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The Miracle Tree Of Saturn
Synopsis:
A virilent fungus is destroying crops on Earth but by accident Haggarty discovers it can be cured by contact with plants from Saturn. When arrangements are made for Galasphere 347 to collect a batch, a technician called Jones stows away and imprisons the crew in order to hi-jack the shipment for personal gain. Jones has by-passed Contamination Control and brings the common cold to Saturn, a move which starts to prove fatal to the reptiles and threatens Earth with starvation when the Saturnians capture them in retaliation...
Cast
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Captain Larry Dart
Husky
Slim
Colonel Raeburn
Marla
Professor Haggarty
Cassie
Jones
Jim Barratt
Charlie
Saturnian Leader
Radio Operator
Saturnian Voices
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Dick Vosburgh
Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Murray Kash
Libby Morris
Ronnie Stevens
Libby Morris
Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Dick Vosburgh
Dick Vosburgh
Ronnie Stevens
Dick Vosburgh
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And The Moral Is:
• You’ll Catch Your Death Of Cold.
Today I Will Be Mostly Learning... :
• Coryza is another, slightly old-fashioned, name for the common head cold.
Slimantics:
• “It is imperative not to infect other planets with Earth microbes.”
• “I do not comprehend you.”
Raeburnt:
• “When people are hungry, they’ll eat what you give them.”
A Venusian Has...:
• ‘The facility never to forget.’ And Marla still won’t let us forget it!
Riding Along In My Monobile... ‘:
• Raeburn drives to the Radio Room
‘I’m An Alien!‘:
• All Saturnian dwellings have air conditioning and Earthmen can breathe in their caves.
• When Saturnians are dying, they prefer to do so in their native water.
Continuity:
• Raeburn’s plant is a cutting from the Saturnian holy tree.
• Dart refers to nearly having been killed when previously trying to get through the rings of Saturn.
• The flight time to Saturn is 41 days.
Haven’t I Seen... ?:
• The Tokyo representative was originally seen as the Japanese man from Mystery On The Moon.
• Jones is Berridge from the same episode.
Take A Break:
• As the crew go into the freezer, Jones settles himself for the long journey.
"My only child has the barking disease too.
He is the next ruler of Saturn and he must not die!"
Saturnian Leader
Astro Viewer Working:
• Jones uses, perhaps intentionally, the well worn cliche ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ when encountering the Saturnians.
Hoorah!:
• It is an interesting and compassionate touch that the Saturnian leader only bargains with Dart when his only son and heir is dying from the ‘barking disease’.
Boo!:
• Raeburn’s plant only sits on his desk for the scenes when Haggarty discovers it can cure the fungus.
• The ‘Galasphere 024’ launch is used.
Computer Central:
• First screened: June 23rd 1963 (Tyne Tees)
• Running time: 25 minutes 13 seconds
• It is speculated this episode may have been recorded prior to The Rings Of Saturn.
• This was one of four episodes released as a Super 8mm home movie, edited down to approximately 15 minutes in length.
• BFCC Classified - 22nd September 1998
• VHS - Volume 6
• DVD - Complete Series Box Set, Disk 4
Listings
• London, October 17th 1963:
The Earth’s food supplies are in danger when an unknown fungus is found to be destroying all plant life. It is thought that leaves from a tree on Saturn will help to avert disaster and Dart is sent to collect them. The mission turns out in an unexpected way.
• Malta, April 9th 1964:
Earth is being attacked by a mysterious fungus, which has destroyed vast areas of food crops and is even attacking the underwater farms. Raeburn receives a visit from Professor Haggarty, who brings him a diseased wheat cutting to show him the devestating effect of the blight. The fungus is so infectious that its touch will destroy a healthy plant within seconds, and to demonstrate this, the Professor touches a potten plant on Raeburn's desk with the cutting.
Ready To Lift ?:
An interesting episode that gives a dramatic reason for the usage of Contamination Control, though Jones is something of a cliche.
 
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