The Merchandise Guide
Video: US Laserdisc
Compiled by Martin Willey
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Spectacular explosions on the moon hurl it out of Earth's orbit and cast 311 men and women stationed there on the ultimate journey into space and across the universe.
On the moon, 311 men and women from all the nations of Earth prepare for a probe into deep space. John Koenig (Martin Landau) arrives to command the mission and discovers it is in jeopardy: nine astronauts have been killed by a mysterious illness. Dr. Helena Russell (Barbara Bain) is convinced that radiation is responsible and an investigation is made of the nuclear waste disposal areas on the dark side of the moon. There is no leakage from the deeply buried containers, but intense heat is registered and Professor Bergman (Barry Morse) determines that increased magnetic output, not radiation, is the threat - and a serious one.
Bergman and Commander Koenig tell Commissioner Simmonds (Roy Dotrice) from Earth to investigate the delay in launching the probe, that he must order shipments of nuclear waste to the moon stopped immediately. But Simmonds is embroiled in the political and strategic intrigues of the Earth nations and will neither give the order nor report the trouble on the moon. While they are bickering, one of the disposal areas explodes and Bergman reports that now their only hope of averting disaster is to begin an immediate operation to disperse all the nuclear waste cannisters over a wider area.
As huge hovercraft hoist and remove the deadly cannisters, a blinding thermonuclear explosion rocks the moon, setting off a chain reaction of spectacular blasts which disintegrate most of the moon's dark side. The gravitational field is altered and the satellite is hurled violently out of Earth's orbit. On Earth, the reaction is devastating. On the moon, the base remains intact and self-sustaining and the small colony of terrestrials there prepare for the most amazing journey in the history of the world, into the timelessness of the universe.
MARTIN LANDAU as John Koenig
BARBARA BAIN as Dr. Helena Russell
BARRY MORSE as Professor Bergman
Guest Star: ROY DOTRICE as Commissioner Simmonds
Prentis Hancock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Morrow
Zienia Merton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Benes
Anton Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Mathias
Nick Tate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Carter
Philip Madoc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commander Gorski
Lon Satton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ouma
Eric Carte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Collins
Producer: Sylvia Anderson Executive Producer: Gerry Anderson Screenplay by: George Bellak
Story Consultant: Christopher Penfold Script Editor: Edward Di Lorenzo Moon City Costumes Designed by: Rudi Gernreich
Directed by: Lee H. Katzin Series Created by: Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Color/Approx. Running Time 52 Minutes
Moonbase Alpha finds itself suddenly and relentlessly attacked by an unknown planet. The war appears devastating to Moonbase Alpha, but appearances offer the clue to a never-ending challenge for mankind.
Moonbase Alpha is at war! The attack comes from an unknown planet, launched by a fleet of fighters, causing enormous explosions. Equipment is smashed, personnel are hurled into space in clouds of loose debris and defending Eagles are destroyed in the air as Main Mission is left shattered and burning before the attacking craft turn away.
Moonbase is no longer habitable, with 129 dead and Dr. Helena Russell (Barbara Bain) tending the many others who have been injured. Only one hope remains and that is to come to terms with the enemy planet and seek a new life there. Commander Koenig (Martin Landau) and Helena Russell make the journey in an unarmed Eagle and come face to face with the eerie aliens. The appeals to allow Alpha personnel to come to the planet are rejected by the Male Alien (Anthony Valentine), who tells them they are a contaminating organism - a plague of fear. The Female Alien (Isla Blair) tells them, "Your presence on this planet would destroy a civilization that has survived for billions of years."
When Koenig moves in to defend himself, the aliens fire their laser weapons and he falls dead. But Helena mysteriously finds herself with the power to bring him back to life. Quickly, Koenig calls Moonbase and issues orders for the last of the Eagles to be launched and for Alpha to be evacuated to the planet.
But back on Alpha, everything is normal again - except that an attack appears imminent. They are back to where they were before the attack that destroyed the complex. This time Koenig tells the defending Eagles to hold their fire. His instructions are greeted with blank astonishment and horror as the fighters blink out of existence.
Guest Stars:
ANTHONY VALENTINE as Male Alien
ISLA BLAIR as Female Alien
Prentis Hancock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Morrow
Clifton Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Kano
Zienia Merton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Benes
Anton Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Mathias
Nick Tate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Carter
Producer: Sylvia Anderson Executive Producer: Gerry Anderson Screenplay by: Christopher Penfold
Moon City Costumes Designed by: Rudi Gernreich Directed by: Charles Crichton
Series Created by: Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Copyright Martin Willey. Thanks to James Poll.