Episode Guide

• Background
• Cast/Sets
• SFX
• Music
• Science
• Continuity
• Errors
• Observations
• Links
• Transcript
• Images

The Infernal Machine

Machine or man? Alpha encounters one of the strangest mysteries of the universe - a living machine. ITC summary

Background

• Final draft script 11th December 1974
• Filmed 20th December 1974- 9th January 1975

SFX

• Gwent was built in two scales (plus larger sections for the lift and Eagle docking). The big model was smashed by Nick Allder immediately after filming, in frustration after problems making the ship roll correctly. The model still existed in the late 1970s when it was photographed by David Hirsch.
• Three laser tanks were also built, to scale with the 44" Eagle. They were seen briefly in the This Episode clips of The Last Enemy and one appears in the Eagle hangar in Space Warp
• The 3 tanks and 2 Gwents were built by Martin Bower in 12 days.
• Stock footage of a manoeuvring Eagle is from The Last Sunset (also seen in War Games).
• Stock footage of an Eagle being shot over the Moonbase is from War Games.
• Gwent model photo
• Laser tank model photos
• Laser tank plans
• Library SFX

Music

Library tracks:

• Thunderbirds "Terror in New York City" by Barry Gray
• "Mission Control" composed by Harry Sosnik (Chappell Recorded Music Library)
• "Outer Space" composed by Robert Farnon (Chappell Recorded Music Library)
• "Lunar Landscape" composed by Roger Roger (Chappell Recorded Music Library). Slowed down for this episode.
• "The Monsters" composed by Ivo Vyhnalek (Chappell Recorded Music Library)
• "Dark Suspense No. 1" composed by Beda Folten (Chappell Recorded Music Library)
• "Subterranean" composed by Joe Venuto (Chappell Recorded Music Library)
• "Time Capsule" composed by John Cacavas (Chappell Recorded Music Library) (title was incorrectly recorded as "Celestial Mirror" on the cue sheet)
• ITC Music Cue Sheet

Harry Sosnik (born 1906, died 1996) was an American composer and musical director of many TV variety shows. This track was recorded by John Cacavas for Chappell in 1974. Cacavas (born 1930, died 2014) was an American composer and conductor who became very well known for his TV scores, especially Kojak (1973-1978, with the exception of the first 3 episodes and the first main title theme). He did few movies, notably Hammer's The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), and Airport 1975.

Ivo Vyhnalek (born 1930) is a Czech composer; he also used the pseudonym Beda Folten (from the Karel Capek novel).

Joe Venuto (born 1929) is an American percussionist,

Science

• There is no obvious reason why Gwent violates aerospace rules (the shape is symmetrical with rockets behind). The idea that bumble bees cannot fly is a popular myth of uncertain origin; the earliest reference is a 1934 book by entomologist Antoine Magnan. Insects swivel their wings during flight, generating more lift than fixed wings.
• How do sensors detect a body (and that it is dead)? Infra-red (thermal imaging is sometimes used to detect bodies, and survivors, in smoke and debris)?

Continuity

Chronology:

Alpha Personnel:

Unknown number of fatalities: perhaps 2 laser tank crews, 3 Eagle pilots.

Alpha Technology:

• Bergman's artificial heart is used again (it was introduced in Black Sun and used in Guardian Of Piri and Force Of Life).
• The laser rifle is seen. It is also used in War Games, Dragon's Domain and The Metamorph and is often seen in other episodes.
• We see the laser tanks for the only time. There are three designs, and perhaps six in total (two are destroyed). They are also glimpsed in the THIS EPISODE titles of The Last Enemy
• The moonbuggy is seen only as a model.

Eagles:

Eagle 1 and 2 (armed); 4 (supply) (3 Eagles are destroyed)

Planets:

None.

Aliens:

Delmer Powys Plebus Gwent from planet Zemo. Humanoid.

Props:

• Companion's bed was used as Arra's throne in Collision Course and as the Archon's throne in The Dorcons
• Companion's perspex table was used in the Daria in Mission of the Darians and in Dixon's office in Dragon's Domain.

Footage:

Errors

The supply Eagle exterior SFX shots show it docked to the portside. The interior set is docked to the starboard side.

Observations

• Many high and distant shots emphasise the size of the sets, and the loneliness of the central character. Mirrors and paintings of receding corridors further increase the perceived size of the sets. An award-winning chair by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio, the Pastil (1968), is used as set decoration: two are chairs, others are placed on top of two stacked Ditzel barstools to form columns. Both also appear (in black instead of red) in Mission Of The Darians.
• Gwent and Powys are counties in Wales created in 1974. Gwent means "The Place", Powys is an ancient kingdom whose name means "province".
• The title is from Jean Cocteau's 1934 play "The Infernal Machine" showing Oedipus crushed by a hostile world. "One of the most perfect machines constructed by the infernal gods for the mathematical annihilation of a mortal".
• "Said the spider to the fly". Bergman is quoting The Spider and the Fly, a poem by Mary Howitt, published in 1829. "Children's stories are brutal, Professor, but you have nothing to fear." "Except fear itself." Bergman's reference here is to Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first inaugural address in 1933 ("the only thing we have to fear is fear itself", referring to economic pessimism in the Depression).
• During a make-up session, Prentis Hancock was discovered to have a small tumour on his neck. During the filming of this episode he was in hospital having it removed, so he was written out and Winters introduced.

Merchandise:

• Novelised in Astral Quest by John Rankine published by Orbit (UK paperback), Dobson (UK hardback), Pocket Books (US), re-edited in Year One (Powys, 2020).
• Script adapted in Science Fiction Top Picks ed Judith Hatch published by Reader's Digest (US).
• Novelised in L'Ultimo Tramanto by Gianni Padoan (AMZ).
• A comic strip version is in Zack 1978-6 (German) and Il Fumetto A Colori Di Spazio 1999 3 (Italian).
• Laser tank kits: SMT (1999 and 2001)
• UK video: ITC volume 1 (1992)
• UK video: Another Night in TV Heaven, Volume 1 (Polygram, 1993)
• UK DVD: Carlton volume 6 (2001)
• UK DVD: Network (2005)
• UK Blu-ray: Network (2010)
• US laserdisc: Image Entertainment volume 8 (1991)
• US DVD: A&E set 4 volume 7 (2001)
• US Blu-ray: A&E (2010)
• US Blu-ray: Shout! Factory (2019)
• Japan laserdisc: Emotion volume 1 (1993)
• Japan DVD: Pioneer (2001)
• France video: Sony Music Video volume 1 (1992)
• France DVD: TF1 (2002)
• Germany DVD: EMS (2005)
• Germany Blu-ray (SD): Crest (2012)
• Germany Blu-ray (HD): Sunrise Entertainment (2012)
• Germany Blu-ray (HD): Fernsehjuwelen (2015)
• Italy DVD: Pulp Video (2004)
• Italy DVD: Collector's Edition Mondo Home (2007)
• Italy DVD: Newspaper promotion La Repubblica (2008)
• Italy DVD: "Guerre interplanetarie" (Interplanetary War) Pulp Video (2008)
• Australia video: CEL volume 4 (1995)
• Australia DVD: Magna Pacific (2003)
• Sweden DVD: Noble Entertainment (2009)

Links

• Images
  • High definition images
  • This Episode images
  • Publicity images
• Transcript Copyright Martin Willey
• More observations
• Critics comments Chris Bentley, Anthony McKay, John Kenneth Muir et al

External Links

• Ken Scott's episode guide
• Mailing List discussion