ITV 4 episode 'Timelash'

Hi all,

Last weeks episode was `Timelash'. All but one of the edits
occurred during the initial chase sequence through the Pinewood
lot. Those sections missing were;


The `hand' and stool being loaded onto the trailer

Foster and the security guards picking up the man smoking a cigar
and stopping the hovercraft (BTW – where's the SHADO car?)

The carpentry department

Straker finding Turner dead going in circles

The final edit was of Straker and Lake moving towards the covered
SHADO jeep, while Turner is explaining why the aliens haven't
arrived yet.


The behaviour of the UFO puzzles me. It is able to fire on the car
at 8pm but cannot attack the studio at 6pm! When Straker fires
the `molly' – it flies away rather than blows up and Straker then
releases the alien control and time starts again from 6pm.  

My question is - what happened to those two hours that Straker and
Lake have already lived through – including the aforementioned UFO
attack? Was it the same UFO, attacking them after the timelash is
actually over, but from their perspective, they experience it
beforehand? Or, once they enter the timelash, it actually never
happens, even though they remember it? Or maybe the UFO did survive
the timelash and comes back to stop them from ever arriving at the
studio in the first place?

I think I'm being over influenced by 'The Terminator' films! Good
grief - my head hurts!!! ;-D  


Patrick Allen guest stars as the treacherous radar operator Turner,
whose inability to resist the temptation to taunt Straker is his
undoing, but it makes for some amusing dialogue and at least half of
the episode's action. You have to admire Straker's so called
bloodymindedness in not accepting defeat, even at the risk of
killing himself – probably seemed preferable to being Turner's `tea
boy' in an alien controlled world ;-)  

Although Col. Lake's character is useful for creating dialogue to
illustrate the plot and she is very attractive; I can't help but
wonder how much more suspenseful the episode might have been if
Straker and Turner were the only characters involved throughout…?  
Moreover, if the final scene between Henderson and Jackson had not
been added; it would have been a more typical `UFO', leaving the
viewer to decide whether any of it were true or not – might have
been a cliffhanger between episodes, or even another series…


Being action-orientated, the script direction is quite interesting
to read, for example -


NOW EVERY MAN IN THE ROOM COMES AT STRAKER. IT'S AS IF THEY'RE
THROWING THEMSELVES INTO A MINCING MACHINE. HARDLY MOVING FROM A
NARROWLY CIRCUMSCRIBED CIRCLE OF GROUND STRAKER PUNCHES, CHOPS,
THROWS, SLICES, KICKS WITH DAZZLING SKILL AND PHENOMENAL STRENGTH.
MEN GO FLYING ABOUT LIKE PARTICLES IN A CYCLOTRON. THE ROOM IS
LITTERED WITH THE DISABLED.    
   

Well this made me smile! Does anyone know what a `cyclotron' is?  
Ed Bishop's stunt double gets a lot of screen time and in this scene
especially, but he's rather obvious, imho! Maybe it depended on who
could get the wig on, rather than any physical resemblance ;-)

My personal gripe with this episode, in fact UFO as a whole, is the
lack of any attempt at realism regarding medical issues. Jackson's
assessment of Straker's condition is probable, given the known
circumstances - "He's in shock – physical and mental" - the former
could certainly be causing the latter. But for someone in severe
shock like that and therefore clinically unstable, the lack of any
supportive therapy means they'd certainly be watching him die! :-O  
Couldn't the props men have `set up' a drip, at least?  

Then there's the use of stimulant drugs, which they know about, but
Henderson barely hesitates to give Jackson the nod for them to use
what is obviously another highly dangerous substance! Jackson is
being portrayed not only as a lousy medic, but to comply without at
least refusing to accept any responsibility means his ethical
judgement is extremely overcompromised. Furthermore, he has no hope
of injecting into a vein; mind you, nor has Straker, or anyone else
throughout the entire series ;-)

Another script direction that amused me related to what Straker's
POV is following Jackson's injection;-

COLOURS PATTERNS SHAPES FANTASIES NOISES PULSES. SOME OF THE
CONSTITUENTS COULD BE:¬- (THIS IS MEANT AS A GUIDE ONLY TO THE
DIRECTOR) CLOCKS AND WATCHES DROPPING, DISTORTING, LIKE MELTING
RUBBER, DALIESQUE AGAINST BEAUTIFUL BLUE BACKGROUNDS. RADAR SCREENS
SUDDENLY FORMING GREAT BLUBBERY RED LIPS, PARTING TO SHOW TEETH
READY TO BITE. FLOWERS SENDING OUT PULSING WAVES, FIRST OF SOUND
THEN OF LIGHT, HOMING IN ON THE CAMERA, WIDENING AND ENGULFING IT.
ONE-MAN HOVERCRAFT TURNING INTO HUGE OYSTERS, THE SHELL OPENING,
MOVING IN, THREATENING TO INGEST STRAKER INTO CRIMSON GLISTENING
JAWS. AND THROUGH IT ALL, ONE CONSTANT. A FLUORESCENT GREEN SHAPE,
SHADOW, ALWAYS THERE, ALWAYS MOVING AND MENACING.

Hmmm – I guess the sight of Henderson and Foster peering closely
creates a similar image! Well, at least as scary ;-D

Ed Bishop was famed for his ability to remember lines, but he made
two errors during the scene where Straker is injecting himself and
Lake with the `X50'. He describes the alien time control as
a "field force" not "force field", as scripted. A few lines later,
he makes the same error again, only this time it might have been
intentional, as the script only asks for the word "field". I
suppose time pressure may have prevented them from re-shooting this
scene, or maybe the opinion was it wouldn't be noticed by viewers (?)

The outfits worn by Straker and Lake are not the `norm', although
the script states Lake is wearing a mink coat (must have been too
warm) and Straker his `studio boss' clothes. Straker's office suits
would have been impossible – the velcro would never have stayed
together! He may have borrowed his outfit from Foster, or possibly
acquired it from Cass Fowler following the amnesia shot in `TST';-)  
In all seriousness, I imagine the wardrobe department often had to
put actors and actresses into the same costumes and this outfit is
the same one worn by other actors; but it didn't fit him very well!

Wanda Ventham was permitted to buy her own outfit for this episode
and says in her commentary that it was given to her afterwards and
she had a matching pair of purple boots made. This ensemble was
often worn by Wanda to parties – I wonder if anyone ever noticed?  
The over exposure of her cleavage was a direction from none other
than the executive producer himself; Ed Bishop's comment on this
was "Great! No-one's gonna be looking at me!" I think he was
worrying unnecessarily ;-D Incidentally, Wanda also had a stunt
double for her dash to leap into the moving SHADO jeep, something
I'd never appreciated; I`ve always thought it was her!

This is an episode that I need to be `in the mood' to watch – don't
ask me what mood! Despite my wicked nit-picking (I apologise if I
have offended anyone) I do like it, mainly because it is, somewhat
literally, non-stop Straker ;-D

I would love to read comments from others – especially Mark Davies –
please? Pretty please? You did say it was your all time
favourite :-)

As for the print quality – yuck! If anyone's interested, I could
take some frame grabs and corresponding ones from the DVDs for
comparison and upload them…?  

Thanks for reading

Sarah  

--- In [hidden email], "moonbasegirl" <shaded2cinders@...>
wrote:
> I would love to read comments from others –

Well, here goes:

Hi everyone,

Timelash is one of my favourite episodes too.

It is the most chilling story of the series. If the aliens had the
power to control time then what chance would we / SHADO ever have of
defending the earth against them?

By this stage in the production of UFO the stories, characters,
scripting and direction were really well developed, perfectly ripe
for another season. If only…

Timelash has its flaws, its cringingly embarrassing lines of
dialogue, "sound barrier, heat barrier, light barrier… Time barrier!"
Straker's disappearing car, swaying "frozen" actors (really
noticeable if you play the DVD at 2x normal speed) etc, but show me a
piece of TV Sci-Fi (or film for that matter) that hasn't.

There are a few other oops! moments in Timelash:
When Commander Strakes and Col. Lake are being chased by the UFO the
sound effects of the car are pretty awful – a short gear change up,
change down loop.
Also, when Straker and Col. Lake enter the Medical centre the door
changes from sliding on the outside (complete with shaky wall) to
side hung on the inside. Though it could be argued that they had
walked through another room in between.
A few years ago I wrote a long letter to Fanderson's Chris Bentley
detailing many clangers from UFO. One or two of them made it into his
book: The complete book of Gerry Anderson's UFO, though I was
probably not the first person to point them out.

Anyway, I still think Timelash is one of the greatest pieces if
science fiction entertainment of all time. Rarely equalled, never
bettered.
And didn't Wanda look fantastic!

Kevin

--- In [hidden email], "Kevin" <spiffer@...> wrote:

 
> Timelash has its flaws, its cringingly embarrassing lines of
> dialogue, "sound barrier, heat barrier, light barrier… Time
barrier!"

:-D Another line that was fortunately changed was Turner -

"Listen you primitive idiot!"

Was scripted as -

"Listen you jumped-up albino!" LOL!!


> Anyway, I still think Timelash is one of the greatest pieces if
> science fiction entertainment of all time. Rarely equalled, never
> bettered. And didn't Wanda look fantastic!


Therein lies Timelash's timeless appeal; Wanda and Ed forever
trapped in time............... ;-D

Sarah

--- In [hidden email], "moonbasegirl" <shaded2cinders@...>
wrote:
>

>
> Sarah
>


Wouldn't the special effects department have had fun producing
this scene if they had the use of today's computer morphing effects.
What could they morph General Henderson into?
I love to watch this episode at any time.

BTW, Sarah, what was your suggestion for a UFO cartoon on
"Flightpath" (sorry to change episode subject briefly)


the other Kevin.

--- In [hidden email], "croprobz" <croprobz@...> wrote:

> What could they morph General Henderson into?

A Sheep?? No - maybe the wolf............;-D


> BTW, Sarah, what was your suggestion for a UFO cartoon on
> "Flightpath" (sorry to change episode subject briefly)


The funniest thing about 'Flightpath' is Roper's wig imho.... maybe
something based on this? Seeing as how Carol was meant to be having
an affair..... she could tell him to change it for a 'yonger
looking' hairstyle - he does say after all - why would such a lovely
young woman be doing with a broken down old wreck like him??? ;-)

Or maybe a 'crossover' with Arthur Daly, somehow? Sorry, I'm not
being terribly helpful........ don't worry! :-)


Sarah

Given that UFO is set in 1980 or after, and Minder started in 1979, it amuses me to think that maybe Paul Roper is Arthur Daley who's gotten himself in trouble, assumed a new identity and managed to get involved with a secretorganisation. Perhaps Arthur met Roper, they were both in a spot of bother, and they swapped IDs? As I said a while ago, I keep expecting Roper to call for Terence whenever he's in bother - ie when Straker's interrogating him.

(Just had an idea for a cartoon, if anyone should be interested - Ed and Alec are standing over a nervous looking Roper. Ed: "All right, Roper, I'm only going to ask you one more time - and I want the truth! Where on earth did you get that wig?")
 
moonbasegirl <[hidden email]> wrote:
The funniest thing about 'Flightpath' is Roper's wig imho.... maybe
something based on this? Seeing as how Carol was meant to be having
an affair..... she could tell him to change it for a 'yonger
looking' hairstyle - he does say after all - why would such a lovely
young woman be doing with a broken down old wreck like him??? ;-)

Or maybe a 'crossover' with Arthur Daly, somehow? Sorry, I'm not
being terribly helpful........ don't worry! :-)


Sarah
               
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--- In [hidden email], MICK DICKENS <docmed03@...> wrote:

> Given that UFO is set in 1980 or after, and Minder started in
>1979, it amuses me to think that maybe Paul Roper is Arthur Daley
>who's gotten himself in trouble, assumed a new identity and managed
>to get involved with a secret organisation. Perhaps Arthur met
>Roper, they were both in a spot of bother, and they swapped IDs?  
>As I said a while ago, I keep expecting Roper to call for Terence
>whenever he's in bother - ie when Straker's interrogating him.
 
>Just had an idea for a cartoon, if anyone should be interested - Ed
>and Alec are standing over a nervous looking Roper. Ed: "All
>right, Roper, I'm only going to ask you one more time - and I want
>the truth! Where on earth did you get that wig?"

;-D How about combining both ideas; Straker saying to Roper -
"Come on- we know who you really are.... that wig doesn't fool
anybody". Alec could have changed into Terence and Roper (aka
Daley) can be thinking whatever it is he says when he's asking
Terence for help??? ;-)

Sarah

As a continuation of my original idea (ie, I only thought of it a bit laterafter I'd posted it the other day), after Straker and Freeman are interrogating Roper - all stern and no nonsense, very intimidating - when they get to the question "Where did you get that wig?" they start sniggering and giggling and then, unable to contain themselves, burst into out and out laughing, eventually rolling arond on the floor killing themselves laughing whileRoper sits there looking puzzled and a bit upset at being mocked in such away. Especially if a lot of wig jokes ensue. Possibly Roper rips his wigoff revealing Arthur's trilby underneath it...

moonbasegirl <[hidden email]> wrote: --- In [hidden email], MICK DICKENS wrote:

> Given that UFO is set in 1980 or after, and Minder started in
>1979, it amuses me to think that maybe Paul Roper is Arthur Daley
>who's gotten himself in trouble, assumed a new identity and managed
>to get involved with a secret organisation. Perhaps Arthur met
>Roper, they were both in a spot of bother, and they swapped IDs?
>As I said a while ago, I keep expecting Roper to call for Terence
>whenever he's in bother - ie when Straker's interrogating him.

>Just had an idea for a cartoon, if anyone should be interested - Ed
>and Alec are standing over a nervous looking Roper. Ed: "All
>right, Roper, I'm only going to ask you one more time - and I want
>the truth! Where on earth did you get that wig?"

;-D How about combining both ideas; Straker saying to Roper -
"Come on- we know who you really are.... that wig doesn't fool
anybody". Alec could have changed into Terence and Roper (aka
Daley) can be thinking whatever it is he says when he's asking
Terence for help??? ;-)

Sarah
               
---------------------------------
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--- In [hidden email], "moonbasegirl" <shaded2cinders@...>
wrote:

>
> > What could they morph General Henderson into?
>
> A Sheep?? No - maybe the wolf............;-D
>

Good one, a sheep as in his bleating during "Mindbender"
and a wolf at the door in every other episode.

>
> The funniest thing about 'Flightpath' is Roper's wig imho....
maybe
> something based on this?  

>
> Sarah
>
Thanks for that, Sarah. I should be able to work that
suggestion into something.

Regards, Kevin.

--- In [hidden email], MICK DICKENS <docmed03@...> wrote:
>
> As a continuation of my original idea (ie, I only thought of it a
bit later after I'd posted it the other day), after Straker and
Freeman are interrogating Roper -
 
>
> ;-D How about combining both ideas; Straker saying to Roper -
> "Come on- we know who you really are.... that wig doesn't fool
> anybody".

Goodness, my head is starting to spin,I'll try to think of
something to combine Mick's variation to Sarah's idea.

This week's re-run is "Timelash"
link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHADO/files/timef.jpg

Regards, Kevin.

Fame at last? Oh, wait a minute - I'm in SHADO, the organisation that's super top secret, and nobody is supposed to know about, (even though it has its name plastered all over its vehicles), and thusly not supposed to draw attention to myself! Curses, foiled again!

croprobz <[hidden email]> wrote: Goodness, my head is starting to spin,I'll try to think of
something to combine Mick's variation to Sarah's idea.

               
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