UFO (1970–1973)

In the year 1980 the Earth is threatened by an alien race who kidnap and kill humans and use them for body parts. A highly secret military organization is set up in the hope of defending ... See full summary »

Creators:

Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson

Stars:

Ed Bishop, Dolores Mantez, Michael Billington

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ed Bishop	...	Cmdr. Ed Straker (26 episodes, 1969-1973)
Dolores Mantez	...	Nina Barry (23 episodes, 1969-1971)
Michael Billington	...	Col. Paul Foster (21 episodes, 1969-1973)
Ayshea Brough	...	SHADO Operative (18 episodes, 1969-1971)
George Sewell	...	Col. Alec Freeman (17 episodes, 1969-1971)
Keith Alexander	...	Lt. Keith Ford (15 episodes, 1969-1971)
Antonia Ellis	...	Joan Harrington (13 episodes, 1969-1971)

Storyline

In the year 1980 the Earth is threatened by an alien race who kidnap and kill humans and use them for body parts. A highly secret military organization is set up in the hope of defending the Earth from this alien threat. This organization is named SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization) and operates from a secret location beneath a film studio. They also operate a fleet of submarines and have a base on the moon as well as an early warning satellite that detects inbound UFOs. UFOs can be destroyed in space by Interceptors which are launched from Moonbase. If one gets through it can be attacked in the Earth's atmosphere by a high altitude aircraft launched from one of the submarines. If a UFO also avoids this and manages to land it can be tracked and destroyed by a number of Mobiles (armored vehicles) which are deployed throughout the world.

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Plot Keywords:

ufo | 1980s | female astronaut | flying saucer | sexy suit | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Alerte dans l'espace

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Century 21 Television, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (26 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On December 31, 1994 the video game company Microprose released a game called "UFO: Enemy Unknown" based on this TV series.

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Goofs

Gravity on the lunar surface is actually 1/6 of Earth normal. The actor's movements and inertia are all wrong.

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Quotes

Ed Straker: A funeral. Without a body. A symbol of human compassion. The long finger of tragic coincidence, stretching across a billion miles of space. Is this the end or the beginning? Where does the universe end? Where does it begin?

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Crazy Credits

During the opening theme, the show's title "UFO" is flashed on the screen for only a fraction of a second. It appears "officially" on screen at the end of the teaser sequence.

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Connections

Edited into UFO... annientare S.H.A.D.O. stop. Uccidete Straker... (1974)

User Reviews

First introduction to sci-fi as a kid

I must have been 8 or 9 when I first saw it on TV in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. It was the show that seeded my love for science fiction a couple years before I was introduced to Star Trek. Granted, I didn't understand all of the plot lines, but I loved the miniatures, the special effects, and especially the purple hair of the moonbase crew. The theme is also rather catchy tune as a good theme should be. I'm happy to see that they're available on video and I will be ordering the set.