'Ticket To Terror' is the only Season One episode of 'Adam Adamant Lives!' to no longer to exist in the archives. Which is a pity as it is quite good. A train on the London Underground mysteriously vanishes, along with its 400 passengers. One of them is 'William E.Simms' ( the late Jack May ), the manservant to that adventurer extraordinary, 'Adam Adamant' ( Gerald Harper ). Adam shows up at the control room where 'Dr.Klein' ( the late Max Adrian ) is in charge. The indicator light on the board has gone out. Klein thinks a conspiracy is underway against him. Suddenly, without warning, the train returns. Adam looks forward to an explanation from the passengers as to where they have been. But there is a shock in store for him - they have turned to skeletons!
Written by Dick Sharples ( creator of the Thora Hird sitcom 'In Loving Memory' among other things ), this is an intriguing story. Even though none of it was filmed on the Underground, it does not matter. The B.B.C. in those days were rather adept at recreating the tunnels ( they also did it with the 'Dr.Who' story 'The Web Of Fear' ). As Adam investigates, his companion 'Georgie Jones' ( Juliet Harmer ) also vanishes. She, along with Simms, are forced to dig at the villain's bequest. When the test tunnel was dug in 1892, the roof collapsed, burying the workmen under tons of rubble. The authorities quickly sealed it off. Now it is being completed - to enable the villain to plunder the vaults of the Bank of England. Max Adrian also appeared in the first season of 'Up Pompeii' and the 'Dr.Who' story 'The Romans'. Ann Lynn, who plays 'Launa Caldwell', was 'Leslie Vincent' in the 'Danger Man' story 'To Our Best Friend'. Everyone's favourite Cockney-Australian - Reg Lye - is seen as 'Harold'. It would be nice if this were to resurface some day, to complete Season One.
Tina Wakerell, the director, was one of the few B.B.C. women directors at that time. Her other credits include 'Z-Cars' and 'Dr.Finlay's Casebook'.
Finally, a quick word on the recent casting of Peter Capaldi as the twelfth 'Dr.Who'. Excellent news. No more 'boy' Doctors, please B.B.C.
Written by Dick Sharples ( creator of the Thora Hird sitcom 'In Loving Memory' among other things ), this is an intriguing story. Even though none of it was filmed on the Underground, it does not matter. The B.B.C. in those days were rather adept at recreating the tunnels ( they also did it with the 'Dr.Who' story 'The Web Of Fear' ). As Adam investigates, his companion 'Georgie Jones' ( Juliet Harmer ) also vanishes. She, along with Simms, are forced to dig at the villain's bequest. When the test tunnel was dug in 1892, the roof collapsed, burying the workmen under tons of rubble. The authorities quickly sealed it off. Now it is being completed - to enable the villain to plunder the vaults of the Bank of England. Max Adrian also appeared in the first season of 'Up Pompeii' and the 'Dr.Who' story 'The Romans'. Ann Lynn, who plays 'Launa Caldwell', was 'Leslie Vincent' in the 'Danger Man' story 'To Our Best Friend'. Everyone's favourite Cockney-Australian - Reg Lye - is seen as 'Harold'. It would be nice if this were to resurface some day, to complete Season One.
Tina Wakerell, the director, was one of the few B.B.C. women directors at that time. Her other credits include 'Z-Cars' and 'Dr.Finlay's Casebook'.
Finally, a quick word on the recent casting of Peter Capaldi as the twelfth 'Dr.Who'. Excellent news. No more 'boy' Doctors, please B.B.C.
