Black Sun (Space: 1999)
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Episode 3
| "Black Sun" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Series 1 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Lee H. Katzin |
| Written by | David Weir |
| Cinematography by | Frank Watts |
| Editing by | Mike Campbell |
| Production code | SP 3 |
| Original air date | 6 November 1975 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Black Sun" is an episode of the first series of Space: 1999, a 1970s British science fiction television series produced by Group Three for ITC Entertainment. Written by David Weir and directed by Lee H. Katzin, it was the third episode produced and was shot at Pinewood Studios between January and March 1974.
Opening in 1999, the series follows the crew of Earth's lunar colony Moonbase Alpha after a massive nuclear explosion pushes the Moon out of the Solar System, leaving it drifting through interstellar space. Unable to control the new rogue planet's course or speed, the Alphans encounter various astronomical phenomena and alien civilisations and as they search for a way back to Earth or a new world to colonise. In "Black Sun", the Alphans are forced to implement emergency measures when the Moon is caught by the gravitational pull of a black hole.
The episode first aired in the UK on 6 November 1975 on Associated and Yorkshire Television.[1] It received mixed reviews from commentators, who praised its development of the series' main characters but criticised other aspects of the writing and story. The episode was later paired with "Collision Course" to create the Space: 1999 compilation film Journey Through the Black Sun, released by ITC Entertainment in 1982.
During a typical day on Moonbase Alpha, the personnel in Main Mission are alarmed when an asteroid changes course and heads towards the Moon. At the last moment it changes course again and moves into a dark patch of nearby space; it becomes distorted and finally explodes as it is ripped apart. An Eagle is sent to investigate, but is caught by the anomaly's gravity and pulled inside; it too is destroyed.
Professor Bergman informs Commander Koenig that the phenomenon is a black hole, and that it will consume the Moon three days from now. Exploiting Alpha's network of anti-gravity towers, Bergman designs a force field which will give the personnel a slim chance of surviving the encounter. On the assumption Bergman's idea fails, Koenig decides to launch a "survival Eagle" with a crew of six, hoping they can escape the black hole and find a planet to settle on. The Eagle crew, selected by Alpha's main computer, includes Dr Russell, Captain Carter and technician Sandra Benes. Russell pleads with Koenig not to send her, but he tells her the decision is final; the Eagle leaves with her aboard.
Because of the force field's massive energy requirements, most of Alpha's systems are shut down. As the Moon approaches the event horizon and temperature drops, the remaining Alphans huddle together for comfort. Koenig and Bergman share an old brandy to keep warm.
The Moon crosses the event horizon and vanishes from view. Alpha's interior takes on an eerie orange glow. Koenig and Bergman appear translucent to each another, as if they were ghosts, before rapidly ageing into old men. They are addressed by an unseen god-like being, which shares the secrets of the universe with them. After an indeterminable period of time – a few seconds, or many years – the Moon exits the black hole and arrives in a new, distant region of space. Alpha and its personnel return to normal. The Eagle unexpectedly returns and an overjoyed Koenig greets the crew. Russell tells Koenig that the Eagle could no more escape the black hole's gravity than the Moon, and was pulled in with it. Given the impossible odds they faced, the Alphans wonder whether they owe their survival to the cosmic entity residing within the black hole.
Having successfully passed through the black hole, the Alphans look forward to exploring new solar systems and, with luck, finding a new home.
Regular cast
- Martin Landau as Commander John Koenig
- Barbara Bain as Dr Helena Russell
- Barry Morse as Professor Victor Bergman
- Prentis Hancock as Controller Paul Morrow
- Clifton Jones as David Kano
- Zienia Merton as Sandra Benes
- Anton Phillips as Dr Bob Mathias
- Nick Tate as Captain Alan Carter
- Suzanne Roquette as Tanya Alexander
Production
As David Weir's script was twice the required length, it had to be condensed and rewritten by series story consultant Christopher Penfold. Penfold's revisions included removing a sequence in which Alpha's main computer refuses to be switched off to conserve power for the force field, and imprisons Bergman in crew quarters until Koenig talks it down. Weir also gave Eagle pilot Mike's (played by Paul Jones) last name as Meyer instead of Ryan, and called for 10 Alphans in the lifeboat Eagle, rather than six.[1][2]
This was the second Space: 1999 episode to be directed by Lee H. Katzin, who had helmed the series opener, "Breakaway". "Black Sun" was largely filmed between 31 January and 21 February 1974.[2] According to Barry Morse, who found the episode "unusually effective", many of the scenes were improvised.[3] Like "Breakaway", "Black Sun" overran its filming schedule: principal photography was completed several days late. Katzin was not invited to direct any more episodes for the series.[1][2]
Following a re-shoot on 25 March, and recording of incidental music on 25 April, the episode was completed on 8 May 1974.[2][4] The force field sound effect was originally created for the film The Terrornauts (1967).[2] In June 1974, BBC Children's game show Screen Test aired behind-the-scenes footage of Morse and Martin Landau in make-up for the scene in why they rapidly age.[2]
