Review of UFO Volumes 5 to 8 (box set)

Introduction

Gerry Anderson is probably best known for his science fiction "puppet" shows such as Thunderbirds, but he also made several series featuring real people in place of the puppets. There`s still a lot of model work, and the look of the models is very familiar if you`ve seen any other Anderson shows. UFO pits S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation) against alien invaders who are constantly attacking Earth. An important point to note is that everyone says "yew-foh" as opposed to "yew eff oh". Don`t forget to check out the interviews section of this web site to read Gerry Anderson`s memories of the series.

You`ll find an array of guest stars too including Steven Berkoff, Windsor Davies, Christopher Timothy, George Cole and Stephanie Beacham. There are also two Bond stars - Michael Billington who played Sergei Barkoff in The Spy Who Loved Me, and Lois Maxwell, the long-time Miss Moneypenny.

The episodes on this disc are :-

CONFETTI CHECK A-O.K.

After Lieutenant Grey becomes a father, Straker recalls the early days of SHADO. It is 1970 and the United Nations grants Straker the finance to set up his defence organisation. But the long hours and secrecy have a disastrous effect on his marriage.

E.S.P.

John Croxley`s talent for extra sensory perception is heightened after his wife is killed when a UFO crashes into their house. With his mind under the influence of aliens, Croxley learns the secrets of SHADO and lures Straker and Freeman to the remains of his house.

KILL STRAKER!

When a lunar module is attacked by a UFO, Straker makes a split-second decision that endangers the astronauts, but ultimately saves them. Later, he is surprised to find his authority being questioned by his most loyal officer, Colonel Paul Foster, who spearheads a campaign against him. Then an attempt is made on Straker`s life.

SUB-SMASH

Suspecting a UFO to be responsible for the sinking of a freighter, Straker, Foster and Nina Barry investigate in Skydiver. Attacked by an undersea UFO, the submarine is downed on a ledge on the sea bed and the crew are trapped. While Straker fights against his claustrophobia, Nina faces a living nightmare.

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

While SHADO tracks a UFO in heavy woodland, international show-jumper Russell Stone goes missing from his estate. Foster investigates a lake where there is no sign of animal life and discovers a mutilated corpse.

THE CAT WITH TEN LIVES

The body of an alien, recovered after a UFO attack on Moonbase, reveals some startling new evidence which overturns all of SHADO`s previous theories about the aliens. For Interceptor pilot Jim Regan, the news has tragic consequences as he becomes possessed by the mind of an alien held in the body of a Siamese cat (honestly!)

DESTRUCTION

A Naval vessel shoots down a UFO in the Atlantic, but the Admiralty rejects further investigation into the incident. Straker suspects a cover-up and wants to know why, so Foster courts Admiral Sheringham`s secretary, Sarah Bosanquet. What they discover could mean the end of all life on Earth.

THE MAN WHO CAME BACK

Reported missing, presumed dead, after a UFO incident which has left SID disabled, astronaut Craig Collins turns up alive and well. But as an operation to complete repair work on SID is planned, Colonel Lake and Colonel Grey discover that Collins is not the man he used to be.

THE PSYCHOBOMBS

Three ordinary people are possessed by aliens and given fantastic powers to enable them to carry out acts of sabotage against SHADO installations. After the destruction of the Fairfield Tracker Station and Skydiver 3, Paul Foster makes contact with Linda Simmonds, the last surviving member of the trio. But SHADO HQ is the next target on the list.

REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER

The freighter `Kingston` is sunk in mid-Atlantic by `flying fish` missiles and an underwater cameraman dies in mysterious circumstances. Then Deep Probe 87 reports a build-up of UFOs in space and Straker discovers that the Aliens plan to bypass the SHADO defences with an elaborate deception.

TIMELASH

Straker and Colonel Lake return to the HQ to find the SHADO personnel inexplicably frozen in time. Realising that the timelock is the result of alien intervention and heralds an invasion attempt, the pair find themselves racing against time in a duel to the death!

MINDBENDER

A UFO destroys itself within three miles of Moonbase and astronaut Conroy returns from the crash site with a rare moon diamond. But the diamond has been planted by the Aliens to exert a hallucinogenic influence over the SHADO personnel - soon there are Mexican bandits in Moonbase Control and aliens at SHADO HQ!

THE LONG SLEEP

Catherine Frazer awakes from a ten year coma with vital information about a close encounter in a derelict farmhouse. Straker struggles to unravel the mystery locked in Catherine`s memories and unearths a terrifying threat that has lain dormant for a decade.

Note that the episodes don`t appear on these discs in the originally aired order.

Video

A fantastic full-frame transfer, free from grain, with nice colours and plenty of detail. It`s hard to believe that the show is as old as it is when you see it on this DVD. It`s had a very nice clean-up job!

The only thing that gives away the age of the show is the overall look of the show, particularly Sylvia Anderson`s costume designs, which range from string vests to faux-leather tunics and beyond. There is also some very nasty decor on show, including purple walls in someone`s lounge! Many of the model shots look dated and are reminiscent of earlier Anderson shows, and whilst they stick out a bit amongst the live action, they`re not too intrusive.

When watching the titles, look out for poor use of the possessive apostrophe - it was being abused even in the 1970s.

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack which is the original mono track replayed over both channels. It all sounds very good indeed, with no hiss or hum to spoil matters. Listen out for a fun theme tune, as well as plenty of incidental music reminiscent of Thunderbirds and James Bond. A typical Barry Gray soundtrack in fact.

Features

A few nice extras, spread across all of the discs.

There`s a SHADO memorabilia gallery, which showcases various products available at the time of first broadcast, along with production and behind the scenes galleries, which mix stills from the show with pictures of cast and crew in action, or posing for publicity. Storyboards from one episode are also available.

There`s a commentary track on one episode from star Ed Bishop, which is very interesting to listen to. You`ll also find some text based features, including biographies and proudction notes.

It would have been nice to see some retrospective documentaries or similar though.

Conclusion

UFO is a very enjoyable science fiction show. It doesn`t hold up very well under close scrutiny, the pacing is often ponderous, and some of the acting is a little on the poor side. But if you`ve grown up with all these elements in your TV science fiction shows, as many of us have, you`re sure to enjoy it.

Many of the storylines and ideas are still doing the rounds today on TV shows (key personnel replaced with clones/impostors, your job wrecking your personal life, people who can see into the future, government cover-ups). Anyone thinking of The X-Files here?

A fantastic picture combined with adequate sound, a reasonable selection of extras, and over 10 hours of episodes make this a good package overall. Fans of the show will snap this up, and science fiction fans who haven`t seen it should also be tempted. Maybe you`ll start with an individual disc first?