ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 12:42 am Post subject:

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Doomsday Minus One

One of the best episodes in this great seris. This posts contains —

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A decorated general conspires with the aliens, but he has a hidden agenda: he thinks he's going to cause all nuclear weapons to be banned and therefore prevent future wars by helping the aliens set off an explosion caused by the combination of an America nuclear weapon and an alien "antimatter" bomb.
That in itself distinguishes this incredible story. And the writing, direction, and acting are all top notch.

The general has made secret plans to expose the existence of the aliens after a "routine bomb test" supposedly causes world-wide devastation which shifts the Earth on its axis, resulting in earthquakes and tidal waves. He's convinced that mankind will unite and mount a defense against the invasion when they find out that they — not the nuclear test — caused the global tragedy.

Naturally the clever aliens are one step ahead of mankind, the general realizes that his plan wouldn't only result in the unnecessary deaths of millions of people.

He thinks he's doing what's best for humanity, but he's been tricked by the aliens, and his very misguided thinking will result in the deaths of millions of people.[
How all this plays out was as impressive as the concept itself, and this episode strengthened my admiration for this series.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject:

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Bulldogtrekker and I did a synchro-cinema today with the season 2 episode in which an alien is shot by the local sheriff in the middle of the town square, and several dozen citizens watched in horror as the "man" suddenly blazed red and burned up before their eyes.

I won't spoil the episode by saying how it ended. Suffice it to say, the aliens were not happy about the fact that their earthly foe, the dedicated David Vincent, had finally managed to present undeniable proof to a sizable body of people that aliens were in our midst.

But I will warn you that after watch 3/4 of this episode and thinking it was one of the very best in the series, the climax for this compelling story had the same effect on my enjoyment of it as taking a big bit out of juicy red apple and finding the severed half a recently deceased worm.

Be ready to say "Oh brother . . . " a few times when you reach the end of this episode. But other than that, I loved it, and so did Bulldogtrekker.

Another thing he and I agree on is the unfortunate design of the aliens' flying saucer. It's always looked way too squat, too boxy, to un-streamlined. I've never understood why someone involved with the show didn't point out that the ship would look a lot better if they stretched it out a bit, so that instead of this —

— it would look more like this. It's still not as good as the C-57-D or Harryhausen's saucers, but it helps a little.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

scotpens · Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 5:47 pm Post subject:

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 8:33 pm Post subject:

scotpens · Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 9:37 pm Post subject:

Well, it was a good enough design to make the Aurora model kit a popular item — look at how many times it's been reissued!

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Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 12:45 am Post subject:

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I gotta admit, it looks damn good in those artist's renderings. They picked great dramatic angles, and several of them give the surface the kind of color and texture which the 1968 special effects couldn't quite manage.

That was not the fault of the design, I'll grant you.

And you mentioned not caring for the landing gear. Ironically I like the way the underside of the saucer is divided into five sections that are hinged and fold down to form the legs.

I found this picture online tonight while looking for good jpegs of the saucer.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Krel. · Guest

Brent Gair · Mission Specialist Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 466

Randy · Space Ranger Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 126 Location: Ohio

ABC Network original TV promos for "The Invaders":

INVADERS Promo 1

INVADERS Promo 2

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 7:03 pm Post subject:

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Enjoy this video on YouTube of a 3D rendering of the saucer, with a tour of the interior. I must admit that the shape of the saucer allows more interior standing room than the more slender and wider version I suggested.

And it looks pretty damn good from this low angle. Not quite so much like a hat . . . Very Happy

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__________ The Invaders Flying Saucer Revealed!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:13 pm Post subject:

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Just for fun I modified the alien saucer's design to give it a little in common with Klaatu's ship. I've always liked the beveled edge of Klaatu's ship, and it looks good on this one too.

I like this much better than my previous version of the ship. Very Happy

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Original.

Modified version.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

I was wondering what that section hanging from the crane was supposed to be. After watching some of the video tour, I take it to represent a hatch opening. There was apparently to be a scene showing a view from underneath of some alien(s) entering or exiting the ship through the hatch.
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...or not...

WayneO
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Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 4:14 am Post subject:

Wayne, turn it 90 degrees. it's a piece of the upper portion of the saucer. There was no top piece. That was added by a matte.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Pow · Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 9:15 am Post subject:

Read The Invaders Companion Book about the making of the TV Show.

Looking at the photo where the crew is assembling the alien saucers landing struts for filming reminded me of something from the book.

Quinn Martin was one of the first producers in television to insist on his various shows having location filming. The majority of TV series would either shoot scenes in a studio sound stage or on the studio backlot. It saved time & money.

QM Productions would leave the confines of the studio to find real locations for filming.This added a fresh look to the QM shows that other shows lacked.

It cost time & money, the 2 big enemies for television productions, but Martin did not care.