This film would probably be more interesting to the viewer if they are already fans of Gerry Anderson's series "UFO" or "Space: 1999". Plus, if you are a "UFO" fan, you'll delight to see two of this series' leading men, Ed Bishop (with actual dark hair) and George Sewell, as two of the main characters. But, fortunately for the average viewer, unlike "UFO" the costumes, wigs and set design are all a bit more restrained (no purple wigs in this film)! However, you can see some of the props (such as the futuristic cars) that were used in "UFO" and it does have a similar look.

The film begins at a time in the future--though exact when is uncertain. Using a cool bit of spying, as an agent (Herbert Lom) is able to steal secrets from the European Space Authority. What he's passed on is that there might be a planet on the other side of the sun--one that is blocked by the sun so its existence was previously unknown. As a result, if a space flight is made there, they need to do it soon--before someone else beats them to it. However, the Europeans don't have the will for such an expensive program and look to the Americans for help. A NASA astronaut (Roy Thinnes) is chosen to command this bizarre trip to this planet and his co-astronaut is from the European program (Ian Hendry).

Because the flight is long, they devise a sort of hibernation for the crew--they'll sleep during most of the flight and awaken when they arrive at the new planet. However, when they awaken, they find themselves back on Earth! What about the new planet?! What gives?! I'd say more, but don't want to spoil it for you.

Considering that I have lamented that "UFO" was prematurely canceled, seeing this film was a treat for me. It's sophisticated enough that it is a far cry from Anderson's puppet films earlier that same decade and is pretty well done--like "UFO". It's funny, but had "2001" not debuted a year earlier, this film would have been a standout for its special effects--and many of the scenes still look very nice today. But to the sophisticated viewers of 2011, the film does look a tiny bit dated. For me, this was not an issue--I liked the Sylvia Anderson set and costume designs and don't mind the use of the usual Anderson models (used far less effectively in previous projects, such as "Thunderbirds"). I think they are kind of quaint and I recommend the film.

By the way, if you are a trivia nut, look for Vladek Sheybal as a psychiatrist. He was a semi-regular on "UFO" and also played a Bond villain in "From Russia With Love". Of course, he also played 'Mr. Boogaloo' in the horrid movie "The Apple" (and that's a film so bad that bad film buffs will adore it).

How well I remember seeing this made for TV movie when it finally got over to this side of the pond on American television. This British made for TV film has a most intriguing idea, but it could have been better conceptualized.

Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun begins with the discovery some time in the future of a planet never seen before which is 180 degrees on the same plane diameter on the opposite side of the sun. Naturally the European Space Agency and its head Patrick Wymark want to make a voyage, certainly not in a straight line I hope or things could get hot for the astronauts.

Picked to go are American Roy Thinnes and British Ian Hendry. What they find there is something pretty frightening.

A lot's at fault here. I would think that an opposite Mercury and Venus would have been discovered as well, but no mention of that let alone the planets farther than earth from the sun. And while this body moves with'the same speed exactly across the diameter of the orbit the others certainly would have been noticed before even our time.

I also don't think the marital issues between real life husband and wife Roy Thinnes and Lynn Loring have anything to do with the main plot and add nothing.

An interesting idea not well thought out.

JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN is a minor British science fiction effort with a head-scratching premise that goes for imagination over realism any day of the week. It's a film with the thumb print of Gerry Anderson all over it, with lots of effective miniature work throughout and character actors like Ed Bishop and George Sewell showing up. The two leads, Roy Thinnes and Ian Hendry, play astronauts investigating a space anomaly who get involved in a very strange set of events; to say more would be to spoil it. I found the execution towards the climax only mildly effective, seemingly inspired by 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY's abstract stylings but without the same feeling of awe, but fans will enjoy it.