UFO 

The missions of the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization, which defends Earth from extra-terrestrial threats.

Creators:

Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson

Stars:

Ed Bishop, Dolores Mantez, Michael Billington

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ed Bishop	...	Cmdr. Ed Straker / ... 26 episodes, 1970-1973
Dolores Mantez	...	Nina Barry 23 episodes, 1970-1971
Michael Billington	...	Col. Paul Foster / ... 21 episodes, 1970-1973
Ayshea Brough	...	SHADO Operative / ... 19 episodes, 1970-1971
George Sewell	...	Col. Freeman / ... 17 episodes, 1970-1971
Keith Alexander	...	Shado Radio Operator / ... 15 episodes, 1970-1971
Antonia Ellis	...	Joan Harrington 13 episodes, 1970-1971

Storyline

In 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:

alien | alien race | alien invasion | organ harvesting | top secret | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

UFO

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 (26 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Interceptors were never shown to possess any backup weaponry of any type. After they fired their one missile, hit or miss, they were, in effect, useless for the rest of the battle.

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Goofs

The exterior shots of the moonbase interceptors clearly show the cockpit canopies extend for another foot or so behind the pilot, yet in the interior shots of the ships, there are switches and dials overhead.

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Quotes

Col. Paul Foster: We can't just sit around!
Ed Straker: I've solved quite a few problems by just "sitting around", as you call it, Colonel. You should try it yourself sometime.

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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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Alternate Versions

For the German dubbed version many episodes were altered to remove references to death (i.e. the death of Straker's son; the funeral of Bill; Straker seeing a dead alien). Additionaly, all captions showing the year the events take place (1980) were deleted.

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Connections

Edited into UFO: Prendeteli vivi. (1974)

User Reviews

Some unfair comments

I remember this show when I was a kid in the late 70's. Every so often it was on during Saturday afternoons. Always a fan of spaceships and such, I was hooked. I couldn't remember much other than the various vehicles and Ed Straker's hair.

I recently got the entire thing on DVD and yes it's kind of campy but it's so fun to watch. I love retro stuff. I love British programming. I love SciFi. For me this was a hit.

I can echo the comments of another poster who said that he must be the only American to have seen and remembered it. I felt the same way. All through the years I when the topic came up I would describe it and the series name and NO ONE would remember it to the point of questioning if there was such a series ever on American TV. There was. U.F.O.

As far as the criticism goes... Yes some of them are a bit true but that is part of what makes this a SciFi cult classic.

I love the series with all of it's campiness and am so happy to own it on DVD. I received it as a Christmas present and still haven't watched the entire thing. I take it in small doses in order to savor every last drop.

My favorite female is Joan Harrington (Antonia Ellis - what a beautiful lady) and although Ed Straker (Ed Bishop) is an awesome character I really enjoyed the "James Bond" like smoothness and eye for the ladies of Alex Freeman. (George Sewell)

My favorite prop was the liquor dispenser in Straker's office and how they are all smoking cigarettes. I don't smoke cigarettes but it's so 60's/70's.

I LOVE IT!