The Galaxy Being
- Episode aired Sep 16, 1963
- 51m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
A scientific technician working at a radio station makes first contact with an energy alien from the Andromeda galaxy. An underling's disobedience brings it to Earth.A scientific technician working at a radio station makes first contact with an energy alien from the Andromeda galaxy. An underling's disobedience brings it to Earth.A scientific technician working at a radio station makes first contact with an energy alien from the Andromeda galaxy. An underling's disobedience brings it to Earth.
Joseph V. Perry
- Police Chief
- (as Joseph Perry)
Don C. Harvey
- Military Commander
- (as Don Harvey)
Mavis Neal Palmer
- Woman
- (as Mavis Neal)
William Douglas
- Galaxy Being
- (as Wm. O. Douglas)
Bill Catching
- National Guard Major
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- Leslie Stevens(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe shimmering Galaxy Being effect was achieved by filming actor William Douglas in a brown rubber alien outfit which was coated with glycerin to reflect the hot lights shone against it. In post-production, this footage was negative-reversed and then superimposed onto the main footage. The net effect was one of the most economical but effective aliens in film or television.
- GoofsAlan discusses radio signals with the Galaxy Being, who is located in the Andromeda Galaxy. Radio waves, like all electromagnetic waves, travel at the speed of light. Since the Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away, it would take any single radio messages 2.5 million years to go one direction, making any immediate communication impossible.
- Quotes
Carol Maxwell: But what makes you think that you can discover anything? Who are you?
Alan Maxwell: Nobody. Nobody at all, but the secrets of the universe don't mind. They reveal themselves to nobodies who care.
- Alternate versionsOriginally produced as the pilot for the series and originally was titled "Please Stand By" (as was the series itself before ABC requested the title be changed). The original pilot version contained several short scenes that were cut for the broadcast version including: a threat by the Galaxy Being that his people might destroy Earth, Allan shaking sense into his hysterical wife after she sees the creature, and a woman screaming at the sight of a dead man.
Featured review
Excellent pilot with daring discussion.
As the other reviewers pointed out, this was the beginning of a wonderful series of science fiction on early television. Even with a limited budget,Leslie Stevens & his colleagues managed to convey the effects needed for each thought-provoking story very well. Even the Schaper Cootie lookalikes in "The Zanti Misfits" scared the s#!+ out of me when I was a kid. (I couldn't play with the toy/game for a couple of months after that.)
But this episode also contained a unique, fascinating discussion of God, life & death and existence - an interesting give and take on mortality, immortality and how the universe all tie in together on a basic level. Similar to Kenobi explaining the Force to Luke but more grounded in the real science of physics and matter.
When I first saw this, it blew my Catholic-raised mind. Then I realized this was from 1963 and was stunned it was even allowed to air. But sci-fi can get away with this kind of thing since it's not 'real'.
Like the 1st interracial kiss on "Star Trek" or discussions on racism and intolerance that wouldn't make mainstream TV for several more years - when "All in the Family" burst on the airwaves. (A show that would never be made now, thanks to political correctness.) If you haven't seen it, give this episode a try and see what your reaction is to the Q&A between the Terran and the Andromedan.
And remember, don't be offended. It's just another point of view.
But this episode also contained a unique, fascinating discussion of God, life & death and existence - an interesting give and take on mortality, immortality and how the universe all tie in together on a basic level. Similar to Kenobi explaining the Force to Luke but more grounded in the real science of physics and matter.
When I first saw this, it blew my Catholic-raised mind. Then I realized this was from 1963 and was stunned it was even allowed to air. But sci-fi can get away with this kind of thing since it's not 'real'.
Like the 1st interracial kiss on "Star Trek" or discussions on racism and intolerance that wouldn't make mainstream TV for several more years - when "All in the Family" burst on the airwaves. (A show that would never be made now, thanks to political correctness.) If you haven't seen it, give this episode a try and see what your reaction is to the Q&A between the Terran and the Andromedan.
And remember, don't be offended. It's just another point of view.
helpful•215
- patrickbroderick_2000
- Aug 16, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- KCBH radio station 9000 Alto Cedro Drive Beverly Hills, California, USA(exteriors and interiors of station)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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