The Catacombs Episode Guide

Space Warp

The Beta Cloud Year 2 - Episode 15 A Matter of Balance

Writer Charles Woodgrove
Director Peter Medak

France/Canada Déformation spatiale Space Warp
Spain Torbellino espacial Space warp
Germany Der böse Zauber The Wicked Magic
Italy I naufraghi The Shipwrecked People
Japan Fear of the Four-dimension Space
Poland Podroz w czasie
Portugal Vazio Espacial Space Void
Portugal Passagem para Outra Dimensão Passage To Another Dimension

Eagle 1 gets lost in space and, as if that isn't enough, Moonbase Alpha has problems of its own when Maya's ability to transform herself into any living entity goes out of control.

Background

  • Shooting script dated 13th July 1976. Revised 27th July.
  • A "Double Up Helena" script, filmed simultaneously with A Matter of Balance. Shooting schedules dated 30th July, 16th August. Filmed 6th Aug- 24th Aug1976
  • For the scene when the Maya animal throws Alan in Medical, a low camera angle meant a false ceiling was installed. The stuntman (Tim Condren) bounced off a trampoline, but was so intent on missing the ceiling he landed two feet short of the mat. He broke two teeth and his collar bone.
  • Edited into the 1982 compilation movie Cosmic Princess
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SFX

  • The Menon cruiser is a redressed version of the Archanon spaceship from Mark Of Archanon with a new nose section. In long shots it is docked with the 22 inch Eagle. Closeups of the 44 inch Eagle docked use a larger version of one bulkhead built for this episode.
22inch Eagle and Archanon ship - click for larger image (57k) 44inch Eagle and bulkhead section- click for larger image (82k)
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The 2nd Eagle model is in the foreground, the 3rd is barely visible behind flames which severely damaged the model. The first Eagle model, with a striped rescue pod, and a moonbuggy are also in this shot (top right), almost completely hidden by the flames.

Music

Original score by Derek Wadsworth

Science

  • The data bank cartridges have arabic numerals.
  • "Area Copernicus of the Copernicus depression". There is a Copernicus crater on the Moon; obviously it must be in walking distance of Moonbase Alpha. Copernicus is incorrectly called a mountain in Journey To Where.
  • The Betanon scout cruiser is said to be 12 parsecs from the mothership Admenon when it entered the space warp. That is considerably farther than the 5 light years the Moon moves. Although they use space warps, they evidently have faster than light capabilities anyway.
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Continuity

Chronology:

1807 days after leaving Earth orbit (Tue 24 Aug 2004)

Alpha Personnel:

0 fatalities.

Alpha Technology:


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Laser tank is far left.
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Spine boosters are on the left.

Eagles:

Eagle 1 (Koenig); 2 (Refuelling); 4 (Maya, crashed)

Maya transformations:

Space Animal 1, Mentor/male Psychon, Space Animal 3
  • Maya changes into her father Mentor, from The Metamorph. Although scripted as such, it is plainly not Brian Blessed and could be another Psychon (the costume is Dorzak's).
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Planets:

None

Aliens:

Grasshopper/Capt Duro of the Menon, scout ship for the mothership Admenon). Humanoid.
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Props:

Errors

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During the space warp sequence, the spinning Command Center is flopped left for right.
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The Maya Animal enters elevator 7. However, when she leaves the elevator, the door is marked "elevator 3". Thanks to John Day.
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Alan's spacesuit visor knocks open during the fight.

Observations

Merchandise:

Links

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External Links



Contents copyright Martin Willey