The Beta Cloud - Production Notes

Production Notes

• Using the 'Charles Woodgrove' pen-name a second time, series producer Fred Freiberger wrote this script with the following brief: 'How do you defeat the undefeatable?' It intrigued him that the Alphans could not defeat this creature with their considerable technical skills and ingenuity, yet a simple life-form (a bee) could bring about its downfall. It also took into consideration that series stars Martin Landau and Barbara Bain would be available for only one filming day, as it was scheduled for production during the Landaus' contracted holiday in the south of France. With the script relegating the leads to bed, the supporting ensemble found themselves with greatly expanded roles. Always budget conscious, Freiberger refused the normal writer's fee, asking only to be reimbursed for expenses.

• During post-production, it became apparent that the episode would come in well under the required fifty-minute running time. Several additional minutes were written and filmed six weeks later during the production of 'The Bringers of Wonder'. The extra material included (1) A new 'hook', where the Alphans first encounter the cloud and the viewer witnesses its sinister effect on the Alphans' health (the script's original hook was a 'cold-open' with everyone already ill and Helena narrating her status report; this became the opening of Act One); (2) Additional footage of Fraser beginning work on the electrical barrier; (3) Maya's breakdown and the Weapons Section sequence where they fire at what they hope is the creature's control centre.

• Ironically, one part of this under-running story was trimmed. The epilogue in the Medical Centre would have had Verdeschi, after taking back his love declaration, referring to a model in a magazine he had been reading as being a 'great-looking female'—said model being a normal-appearing Catherine Schell. Maya would have transformed into Catherine Schell, accused him of having questionable taste, and torn the photograph of herself in half. Catherine Schell stated that Barbara Bain objected to the idea of Schell being shown in her natural (blonde) appearance and demanded the footage be removed.

• Director Robert Lynn encountered actor and former British Weightlifting Champion David Prowse in Harrods when asking for advice on exercise equipment, and hired him for the physically demanding role of the creature. Immediately after Space: 1999, Prowse was cast in the equally-concealing part of Darth Vader in the Star Wars film series.