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The Evil Eye Of Venus
Synopsis:
Venusian scientist Borra has invented a mechanical eye which can destroy any metals not from Venus, Earth or Mars within a range of three miles and will act as a defence for the capitol Cresta. A disaster is narrowly averted when Galasphere 347 nearly lands at Cresta as the ships are constructed of Plutonite, and it is decided to deactivate the eye until it is programmed for all other ‘friendly’ metals. But Borra is killed and no-one else can deactivate the eye, which now seems to destroy anything that comes near it...
Cast
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Captain Larry Dart
Husky
Slim
Colonel Raeburn
Marla
Professor Haggarty
Cassie
Gabbler
The Venusian President
Professor Borra
General Smith
Williams
Presidential Aide
Robot
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Dick Vosburgh
Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Murray Kash
Ysanne Churchman
Ronnie Stevens
Ysanne Churchman
Libby Morris
Dick Vosburgh
Ysanne Churchman
Dick Vosburgh
Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Dick Vosburgh
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And The Moral Is:
• If Looks Could Kill
Today I Will Be Mostly Learning... :
• You can't hear bats as the sounds they use are to high for humans to pick up.
Huskyisms:
• “It’s the most dangerable job we’ve ever done.”
• “I’m so scared I have mousies in my stomach.”
Raeburnt:
• “If anything happens to Dart and his crew, I’ll resign from Space Patrol.”
To Coin A Phrase:
• Robot: “It is not humanly possible.” Dart: “That’s it... “
• And from Raeburn: “A crazy eye on Venus and a crazy robot on Earth. Hmm, that’s one thing we haven’t tried... “
‘Riding Along In My Monobile... ‘:
• Raeburn visits General Smith
Ooh, Bitch... :
• Commenting on Raeburn asking "...one mad scientist to fix the problem of another mad scientist", Haggarty is given the reply "Don't insult yourself... leave that to me!"
Continuity:
• Galasphere 347 has just finished a patrol of Venus.
• Haggarty is still tending to the small Uranian plant.
• Slim has not visited Venus for two years, and his parents are apparently still alive as he invites Dart and Husky to visit with him.
• Williams reiterates that lasers and gamma rays won’t stop robots.
Plot Device:
• Ultrasonics are becoming something of a mechanical cure-all.
2100 ?:
• The device used to transmit ultrasonics at the eye seems a large version of a 1960’s reel-to-reel tape recorder.
"It was stupid of me not to remember that Galaspheres are made of Plutonite.
Professor Borra
Haven’t I Seen... ?:
• Williams is Dr Duncan with glasses and moustache.
• Borra is the Tara puppet with blond hair and a moustache.
Take A Break:
• Raeburn tells Haggarty about the problem with the Eye and tells him to get to work.
For Those Of You Just Joining Us... :
• We are told again that Galaspheres are made from Plutonite, and quite obviously (except to Borra) does not come from Earth, Mars or Venus.
• Another gripe about teaching Gabbler to speak English..
• Ultrasonics are mentioned as disrupting the function of robots (RR).
Astro Viewer Working:
• This would seem to be the only episode to feature the Galasphere’s resident robot, excepting the stock footage seen whenever the crew enter the freezer.
• The new footage of the Galasphere robot features a different door.
• In the scenes where Central Control is trying to contact Galasphere 347, some writing can be seen on the robot's body to the right of its arm. This seems to be the letters 'Deeko' (reading downwards), suggesting the body was made out of a container of some sort - the lettering inadvertantly visible under the silver paint.
• The series one Cassie is once again seen in the laboratory scenes in this episode.
Hoorah!:
• Galasphere 347's robot doing a snazzy shorted out dance.
Boo!:
• It is unclear whether the Eye killed Borra, or whether his death is an accident.
• We never really get a good look at the Eye either.
• The tape machine, in consecutive series of scenes, slowly moves away from Husky’s console then back again.
• The shots of the Eye seen on the Galasphere monitors are reversed.
Computer Central:
• First screened: March 26th 1964 (Associated-Rediffusion London)
• Running time: 24 minutes 23 seconds
• This episode was adapted as a seven part story in the TV Times by Roberta Leigh during April and May 1964. Some interesting points are made:
•• The story starts on April 2, 2100 - the only episode to be accorded a date.
•• There is a reference to the creatures of Uranus and Neptune 'constantly trying to take control'.
•• Monobiles travel at 200 miles per hour!
•• Upon taking off, the landing spike retracts into the Galasphere body
•• The 'orbiting wheels' (seen by the outer vacuum door) generate an electro-magnetic field which is part of the propulsion system .
•• Meson power is spelt 'meesen power'.
•• In the final part, when ordered to make sure the Galasphere stays exactly three miles from the Eye, Slim mutters under his breath in Venusian with 'a few well-chosen words'.
• BFCC Classified - 23rd July 1999
• VHS - Volume 7
• DVD - Complete Series Box Set, Disk 5
Listings
• London, March 26th 1964:
A Venusian professor invents a weapon to prevent aliens and enemies from landing on Venus and, without realising it, puts Larry Dart's life in danger.
• Melbourne, Australia, August 24th 1964:
A Cresta scientist discovers a new defence weapon.
Ready To Lift ?:
An interesting tale that again uses the continuity of the series to good effect.
 
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