7. Missing Link
Written by: Edward di Lorenzo
Directed by: Ray Austin
Guest Star: Peter Cushing
Guest Artist: Joanna Durham
Filming dates: Monday 22nd April to Thursday 9th May with
additonal second unit filming on Monday 22nd July 1974
World premiere broadcast: 3rd November 1975 (HSV 7 Melbourne,
Australia)
UK premiere broadcast: 22nd January 1976 (ATV)
The music used in Missing Link as Vana's theme was
composed by Barry Gray to be used during establishing shots of Moonbase Alpha. Never used for that purpose, this represents
its only use in Space: 1999.
Nick Tate accidentally knocked out Anton Phillips during their fight scene when the latter deviated
from the choreography Tate had worked out with the stunt co-ordinator.
Peter Cushing wore the same white wig that his friend Christopher Lee had as Captain Zantor in
Earthbound. This hirsute prop would reappear atop Joan Collins in Mission of the Darains.
Main Mission gets a nice new addition of a revolving desk for David Kano, a pointless but impressive feature
seen in various Supermarionation series, from Commander Zero's desk in Fireball XL5 to Colonel White's console
in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.
This is the first episode to spend a large amount of time outside of moonbase Alpha: something
of a relief if one is watching the episodes in production order. From this point on more episodes start with scenes
outside of Main Mission, giving the impression that the producers were making an effort not to repeat themselves.
This is one of the most character-based episodes of the series, displaying Koenig's important in holding
Moonbase Alpha together. Although he sometimes comes across as overly demanding of his people, Koenig is the only one
with the authority to maintain the vital quasi-military discipline of Alpha. Nonetheless, it does seem extraordinary
that he chooses to leave Alpha for some gold-faced bird he's just met, particularly given the time the series spends establishing
his relationship with Dr. Russell.
8. Guardian of Piri
Written by: Christopher Penfold (uncredited)
Directed by: Charles Crichton
Guest Artist: Catherine Schell
Fliming Dates: Friday 10th to Tuesday 28th May 1974
World premiere broadcast: 15th September 1975 (HSv 7 Melbourne, Australia)
UK premiere broadcast: 13th November 1975 (ATV/Ulster)
This is the only episode of Space: 1999 with no credited writer. David Weir's original story
outline, entitled "Nobody's Perfect", was radically re-written for the final shooting script by Christopher Penfold.
The
Eagle docking scene posed an interesting problem as the production only had one 44 inch Eagle at the time. The model
unit had to construct a 'fake' Eagle for use only in this episode.
David Kano's link
to Computer, referenced in earlier episodes, is finally explained here. The socket he has in the back of his head looks
like a DIN plug, a commonly-used European audio connector in the seventies and eighties.
Martin Landau slightly
injured Zienia Merton's neck as he moved her head in the scene when the Alphans have decamped to Piri.
Guest performer Catherine
Schell was to return in Year Two, looking rather different, as series regular Maya. Gareth Hunt appears for what is,
to modern eyes, a surprise cameo appearance as an Eagle pilot in the episode's climax. It transpires he was originally
cast in Michael Culver's role of Irving, but had an argument with director Charles Crichton and walked off the set.
Guardian of Piri
was to prove a vital episode in the future of Space: 1999, as investors from Italy's state broadcaster RAI
visited the set and were so impressed that they promised to commit funds. In return Italian guest stars were to be featured
and Sylvia Anderson went to Rome for casting sessions. Ultimately though, it wouldn't be until The Troubled Spirit,
some five episodes before the end of shooting when the Italian casting was realised.
9. Force
of Life
Written by: Johnny Byrne
Directed by: David Tomblin
Guest Star: Ian McShane
Guest Artist: Gay Hamilton
Filming dates: Wednesday 29th May to Friday 7th June, Monday 1st July to Friday 5th
July 1974
World premiere broadcast: 18th August 1975 (HSV 7 Melbourne, Australia)
UK premiere broadcast: 11th September 1975 (ATV/Yorkshire)
The visually spectacluar Force of Life was chosen for the important episode
two slot in Space: 1999's initial UK screening and was fourth in the first Australian run, demonstrating that it was regarded
as a very strong story.
Moonbase Alpha gains a major new set with the addition of the spectacular Nuclear Generating Area
3, seen both here and in Alpha Child (where it is presumably a different Generating Area, considering the events
seen in Force of Life). The set is a triumph for Art Director Keith Wilson and introduces a splash of colour
to Alpha with its bold use of red.
This is the first time we see someone shot with a Stun Gun set to kill. One wonders if it always
makes that much of a mess of a person or if something the alien has done to Zoref causes the extreme reaction. The idea
was to make it clear that from this point on the charred body of Zoref was certainly dead, with his remains being controlled
by the alien force. This somewhat backfired on the producers, though, as the scene encountered censorship problems in
some countries.
Johnny Byrne's original draft was entitled "Force of Eveil", but the subtle retitling removed any
malicious intent from the alien force's actions. The idea that the force was metamorphosing into a star was not Byrne's
and one he was against including in the script.
Midway through shooting this episode the production took a well-earned three week break.
