Straker's Attache Case

Straker's attache case is interesting, with the
"Destruct Negative" selector that he fortunately
always remembers to switch before opening.
In "Identified" Straker de-activates it to show
the cabinet minister the UFO evidence, then
puts the file back in and reactivates the case
when the Aliens strike.
After the car crashes, the camera zooms in to
show the case open and the UFO photo burning up
with other papers spilled out as well.The switch is
clearly seen back in the destruct negative position.
Also the chain attaching the case to Straker's
wrist is broken.
One can only guess how this situation accured.
Did the case come off Straker's wrist and
get accidently moved to destruct negative during
the crash? Maybe Straker tore it off
his wrist and threw it to Henderson,who had to think
quickly to move the selector.
One thing is certain, the Rolls blew up, but the
case survived. Henderson was badly injured.
Maybe that is why he is so vindictive towards
Ed Straker.
Kevin.

I watched Identified episode again . It seems to me that Gen. Henderson gave
the attache case back to Straker when the cars started to accelerate. The
UFO caused the car to crash throwing Staker clear and opening the attache case.
Straker got off lucky that the attache case opened without exploding! The
aliens were superior to us. Maybe they have a compression field to stop
exploding devices. Gen. Henderson was given alot of power by the government to
oversee SHADO. He is obviously very tight with money and will only give it to
Straker when the projects truly need the funding. Straker is the heart of SHADO
but Henderson controls the purse strings and any security matters that he or
the government think that Straker is out of line or out of his depth.
Unfortunatly for them, Straker is usually right when it comes to the aliens. bsl


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Hi All,

I love UFO and everything about it, but I have always thought the crash
scene (and the attache case in particular) was fundamentally flawed. I
understand why this came about... the writers HAD to come up with a very
complicated scene that introduced many facts to the viewers, the level of
Government involvement, USA > UK government agency involvement, the killing
and disappearance of public individuals, UFO particle beam weapons, UFO were
here and attacking the general public etc etc... the idea that military men
who on a UN driven action to recruit governments into paying for a new
agency to deal with the problem is plausible; their evidence being a set of
photos from a verified source is again plausioble... the writers had to get
all this - and more - information into the viewers awareness in a very small
period of time... I think the idea of the security case started as a good
idea, BUT... was flawed by the fact that: the chain/handcuff (in UK security
cases) is designed to withstand the blast from a grenade, the cases are
usually cellar lined and magnetically shielded (new issue) and certainly
would NOT come adrift from their owner, rather the owner would come adrift
first!

Even in the 1960's this was pretty much the same case (this has been
discussed at length on this list before), but, the writers somehow had to
let Straker survive, kill the Minister (to increase the importance and
seriousness of the incident, and to the British Government to participate),
disable Henderson (to lessen his effectiveness), and also allow us (the
viewers) to see the impact of the UFO photos...

I guess all this simply adds up to the fact that the producers just didn't
think the security case details through...

Best to all, Griff

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: 31 May 2004 05:39
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Straker's Attache Case


I watched Identified episode again . It seems to me that Gen. Henderson
gave
the attache case back to Straker when the cars started to accelerate. The
UFO caused the car to crash throwing Staker clear and opening the attache
case.
Straker got off lucky that the attache case opened without exploding! The
aliens were superior to us. Maybe they have a compression field to stop
exploding devices. Gen. Henderson was given alot of power by the government
to
oversee SHADO. He is obviously very tight with money and will only give it
to
Straker when the projects truly need the funding. Straker is the heart of
SHADO
but Henderson controls the purse strings and any security matters that he or
the government think that Straker is out of line or out of his depth.
Unfortunatly for them, Straker is usually right when it comes to the aliens.
bsl

I think and the evidence seems to be pretty clear that the case did explode
but not with a large blast but a small one of a incendiary nature. Fire is
what you use to destroy documents not explosions. The case was set most likely
when Straker was thrown from the car. The chains on those type case are not
suppose to break and cutting one is suppose to set of the destruct charge. As
Straker is shown standing after the crash with the chain dangling from his
wrist and the case open and the photo on fire and he is show if the 1980's setting
at his desk playing with the now chain the question is how did it get cut?
The best guest is one that seems to fit all the facts. Straker is given back
the case by Henderson when the UFO's attack. Straker places the cuff on his
wrist and arms the case. Straker unlike Henderson is setting on the fold down
Jump seat on the Rolls Royce's door. When the Rolls crashes, the door comes
open and Straker falls clear but the door swings back shut and it shears the
chain cutting it and setting off the destruct charge. This cause the door to
re-open the the now burning case to fall clear.

James K.


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