Doppelganger

Roy Thinnes - Colonel Glenn Ross
Ian Hendry - John Kane
Patrick Wymark - Jason Webb
Lynn Loring - Sharon Ross
Loni von Friedl - Lisa Hartmann
Franco De Rosa - Paulo Landi
George Sewell - Mark Neuman
Ed Bishop - David Poulson
Philip Madoc - Dr. Pontini
Herbert Lom - Doctor Hassler

Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the team behind popular science fiction puppet shows Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, as well as the live action series UFO and Space 1999, wrote and produced this science-fiction fantasy directed by Robert Parrish. This eerie sci-fi film is thoroughly entertaining with an ingenious plot but it can be slow-moving in parts and the initial espionage subplot is unnecessary.

Experienced American astronaut Colonel Glenn Ross (Roy Thinnes) is assigned to the Euro Sec space agency overseen by Jason Webb (Patrick Wymark) to accompany John Kane (Ian Hendry) on a mission to explore a newly discovered planet in the solar system on the far side of the sun in an orbit identical to Earth. After a period of rigorous training, the duo are launched into space and placed in suspended animation; awaiting their capsules arrival at the new planet.

But three weeks into an expected six week mission they crash-land back on earth, destroying their vessel and Kane subsequently dying from his injuries. Ross is rescued and sent back to headquarters for debriefing – which unexpectedly becomes interrogation. Webb tells Ross he has returned three weeks early and accuses him of turning back mid-flight – a charge the astronaut vehemently denies. Ross notices cars drive on the wrong side of the road, everything in his home is reversed, including any writing, and eventually realizes that he is on the newly discovered planet and that everything is a mirror image of Earth. Webb concurs that despite it being an incredible explanation it was the most logical, and plans are put in place to return Ross to his home planet.