"I hope you still have a choice, Ed. Perhaps you should decide before it's too late."
Written by Tony Barwick
Directed by David Lane
Filming Schedule: Friday, 10th – Wednesday, 22nd October 1969
Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 10th July 1971 (ATV)
Cast; Straker, Freeman, Henderson, Ford, Barry
Additional cast;
Mary Straker Suzanne Neve Mary's Father Michael Nightingale English Delegate Jack May Monsieur Duval Jeffrey Segal German Delegate Gordon Sterne S. Delegate Alan Tilvern David Grey Julian Grant I.A. Man Shane Rimmer Hotel Clerk Geoffrey Hinsliff Estate Agent Donald Pelmear Porter Frank Tregear Doctor Tom Oliver Nurse Penny Jackson
My overall rating; 10/10
A tone of filming for the episode featured at The Dean Park Hotel, St. Albans Road, Watford, (Hertfordshire), Church Car Park, Exchange Road, Watford, Lower Hight Street, Watford, Oaklands College, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, (Hertfordshire) Neptune House, BBC Elstree Studios, Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood, Canterbury House, Canterbury Road, Borehamwood, MGM Borehamwood Studios, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Kitt's End Road, Kitt's End, Heathrow Airport (Greater London) Sudbury House, 15 Newgate Street (London EC1). The episode does not begin with the opening titles, perhaps due to the episode's length. Almost like a sequel to A Question Of Priorities, Suzanne Neve would return to reprise her role of Mary Straker. Micheal Nightingale had been in The Avengers, The Two Ronnies, The Prince Of Denmark, The Persuaders, Justice, Man At The Top, Danger Man and The Prisoner (Dance Of The Dead as Night Supervisor). Jack May appeared has been in dozens of screen appearances such as Count Duckula, The Mixer, All Creatures Great And Small, Muzzy, Noah's Castle, The Pathfinders and Doctor Who: The Space Pirates (1969 as General Hermack).
Jeffrey Segal also starred in many shows such as Rentaghost, Lytton's Diary, Yes Minister, Play For Today, Dad's Army, The Sweeney, Justice, Love Story, Z Cars and The Protectors (A Case For The Right as Extremist Officer). Gordon Sterne starred in lots too including a later episode of UFO, Reflections In The Water as Helmsman Ellis. He also appeared in The Protectors (Your Witness as a Barman), Doctor Who: The Ambassadors Of Death (1970 as Heldorf), The Prisoner (Living In Harmony as a Bystander) as well as Zero One, The Saint, Court Martial, Man In A Suitcase, Maigret and Crossroads. Alan Tilvern, another famous actor, had starred in Doctor Who: Planet Of Giants (1964 as Forester), The Saint, Court Martial, The Expert, Z Cars, Dad's Army, Dixon Of Dock Green, Poldark and the first Superman movie. With Shane Rimmer returning once again to UFO.
Julian Grant has a much smaller acting career with TV shows Z Cars, The Main Chance, Freewheelers, The Main Chance and Advent Of Steam. Geoffrey Hinsliff had starred in the Doctor Who stories Image Of The Fendahl (1977 as Jack Tyler) and Nightmare Of Eden (1979 as Fisk) and Accident, Brass, Coronation Street, Striker, Couples, Down the Gate, Z Cars, Crown Court, The Expert and The Spread Of The Eagle. Donald Pelmear was in Doctor Who: The Time Warrior (1973/4 as Proffesor Rubeish), Special Branch, Counterstrike, Public Eye, Gamble For A Throne, Yes Minister and Ransom For A Pretty Girl. Frank Tregear was in Howard's Way, Suspense, Crane, Z Cars, Raffles, Robin's Nest, Yes Minister and Bergerac. Tom Oliver starred in Neighbors, A Country Practice, Holiday Island, The Dismissal, Cop Shop, King's Men, Number 96, Division 4, Bellbird and later for the UFO episode The Sound Of Silence as 1st Technician. Finally, Penny Jackson appears in one of her only three screen credits; the film My Way (1972) and the TV series Spy Trap (1973).
A fascinating story for fans, detailing the genesis and construction of SHADO. Although less popular for example ITC New York, the episode obviously showing why Straker's marriage suffered and was eventually destroyed due to Straker's involvement in SHADO. The episode also works as a great drama piece too. But as Mary's previous husband was a commander, surely she would understand about security? Or did she leave him for the same reason she left Straker? Surely you would know that as her husband, who is working long hours to fight for his planet, has security information that if she knew about would possibly put her life in danger? And when she fell down the stairs and was pregnant, or if she had left to be a single mothe-... ok CaptainThunderWho, that's enough.
I'm not too sure when this episode is exactly set between 1970 and 1980, as we learn from the first episode set in 1980 Lieutenant Ford had been working for SHADO just over two years - 1978, but he was present at SHADO before John was born. Was John really 6? Or is CaptainThunderWho being a bit nit-picky here? The baby of John was actually really cute too. And overall, I really do feel sorry for Straker. His whole marriage, explored fully by this episode, was shredded to pieces by no fault of his own. Still, it makes me not want to work in the Army, the police, fire brigade or any services where you have to work at night. But overall, a terrific episode. Just like Priorities, this episode also works so well because it really makes you think and question the episode. Perfectly executed by talented writer Tony Barwick.
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UFO: The Vault
Não FicçãoGerry Anderson's UFO was the first big budget British live-action television series of a secret government organisation named SHADO (Supreme Headqauters Alien Defence Organisation) combat a dying alien race who have come to Earth in order to survive...
