THE CAT WITH TEN LIVES

>Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
wrote:
>Anyway, anyone have comments on this episode? I know it's a bit of a
>"love it or hate it" episode, and I fall into the category of loving it!

Marc,
As one who "hated it!" I'd really like to hear what you loved about it. It
puzzles me every time I watch it what redeemable quality it possesses.
Please elucidate! I'm all for finding a reason to tolerate it.
Denise

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>As one who "hated it!" I'd really like to hear what you loved about
>it. It puzzles me every time I watch it what redeemable quality
>it possesses. Please elucidate! I'm all for finding a reason to
>tolerate it.

Well, I suspect it's the "David Tomblin" factor (writer/director) at
work here. I also love all those weird episodes of "The Prisoner"
that he was involved in, and I also like the weirder episodes of UFO
near the end. I also find myself liking the guest cast in this episode
-- in particular Alexis Kanner, but I think the entire
guest cast was well chosen and did a good job.

Also, the special effects in this episode are superb, with the
huge battle in the beginning, and the Interceptor threat to
Moonbase near the end.

Oh, and let's not forget Dr. Jackson and his theories about how
they might have been wrong about the Aliens all this time -- this
certainly puts an extra twist on the series!

But of course, the whole cat story is silly, but I think the episode
is just so well done that this doesn't even bother me!

--
Marc Martin, [hidden email]

>Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
wrote:
>Well, I suspect it's the "David Tomblin" factor (writer/director) at
>work here. I also like the weirder episodes of UFO
>near the end.

Well, they were certainly heading in an odd direction with this episode.
But you're right. A few of the later ones shone!

I also find myself liking the guest cast in this episode
>-- in particular Alexis Kanner, but I think the entire
>guest cast was well chosen and did a good job.

No quarrel there. But then, it's hard to think of an episode where the
guest cast did poorly. Was there one?

>Also, the special effects in this episode are superb, with the
>huge battle in the beginning, and the Interceptor threat to
>Moonbase near the end.

Loved the battle scene. And I'm glad I watched it again. I had forgotten
it amidst all the idiocy of the episode!

>Oh, and let's not forget Dr. Jackson and his theories about how
>they might have been wrong about the Aliens all this time -- this
>certainly puts an extra twist on the series!

This is the part I particularly hated. It was completely absurd and
unbelievable. And if that's where things were headed, I suppose we should
be grateful that the show got pulled when it did. God forbid that we have
to watch them go downhill at a run like Space: 1999 did!

>But of course, the whole cat story is silly, but I think the episode
>is just so well done that this doesn't even bother me!

Thanks for telling me your point of view, Marc. I can't honestly say I hate
it as much as I did before. Thank you for giving me something to like in
it!
Denise

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>>Oh, and let's not forget Dr. Jackson and his theories about how
>>they might have been wrong about the Aliens all this time -- this
>>certainly puts an extra twist on the series!

>This is the part I particularly hated. It was completely absurd and
>unbelievable.

Really? I found Jackson's theories to be quite compelling, and
certainly for me was more plausible than the Aliens coming to
Earth for "spare parts"... after all, I never bought into all these
science fiction shows where the Aliens are all humanoid (and
happen to speak perfect American English). Having an Alien
race which doesn't even have bodies seemed far more
"realistic" to me...

Marc

Marc Martin wrote:

> Really? I found Jackson's theories to be quite compelling, and
> certainly for me was more plausible than the Aliens coming to
> Earth for "spare parts"... after all, I never bought into all
> these science fiction shows where the Aliens are all humanoid
> (and happen to speak perfect American English).

I do agree with this - I love Star Trek but the fact that the
alien species all speak English with American accents is a
perpetual irritation (I know about the Universal Translator, but
that's so utterly implausible that I try to forget about it).

But I also think that the idea that the Aliens are body-snatchers
is really naff. It's so obvious that the earlier episodes were
not written with this idea in mind, and it seems like something
that one of the writers has carelessly thrown in. It comes
across as really half-baked and undermines the entire premise of
the rest of the series. Same with Timelash and one or two other
episodes. When the Aliens become super-omnipotent, able to take
over human bodies and even manipulate time, the idea that we
could actually defend ourselves from them becomes absurd, and the
essential concept of UFO is ruined. And to me it seems very
inconsistent that with all these paranormal powers, they never
EVER win a dogfight with Sky One, even with odds of several dozen
to one in favour (see Reflections In The Water), and they can't
design a shatter-proof faceplate for their helmets.

More specifically, Cat With Ten Lives is a bit too Hammer Horror
for my taste.

James

This is one of the few episodes I know reasonably well (hence why I've not
contributed to the episode discussions - that might change when the DVDs
come out). I'd agree with Marc - it's rare on any series to get a
writer/director vision for an episode - ie a person who both writes and
directs the episode. From that point of view it must be fairly unique. Plus
Tomblin is a very interesting writer/director. It's a shame he hasn't done
much since, other than assistant directing.

The Alexis Kanner factor is also important, as he's possibly one of the best
actors around at the tail end of the 60s.

When Fanderson had a tribute weekend to Derek Meddings, this was the episode
of UFO they chose to show because of its model work - superb.


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On 12Jan2002 Amelia ([hidden email]) posted:

> We see that Miss Ealand is on holiday and
> somehow Straker borrrowed James Bond's
> secretary, ( I expected Ed to say how's 007? <G> )

Does anyone have the inside production story as to Lois Maxwell's
appearance on UFO? Was the actress who played Miss Ealand
(Norma Ronald?) simply unavailable? And I agree with Amelia
in that there was a wonderful chance to establish an MI/SHADO
connection that was totally missed. Sounds like a calling for
our resident fan-fic writers.

Jeff Kuzma

I believe the reason Lois Maxwell was in for Norma Ronald was because Norma
was having her baby. At least that is what I heard and I think if you look
in the other episode Norma is in at the start of the series they are very
careful to give her loose fitting clothes(well looser than any other actress
in the main cast anyway). Lois Maxwell appears in only two episodes after
the series moved to Pinewood Studio, the home of the Bond Films. The last
episode at Borehamwood Studios Ronald did was The Responsibility Seat, check
out her waist line in that if possible for clues.

James K.

J> Does anyone have the inside production story as to Lois Maxwell's
> appearance on UFO? Was the actress who played Miss Ealand
> (Norma Ronald?) simply unavailable?

Yes, according to Fanderson's FAB 12, it was simply that Norma
Ronald was temporarily unavailable for filming.

Marc

since Lois Maxwell was brought up, can you name the two actors who were in
both bond films and UFO??
Give you two hints:
the spy who loved me
you only live twice

Bruce
----- Original Message -----
From: <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: THE CAT WITH TEN LIVES


> I believe the reason Lois Maxwell was in for Norma Ronald was because
Norma
> was having her baby. At least that is what I heard and I think if you
look
> in the other episode Norma is in at the start of the series they are very
> careful to give her loose fitting clothes(well looser than any other
actress
> in the main cast anyway). Lois Maxwell appears in only two episodes after
> the series moved to Pinewood Studio, the home of the Bond Films. The last
> episode at Borehamwood Studios Ronald did was The Responsibility Seat,
check
> out her waist line in that if possible for clues.
>
> James K.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

At 06:15 PM 1/13/02 -0500, you wrote:
>since Lois Maxwell was brought up, can you name the
>two actors who were in both bond films and UFO??
>Give you two hints:
>the spy who loved me

Michael Billington

>you only live twice

Ed Bishop

Also don't forget Vladek Sheybal (Doctor Jackson) played Kronsteen in "From
Russia WIth Love."

Jonathan Andrew Sheen

http://www.leviathanstudios.com
Leviathan of the GEI (Detached.)
[hidden email]

"What'dya expect? I'm a New Yorker!"
-Anonymous New York Firefighter, 9/12/01

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Andrew Sheen" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO and Bond films

"From
> Russia WIth Love."

Also, Shane Rimmer played the submarine captain in a Bond movie, I believe
it was The Spy Who Loved Me.

Gordon Vernon who played the father in "The Sound of Silence" episode was in
Goldfinger.

Hi,

> I've forgotten the exact dialogue, and my VCR has died, so I can't
> check it verbatim. However it seemed to me that there might have
> been an inside joke going. Straker thanks her for filling in and
> she says something like it makes a break from MI-something.

She says 'it makes a break from section 9', which doesn't sound
like a reference to the 007 films.

> I always suspected they were having fun with her having been Miss
> Moneypenny and Ed being the radar operator from YOLT (You only
> live twice) as well as Ed being Klaus in Diamonds, or did Ed do
> Klaus after UFO?

I think You Only Live Twice was filmed a short while after UFO,
in 1971.

Cheers
Bond .. James GibBond

--- In SHADO@y..., James Gibbon <james.gibbon@v...> wrote:

> I think You Only Live Twice was filmed a short while after UFO,
> in 1971.

Nope that was "Diamonds are Forever". You Only Live Twice was filmed
in the mid 60's

don't forget Shane Rimmer <g>
The Captain of the U.S. Sub in The Spy Who Loved Me
and he was also in You Only Live Twice with Ed Bishop in the tracking station
in the pre-opening title scene.
Anouska Hempel was a Bond Girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
The late Antony Chinn who played both a alien and Lt. Chinn in Sub Smash
played one of Dr. No's main henchmen in Dr. No.
Tutte Lemkow who worked with both Vladek Sheybal in different films also
appeared with both of them in Casino Royale which is technically a Bond film
but isn't.
Also Tracy Reed was in that one too.
There are a few more guest actors from UFO that have been in the more
recent Bond movies.

James K.

Wrong, it was Diamonds Are Forever thatw as filmed after UFO


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"tuttt99" wrote:
> --- In SHADO@y..., James Gibbon <james.gibbon@v...> wrote:
>
> > I think You Only Live Twice was filmed a short while after UFO,
> > in 1971.
>
> Nope that was "Diamonds are Forever". You Only Live Twice was filmed
> in the mid 60's
>

Sorry, that was what I meant! But it wasn't what I typed,
unfortunately.

James

[hidden email] wrote:

> > She says 'it makes a break from section 9', which doesn't sound
> > like a reference to the 007 films.
>
> Not a direct reference, but section 9 isn't necessarily a part of
> Shado, or she would have said section 9 of Shado.

I'm sure she WOULDN'T have said 'of SHADO'. Why would she, since
they both actually belong to the same organisation? In all the
time I worked for Morgan Stanley (for example) I never heard
anyone say "I'm just going over to the reprographics department
of Morgan Stanley to pick up my photocopies".

It's not an important point, but it's clear that Section 9 is
supposed to be another part of SHADO. Indeed, the fact that she
doesn't name the organisation of which Section 9 is a part
reinforces this point.

> Section 9 sounds to me like an Intelligence group, spies.

Why's that?

> Thus Bond, James Bond.

Even if it DID suggest an intelligence group, which it doesn't,
we know that it certainly isn't a reference to Bond - since there
is no mention in any of the Bond films, or novels, of a 'Section
9'.

Maybe it's a reference to M*A*S*H - wasn't Corporal Klinger
always trying to get out on a 'Section 8'?

No I don't think so either, not least because the M*A*S*H TV
series hadn't been made back then, but it does illustrate the
fact that 'section' is a commonly used English word, with no
implication of intelligence or espionage attached. Hence its use
here, to refer to part of the SHADO organisation ..

Actually, You Only Live Twice was filmed two years before UFO began.

James

I believe that a DVD can be recorded on VHS but i'm not sure and I'm sure
that if this is possible it won't be long before someone comes up with a way
to stop it.

James K.