Kill Straker!

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

"Kill Straker!" is the seventh episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written Donald James and the director was . The episode was filmed between 5 November and 17 November 1969 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 4 November 1970. Though shown as the seventh episode, it was actually the sixteenth to have been filmed. The episode was originally titled The Inside Man.^[1][2]

The series was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.^[3]

Story[]

Col. Paul Foster and Captain Frank Craig are piloting a lunar module when it is approached by a UFO. Both are then subjected to mind-altering impulses that cause them to want to kill Commander Edward Straker. Straker makes a split-second decision that saves the men from crashing.

Returning to Moonbase Alpha, Foster starts to criticise Straker's performance and then Craig makes an unsuccessful attempt to kill Straker in his sleep. Craig also tries to destroy Moonbase's supply of air and water but is killed in the attempt. To further discredit Straker's abilities, Foster sends a critical report on him to General James L. Henderson, leading to a confrontation between Straker and Foster. Foster pulls a gun, a bullet punctures Moonbase's sphere and the two pass out from lack of oxygen.

Now back on Earth, Foster is placed under hypnosis by Dr.Jackson which reveals that the aliens mentally implanted the impulse to kill Straker. Although Foster's career with SHADO appears over, Straker is not willing to give up on him and decides to test if Foster can combat the urge. He puts himself and Foster in a sealed room and tries to convince Foster that he is going to kill him. Foster demonstrates that he can overcome the urge to kill Straker; soon after he is returned to active duty.^[4]

Cast[]

Starring[]

• Ed Bishop — Col. Edward "Ed" Straker, Commander-in-chief of SHADO
• Michael Billington — Col. Paul Foster
• Grant Taylor — Gen. James L. Henderson, President of IAC
• George Sewell — Col. Alec E. Freeman, Second-in-command of SHADO
• Harry Baird — Lt. Mark Bradley
• Gabrielle Drake — Lt. Gay Ellis
• Dolores Mantez — Lt. Nina Barry
• Keith Alexander — Lt. Keith Ford
• Ayshea — Lt. Ayshea Johnson
• Vladek Sheybal — Dr. Douglas Jackson

Featuring[]

• David Sumner — Captain Frank Craig
• Steve Cory — Moonbase guard
• Louise Pajo — Nurse

Production notes[]

Locations included Neptune House, BBC Elstree Studios, Borehamwood; and MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood.

References[]

External links[]