Object Z

An absolute discovery for fans of vintage British Sci-fi series, OBJECT Z has remained unseen since its first transmission back in 1965, when it was broadcast live as a six-parter by ITV. Now, thanks to the good people at BFI Film, OBJECT Z is available in Dual Format edition (Blu-ray and DVD).

The series, written by Chris McMaster, was made by Rediffusion - known for their forward-thinking and often hard-hitting output. OBJECT Z - despite obvious budget constraints, is no different. Au contraire, compared with considerably more sophisticated looking and groundbreaking fare such as STAR TREK: The Original Series, which bounced into existence in 1966, Rediffusion’s sheer imagination, charm and innovation ought to be applauded.

In the first episode, we are in an observatory somewhere in Scotland, where astronomers June Challis (Margarete Neale) and Robert Duncan (Denys Peek) discover a mysterious mass or perhaps a meteor, which henceforth is referred to as Object Z. It is hurtling through space and heading towards Earth at frightening speed. The discovery needs to be investigated straight away and head astronomer Doctor Ramsey (Ralph Nossek) is in charge of the operation. He and his team come to the conclusion that if the strange object is made of stone, then some Earthlings might survive the impact but if the object is made of metal, humankind will be wiped out.
When savvy TV-reporter Peter Barry (Trevor Bannister), who works for UK-TV broadcasting, ushers Ramsey into the TV-studio for a live interview regarding the discovery, he senses that Ramsey isn’t revealing everything. It’s only after further probing that Barry, his assistant Diana Winters (Celia Bannerman) and her romantic interest Brian Barcley (Brandon Brady), who also conducts research and works with Barry, unveil the shocking truth.

Doctor Ramsay, together with assorted other astronomers and scientists, has no other choice than to inform PM Sir John Chandos (Julian Somers) about the impending doom. Chandos must now coordinate with other world leaders, including Russia and the USA, to put political differences behind and come together to create a huge missile capable of destroying Object Z before impact. At the same time, bunkers and shelters are built for the safety of the global population though soon it becomes clear (costs aside) that time is running out (impact time is calculated at six weeks)s. In short, here simply cannot be enough shelters to save everyone on this planet and the lottery for survival has begun! There’s a particularly amusing yet poignant scene in which two gentlemen dressed in pin-stripe suits and wearing bowler hats (clearly working at the stock market) discuss the pros and cons of the situation, with some London buildings (very obviously an enlarged photograph!) behind them. In contrast, two typical Cockney women, fag dangling out of their mouthes and sounding like fishwives, also discuss the pros and cons of the overall situation. The scenario is almost comical.

Then we encounter patriotic (make that right-wing) individual Keeler (Arthur White), who is power-mad, always ranting, always shouting and striving for world-domination, with his secret headquarters stacked away in a cave in the Scottish Highlands. He aims to use the complete breakdown of civil order to his own political gain and advantage (think Oswald Mosley). Of course, this is already a clue that all is not what it seems because if planet Earth might really be destroyed in a few weeks time, then why bother with a political rally at all? Indeed, when confronted by Barry about his political stance, Keeler calmly remarks that “Even Stalin started off as a bank robber while Hitler started out in a beer cellar”, with Barry sarcastically replying, “And see what happened…!”

When it becomes clear that the object is in fact neither a mysterious mass nor a meteor but may well be an alien spacecraft, US-President McCone (Robert O’Neil, with a decidedly British accent) makes it clear that no chances ought to be taken and - in typical American gung-ho fashion - the spacecraft has to be destroyed. With reporter Barry and assistant Diana traveling all over the globe, they first land in Woomera in Australia, from which the first missile is to be launched. Later on, they also travel to a desert in the Middle East among other places (once again, cleverly filmed on native turf). But then, something unexpected happens: the object changes course and heads into a different direction into orbit - how is it possible and why? The worldwide relief doesn’t last long though, because suddenly, three further objects are discovered by June Challis and Robert Duncan, with Doctor Ramsay stating that the initial Object Z must have been merely a vanguard. Just as you expect we get to see an alien invasion (well, there wouldn’t have been the budget for it anyway…), the plot takes a completely unexpected twist - followed by another….

By and large filmed in a studio in Wembley, there are only very few exterior shots. Due to lack of funding, which impacted the use of, shall we say, grander special effects, the series is very much dialog-driven with hardly any action at all. Instead, for scenes such as missiles fired into space or mass evacuations etc, stock footage was used. Even the repeated images of space with the mysterious object (later three objects) appearing is utterly static and nothing moves, certainly not Object Z! Despite these technical limitations and its primitive and rudimentary special effects (if you can call it that at all), OBJECT Z keeps you interested thanks to clever dialogue, strong performances and an engaging storyline. One year later, a follow-up called OBJECT Z RETURNS was produced, one again comprised of six 25min episodes and with much of the same cast as the first series but unfortunately, all episodes of ‘Object Z Returns’ are completely lost.

OBJECT Z comes with the following Bonus Material:
Audio commentaries for every episode / In search of SIERRA NINE (7 min) - edited highlights from the sole remaining episode of of the 1963 Rediffusion Sci-fi drama / Object Z Episode 1 shooting script / Image gallery / Illustrated booklet (first pressing only).