The Infernal Machine (Space: 1999)
Encyclopedia
"The Infernal Machine" is the twenty-first episode of the first series of Space: 1999
. The screenplay was written by Anthony Terpiloff
and Elizabeth Barrows; the director was David Tomblin
. The final shooting script is dated 11 December 1974. Live-action filming took place Friday, 20 December 1974 through Thursday, 9 January 1975 (with appropriate breaks for the holidays).
score (drawn primarily from ‘Breakaway
’ and 'Another Time, Another Place
'), a number of library compositions were utilised: ‘Outer Space’ by Robert Farnon
, ‘Lunar Landscape’ by Roger Roger
, ‘Mission Control’ by Harry Sosnik, ‘The Monsters’ by Ivo Vyhnalek, ‘Dark Suspense No. 1’ by Beda Folten, and ‘Suspense’ by Joe Venuto. An excerpt from the Thunderbirds
score, composed by Gray, was used to score the Alphans' second attack on Gwent.
, published in 1975. Following the final shooting script, it would include Paul Morrow
rather than the substitute character, Winters.
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
. The screenplay was written by Anthony Terpiloff
Anthony Terpiloff
Anthony Terpiloff was an English television screenwriter active in the period 1961-1978. He is particularly known for The Poet Game and his contributions to Gerry Anderson's science fiction series Space: 1999...
and Elizabeth Barrows; the director was David Tomblin
David Tomblin
David Tomblin was a producer and assistant director born in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England. He was probably best known as the producer, director, and writer of The Prisoner .-Director:...
. The final shooting script is dated 11 December 1974. Live-action filming took place Friday, 20 December 1974 through Thursday, 9 January 1975 (with appropriate breaks for the holidays).
Starring
- Martin LandauMartin LandauMartin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
— Commander John KoenigJohn KoenigJohn Koenig is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Martin Landau. He is American, apparently in his early forties.-Character Biography:... - Barbara BainBarbara BainMillicent Fogel , known professionally as Barbara Bain, is an American actress.-Early life:Bain was born in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She moved to New York City, where she was a dancer and high fashion model. Bain studied with...
— Doctor Helena RussellHelena RussellHelena Russell is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. She was played by Barbara Bain. She is American and apparently in her mid-thirties....
Featuring
- Clifton JonesClifton JonesClifton Jones is an actor, mostly known for his roles on British television.His most prominent role is probably that of David Kano during the first season of the science fiction series Space: 1999....
— David KanoDavid Kano (Space 1999)David Kano is a fictional character who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is of Jamaican origin and in his mid-thirties. He was played by actor Clifton Jones.-Character biography:... - Zienia MertonZienia MertonZienia Merton is a British actress born in Burma. Her mother was Burmese, and her father half English, half French. She was raised in Singapore, Borneo, Portugal, and England....
— Sandra BenesSandra BenesSandra Benes is a recurring character in the British science-fiction television series Space: 1999. She is of Western European/Burmese origin and is in her late twenties. Her role was played by actress Zienia Merton.-Character Biography:... - Nick TateNick TateNicholas John "Nick" Tate is an Australian actor best known for his role as Eagle pilot Alan Carter in both seasons of the 1970s science fiction television series Space: 1999, as well as for playing the role of Gordon Hamilton's errant brother James in the 1980's soap opera "Sons and...
— Captain Alan CarterAlan Carter (Space 1999)Alan Carter is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Nick Tate. He is of Australian origin and is in his early thirties.-Character biography:... - Gary WaldhornGary WaldhornGary Waldhorn is a veteran English actor, known for his role as David Horton in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, but who has also had a notable television and theatre career.-Theatre:...
— Winters
Uncredited Artists
- Tony Allyn — Security Guard One
- Quentin Pierre — Security Guard Two
- Barbara KellyBarbara KellyBarbara Kelly was a Canadian-born actress, possibly best-known for her television roles in the United Kingdom opposite her husband Bernard Braden in the 1950s and 1960s and for many appearances as a panelist on the British version of What's My Line?.-Early years:Barbara Kelly was born in...
— Computer Voice
Music
In addition to the regular Barry GrayBarry Gray
Barry Gray was a British musician and composer who is best known for his work for Gerry Anderson.-Life:...
score (drawn primarily from ‘Breakaway
Breakaway (Space: 1999)
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include 'Zero-G', 'The Void Ahead' and 'Turning Point'. The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973...
’ and 'Another Time, Another Place
Another Time, Another Place (Space: 1999)
"Another Time, Another Place" is the sixth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was David Tomblin. The final shooting script is dated 20 January 1974, with blue-page amendments dated 25 January and 1 April 1974. Live-action filming...
'), a number of library compositions were utilised: ‘Outer Space’ by Robert Farnon
Robert Farnon
Robert Joseph Farnon was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a famous composer of original works , he was recognised as one of the finest arrangers of his generation...
, ‘Lunar Landscape’ by Roger Roger
Roger Roger (composer)
Roger Roger was a French film composer and bandleader. His aliases included: Eric Swan, Cecil Leuter, the last being a pseudonym he used for his electronic productions...
, ‘Mission Control’ by Harry Sosnik, ‘The Monsters’ by Ivo Vyhnalek, ‘Dark Suspense No. 1’ by Beda Folten, and ‘Suspense’ by Joe Venuto. An excerpt from the Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds (TV series)
Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s science fiction television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation"...
score, composed by Gray, was used to score the Alphans' second attack on Gwent.
Production Notes
- When interviewed, model-builder Martin BowerMartin BowerMartin Bower is a model maker and designer of special effects miniatures for both film and television. His credits include the television series Space: 1999 and the films Alien , Flash Gordon and Outland...
stated the motorised ‘Gwent’ miniature used in this episode provided the least happy experience for the Bray StudiosBray Studios (UK)Bray Studios is a film and television facility at Bray, near Windsor, Berkshire, England. The films Alien and The Rocky Horror Picture Show were shot there...
' effects crew during production. With its twin set of rotating legs, it was almost impossible to get a realistic shot of the heavy model rolling across the miniature lunar landscape during the required take-off and touchdown sequences. At the end of filming, visual effects director Nick AllderNick AllderNick Allder is a American film special effects supervisor and coordinator. Allder has won multiple awards including an Academy Award in 1980 for the film Alien, as well as a BAFTA film in 1998 for his work on the film The Fifth Element...
picked the five-foot wide model up bodily and, throwing it across the studio in sheer frustration, destroyed it. A fourteen-inch version built for distance shots survived.
- During the production of the previous episode ‘Space Brain’, a make-up artist had noted a small lump on actor Prentis HancockPrentis HancockPrentis Hancock is a British actor, best known for his television roles.He was a regular cast member of the first season of science fiction series Space: 1999 as Paul Morrow, and also appeared in a number of Doctor Who stories throughout the 1970s - Spearhead from Space and Planet of the Daleks...
's neck. That weekend, he went to hospital and the tumour was surgically removed. Fortunately, the mass was found to be benign. As ‘The Infernal Machine’ was scheduled to begin filming during his convalescence, Controller Paul MorrowPaul MorrowPaul Morrow is a fictional character who first appeared in 'Breakaway', the premiere episode of the science fiction television show Space: 1999, and was portrayed by Prentis Hancock. He is a British national who appears to be in his early thirties....
would be replaced by the one-off character Winters, portrayed by Gary WaldhornGary WaldhornGary Waldhorn is a veteran English actor, known for his role as David Horton in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, but who has also had a notable television and theatre career.-Theatre:...
.
Novelisation
The episode was adapted in the sixth Year One Space: 1999 novel Astral Quest by John RankineJohn Rankine
John Rankine is a British science fiction author, who has written books as John Rankine and Douglas R. Mason...
, published in 1975. Following the final shooting script, it would include Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow is a fictional character who first appeared in 'Breakaway', the premiere episode of the science fiction television show Space: 1999, and was portrayed by Prentis Hancock. He is a British national who appears to be in his early thirties....
rather than the substitute character, Winters.
External links
- Space: 1999 - ‘The Infernal Machine’ - The Catacombs episode guide
- Space: 1999 - ‘The Infernal Machine’ - Moonbase Alpha's Space 1999 page
| Last produced: "Space Brain" |
List of Space: 1999 episodes | Next produced: "Mission of the Darians Mission of the Darians "Mission of the Darians" is the twenty-second episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was Ray Austin. The original title was ‘Mission of the Darya’. The final shooting script is dated 7 January 1975... " |
| Last transmitted: "The Last Sunset The Last Sunset (Space: 1999) "The Last Sunset" is the eleventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 21 July 1974, with blue-page amendments dated 22 July 1974 and pink-page amendments dated 23 July... " |
Next transmitted: "Ring Around the Moon" |