Man from Atlantis: Pilot

Man from Atlantis is a television movie and the first of four pilot episodes that preceded the regular Man from Atlantis television series that aired on NBC from 1977 to 1978. The first movie, simply titled Man from Atlantis was broadcast on Friday, March 4th, 1977. It was directed by Lee H. Katzin and written by Mayo Simon. It was produced by Herbert F. Solow for the Solow Production Company and Robert H. Justman of Star Trek fame. The film starred Patrick Duffy as an amphibious man gifted with enhanced physical traits as well as gills and webbed fingers and toes. An amnesiac, he is discovered by Doctor Elizabeth Merrill (played by Belinda Montgomery) of the Foundation for Oceanic Research who recruits him to help them explore the ocean depths while also trying to discover the secrets to his past. Victor Buono guest stars as the film's antagonist, the evil criminal mastermind Mister Schubert.

Notes & Trivia

 * The first four telemovies were packaged as the Man from Atlantis: The Complete TV Movies Collection two-disc set while the regular series episodes were collected on the Man from Atlantis: The Complete Television Series.


 * A short-lived comic book series of Man from Atlantis was published by Marvel Comics from February to August of 1978. The series was in publication during the last four episodes of the TV series, "Scavenger Hunt", "Imp", "The Siren" and "Deadly Carnival".


 * Patrick Duffy was the cover feature of the Thursday, September 10th, 1977 issue of TV Guide. The issue included a brief segment discussing the four TV movies and the upcoming regular series. It also gives brief insight into the abilities of Mark Harris.


 * Man from Atlantis was also featured in an article in the November, 1977 issue of Pizzazz (cover feature: Spider-Man).


 * Following the conclusion of the series, actor Patrick Duffy had a long and notable career playing Bobby Ewing on the night time soap opera Dallas.