Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Episode Guide, Year Four, shows 5-8
Production information and notes by Mark Phillips
Story synopses, Mike Bailey

     Seaview sails under "sealed orders" from the president.  She must deliver a top-secret neutron weapon to Cook Island.  Problem is, the special bomb technician on board has gone missing, and the bomb is leaking radiation which if unchecked, may destroy Seaview.  Soon, the crew begin to disappear singly and in groups, until only a few crew are left (Crane Nelson, Kowalski and Morton).  Then, a strange dreamlike slow-motion state overcomes those who remain and soon Nelson realizes that the bizarre effects are the result of a gas being emitted by the bomb.  The president releases fail-safe just in time for Nelson to order the missile fired before it can explode, destroying Seaview and her intrepid crew.

Written: William Welch Directed: Jerry Hopper Guest Cast Jackson...............Jack Anthony Basehart Monster..........................Dawson Palmer               John Anthony Carmine Michael                   Basehart (Jack) & dad Richard

Trivia: Jack Basehart was Richard’s 15 year-old son, visiting from Italy where he lived with his mother, actress Valentina Cortesa.  It was Basehart who suggested his son be given the role of the earnest young crewman.  Despite his young age, Jack was already 6 feet tall.

Mark Says:  Crane’s surprise that a Neutron bomb has been perfected by the military brings to mind the controversy in the 1970s over The Neutron Bomb, which was designed to kill people but to keep buildings standing.

Mike Says:  When Sealed Orders came along, it was a great break from the monster-of-the-week shows and the general way-out tone the show had taken on since the beginning of the third season.  At last, I thought, something a bit more grounded in reality, even if a hallucinogenic one. 

Man of Many Faces (Airdate:October 29, 1967)
STORYLINE
     Just as Dr. Randolph Mason tells a TV interviewer that Admiral Nelson is the greatest opponent of his scheme to harness tides for unlimited energy, Nelson is seen to kill the doctor live on nationwide TV. Included in the millions of viewers who witness the murder is Admiral Nelson as he sits in his office at the Institute. A cat and mouse game of hide and seek ensues, with Nelson and Crane barely one step ahead of the mad genius "man of many faces" who's intentions to control the world's power may draw the moon down on Earth, ending life as we know it. Ignore the science and enjoy the show.

Written: William Welch Directed: Harry Harris Guest Cast Dr. Randolph Mason..........Jock Gaynor Commentator.................Howard Culver Page................................Bradd Arnold Newscaster........................Bart La Rue Truck Driver....................... Wally Rose                                  A murderous Nelson?

Mike Says:  This was the big one Voyage fans had been waiting for.  A return to previous quality.  Man of Many Faces is considered to be one of Voyage's best latter-season episodes.  It includes much that the series lacked in its last two seasons - location shooting, fun writing, and a creative plot included.  Not another monster-driven sub-bound episode.

Mark Says:  It would have been nice if we had seen shots of the moon tumbling towards the earth. Still, this is a terrific episode that takes many twists. This is also the only episode of the last two seasons that features extensive location filming (Crane’s car being pursued along a mountain roadway).

Fatal Cargo  (Airdate:November 5, 1967)
STORYLINE
     Hot on the heals of one of Voyage's best later-season shows (Man of Many Faces), comes this stinker.  In a remote area of Africa, Nelson's friend, Dr. Pierre Blanchard carries out experiments in animal control.  Blanchard's assistant, nefarious Leo Brock, arranges Blanchard's untimely death by great white gorilla (look for the zipper in back).  Nelson has the gorilla captured and brought aboard Seaview (not one of the Admiral's better ideas) for further study.  Brock and Crane have old axes to grind and much running around and gorilla carnage occur before Nelson tricks the gorilla and both Brock and gorilla are electrocuted.

Written: William Welch Directed: Jerry Hopper Guest Cast Leo Brock................Woodrow Parfrey Dr. Pierre Blanchard...........Jon Lormer Gorilla..........................Janos Prohaska Missile Room Guard....Denver Mattson Crewman.......................Orwin Harvey                                           White Gorilla

Trivia: Woodrow Parfrey played a devious coward in this show but the actor was actually a war hero. Orphaned as a boy, he later fought at the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, endured a year of being a prisoner in a German war camp and was awarded the Silver Star and The Purple Heart (for wounds received in battle).

Mark Says:  An energetic, sometimes unsettling episode that is impossible to dislike. Woodrow Parfrey makes the perfect villain and Janos Prohaska seems to enjoy playing the gorilla. The character of Captain Crane is written out of the episode early on. Crane disappeared for most of "Fires of Death" too.

Time Lock  (Airdate:November 12, 1967)
STORYLINE
     Nelson is timeknapped by silvery aliens and sent to the future where an ordinary looking human named Alpha explains that he wants to drain Nelson of his intelligence and will to rebel, and then to add him to his collection of great military figures.  Sharkey sneaks into Seaview's lab, where the aliens have set up their time bridge, and is accidentally sent into the future just in time to disrupt Alpha's efforts to convert Nelson.  The remainder of the hour is taken up by a seesaw series of escapes and recaptures and Alpha's attempts to convert Nelson into a mindless Zombie.  Finally, a wounded Sharkey is able to write a message in blood on a handkerchief and toss it into the time bridge.  Soon, a grenade-launcher toting Crane steps through the time bridge and rescues Nelson and Sharkey.  Before they leave Alpha's world, they set explosives that destroy the time bridge seconds after they return to Seaview.

Written: William Welch Directed: Jerry Hopper Guest Cast Alpha...........................John Crawford Androids............................Gil Perkins                                          Roy Sickner Guard..........................Patrick Culliton German General...............Alex Rodine German Officer..........Charles Horvath Capt. Bligh..................Hank Robinson Napoleon........................Lars Henson Civil War General............Hubie Kerns Pirate..............................Dave Dunlap General Wolfe.........George Hoagland Roman...........................Chuck Hicks Guard #2..................William Burnside

Nelson surrounded by historical zombies & Alpha (r).