Survival (UFO)
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| "Survival" | |
|---|---|
| UFO episode | |
| Episode no. | Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Alan Perry |
| Written by | Tony Barwick |
| Editing by | Alan Killick |
| Production code | 4 |
| Original air date | 6 January 1971 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Survival" is the thirteenth episode aired of the first series of UFO – a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written by Tony Barwick and the director was Alan Perry. The episode was filmed between 30 June and 10 July 1970 and was first broadcast on 6 January 1971 on Associated Television. Though shown as the thirteenth episode, it was actually the fourth to have been filmed.[1][2]
The series was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.[3]
Under the cover of a meteor shower, a UFO manages to evade SHADO's tracking and land on the Moon. The alien pilot gets close enough to Moonbase to shoot out a window of the Leisure Sphere. The resulting explosive decompression kills an astronaut inside and almost kills Paul Foster.
Straker orders a search of the vicinity around Moonbase using Moon mobiles and they locate the UFO in a crater. The UFO shoots at the Moon mobiles whereupon the interceptors are called in. They shoot the UFO down as it tries to take off and it crashes into Foster's Moon mobile. Thrown clear, Foster is injured in the explosion and his spacesuit's radio transmitter is broken. SHADO believes that he has been killed.
Foster is not alone, however, as the alien has also survived. The two adversaries realise that to survive they need to co-operate on the walk back to Moonbase. They get close to their destination but a search team locates Foster. Believing the alien to be a threat and with Foster unable to contact the search team due to his broken radio, they shoot and kill the alien.[4][5]
Regular cast
- Ed Bishop as Commander Ed Straker
- George Sewell as Colonel Alec Freeman
- Michael Billington as Colonel Paul Foster
- Ayshea as Lieutenant Ayshea Johnson
- Dolores Mantez as Lieutenant Nina Barry
- Harry Baird as Lieutenant Mark Bradley
Production
"Survival" features actor Michael Billington's first performance as Paul Foster. ("Exposed", which serves as the character's introduction, was the next episode to be filmed.)[6] Rose Tobias Shaw, UFO's casting director, had previously cast Billington in an episode of The Prisoner.[7]
Filming locations included Neptune House at ATV Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, and Windermere Hall in London.[1]
