath]].]]

[[File:DoppelgangerTeleconference.jpg|thumb|alt=A room fitted out in futuristic décor contains a panel of monitor screens, each presenting the face of a videoconference delegate. In the foreground of the shot, men address the delegates on the monitors.|No TV monitors were used in the videoconference scene. Instead, the crew employed set alterations and [[forced perspective]] to reduce costs.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/>]]

Filming began on 1 July 1968 at [[Pinewood Studios]] and ended on 16 October.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> The exterior of the EUROSEC Headquarters was represented by Neptune House in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire (now part of [[BBC Elstree Centre]]), while [[Heatherden Hall]] appeared as the old Jason Webb's nursing home.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> In September, the crew travelled to [[Albufeira]] in Portugal for location shooting.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> Shortly after their arrival, [[Marcelo Caetano]] succeeded the incapacitated [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] as [[Prime Minister of Portugal]].<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> Parrish was concerned that this political instability might hold up the shoot, so reduced the filming schedule from one month to two weeks.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/>

To create an illusion of a mirror Earth, the crew reversed the film negatives using a process called "[[Flopped image|flop-over]]".<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> This technique spared the production considerable time and money building specially "reversed" props and sets and organising road closures to film cars driving on the "wrong" side of the road.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> However, it meant that scenes set on the Counter-Earth required careful planning and rehearsal with the cast and crew.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/> It also resulted in a number of [[continuity error]]s: for example, the "Heart-Lung-Kidney" machines aboard ''Phoenix'' are first shown connected to Ross and Kane's left wrists, then their right.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/>

The crew had difficulty creating a scene in which the EUROSEC board hold an international videoconference on high-resolution viewing monitors.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;177.</ref> Due to the high cost of colour TV at the time of production and the need to avoid [[black and white]] to reflect the film's futuristic setting, instead of using real viewing monitors the crew cut screen-sized gaps in a wall and positioned the actors playing the conference delegates behind them.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/> Silver paper was added to reflect the studio lights and simulate a high-resolution image, with [[Eyeline match|altered eyelines]] creating the illusion that each delegate is looking into a camera.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/> Archer and Hearn praise this scene as an example of how Anderson "proved once again that his productions were ahead of their time".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/>

As filming progressed, Anderson and Parrish came into conflict. Anderson said that Kanter was brought in more than once to mediate between them: "[Sylvia and I] both knew how important the picture was to our careers, and we both desperately wanted to be in the big time".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;176.</ref> At one point, Parrish refused to film a number of scenes, saying that he would only end up deleting them.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> According to Anderson, when he reminded Parrish of his contractual obligations, the director loudly announced to the cast and crew: "Hell, you heard the producer. If I don't shoot these scenes which I don't really want, don't need and will cut out anyway, I'll be in breach of contract. So what we'll do is shoot those scenes next!"<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> In his biography, Anderson stated that his one regret about the film "[was] that I hired Bob Parrish in the first place".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> Sylvia described Parrish's direction as "uninspired. We had a lot of trouble getting what we wanted from him".<ref name="Teletronic"/>

Parrish also clashed with Thinnes over the actor's refusal to have his hair cut a certain way for the scenes set on the Counter-Earth. Thinnes, whose hair had already been repeatedly styled, later decided that this was merely Parrish's way of asserting authority, having received a letter from a friend warning him that Thinnes could be difficult to work with. Gerry Anderson said that his own relationship with Thinnes was awkward, but that he liked the actor's performance.<ref>Fryer 2016, p.&nbsp;140.</ref>

Other scenes led to disagreements within Century 21.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;178.</ref><ref name="La Rivière, 188">La Rivière 2009, p.&nbsp;188.</ref> For a scene depicting Lise Hartman (Loni von Friedl) taking a shower, cinematographer John Read did the lighting in silhouette as instructed by Parrish.<ref name="La Rivière, 189">La Rivière 2009, p.&nbsp;189.</ref> Gerry Anderson, who had intended the scene to show Friedl nude, demanded a reshoot, insisting that Read honour his obligations not only to Parrish as director, but also to the producers.<ref name="La Rivière, 189"/> According to Sylvia, "Gerry was very keen to show that he was part of the '[[Swinging Sixties]]' and felt that seeing a detailed nude shot – as he visualised it – was more 'with it' than the more subdued version".<ref name="Anderson, 36">Anderson 2007, p.&nbsp;36.</ref>

Another dispute arose when Read filmed shots of the ''Phoenix'' spacecraft model using a hand-held camera. In his biography, Anderson recalled: "I knew enough about space travel to know that in a vacuum a spacecraft will travel as straight as a die&nbsp;... [Parrish] told me that people were not familiar with space travel and therefore they would expect to see this kind of movement".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/> Read refused to reshoot the scenes, stating that Parrish's instructions took precedence over Anderson's. He resigned from both the production and Century 21 at the request of the Andersons and [[Reg Hill]], his fellow company directors.<ref name="La Rivière, 189"/> Anderson elaborated: "Clearly, John was in a difficult position. I do now understand how he must have felt, but in my heart I feel he couldn't play a double role".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/>

===Design and effects===
[[File:DoppelgangerModelsEffects.jpg|thumb|alt=A pair of spacecraft, both designed to a curved aesthetic, orbit an Earth-like planet. One vessel, smaller than the other, is a shuttle departing from the docking port of the mothership.|''Dove'' (right) exits ''Phoenix''. The film's effects have been well received.<ref name="DoGSpaceships"/>]]

The film's special effects were produced at Century 21 Studios on the [[Slough Trading Estate]] under the direction of [[Derek Meddings]].<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> More than 200 effects shots were filmed.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> The design of the ''Phoenix'' spacecraft was based on the [[Saturn V]] rocket.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> During filming, the {{Convert|6|ft|m|spell=in|adj=mid|-long}} scale model unexpectedly caught fire and had to be completely rebuilt.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/> For realism, the launch sequence was shot in the studios' car park against the actual sky.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/>

Century 21 built a full-sized ''Dove'' module prop in Slough. However, it could not be used for the film due to an agreement between Pinewood Studios and the [[National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees]], which stated that all Pinewood film props were to be made in-house.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/> The prop was destroyed, and although the Pinewood carpenters built a replacement, Anderson considered it inferior to the original.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 177"/>

Meddings also oversaw the construction of several futuristic land vehicles operated by EUROSEC. These included three [[Six-wheel drive|six-wheeled]] utility vehicles, which were built from [[Mini Moke]] chassis by a [[Feltham]]-based company, and three cars modelled on [[Ford Zephyr|Ford Zephyr Zodiacs]]. Fitted with dummy [[gull-wing door]]s, the adapted Fords were constructed by [[Alan Mann Racing]] under the supervision of [[Len Bailey]].<ref>Pixley 2016, pp.&nbsp;32–33.</ref>

Commenting on the film's effects, Martin Anderson of [[Den of Geek]] describes the ''Phoenix'' command module as "beautifully [[ergonomic]] without losing too much NASA-ness" and the ''Dove'' lander as "a beautiful fusion of [[JPL]] gloss with classic lines".<ref name="DoGSpaceships">{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/287096/top_75_spaceships_in_movies_and_tv_part_2.html |title=Top 75 Spaceships in Movies and TV: Part 2 |first=Martin |last=Anderson |date=15 July 2009 |work=Den of Geek |publisher=Dennis Publishing |location=London, UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311070504/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/287096/top_75_spaceships_in_movies_and_tv_part_2.html |archive-date=11 March 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> He regards the ''Phoenix'' launch as Meddings' finest work prior to ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979).<ref name="DoGSpaceships"/> Archer and Hearn describe the sequence as "one of the most spectacular" of its kind produced by Century 21.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 176"/>

===Music and titles===
Composer [[Barry Gray]], who wrote the music for all of Century 21's productions, said that his score for this film was his favourite.<ref name="LampMusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.lampmusic.co.uk/downloads/barry_gray_biog.pdf |title=Barry Gray Biography |author1=Titterton, Ralph |author2=Ford, Cathy |author3=Bentley, Chris |author4-link=Barry Gray |author4=Gray, Barry  |work=lampmusic.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003181230/http://www.lampmusic.co.uk/downloads/barry_gray_biog.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2011 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The score was recorded over three studio sessions held between 27 and 29 March 1969.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/><ref name="TVCentury21">{{cite web|last1=de Klerk |first1=Theo |title=Complete Studio-Recording List of Barry Gray |url=http://www.tvcentury21.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:complete-studio-recording-list-of-barry-gray&catid=116:barry-gray&Itemid=182 |work=tvcentury21.com |date=25 December 2003 |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501182058/http://www.tvcentury21.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67%3Acomplete-studio-recording-list-of-barry-gray&catid=116%3Abarry-gray&Itemid=182 |archive-date= 1 May 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The first session used a 55-member orchestra, the second 44, and the third 28.<ref name="TVCentury21"/> The sequence showing Ross and Kane's journey to the Counter-Earth was accompanied by a piece titled "Sleeping Astronauts", featuring an [[ondes Martenot]] played by French ondiste Sylvette Allart.<ref name="LampMusic"/><ref name="TVCentury21"/> Archer and Hearn describe this piece as "one of the most enchanting" ever written by Gray, adding that the soundtrack as a whole evoked a "traditional Hollywood feel" which contrasted with the film's futuristic setting.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/>

The title sequence, set inside Dr Hassler's laboratory, was accompanied by a spy theme. This was inspired by the character's undercover activities, which he performs using an [[Ocular prosthesis|artificial eye]] containing a micro-camera. Archer and Hearn regard this as a stylistic imitation of [[James Bond films|''James Bond'' films]].<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175"/>

==Release==
[[File:Doppelgänger logo (cropped, colour-inverted).png|thumb|alt=DOPPELGÄNGER|The original title, "''Doppelgänger''", as it appears in the film's European prints]]
[[File:Doppelgänger (1969 film) poster art.jpg|thumb|UK poster, showing the original title]]
The completed film failed to impress either Universal or UK distributor [[The Rank Organisation]].<ref name="Bentley, 307"/><ref name="Fryer141">Fryer 2016, p.&nbsp;141.</ref> Rank delayed the film's release by over a year.<ref name="Bentley 2016,22">Bentley 2016, p.&nbsp;22.</ref> On 26 March 1969, the BBFC passed the film with an A certificate, which allowed children under 11 to see the film provided that they were accompanied by a parent or guardian.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/><ref name="BBFC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF043507 |title=BBFC Certifications for ''Doppelgänger'' |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415013126/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF043507/ |archive-date=15 April 2012 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> To secure this rating, cuts to shots of contraceptive pills were required.<ref name="BBFC"/><ref name="DoGReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/Reviews/110737/journey_to_the_far_side_of_the_sun_review.html |title=Den of Geek Review |first=Martin |last=Anderson |work=Den of Geek |date=7 September 2008 |publisher=Dennis Publishing |location=London, UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227004703/http://www.denofgeek.com/Reviews/110737/journey_to_the_far_side_of_the_sun_review.html |archive-date=27 December 2011 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Rank enquired whether the film could be cut further to secure a U certificate, removing the need for parental supervision; the BBFC rejected the idea, stating that this would cause the film to lose all narrative sense.<ref name="Fryer141"/>

The film was distributed by Rank in Europe and Universal in the US and Australia. While Rank kept the original title, Universal, judging that non-Europeans would be less familiar with the term "doppelganger", renamed the film "''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun''"{{spaced ndash}}the title by which it is now more commonly known.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/><ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138">Archer and Nicholls 1996, p.&nbsp;138.</ref> [[Simon Archer (author)|Simon Archer]] and [[Stan Nicholls]] argue that while this title gives a clearer explanation of the plot, it lacks the "intrigue and even poetic quality of {{'}}''Doppelgänger''{{'}}".<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/>

After premiering in the US on 27 August 1969, the film had its UK debut on 8 October at the [[Odeon Cinema]] on [[Kensington High Street]].<ref name="Bentley 2016,22"/><ref name="AFI">{{cite book|title=American Film Institute Catalogue: Feature Films 1961–1970|year=1997|edition=2nd|orig-year=1976|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|location=Berkeley, California; Los Angeles, California; London, UK|isbn=0-520-20970-2|page=560}}</ref> It went on general release on 26 October, paired with ''[[Death of a Gunfighter]]'' to create a [[double feature]].<ref name="Bentley 2016,22"/> The film ran for less than a week in Odeon venues.<ref name="Fryer141"/> A second round of US screenings began in [[Detroit]] on 1 November.<ref name="AFI"/> Overall, the film performed poorly at the box office.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/>

Two original [[35 mm movie film|35 mm]] prints of the film are known to exist.<ref name="Fanderson">{{cite web|url=http://www.fanderson.org.uk/prodguides/movies.html|title=Feature Film Productions: ''Doppelgänger''|publisher=[[Fanderson]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221134355/http://www.fanderson.org.uk/prodguides/movies.html|archive-date=21 February 2008|access-date=22 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> One is kept by the [[British Film Institute]]; the other by [[Fanderson]], the official Anderson fan club.<ref name="Fanderson"/> While original prints give top [[Billing (performing arts)|billing]] to Ian Hendry, Universal's ''Journey to the...'' format credits Thinnes first.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> Some British prints feature an alternative version of the final scene with a short voice-over from Ross, repeating a line of dialogue the character says to Webb earlier in the film: "Jason, we were right. There are definitely two identical planets."<ref name="Fanderson"/>

The film had its British TV premiere on 7 December 1974 on [[Granada Television]].<ref name="Bentley 2016,27"/> Some TV broadcasts of the film have shown an incorrectly [[Flopped image|flopped]] picture. This originated from a mistake made in the 1980s when an original print was being transferred to videotape: a [[telecine]] operator who was unfamiliar with the film believed that the Counter-Earth scenes had been flopped in error, so made a second flop to reverse it.<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/><ref name="Fanderson"/> This de-flopped picture, which became the standard for all TV showings, makes it appear that the Ross of the Counter-Earth has landed on the "normal" Earth.<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/>

===Home media===
Previously available on [[LaserDisc]], the film was released on [[DVD region code|Region 1]] DVD in 1998 and both Region 1 and 2 DVD (digitally remastered) in 2008.<ref name="Fanderson"/><ref name="R1DVD">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvcentury21.com/component/tag/doppleganger.html |title=''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' DVD Released in US |first=Simon |last=Wickes |date=26 June 2008 |work=tvcentury21.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100726212223/http://www.tvcentury21.com/component/tag/doppleganger.html |archive-date=26 July 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Prior to the 2008 release, the BBFC re-classified the film PG for "mild violence and language".<ref name="BBFC"/>

[[Blu-ray]] versions followed in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ST5TC4S/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER|title=''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' (Blu-ray)|work=[[Amazon.com]]|access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> The US Blu-ray release was by [[Universal Entertainment]]. The Australian release by [[Madman Entertainment]] features a transfer of Fanderson's original film print, an exclusive [[audio commentary]] by Gerry Anderson, and a double-sided sleeve, which enables the Blu-ray case to be stored under either of the film's titles.

==Reception==
Since its original release, the film has had a mixed response from critics. [[Simon Archer (author)|Simon Archer]] and [[Stan Nicholls]] consider it a [[cult film]].<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/> The film has a 40% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/journey_to_the_far_side_of_the_sun|title=''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun''|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=2 August 2023}}</ref>

===Contemporary reviews===
{{Quote box|quote=There were some great sequences and the special effects were outstanding. Perhaps the mistake I made was in insisting that we incorporate "Gerry's view of the future", where everybody is squeaky clean and everything is sparkling and shining and sanitised. Unfortunately that isn't what most people see as humanity's natural state&nbsp;... ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' was similar but succeeded because it had a philosophy attached to it. It also had believable people with good characterisation.|source=–&nbsp;[[Gerry Anderson]]'s views on the film<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/><ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/>|width=25%|salign=right}}

Rating the film "poor",<ref name="Pixley2016,157-158">Pixley 2016, pp.&nbsp;157–158.</ref> ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' described the theme as "more abstruse" than that a of a typical science fiction feature. It added: "the intricacies are insufficiently clarified, and Robert Parrish's direction is so leaden-footed, that despite the explosive finale the film as a whole is simply dull."<ref name="Bentley 2016,22"/> The film was also negatively received by the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'', which called it "corny",<ref name="Pixley2016,157-158"/> as well as by [[David Robinson (film critic)|David Robinson]] of ''[[The Financial Times]]'', [[Derek Malcolm]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' and [[Margaret Hinxman]] of ''[[The Sunday Telegraph]]''.<ref name="Bentley 2016,22"/> Writing for ''[[The Times]]'', critic [[John Russell Taylor]] praised it as "quite ingenious" but suggested that the title and pre-release publicity gave away too much of the plot.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/>

In the US, [[Howard Thompson (film critic)|Howard Thompson]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that the film "never really gets off the ground" and "remains a little too civilised and restrained for its own good." He praised the "crispness" of certain dialogue, along with the visual style and Parrish's direction, but argued that the story deserved "a larger movie, at least one with more stratospheric sweep and suspense".<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|title=''Journey to Far Side of Sun'' Opens|date=12 November 1969|first1=Howard|last1=Thompson|author1-link=Howard Thompson (film critic)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/11/12/archives/journey-to-far-side-of-sun-opens.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901221841/https://www.nytimes.com/1969/11/12/archives/journey-to-far-side-of-sun-opens.html|archive-date=1 September 2019|url-status=live|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref> [[Judith Crist]] of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine described ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' as "a science fiction film that comes up with a fascinating premise three-quarters of the way along and does nothing with it."<ref name="NewYork">{{cite magazine|last=Christie|first=Judith|date=17 November 1969|title=Movies: Brave Are the Lonely|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|volume=2|issue=46|page=64|publisher=New York Media Holdings|location=New York|issn=0028-7369|oclc=1760010}}</ref> She commended the film for being "nicely gadget-ridden", as well as raising questions about the conflict between science and politics, but criticised the editing.<ref name="NewYork"/> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine considered the plot confusing, equating the ''Dove'' crash to the quality of the writing: "Astronauts take a pill to induce a three-week sleep during their flight. Thereafter the script falls to pieces in as many parts as their craft."<ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine|year=1969 |title=''Variety'' Review |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |location=Los Angeles, California |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=1768958 |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117790521.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205190303/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117790521.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-date=5 February 2013 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

While ''[[The Miami News]]'' and the ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'' regarded the film as better than average for its genre,<ref name="TheMiamiNews">{{cite news|date=25 September 1969|title=Miami News Entertainment Guide|newspaper=[[The Miami News]]|page=13|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|issn=1528-5758|oclc=10000467}}</ref><ref name="TheMontrealGazette">{{cite news|last=Stoneham|first=Gordon|date=22 April 1972|title=Movie Week|newspaper=[[The Montreal Gazette]]|page=93|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|location=Montreal, Quebec|oclc=44269305}}</ref> ''[[The Pittsburgh Press]]'' dismissed it as "a churned out science fiction yarn&nbsp;... Let's hope there's only one movie like this one", and ranked it among the worst films of the year.<ref name="PittsburghPress">{{cite news|date=28 December 1969|title=The Lively Arts|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]]|page=50|publisher=[[E.W. Scripps Company]]|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|oclc=9208497}}</ref> The ''Gazette'' added that while the film gets worse towards the end, "until then it's a reasonably diverting futuristic melodrama."<ref name="TheMontrealGazette"/> A review in the ''[[Southeast Missourian]]'' stated that "in today's space terminology [the film] almost rates as science – and pure reportage through film. Still, it evolves as a fascinating motion-picture entertainment."<ref name="TheSoutheastMissourian">{{cite news|date=4 September 1970|title=On the Rialto Screen|newspaper=[[Southeast Missourian]]|volume=65|issue=279|page=9|publisher=Naeter Bros.|location=Cape Girardeau, Missouri|issn=0746-4452|oclc=10049209}}</ref> In 1975, [[Jeff Rovin]] called ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' "confusing but colourful" and praised its "superb" effects.<ref name="APHOSFF">Rovin 1975, p.&nbsp;223.</ref>

===Retrospective reviews===
Gary Gerani, co-writer of ''[[Pumpkinhead (film)|Pumpkinhead]]'', ranks ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' 81st in his book ''Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies'', calling the film "enigmatic" and a "fine example of speculative fantasy in the late '60s". He praises Thinnes' and Wymark's performances, as well as the characterisation, the film's secondary themes (such as adultery, infertility and corruption) and the "[[Fourth of July]]-style" special effects.<ref name="Gerani">{{Cite book|title=Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies|author=Gerani, Gary|year=2011|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]|location=San Diego, California|isbn=978-1-60010-879-2|page=29}}</ref> Sylvia Anderson suggested that American audiences, who were less familiar with Century 21's puppet productions than their British counterparts, were more enthusiastic about the film.<ref name="Anderson, 65"/> She explained: "It was all too easy to compare our real actors with our puppet characters and descriptions such as 'wooden', 'expressionless', 'no strings attached' and 'puppet-like' were cheap shots some of the UK critics could not resist&nbsp;... Typecasting is the lazy man's friend, and boy, were we typecast in Britain".<ref name="Anderson, 65"/> In 1992, she said of the film: "I saw it on TV a couple of years ago and I was very pleased with it. I thought it came over quite well".<ref name="SuperM">{{cite magazine|last=Turner |first=Steve |title=Sylvia Anderson Interview (1992) |magazine=Supermarionation is Go! |publisher=Super M Productions |location=Blackpool, UK |oclc=499379680 |url=http://lester.demon.nl/superm/sa-int.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316123818/http://lester.demon.nl/superm/sa-int.html |archive-date=16 March 2011 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> To Chris Bentley, the film is a "stylish and thought-provoking science fiction thriller".<ref name="CompleteScarlet">{{cite book|last1=Bentley|first1=Chris|title=The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet|publisher=[[Carlton Books]]|location=London, UK|year=2001|isbn=1-84222-405-0|page=114}}</ref>

''[[TV Guide]]'' magazine gives the film two stars out of four, calling it a "strange little film" with an "overwritten script".<ref name="TVGuide">{{cite magazine|title=''TV Guide'' Review |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |publisher=Triangle Publications |location=Radnor, Pennsylvania |issn=0039-8543 |oclc=1585969 |url=http://movies.tvguide.com/journey-far-sun/review/102886 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402234524/http://movies.tvguide.com/journey-far-sun/review/102886 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[Glenn Erickson]] of [[DVD Talk]] considers ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' a "good" film but writes that it "takes an okay premise but does next to nothing with it. We see 100 minutes of bad drama and good special effects, and then the script opts for frustration and meaningless mystery". He criticises the cinematography, comparing it to that of ''Thunderbirds'' in the sense that the characters "stand and talk a lot", while defining the script as "at least 60 per cent hardware-talk and exposition&nbsp;... How people move about – airplane, parachute, [[centrifuge]] – is more important than what they're doing".<ref name="DVDTalk">{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2622jour.html |title=DVD Savant Review |first=Glenn |last=Erickson |author-link=Glenn Erickson |year=2008 |work=[[DVD Talk]] |publisher=[[Internet Brands]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225122927/http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2622jour.html |archive-date=25 December 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In a review for [[Den of Geek]], Martin Anderson praises the direction and effects but states that the film's "robust and prosaic" dialogue sits "ill-at-ease with the metaphysical ponderings". He criticises some of the editing, noting that many of the effects shots have "that '[[Hornby Railways|Hornby]]' factor, slowing up the narrative unnecessarily". He rates the film three stars out of five, summing it up as "an interesting journey with many rewards".<ref name="DoGReview"/>

The [[Film4]] website gives the film two-and-a-half stars out of five, summing it up as "an occasionally interesting failure". The review praises the effects and costume design but judges the subplots about Hassler's treachery and the Rosses' marital problems to be unnecessary distractions from the main story. It also questions the originality of the premise and the depth of the writing: "Anderson's has to be the cheapest alternate Earth ever. Whereas audiences might expect a world where the [[Roman Empire]] never fell or the [[Hypothetical Axis victory in World War II|Nazis won World War II]], here the shocking discovery is that people write backwards. That's it".<ref name="Film4">{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/reviews/1969/journey-to-the-far-side-of-the-sun |title=Film4 Review |website=[[film4.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721174823/http://www.film4.com/reviews/1969/journey-to-the-far-side-of-the-sun |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> A similar view is expressed by [[Gary Westfahl]], who describes the setting as "the most boring and unimaginative alien world imaginable".<ref name="SFSite">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfsite.com/gary/ande01.htm |title=Gary Westfahl's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film: Gerry Anderson |first=Gary |last=Westfahl |author-link=Gary Westfahl |work=[[SF Site]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914150900/http://www.sfsite.com/gary/ande01.htm |archive-date=14 September 2009 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

===Interpretation===
[[File:DoppelgangerWebb.jpg|thumb|alt=An elderly man stares transfixed at his reflection in a mirror.|The ending scene has drawn comparisons to the visual style of ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.<ref name="DVDTalk"/> [[Glenn Erickson]] calls the film "infected with ''2001''-itis'", noting that the "feeble asylum patient" Jason Webb "sits in a wheelchair in a corridor resembling [[David Bowman (Space Odyssey)|Dave Bowman]]'s holding cell on the alien planet beyond the [[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)#Plot|Star Gate]]."<ref name="DVDTalk"/>]]

Archer and Nicholls suggest as possible causes of the film's box office failure its "quirky, offbeat nature" and waning public interest in space exploration after [[Apollo 11]].<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/> The topic of the Moon landing dominated a contemporary review in the ''[[Milwaukee Journal]]'', which found similarities in the plot of ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'': "...&nbsp;the spacemen find a few bugs in their '[[Apollo Lunar Module|LM]]' and crash on the planet. And do they ever have their hands full in getting back to Earth!" Suggesting that the performances are hampered by an excess of technical dialogue, the review concluded: "...&nbsp;the makers of this space exploiter may get lots of mileage at the box office, but [[Neil Armstrong|Neil]], [[Buzz Aldrin|Buzz]] and [[Michael Collins (astronaut)|Mike]] did it better on TV."<ref name="MilwaukeeJournal">{{cite news|last=Waxse|first=Bennett F.|date=26 September 1969|title=''Journey'' Rides Apollo Coattails|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|page=39|publisher=[[Journal Communications]]|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|issn=1082-8850|oclc=55506548}}</ref>

It has also been suggested that ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' and ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'', both released the year before, set a high standard for ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' and other films to follow.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 178"/><ref name="DVDTalk"/> Erickson argues that ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' is inferior to ''2001'' for presenting a "working future" that is still dominated by commercialism. Comparing the visual style to that of ''2001'', he notes similar use of "psychedelic" images and close-ups of human eyes but calls such imitation "fluff without any deeper meaning". Film4's review describes the final scene featuring the elderly Webb as "hell-bent on recreating the enigmatic finale of ''2001'' by using a mirror, a wheelchair and a tartan blanket."<ref name="Film4"/> Rovin argues that the effects "[occasionally] outshine" ''2001''{{'}}s", adding that it "attempts to kindle a profundity similar to that of [''2001''] in its abstract philosophising about the dichotomy of dual worlds, but fails with a combination of meat-and-potatoes science fiction and quasi-profound themes." He argues that ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' is "neither a kid's film nor a cult film" but rules that "the elements that comprise the finished effort are more than individually successful."<ref name="APHOSFF3">Rovin 1975, pp.&nbsp;124&ndash;127.</ref>

Martin Anderson compares ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' to other science fiction films like ''[[Solaris (1972 film)|Solaris]]'', identifying a "lyrical" tone to the dialogue. However, he concedes that the film "doesn't bear comparison with [[Kubrick]] or [[Tarkovsky]]", the directors of ''2001'' and ''Solaris''.<ref name="DoGReview"/> Douglas Pratt and the [[Institute of Contemporary Arts]] compare the film to "[[The Parallel]]", an episode of ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' which sees an astronaut returning to Earth only to find it mysteriously changed, and realising that he has ended up in a parallel universe.<ref name="Pratt">{{cite book|last1=Pratt|first1=Douglas|title=Doug Pratt's DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult and More|year=2005|publisher=UNET 2 Corporation|isbn=1-932916-01-6|page=1281}}</ref><ref name="ICA">{{cite web|url=http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=13342 |title=Institute of Contemporary Arts Review |website=ica.org.uk |publisher=[[Institute of Contemporary Arts]] |location=London, UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722203247/http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=13342 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> [[S. T. Joshi]] likens the film's theme of duplication to the premise of ''[[Invasion of the Body Snatchers]]'', in which a race of extraterrestrials called the [[Pod People (Invasion of the Body Snatchers)|Pod People]] abduct humans and replace them with alien doubles.<ref name="STJoshi">{{cite book|last1=Joshi|first1=S. T.|author-link1=S. T. Joshi|title=Icons of Horror and the Supernatural: An Encyclopedia of Our Worst Nightmares|volume=1|year=2007|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|location=Westport, Connecticut|isbn=978-0-313-33781-9|page=205}}</ref>

===Legacy===
Despite the film's failure, Grade gave the Andersons further commissions with live actors.<ref name="La Rivière, 189"/> The first of these was the TV series ''[[UFO (British TV series)|UFO]]'', which began airing in 1970.<ref name="La Rivière, 189"/> ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' is considered a precursor to ''UFO'' and has also been described as a "trial run" for the follow-up series, ''[[Space: 1999]]''.<ref name="Fanderson"/><ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/369/369872p1.html |title=Featured Filmmaker: Gerry Anderson |date=3 September 2002 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326063247/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/369/369872p1.html |archive-date=26 March 2012 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Most of the cast went on to appear in ''UFO'', notably Ed Bishop as the protagonist Colonel [[Ed Straker]] and George Sewell as his deputy, Colonel Alec Freeman.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> Many of the film's costumes, shooting locations and musical tracks were also re-used, along with props including the ''Phoenix'' and ''Dove'' miniatures and the EUROSEC ground vehicles.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/><ref name="Archer and Hearn, 188">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;188.</ref><ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 146">Archer and Nicholls 1996, p.&nbsp;146.</ref> [[Neptune House]] appeared as the exterior of Harlington-Straker Film Studios, where SHADO, the organisation headed by Straker, is based.<ref name="Bentley, 307"/> The recycled music included the tracks "Sleeping Astronauts" and "Strange Planet", the latter accompanying the series' end credits.<ref name="Fanderson"/> Additionally, ''UFO''{{'}}s opening titles imitated the [[teleprinter]] shots which formed the basis of the film's title sequence.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 192">Archer and Hearn 2002, p.&nbsp;192.</ref>

A retrospective by [[IGN]] argues that the presentation of politics and economics in ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun'' goes against the conventions of 1960s science fiction.<ref name="IGN"/> This is reflected in ''UFO'', whose characters "were constantly having to deal with the pressures of having to show progress under the scrutiny of accountants and elected officials, much the same way NASA was starting to in the US".<ref name="IGN"/> On the links between the film and ''UFO'', Martin Anderson makes another connection to Kubrick: "... the most interesting common ground between the two projects remains the bleak ending(s) and the slight flirtation with the [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|acid]]-induced imagery and [[Wikt:mind fuck|mind fucks]] of ''2001''".<ref name="DoGReview"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Film|Science fiction}}
*''[[Another Earth]]'', a 2011 film with a similar premise
*''[[The Stranger (1973 film)|The Stranger]]'', a 1973 TV film with a similar premise
*[[1969 in film]]
*[[List of British films of 1969]]
*[[List of films set in the future]]

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== General and cited references ===
* {{Cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=Sylvia|author1-link=Sylvia Anderson|title=My Fab Years! Sylvia Anderson|year=2007|publisher=[[Hermes Press]]|location=Neshannock, Pennsylvania|isbn=978-1-932563-91-7}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Archer|first1=Simon|author1-link=Simon Archer (author)|last2=Hearn|first2=Marcus|title=What Made ''Thunderbirds'' Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson|year=2002|publisher=[[BBC Books]]|location=London, UK|isbn=978-0-563-53481-5}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Archer|first1=Simon|last2=Nicholls|first2=Stan|author2-link=Stan Nicholls|title=Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Biography|year=1996|publisher=[[Legend Books]]|location=London, UK|isbn=978-0-09-922442-6}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Complete Book of Gerry Anderson's UFO|first1=Chris|last1=Bentley|editor1-first=Marcus|editor1-last=Hearn|year=2016|orig-year=2003|edition=3rd|publisher=Signum Books|isbn=978-0-9955191-0-7|pages=20–28|chapter=''Doppelgänger''}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Bentley|first1=Chris|title=The Complete Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Episode Guide|edition=4th|year=2008|orig-year=2001|publisher=Reynolds & Hearn|location=London, UK|isbn=978-1-905287-74-1}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Worlds of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson: The Story Behind International Rescue|last1=Fryer|first1=Ian|year=2016|publisher=Fonthill Media|isbn=978-1-781555-04-0|pages=138–143|chapter=''Doppelgänger''}}
* {{Cite book|last1=La Rivière|first1=Stephen|author1-link=Stephen La Rivière|title=Filmed in Supermarionation: A History of the Future|year=2009|publisher=Hermes Press|location=Neshannock, Pennsylvania|isbn=978-1-932563-23-8}}
* {{Cite book|first1=Andrew|last1=Pixley|title=Gerry Anderson's UFO|year=2016|publisher=Network Distributing|id=7958059}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Rovin|first1=Jeff|author1-link=Jeff Rovin|title=A Pictorial History of Science Fiction Films|year=1975|publisher=[[Citadel Press]]|location=Secaucus, New Jersey|isbn=978-0-8065-0263-2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0064519}}
* {{AllMovie title|26600}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190504011815/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b70de5c62 ''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun''] at the [[British Film Institute]]
* {{Letterboxd film|journey-to-the-far-side-of-the-sun}}
* {{TCMDb title|79915}}

{{Robert Parrish}}
{{Gerry Anderson}}

[[Category:1960s adventure thriller films]]
[[Category:1960s British films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:1960s science fiction drama films]]
[[Category:1960s science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:1960s spy films]]
[[Category:1969 adventure films]]
[[Category:1969 drama films]]
[[Category:1969 films]]
[[Category:AP Films]]
[[Category:British adventure thriller films]]
[[Category:British science fiction drama films]]
[[Category:British science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:British space adventure films]]
[[Category:British spy films]]
[[Category:Works set on fictional planets]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 2069]]
[[Category:Films about astronauts]]
[[Category:Films about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Films about NASA]]
[[Category:Films directed by Robert Parrish]]
[[Category:Films set in Mongolia]]
[[Category:Films set in Portugal]]
[[Category:Films set in the 2060s]]
[[Category:Films set on fictional planets]]
[[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Algarve]]
[[Category:Sun in film]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction drama films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure thriller films]]