Soon passing its incredible 45TH ANNIVERSARY legacy, this is a celebration of the classic, world popular original TV series from 1978, created by Glen A. Larson for UNIVERSAL TELEVISION. Re-live the heroic adventures of the crew of the mighty GALACTICA, fleeing the Cylon tyranny, in its epic search for the lost Thirteenth Tribe on Earth.
Just as tensions between the Commanders and warriors of the two Battlestars reach near breaking point with the removal of Cain's command by an angry Adama, an incredible wave of Cylon fighters, led from the front by a blood thirsty Baltar, attacks the Galactica and the fleet, bringing epic destruction and damage in their wake. Can the newly command re-instated Cain and the Pegasus, located beyond scanning range at the far side of the fleet, be able to help their comrades in time?
Relieved of his command by Adama, his superior officer, due to his willful destruction of the Cylon Tankers, Cain seeks solace with some vintage ambrosia in the Officer's Lounge of the Galactica, where he is soon supported by his two finest warriors, his daughter Sheba and Bojay. Both share his frustrations and sadness, pledging support to aid him in any possible way, despite the potential air of treason that the duo's actions could cause...
Intercepting the transport route of several Cylon Tankers, the integrated Blue and Silver Spar Vipers are soon caught up in battle against an escort raider squadron. Amidst this chaos of battle, Commander Cain, a surprise addition to the team, makes the most of the situation and sneakily destroys the two tankers and their vitally need fuel, their explosive fate watched by Sheba.
A determined Cain is ready to destroy the tankers.
A new effects shot used in the theatrical movie.
Cain's view from the Viper.
Cain swiftly destroys the second tanker before the arrival of Apollo and Starbuck, who soon query the disappearance.
Now, Adama will surely have no choice but to initiate Cain's prior bold plan to raid Gamoray for its alternate fuel source...
As the Colonial Viper squadrons of the Galactica and Pegasus begin integrating, so as to build a strong sense of teamwork, Adama and Cain make plans to capture a supply of Cylon fuel tankers to aid the depleted Colonial Rag-Tag fleet that is now stuck dead in space, ready prey for enemy attack. But Cain is unhappy with the planned intercept scenario, and will deviously find a way to make sure that the enormous fuel depot on Gamoray will be targeted instead. Tensions between the two leaders on future plans will soon reach breaking point.
Tracing the route of the Cylon Tankers and their escorts.
Luck has been on Commander Cain's side for several yahrens prior, and that happy streak continues further when he discovers that his old flame, the former Socialator Cassiopeia, has survived the destruction of the Twelve Colonies and resides aboard the Galactica. His passion for Cassie re-ignited, Cain has high hopes for their future, despite her ongoing relationship to Starbuck, whilst re-energizing his efforts and will to destroy the Cylons. The only concern now is how Sheba, once angry with her late mother's replacement, will react to Cassie's return into her father's life...
Offscreen, there were some early concerns in the story that Cassie was too young for Cain to have a romance with. Laurette Spang would hilariously recall that Lloyd Bridge's wife would also be on set to 'watch' the kissing scenes involving Spang and her husband, so as to keep an eye on things!
Bold warriors need bold Battlestars from which to fight, and none could be better in terms of ongoing warfare against the Cylon menace than the trusty Pegasus, a vessel that has been involved in some of Colonial history's greatest conflicts and resolutely survived them all alongside its feared and noted Commander Cain. The rumours of their demise at the Battle of Molocay, prior to the near destruction of humanity, would prove greatly exaggerated indeed...
Two Battlestars' reunited!
If ever an extra spark of morale building hope was needed for the Galactica and its constantly pursued Rag-Tag Fleet, then the return of Cain and the Pegasus is it!
Like father, like daughter! Commander of the battle-experienced Silver Spar Squadron, Lt. Sheba, like her father Cain, is dedicated and loyal to her Pegasus crew, her commander, and resolute in exterminating as many Cylons as she can, alongside her kinsman war comrade Bojay. Despite her clearly often tough exterior though, Sheba's beauty always shines through, as does her concerns and friendships to/with the tight team she has lived and worked with for numerous years. And now new friends, as well as early conflicts, are on the horizon with the appearance of Captain Apollo (whom she almost blows out of the skies with their first Viper patrol 'encounter') and the Battlestar Galactica.
Ready for battle in her Viper.
Played with beauty and strength by one of American TV's most popular, versatile and loveliest actors, Anne Lockhart, would prove the perfect casting choice to play Sheba, and certainly another fine addition to the spectacular female stars appearing during the series mid-run. And looking equally as great on the big screen too!
Regarded by his fellow Colonials and the former Twelve Colonies of Mankind as the greatest warrior and battle tactician of the human fleets in their battles against the Cylons, the formidable Commander Cain and his mighty Battlestar Pegasus were presumed destroyed in a major enemy counter attack at the Battle of Molecay two yahrens before the ultimate peace treaty massacre. But the rumours of his death soon prove greatly exaggerated, as Apollo and Starbuck discover during their long range patrol near the Gamoray star system.
Commander Cain is very much alive, well and, with the help of his dedicated warriors, still reducing the gall-monging, tin-plated Cylons to scrap metal. And with the help of old friend Adama and his Galactica, he intends to see in the fall of the Cylon empire! The fleet is soon rejoicing with the news of the 'living legend's return!
Well played by stalwart film/TV actor Lloyd Bridges, replacing Richard Crenna at the last minute in the role, Commander Cain would soon become one of the most popular supporting characters in the series' legacy.
Back in 1979, I was aware that the Battlestar Galactica saga was already a successful series in the US, but so far the British Thames/ITV channel that had purchased the one season run had had, at that time, some kind of delay in airing it, presumably because Universal/CIC were about to launch a second adventure on big screens - soon great news to this eager near ten-year old and I'm sure many many other fans like myself around the country. Mission: Galactica - The Cylon Attack was blasting its way to us, bringing us all-new action and all-new additional characters that would make an impact on the saga!
Though I'm sure I recall seeing poster promotions on selected red London buses about town, as well as the obvious Tube station publicity, plus promos in teen related magazine titles like Look-In and 2000AD on the actual release, as far as I was aware there was very little early publicity for the theatrical run - my mum and I literally found out about the movie whilst shopping in the West End and talking to someone at the Empire Leicester Square when we saw the coming soon poster outside of it. Once again, we would soon experience Galactica's second 'movie' in the seat-rumbling Sensurround experience they had there by release time, literally opening mere weeks before the return of the Star Wars saga with The Empire Strikes Back, which we'd also go on to see in the West End at the opposite Odeon Leicester Square. It was clear that Universal were trying to cash-in quick with their own sci-fi hit before Lucas's release, of which they still needed to make money back on the series enormous production costs of the time, but I didn't care, it was just great to have the mighty Battlestar and its heroes and villains back on the big screen, and would prove such a nostalgic experience!
And my thoughts on the film at the time? Well it was very enjoyable - I always liked Lloyd Bridges as the unflappable and bold Cain, was surprised by the return of John Colicos as Count Baltar, and the spectacular Cylon kamikaze attack was impressive, a sequence which I later discovered was culled from another series episode and not specifically shot for the film. The reuse of footage from the original theatrical adventure of 1978 was noticeable and irked a bit, exemplified by the Cylon Tanker sequence (albeit with new space battle action woven around it) and the Ovion minefield of Carillon, but, to compensate, there were thankfully some noticeable new effects shots added to the film from Universal Heartland that were much appreciated - I remember loving the Viper strafing run on the shocked Cylon civilians in their city (part of some great action on Gamoray, of which I also certainly liked Sheba and Cassie in their black outfits!) plus certain exciting shots in the space battles against the Cylon Raiders. I wore my Galactica poster art jacket with pride at the cinema that afternoon on school holiday!
From the debut of the legendary Commander Cain and Sheba, to the bold attack on Gamoray, enjoy our Forty-Fifth Anniversary celebrations for Mission: Galactica - The Cylon Attack!
