Journey to the Far Side of the Sun: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|1969 film directed by Robert Parrish}}

'''''Journey to the Far Side of the Sun''''' (originallyalso titledknown as '''''Doppelgänger''''') is a 1969 British [[science fiction film written by [[Gerry Anderson|Gerry]] and [[Sylvia Anderson]] and [[Donald James]], produced by the Andersons, and directed by [[Robert Parrish]]. Filmed by the Andersons' productionand company [[AP Films#Century 21|Century 21]], it starsstarring [[Roy Thinnes]], [[Ian Hendry]], [[Lynn Loring]], [[Loni von Friedl]] and [[Patrick Wymark]].<ref Setname="BFIsearch">{{Cite inweb the|title=Journey year 2069,to the filmFar concernsSide aof jointthe EuropeanSun |url=https://collections-[[NASA]]search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150148007 mission|access-date=1 toJuly investigate2024 a|website=British newlyFilm discoveredInstitute planetCollections whichSearch}}</ref> liesIt directlywas oppositewritten Earthby on[[Gerry theAnderson|Gerry]] far side of theand [[SunSylvia Anderson]]. The mission ends in disaster and the[[Donald death of one of the astronautsJames]], followingand whichproduced his colleague realises thatby the planetAndersons is afor [[Counter-Earth|mirrorAP imageFilms#Century of21|Century Earth21]] in every detail, with a parallel and duplicate timeline.

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 goare 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.

EUROSEC builds a new ''Dove'' designed to be compatible with the reversed technologies of ''Phoenix''. Modifications include the[[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.

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 had beenwas [[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 several weeks of searching, in June 1968 the Andersons hired [[Robert Parrish]], who had been one of the directors onco-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 also said that while the poornegative critical response to ''Casino Royale'' may have 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>

Leading the cast was Roy Thinnes as Colonel Glenn Ross of NASA. GerryThinnes Andersonwas cast Thinneson afterthe seeingbasis of his performancestarring as David Vincentrole 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 originallyfirst gone to either [[Gayle Hunnicutt]] or [[Tisha Sterling]], whobut the original actress quit early in the production after falling ill.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/><ref>Pixley This2016, withdrawalpp.&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"/> HadAn sheearlier remainedversion inof the role,script Hunnicutthad wouldthe havecharacter appearedappear in a [[nude scene]], written ininto the film to distinguish the filmit from the Andersons' earlierprevious productions.<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 174"/> In a 1968 interview in the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', AndersonGerry 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 haveconceive 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 pursuebegin 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 the antiheroic businessman John Wilder in the TV dramas ''[[The Plane Makers]]'' and ''The Power Game'';, hewhich waswere describedliked inby the Andersons. publicityPublicity material described the character as "John Wilder (2069 model)".<ref name="Archer and Hearn, 175"/> According to AndersonGerry, 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 role was re-cast as the producers feltthought that Dyneleyhe bore a strong resemblance to Wymark and thatre-cast the role, concerned that scenes featuringwith bothDyneley actorsand Wymark would cause audiences to confuse the characters of Poulson and Webb.<ref name="Bentley, 306"/>

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 in the country, [[MarcelloMarcelo Caetano]] succeeded the incapacitated [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] as prime[[Prime ministerMinister 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"/>

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 justonly to Parrish as director, but also to himthe as producerproducers.<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,. andHe resigned from both the filmproduction and Century 21 at the request of fellow company directors 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"/>

===EffectsDesign and effects===

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"/>

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

Universal were unimpressed by theThe finished film,<ref name="Bentley,failed 307"/>to asimpress wereUniversal or UK distributors [[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, which judged 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> Gerry[[Simon AndersonArcher biographers(author)|Simon Archer]] and [[Stan Nicholls]] argue that while this title provides 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 makecreate 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 Gerry 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, and thereforeso made a second flop to reverse thisit.<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"/>

[[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]] includes a double-sided sleeve (enabling the film to be stored under either of its titles),features a transfer of Fanderson's original film print and, 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.

Since its original release, the film has receivedhad a mixed response from commentatorscritics. [[Simon Archer (author)|Simon Archer]] and [[Stan Nicholls]] consider it a [[cult film]].<ref name="Archer and Nicholls, 138"/> As of 2023, theThe 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>

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 filmfeature. butIt added that: "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>

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 lessersecondary themes (whichsuch includeas adultery, infertility and corruption) and itsthe "[[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 sothe farsense asthat the characters "stand and talk a lot", while defining the script as "at least 60 percentper 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"/>

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 film's effects "[occasionally] outshine" ''2001''{{'}}s", going on to stateadding 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"/> Both commentator Douglas Pratt and the [[Institute of Contemporary Arts]] in London compare the film to "[[The Parallel]]", an episode of ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' in which sees an astronaut returnsreturning to Earth only to find hisit world bizarrelymysteriously changed, and realisesrealising 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>

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"/> In addition, manyMany of the film's costumes, shooting locations, and musical tracks were also re-used, along with props including the ''Phoenix'' and ''Dove'' miniature modelsminiatures and athe numberEUROSEC of futuristicground vehicles (which were modelled on [[Mini Moke]]s and [[Ford Zephyr|Ford Zephyr Zodiacs]]).<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 Colonel 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>