UFO: The Vault

EPISODE 1 - IDENTIFIED

"These clouds give about as much cover as a G-string on a belly dancer."

Written by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and Tony Barwick

Directed by Gerry Anderson

Filming Schedule: Monday, 28th April – Monday, 12th May 1969

Original UK Airdate: Wednesday, 16th September 1970 (ATV)

Tech: UFO, Sky One, SST, Skydiver, Interceptors

Cast; Straker, Freeman, Carlin, Ellis, Lake, Berry, Waterman, Ford, Ayshea, Ealand, Shroeder

Additional Cast:

Ken Matthews Michael Mundell Cabinet Minister Basil Dignam Bill Johnson Shane Rimmer  Harris Matthew Robertson  Kurt Mahler Paul Gillard  Phil Wade Gary Files  Nurse Annette Kerr  Leila Carlin Edwina Carroll Alien Gito Santana  SHADO Operative Louisa Rabaiotti Janis Penny Spencer David Worth Dennis Plenty  Motorcyclist Jack Silk

My overall rating; 8/10

The episode was on location at Black Park (Iver Heath - Buckinghamshire), Burnham Beeches (Burnham - Buckinghamshire) Handley Page Ltd (Radlett Aerodrome - Frogmore, Hertfordshire) and Neptune House, BBC Elstree Studios, Eldon Avenue (used as the administration building for Harlington-Straker studios (Borehamwood - Hertfordshire). At the very start, we see a yellow Model T which is being posed for the actors in front - the car being from Gerry Anderson's previous series The Secret Service. The first shot of the exterior of Moonbase used a track heard in the background from the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episode Crater 101. As Gerry Anderson recalls in the 2002 DVD commentary of the episode, "Looking at the pilot of UFO, it does have a much slower pace than films that are made today, but equally, it still has a lot going for it. It was really quite a complicated show to make. It has a lot of production value". Moonbase Commander was originally planned to be an Italian character named Franco Desica (to appeal to Italy) played by Italian actor Franco De Rosa, but was sacked after three days of filming for causing delays. 

His part was rewritten to Lieutenant Ellis, Gabrielle Drake impressing Anderson on filming. Her initial character was called Lieutenant Paula Harris. The original captain of Skydiver was to be Jon Karlin played by Jon Kelly. His part was later taken by Peter Carlin (Peter Gordeno) and Kelly was given the part of Skydiver Navigator. Various SHADO members were filmed arriving at this building. Also, a different version of the ending exists with the end of Straker's speech ending with "Driven by the greatest force in the universe - survival" and seeing a UFO spin back away from the camera, rather than feature the end of "A funeral without a body... Where the does the universe end? Where does it begin?". This was done by Lew Grade perhaps for overseas sales. A few shots of violence from the opening were also cut when Straker bleeds from the car crash and the start with Peter Carlin and his sister. In the episode, Colonel Lake holds a newspaper with a date of 24 August 1980 -this details the exact date that SHADO became operational.

Shane Rimmer; 

Micheal Mundell, an actor and director (of a video version of Hamlet), before UFO, had appeared in Fothergale Co.Ltd, Maroc 7, Coronation Street, Crossroads and Counterstrike, later appearing in Ace Of Wonders, Dixon Of Dock Green, The Professionals, Secret Army and in the Doctor Who serial The Invasion Of Time (1978 - as Jasko), returning to reprise his role later for Computer Affair. Meanwhile, Basil Dingham has a huge CV as an actor in his life from 1905 to 1979, appearing in the most famous shows he starred in including Sword Of Freedom, The Adventures Of Robin Hood, The Vise, The Avengers, Espionage, The Protectors (not the Gerry Anderson series), No Hiding Place, Armchair Theatre, Steptoe and Son, Gideon's Way, Danger Man, United!, Man In A Suitcase, The Champions, Department S, Paul Temple, Strange Report, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Jason King, The Persuaders, The Sweeney, Crown Court and The New Avengers to name a few. Matthew Robertson has a much smaller career in acting, however, appearing in The Wednesday Play, The Bill, Fraud Squad, Yes Minister and Ace Of Wanders. Paul Gillard also has quite a small acting career, with Identified being his last TV credit. His other appearances include Crane, Moonstrike, The Avengers, Judge Dee, The Expert and The Doctors. 

Gary Files however was well associated with the Andersons before UFO, lending his vocal talents as Captain Magenta in Captain Scarlet, voicing an array of characters for Thunderbird 6 and Joe 90 and as Matthew Harding in The Secret Service. He would later star in many TV shows including True Believers, A Country  Practice, Funky Squad, Stingers, The New Adventures of Ocean Girl, MDA, Neighbours and Dogstar. Annette Kerr also starred in a vast array of shows on-screen with A Life of Bliss, Smuggler's Cove, No Hiding Place, Out Of The Unknown, Public Eye, Dial M for Murder, and 2point4 Children. Edwina Carroll has a smaller acting career, appearing also in her last TV credit as Leila Carlin, who also appeared in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Carry On Up The Jungle, and TV shows such as Champion House, Department S and Paul Temple. Gito Santana makes his first appearance as an alien throughout the series returning for Computer Affair, Survival and The Sound Of Silence, whereas Louisa Rabaiotti appeared on screen in only two other uncredited roles; Casino Royale (1967) and The Bruce Forsyth Show, whilst returning to the series with Conflict.

 Penny Spencer appeared in Man In A Suitcase, Mr. Rose, Paul Temple, Mogul, Please Sir!, Dixon Of Dock Green, Public Eye and The Man Outside, and later episodes A Question Of Priorities and The Responsibility Seat. Dennis Plenty appeared in a number of TV shows including Adam Adamant Lives!, Softly Softly, The Champions, Paul Temple, Dixon Of Dock Green, The Persuaders, Upstairs Downstairs, Moonbase 3, Fawlty Towers, Within These Walls, Z Cars and the Doctor Who serials The Massacre, The War Machines, Frontier In Space, Death To The Daleks and The Masque Of Mandragora. Finally, Jack Silk has a vast array of credits as motorcyclists including not only UFO but also The Invisible Man, Interpol Calling, The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, The Avengers, The Scales Of Justice and The Death Wheelers.

Personally, the episode successfully performs its function more than satisfactory enough -  the opening for the show, easily introducing the characters and SHADO organisation, and get to see a UFO in action and SHADO's first operation and take in an alien. Not much might happen in this episode, but there is a lot to introduce from the characters, premise, vehicles, aliens and the concept. The opening has a good hook in, and a very interesting question opened, especially by Straker and his writing is so brilliant. One of the best character studies on TV! A promising and very engaging start to one of the greatest TV shows of all time...