Re: ITV 4 'Court Martial'

Hi all,

Further to Kevin's comments on last week's `Court Martial'
screening - yes - they edited out Foster's escape via Straker's
office, although you did see him crash through the display panel,
but would have had no idea it was a lift.  

As an aside, when he gets up to hide from the shots, some sort
of `missile' comes through the gap between the closing doors – a bit
like the one that bounces off the airlock door in `Kill Straker'.  
They look like `toy' missiles to me! Does this mean the SHADO
guards are using toy guns? Or maybe these are `tranquillising
darts' – Jackson's `anaesthetic bullets'? ;-)

There were a couple of other edits;

The first sequence of Foster being chased by the SHADO guards
through the scrub

In Straker's office awaiting the jury's verdict; they cut out Foster
asking Straker's opinion of his guilt. This is a real shame, as I
think it's important! They could have edited some of
Straker's `airing' instead, imho, or just not bothered to edit at
all, would have been better still :-)


This episode is well out of sequence, because of Jackson's apparent
change of `loyalty'. In the various screening orders on Marc's
site, most put this episode as number 12; on ITV 4 it was 20th and
Jackson has already appeared in `Exposed', `The Cat with Ten
Lives', `Kill Straker', `Psychobombs', `Timelash' and `Ordeal'.  

The first of these episodes *has* to appear early on, where
Jackson's role is a psychiatrist/interrogator and his involvement
could be down to Henderson's orders, but the other episodes make
nonsense of `Court Martial' as he is very clearly working for SHADO
and Straker; moreover the animosity directed towards him makes no
sense whatsoever! Perhaps unsurprisingly, the order ITV 4 is using
is the only one (bar Japan) that makes this `cock-up'; all other
suggested viewing orders only put `Ordeal' beforehand; could this
mean Paul had a `premonition' in his dream………? ;-)

Having said all this, Jackson steals the show and is wonderfully
hateful in his prosecution role, yet saves Foster's life – awesome!  
I like to think this is what made Straker draft him into SHADO and
earned Jackson the high regard Straker shows towards him in every
other episode. I think Vladek commented on this episode in the `UFO
Documentary' – how he had a close-up and had to look upset just
before he goes in for the `kill' in his prosecution case (?)

Apart from Paul's chase, there's not much action and it does feel
reminiscent of a supermarionation show, with everyone sitting down
and lots of dialogue; maybe because it was written by Tony Barwick
(?) There's no FX at all and no Moonbase or Skydiver; all reasons
not to like this episode, if you're a big fan of these aspects :-)

I'm going to say (again!) I like this episode! One aspect of UFO
that breaks the `mould', imho, is that for a military organisation,
it is extremely `unmilitary' – no uniforms depicting rank, saluting
or whatever, but in this episode it really hits home that it *is*.  
You also appreciate the double lives SHADO officers have to live and
that the studio as a cover isn't ideal for security in ways they
couldn't have predicted.

I enjoy these character driven episodes; another `conflict' between
Henderson and Straker; the `gut reaction' of Paul's innocence that
drives Freeman and Straker to search for evidence, although Paul
sense of abandonment leads to his spectacular escape plan and that
great moment at the end where we see dear old Jackson for what he
really is!

As for cartoon potential – perhaps something to do with Henderson
bugging Straker's car, maybe that E Alarm could be Henderson
going "BAAAH BAAAH BAAAAAH" and Straker thinking "for pity's sake -
JUST QUIT BUGGING ME!! (!?!?) No, no - don't worry - the two you've
done aready are brilliant! :-D

I've waffled long on enough. Thanks for reading though…… :-)

Sarah

Hello again,

Regarding Sarah's notes on Court Martial:

Having only recently joined the group I have already come to look
forward to your comments and analysis Sarah. You are always very
thorough in your observations. I guess you must record the ITV4
showings and watch them simultaneously alongside the DVDs. However
you do it, it's very impressive.
Your notes on Court Martial are up to the usual standard though I
still don't think it is a very good episode.

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

>
> I'm going to say (again!) I like this episode! One aspect of UFO
> that breaks the `mould', imho, is that for a military organisation,
> it is extremely `unmilitary' – no uniforms depicting rank, saluting
> or whatever, but in this episode it really hits home that it *is*.  
> You also appreciate the double lives SHADO officers have to live
and
> that the studio as a cover isn't ideal for security in ways they
> couldn't have predicted.
>

If I wanted to convince someone that UFO is a great series I would
show him or her A Question of Priorities or Timelash or E.S.P. I
would keep Court Martial hidden well away.
In any TV series my favourite episodes are usually the ones in which
we learn something about the characters or the organisation or the
layout of the main locations. Court Martial gives us the escape lift
(elevator) behind Straker's office, but not much else. There are many
other episodes of UFO that show us the military side of the SHADO
organization and the double lives that the SHADO personnel have to
lead.
In my opinion and, as this is a UFO fan forum, probably that of 80%
of those who will read this, UFO is the best science fiction series
ever made. However all TV series have there lemons and for me Court
Martial fits firmly into that category.
I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one Sarah ;-D

What next? Computer Affair I believe according to the Radio Times on
line listing.


Best wishes,

Kevin S