V: The Original Mini – Series..

V: The Original Mini – Series Episode Guide..

V: The Original Mini – Series was one of the most popular Sci – fi Television events of all time.. An estimated 65 million people in the US alone tuned in to watch it.. This epic began with monumental Alien Motherships seen over 50 cities of the world.. A request was made by these aliens to meet with the Secretary General of the United Nations at the United Nations building in New York at 8 pm New York time.. As the clock struck 8 a smaller craft descended from the much larger alien Mothership over the city.. It set down on top of the UN building.. Moments later the UN Secretary General enters the craft and meets these new Visitors to earth.. Upon his urging the supreme commander of this alien fleet which has encircled the city’s of the earth agrees to come and speak in person to the citizens of earth directly.. He appears as a middle age man with a strange harmonic quality to his voice.. He promises peace and states that his planet is in dire environmental difficulty and is in need of the help of the people of Earth.. In return for such help he promises to share ” all the fruits of our knowledge; helping to solve your own environmental problems and health dilemmas, then we will leave you as we came, in peace..” From this point the Visitors of V were here to stay.. Industrial complexes on earth were converted to create synthetic compounds the Visitors said they needed for survival..

Some began to question the true motive of these Visitors.. They began to quickly disappear.. Anthropologists and scientists were being discredited worldwide.. Then it slowly became apparent than these Visitors did not come in peace but rather came to conquer and control.. They masterminded a conspiracy against scientists and doctors to turn people against these people who could do them harm.. The Visitors were not human as they appeared but rather reptilian creatures wearing human skins.. Their environmental needs were a distraction to turn attention away from why they were really there.. Through brainwashing and selective kidnappings the Visitors began to have an ever greater hold on the cities of the world..

Where once there were just Visitor technicians on the street now there were armed Visitor shocktroopers on every corner.. By enlisting the aid of those easily swayed and naive, the Visitors used humanity as its own helpful oppressive agent.. The Visitors set up youth training programs aimed at turning out loyal young men and woman.. The governments of the world were powerless against Visitor aerial superiority and weaponry from the beginning.. But now the Visitors were on the ground enlisting new traitors to humanity and placing agents of their control into positions of power.. They occupied military bases, dominated means of communication and controlled the cities..

Resistance was slow to organize against the Visitors but citizen resistance did organize.. Julie Parrish, a medical student organized a large resistance movement in Los Angles that in the beginning was composed mostly of scientists and others in hiding from Visitor torture and imprisonment.. They stole medical equipment and lead a basically successful raid against a military armory to obtain weaponry.. The resistance then used their new found weapons to defeat a Visitor aerial attack on a camp in the mountains.. The help of a captured Visitor skyfighter piloted by cameraman Mike Donovan sealed their Victory in this battle.. But the war was only beginning..

V: The Original Mini – Series ” Part One..”

Title: Episode #01

Date Aired: 01 May 1983 ( NBC )

Running times: 2 hour ( Approx )..

Bloopers found: 0

Plot: Fifty spaceships arrive over Earth’s major cities.. The alien ‘ Visitors ‘ come in peace.. They require aid, and offer technologial and medical advances in return.. However, the Visitors soon take control of the planet.. Fabricating a human conspiracy against them, they begin to remove key scientists, who pose a threat to them.. Human collaborators begin to inform on their own friends and families.. TV reporter Mike Donovan sneaks aboard one of the alien motherships, and discovers that the Visitors are really carnivourous reptiles.. Meanwhile, on Earth, doctors Julie Parrish and Ben Taylor carry out a raid to steal vital medical supplies for their fledgling resistance movement.. Ben is kiled by the Visitors, and Julie realises that humanity must try to resist the Visitors … or perish..

Credits:

Starring..
BLAIR TEFKIN ………………………… as Robin Maxwell
DAVID PACKER ………………………… as Daniel Bernstein ( Danny )
FAYE GRANT ………………………… as Dr Juliet Parrish ( Julie )
JANE BADLER ………………………… as Diana
MARC SINGER ………………………… as Mike Donovan
MICHAEL DURRELL ………………………… as Dr Robert Maxwell
MICHAEL WRIGHT ………………………… as Elias Taylor
NEVA PATTERSON ………………………… as Eleanor Dupres
PETER NELSON ………………………… as Brian
TOMMY PETERSON ………………………… as Josh

Guest Stars
ANDREW PRINE ………………………… as Steven
BONNIE BARTLETT ………………………… as Lynne Bernstein
EVAN KIM ………………………… as Tony Wah Chong
GEORGE MORFOGEN ………………………… as Stanley Bernstein
HANSFORD ROWE ………………………… as Arthur Dupres
JENNY SULLIVAN ………………………… as Kristine Walsh
LEONARDO CIMINO ………………………… as Abraham Bernstein
PENELOPE WINDUST ………………………… as Kathleen Maxwell
RICHARD HERD ………………………… as John
RICHARD LAWSON ………………………… as Dr Benjamin Taylor

Co-Starring
DIANE CIVITA ………………………… as Harmony Moore
ERIC JOHNSTON ………………………… as Sean Donovan
FRANK ASHMORE ………………………… as Martin
HOWARD K. SMITH ………………………… as Himself
JASON BERNARD ………………………… as Caleb Taylor
JENNY NEUMANN ………………………… as Barbara
JOANNA KERNS ………………………… as Marjorie Donovan
MARIN MAY ………………………… as Katie Maxwell
RAFAEL CAMPOS ………………………… as Sanchoe Gomez
ROBERT ENGLUND ………………………… as William ( Willie )
STACK PIERCE ………………………… as Jake ( Visitor Captain )
VIVEKA DAVIS ………………………… as Polly Maxwell
WILLIAM RUSS ………………………… as Brad

Executive Producer
KENNETH JOHNSON

Music By
JOE HARNELL

Edited By
ALAN MARKS
JACK SCHOENGARTH
PAUL DIXON
ROBERT RICHARD

Production Designer
CHARLES R. DAVIS

Director of Photography
JOHN MCPHERSON

Producer
CHUCK BOWMAN

Written By
KENNETH JOHNSON

Directed By
KENNETH JOHNSON

Trivia..

The part of Robin Maxwell was originally played by Dominique Dunn.. Dominique was tragically murdered by her boyfriend, four weeks into principal photography.. Blair Tefkin replaced her, however footage of Dominique still exists.. During the sequence where the Maxwell family look up at the approaching mothership, the close – ups are of Blair Tefkin, but the long – distance shots feature Dominique..

The Visitor Squad Vehicle which Sean and Josh can be seen playing with is, in actual fact, one of the filming miniatures.. The figures of John and Diana were probably thrown together by the props department..

The Visitor pistols were made up to resemble the German ‘ Luger ‘ pistols used in WWII; the rifles are simply extended versions.. The Pistol and rifle were both released as toys by Arco Toys, who also released the rifle in Robotech packaging.. These toys were bought up by Laird Studios for use in the Masters of the Universe movie, but were never used..

V: The Original Mini – Series ” Part Two..”

Title: Episode #02

Date Aired: 02 May 1983 ( NBC )

Running times: 2 hour ( Approx )..

Bloopers found: 3

Plot: Mike Donovan discovers that his son has been abducted.. A rescue plan backfires, and he is captured and taken aboard the mothership.. He is saved by Martin and Barbara, members of the ” Fifth Column,” a group of Visitors opposed to the takeover of Earth.. Donovan escapes and joins up with Julie Parrish’s resistance group.. They plan to raid an armoury, and then rescue vital scientific equipment from a mountain camp.. However, Robin is captured, and Robert must reveal the location of the camp in exchange for her safe release.. Diana conducts a scientific ‘ experiment ‘ involving Robin and Brian, a Visitor whom Robin has fallen in love with.. Donovan sneaks back onto the mothership and meets Martin, who tells him that the chemical the Visitors need is a smokescreen; they are really stealing Earth’s water.. Donovan also learns that humans are being abducted for use as food.. Donovan, Robin, and Sanchoe Gomez escape the mothership in a Visitor Skyfighter, and manage to shake off their pursuers.. The resistance has pulled off their raid, but arrive at the mountain camp to find it under fire from a Visitor assault force. The resistance are able to defeat the Visitors with the help of Donovan´s stolen fighter craft.. Back at their hideout, Robin discovers that she is pregnant, and Brian is the father.. The Resistance have struck a huge blow against the Visitors, but the war is just beginning..

Credits:

Starring..
BLAIR TEFKIN ………………………… as Robin Maxwell
DAVID PACKER ………………………… as Daniel Bernstein ( Danny )
FAYE GRANT ………………………… as Dr Juliet Parrish ( Julie )
JANE BADLER ………………………… as Diana
MARC SINGER ………………………… as Mike Donovan
MICHAEL DURRELL ………………………… as Dr Robert Maxwell
MICHAEL WRIGHT ………………………… as Elias Taylor
NEVA PATTERSON ………………………… as Eleanor Dupres
PETER NELSON ………………………… as Brian
TOMMY PETERSON ………………………… as Josh

Guest Stars
ANDREW PRINE ………………………… as Steven
BONNIE BARTLETT ………………………… as Lynne Bernstein
EVAN KIM ………………………… as Tony Wah Chong
GEORGE MORFOGEN ………………………… as Stanley Bernstein
HANSFORD ROWE ………………………… as Arthur Dupres
JENNY SULLIVAN ………………………… as Kristine Walsh
LEONARDO CIMINO ………………………… as Abraham Bernstein
PENELOPE WINDUST ………………………… as Kathleen Maxwell
RICHARD HERD ………………………… as John
RICHARD LAWSON ………………………… as Dr Benjamin Taylor

Co-Starring
DIANE CIVITA ………………………… as Harmony Moore
ERIC JOHNSTON ………………………… as Sean Donovan
FRANK ASHMORE ………………………… as Martin
HOWARD K. SMITH ………………………… as Himself
JASON BERNARD ………………………… as Caleb Taylor
JENNY NEUMANN ………………………… as Barbara
JOANNA KERNS ………………………… as Marjorie Donovan
MARIN MAY ………………………… as Katie Maxwell
RAFAEL CAMPOS ………………………… as Sanchoe Gomez
ROBERT ENGLUND ………………………… as William ( Willie )
STACK PIERCE ………………………… as Jake ( Visitor Captain )
VIVEKA DAVIS ………………………… as Polly Maxwell
WILLIAM RUSS ………………………… as Brad

Executive Producer
KENNETH JOHNSON

Music By
JOE HARNELL

Edited By
ALAN MARKS
JACK SCHOENGARTH
PAUL DIXON
ROBERT RICHARD

Production Designer
CHARLES R. DAVIS

Director of Photography
JOHN MCPHERSON

Producer
CHUCK BOWMAN

Written By
KENNETH JOHNSON

Directed By
KENNETH JOHNSON

Trivia..

Watch out for the many water references leading up to Martin’s revelation..

Bloopers:

During the scene in the Bernstein house, while Danny is pouring the champagne, watch the framed picture behind him.. You will see the reflection of the boom microphone..
( Courtesey of Kenneth Johnson´s commentary on the V: The Mini Series DVD.. )

When Donovan pulls a loop in the Skyfighter, the in – cockpit footage is simply shown reversed and upside down, since the cockpit mock – up could not be turned upside down,. The giveaway is that Robin’s hair does not fall downwards..
( Courtesey of Kenneth Johnson´s commentary on the V: The Mini Series DVD.. )

During a shot of one of the Visitor Skyfighters strafing the mountain camp, the explosive ‘ squibs ‘ were wired in reverse.. The explosions were supposed to lead up to the building which explodes, but the building goes up first and then the explosions lead AWAY from the building.. The shot was kept in anyway, but was also re – done; the correct sequence can be seen a couple of minutes later!
( Courtesey of Kenneth Johnson´s commentary on the V: The Mini Series DVD.. )

V: The Original Mini – Series Trivia..

#  On 30th October 1982, Dominique Dunne, who had been signed to play the role of Robin Maxwell, was at her house with co – star David Packer going over lines for the next day’s filming, when her boyfriend John Sweeny arrived unexpectedly and throttled Dunne into a coma.. Five Days later, on 4th November 1982, Dunne died.. Blair Tefkin was cast to replace Dunne as Robin and all of the scenes that had been shot with the late actress were re – filmed.. According to the DVD commentary, however, Dunne is still visible from the back in one group scene that occurs as the Visitors arrive on earth..

# The mother ships are matte paintings.. There wasn’t a large – enough budget to build miniatures for them..

# The series was intended as a literal telling of the Nazi takeover of German and the resistance movement against it.. However, due to the popularity of Star Wars ( 1977 ), as well as the belief among network execs that the US citizens would not believe a fascist takeover, the network execs had the producers change it to a science fiction mini – series.. Other ideas such as communism, etc were also discussed, but discarded..

# In a massive media campaign before the series aired, posters with the line ” The Visitors Are Our Friends “ appeared in subways around the United States – just as they did in the first part of the mini – series.. Days before the first episode aired, each poster was spray – painted with a bright red “ V ” exactly as was done in the show..

# Was NBC‘s highest – rated program in two years.. It had a 40 share and 80 million viewers for each episode..

# The laser effects cost US$1,000 each.. The high cost was due to the lengthy post – production work by manually adding optical effects to the film..

# The character Diana was ranked #5 in TV Guide’s list of the 25 Greatest Sci – Fi Legends ( 1st August 2004 issue )..

# The music that plays when the ship is first seen has as a major motif consisting of three short notes followed by one long note.. This is the letter V in Morse code.. It is also patterned after Ludwig van Beethoven’s fifth symphony..

# Due to the high cost of the laser special effects, it was decided that human resistance fighters would use regular rifles and pistols.. This was explained away in the script as due to high security on the alien armories..

# It was hinted in the pilot that the Visitors were engaged in a war with another alien species.. However, this idea was never explored by the scriptwriters..

# The octagonal storage containers a device with what appear to be rotating red lasers inside a long glass tube, both of which are seen on the Visitors’ mother ship, later made regular appearances as set dressing and props on Star Trek: The Next Generation ( 1987 ) and other series..

# The company the resistance members steal medical equipment from is called Stamos Pharmaceuticals.. Producer / director Kenneth Johnson named it after actor John Stamos, who his daughter had a crush on at the time..

# Much of the non – original music for the filming of V was a combination of motifs from Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries and, more notably, motifs from the 4th Movement of Beethoven’t 5th Symphony..

# The music during the closing credits was a combination of most, if not all, motifs of the 4th Movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony closing with the final couple of measures of the 4th Movement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony.. According to Kenneth Johnson’s DVD commentary, the lyrics to Beethoven’s music were added with some self-admitted ” outrageous chutzpah “ and were the following translated into Latin: Glory to the Cause, Glory to the Fallen, Glory to the Fighters for Freedom, Victoria … Victoria, for Victory!

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