16 September 1970 – 15 March 1973
UFO is a British science fiction television series about the ongoing covert efforts of a government defence organisation to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. It was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.
A single series of 26 episodes (including the pilot) was filmed over the course of more than a year; a five-month production break was caused by the closure of MGM-British Studios in Borehamwood, where the show was initially made. Production then moved to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. UFO was first broadcast in the UK and Canada in 1970, and in US syndication over the next two years.
The Andersons' live-action science fiction movie Doppelgänger (also known as Journey to the Far Side of the Sun) is considered an immediate precursor to UFO, which was their first entirely live-action TV series (their previous shows had used marionettes). The series featured actors, costumes, props, locations and music that had appeared in the film, and 11 cast members of the film appeared in at least one episode of UFO.
Following syndication in the US and initial favourable ratings, a possible second series was planned; initially entitled UFO 1999, this eventually became Space: 1999.
Storyline[]
The series' premise is that in 1980 (a date indicated repeatedly in the opening credits), Earth is being visited by aliens from a dying planet, who are abducting humans and harvesting their organs for their own bodies. The alien incursions may also be a prelude to a possible full-scale invasion. The series' main cast of characters are the staff of a secret, high-technology international military agency called SHADO (an acronym for Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation) established by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, France and Germany (believed to be West Germany as the city of Bonn is mentioned along with Washington, Paris and Moscow) to defend Earth and humanity against the mysterious aliens and learn more about them, while at the same time keeping the threat of an alien invasion hidden from the public.
Sound Effects Used[]
- Benny the Cab Revving (Heard once in "Identified")
- Benny the Cab Skidding
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 1
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 2
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 7 (Heard twice in "Identified")
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 8
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 9
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 10
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 16 (Heard once in "Identified")
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 18 (Heard once in "Sub-Smash")
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 19
- CINESOUND GUNSHOT 01
- Cinesound Klaxon Sound 1
- CINESOUND MALE GRUNT 01
- CINESOUND MALE SCREAM 01
- Cinesound Rocket Fire 01
- DISNEY RAIN 01
- Elektra Records, Car Skid And Crash/Sound Ideas, AUTO, CRASH - SKIDS AND CRASHES 03/Sound Ideas, CRASH, AUTO - AUTO APPROACH, SKID AND CRASH, CARTOON
- R-B SCI FI, CARTOON - GIDNEY AND CLOYD'S APPEARANCES
- Roger Rabbit Ahooga Sound
- SoundDogs, Cartoon & Comedy, Cartoon FX - Ufo Zippy Howie
- Sound Ideas, AIRPLANE, JET - ROCKY THE SQUIRREL WHIZZES BY
- Sound Ideas, CRASH, CARTOON - BIG CAR CRASH
- Sound Ideas, SCI FI - ROSEY'S ROBOT MOTOR
- Space Lightning 02
- Unknown Blowing Nose Sound