"You're sending me up there with nothing. What do you expect me to do – stand up and give them a couple of choruses of "Lover Come Back"?"
Written by Tony Barwick
Directed by Ken Turner
Filming Schedule: Friday, 7th – Thursday 20th August 1970
Original UK Airdate: Wednesday, 13th January 1971 (ATV)
Tech; UFO, Interceptors, Moonmobiles.
Cast; Straker, Foster, Lake, Henderson, Barry, Ayshea, Ealand
Additional cast;
Howard Byrne Stuart Damon Captain Beaver James Charles Tingwell Andy Conroy Al Mancini Dale Craig Hunter Captain Steve Minto Steven Berkoff SHADO Operative Anouska Hempel Film Director Stephan Chase 1st Assistant Director Norton Clarke 2nd Assistant Director Paul Greaves Mexican Bandits Larry Taylor, Richard Montez and Bill Morgan SHADO Operative James Marcus SHADO Guards Stanley McGeagh and John Lyons Cabinet Minister Basil Dignam Mary Rutland Suzanne Neve John Rutland Barnaby Shaw Steven Rutland Philip Madoc Segal Peter Halliday Motorcyclist Jack Silk
My overall rating; 10/10
The story's location featured at Heatherden Hall and Gardens, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath (Buckinghamshire) Studio Lot, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Burnham Beeches, Burnham (Buckinghamshire) and Marlyn Cottage, Ley Hill, near Chesham, (Buckinghamshire). The episode reused clips from Identified and A Question Of Priorities. During Straker's hallucinations, the 'actors' use their real names when talking to each other. Sylvia Anderson has a cameo in the movie studio filming sequence reading prompts and is referred to onscreen by her first name. Barry Gray score some new tracks for this episodes, yet several tracks from The Secret Service's Last Train To Buffler's Halt and Thunderbirds: Edge Of Impact is reused here, with hillbilly music reminiscent of soundtracks from Joe 90's Lone Handed 90 and the Thunderbirds episodes The Imposters and Move and You're Dead. Stuart Damon appeared in Space: 1999 (in A Matter Of Life and Death and The Bringers Of Wonder), The Champions, Yanks Go Home and General Hospital to name a few. Charles Tingwell already had associations with Gerry Anderson voicing for the second series of Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) and the voice of Dr. Fawn in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. He was also in Bed Of Roses, Neighbors, Something In The Air, The Violent Earth, Home and Away, The Late Show and Skyways.
Al Mancini returns to the series as does Berkoff, Hunter and Hempel. Stephan Chase would later star in an abundance of shows like Wives and Daughters, The Protectors (Bagman in Christian), Secret Army, The Talisman, The Honey Siege and Maleficent (2014). Norton Clarke was in only another few programs; Monty Python's Flying Circus and three Doctor Who serials; The Myth Makers (1965 as a Greek Soldier), The Massacre (1966 as the Secretary) and The Silurians (1970 as an uncredited Technician). Paul Greaves was also in Z Cars, The Liver Birds, The Adventurer and The Regiment. Larry Taylor starred in Department S, The Saint, The Baron, The Prisoner (Many Happy Returns and Living In Harmony) and Gamble For A Throne. Richard Montez was in Casualty, Mind Your Language, Young At Heart, Don't Drink The Water and The Saint. Bill Morgan appeared in The Grove Family, The Champions and James Bond's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. James Marcus was in The Bill, Eastenders, Heartbeat, Dodgem, London's Burning, Grandad, Z Cars and Doctor Who: Invasion Of The Dinosaurs (1974 as a Peasant) and Underworld (1978 as Rask). Stanley McGeagh returns as does John Lyons.
An exquisite episode. Excellent episode when a series plays on its concepts or going completely wild. With more outstanding acting and a brilliant concept once more, it's gripping seeing Straker and the others start going mad. And also the sequences of him and his dysfunctional family in the flashback footage. And of course, one more notable highlight was seeing Straker and Henderson's toxic relationship break new tension as the dialogue was at its absolute best - "Cheap!", "Don't push me Henderson!", "You're all gutless sheep, the lot of you!", "MMEEHH", "MMEEHH", "MMEEHH".
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