The Starships Are Coming (2 Feb. 1979)

Director:

Alan Crosland

Writers:

William M. Marston (characters), Stanley Ralph Ross (developer),

Stars:

Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner, Tim O'Connor

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Lynda Carter	...	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Lyle Waggoner	...	Colonel Steve Trevor, Jr.
Tim O'Connor	...	Colonel Robert Elliot
Jeffrey Byron	...	Henry Wilson
James Coleman	...	The Aide
Frank Whiteman	...	Newsman
David White	...	The General
Andrew Duggan	...	Mason Steele
Lilibet Stern	...	Mary Lou
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Bobbie
Doris Dowling	...	Mrs. Wilson
Jack Kissell	...	Alien (as Jack Kissel)
Ben Chandler	...	General
Marlena Giovi	...	Woman
Walt Davis	...	Guard

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

time bomb | bound and gagged | rescue | tied to chair

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1979 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 12, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bruce Lansbury Productions, Douglas S. Cramer Company, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

46 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Goofs

Bobbie pulls some folders out from under her arm, then in the next shot pulls them out again.

User Reviews

War of the Worlds

The Starships are coming Ridiculous at first glance this ep makes a lot more sense when you think that the events of 'Mind robbers from outer space' took place in the public eye, the existence of alien life is common knowledge in the DC universe. That said the 'villain who explains the dastardly scheme before attempting to kill the hero in an unnecessarily elaborate fashion' is just terrible as Austin Powers points out to great comic effect. Ultra-right wing baddies who were common in the 70s, self-doubting America looking inwards to itself for evil after the debacle of Vietnam, Watergate and the Church Committee hearings into the CIA/FBI and their various dodgy actions during the Cold War (would love to have seen Steve Trevor hauled before that inquisition, "So Mr Trevor, is Wonder Woman's lariat of truth admissible as evidence under the constitution or is it an infringement of civil rights comparable to waterboarding?") . The fear of Red China (before it was replaced by capitalist-but-still-totalitarian-China) very much to the fore and the controversy surrounding Nixon's detente towards it certainly a big issue. Once again we end with Lynda Carter giving her trademarked huge smile of happiness, does anyone else do that with such radiant conviction?. Not a bad ep per se but it seems the series is still trying to ride the wave of sci-fi enthusiasm that followed Star Wars (WW alumni Roddy McDowell voicing Disney's The Black Hole etc).

7/10