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The Grass Of Saturn
Synopsis:
Saturn has a new leader but Colonel Raeburn is concerned that the previous leader, Riga, has been deposed and cannot send in troops unless requested. He sends Galasphere 347 on a mission to ‘welcome the new leader’ while secretly investigating. Simba however, while making peaceful overtures, plans to wipe out mankind and colonise Earth by seeding Saturnian grass there which will replace the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. The Venusians, including Marla, are the first to be affected which leads Professor Haggarty to discover what is happening and devise a counterplan...
Cast
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Captain Larry Dart
Husky
Slim
Colonel Raeburn
Marla
Professor Haggarty
Cassie
Riga
Simba
General Smith
Simba's Aide
Saturnian Pilot
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Dick Vosburgh
Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Murray Kash
Ysanne Churchman
Ronnie Stevens
Ysanne Churchman
Dick Vosburgh
Dick Vosburgh
Dick Vosburgh
Murray Kash
Ronnie Stevens
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And The Moral Is:
• The Grass Is Always Meaner On Other Planets.
Today I Will Be Mostly Learning... :
• Grass takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen.
Huskyisms:
• “I had a fantabulous time!”
• “The vegetation is fantasticatious.”
• “My stomach is rimbling.”
Slimantics:
• “This is calamitous.”
Raeburnt:
• He compliments Dart by referring to his mission "If it were easy, I wouldn't have called you in.".
A Venusian Has...:
• Even more mixed up grammar, “There is news of excellent receiving.”
To Coin A Phrase:
• “Don’t let the grass grow under your feet.”
‘I’m An Alien!‘:
• Oxygen is poisonous to Saturnians - they breathe carbon dioxide.
• Saturnians have rockets that travel four times faster than Galaspheres (taking ten days to reach Earth) and can dissolve on contact with an atmosphere.
• Venusians require more oxygen than Earthmen.
• Husky is strong enough to smash a lock with his bare hand.
Continuity:
• The flight time to Saturn is 41 days, 3 hours.
Plot Device:
• It’s a little convenient that Riga is still alive and able to reclaim his world, maintaining a friendly alliance with the UGO.
Haven’t I Seen... ?:
• The Saturnian ships seen were originally Neptunian (PT), and is also used in the subsequent episode.
"They will become tired and,
in a matter of months, they will die."
Simba
Take A Break:
• Accepting Simba's hospitality, Dart states they will have problems as Saturnians have been assigned to follow them. Slim says "You'll never discover if Riga is alive." to which Dart replies "We'll see about that."
Astro Viewer Working:
• For only the second time, we see Haggarty in different clothes (the first being in The Talking Bell), wearing a mottled jacket and dark polar neck as he goes on holiday.
• When descending into the Saturnian caves, the platform only seems to go down so far. Dart and Husky appear to continue 'descending' by 'sitting down'!
• The stunned Saturnian’s tail stays mind-bogglingly and gravity defyingly erect!
Hoorah!:
• For once, there is an indication of time passing on Earth as Galasphere 347 is still thirty days from Saturn when Simba’s rockets arrive and the solution isn’t found earlier as Haggarty is on holiday in Ireland.
• It's also a nice touch that when alone, the Saturnians sometimes use their own language.
Boo!:
• Oxygen being poisonous to Saturnians seems to contradict what we have seen previously, as well as later in this episode where Riga is aboard the Galasphere.
• Husky suddenly gains an Elektran while exploring the caves.
Computer Central:
• First screened: May 14th 1964 (Associated-Rediffusion London)
• Running time: 24 minutes 21 seconds
• Another episode not to feature Libby Morris.
• Some stills of the Saturnian puppets on the cave set were recently discovered.
• BFCC Classified - 26th July 1999
• VHS - Volume 9
• DVD - Complete Series Box Set, Disk 6
Listings
• London, May 14th 1964:
The ruler of Saturn is overthrown by a rival who, not content with seizing power on his own planet, determines to conquer Earth as well. The method he adopts is surprising simple and effective.
• Tyne Tees, May 25th 1964:
The Saturnian leader is overpowered by his rival Riga, who decides to conquer Earth by the ingenious method of destroying the atmosphere. Saturnians live on carbon dioxide and oxygen is fatal to them. As Saturnian grass absorbs oxygen and exudes only carbon doixide, Riga decides to bombard Earth with Saturnian grass-seed. This plan succeeds and the Saturnian grass - which Earthmen mistake for a dust storm - takes root on Earth. Gradually the oxygen in the atmosphere is absorbed and the people on Earth become tired and ill. It takes some time before Colonel Raeburn realises what is happening and Haggarty is instructed to try and find out what is affecting the atmosphere.
Ready To Lift ?:
The Saturnian’s final appearance is probably their best but like Mars and Venus in two previous tales we have a political power struggle. The story and production is good but there’s a ‘been there, done that’ feel to elements of the episode.
 
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