INSIDE THE KINGDOM OF THE OVIONS!

The discovery of the Ovion civilisation inside the Tylium mine caverns of Carillon sees Apollo and his recon party encounter the aliens' mysterious Queen leader, Lotay, in a reshot sequence from Saga of a Star World.

It's a shame that the series couldn't reveal more alien creatures during its singular season run.

ORE SHIPS' DEPARTURE!

Two distinctive Ore/Mining vessels leave an alien world in a clearly composited photo that appeared in an early issue of the American Fantastic Films magazine circa 1979/1980. Whether this composition was handled by Universal or ILM for publicity is anyone's guess. At least one Ore Ship would be seen in several shots within the pilot episode as part of the Rag-Tag fleet, and as part of a matte painting on the surface of Carillon.

CLASSIC ART: DEATH TO THE OVIONS!

The classic Marvel Comics Galactica series had some very memorable action-orientated covers to win over readers, but here's one that sadly never made it, the original planned version for issue three, which was adapting Saga of a Star World, and sees our heroic Starbuck stealing the limelight as he fights the cannibal Ovions deep within their creepy lair on Carillon. 

Inking art by Jeff Aclin, who originally posted this piece on his Instagram page a while back.

BEHIND THE SCENES: A HELPING HAND...

It certainly was difficult for the extras and stunt men inhabiting the bulky and impressive Cylon Centurion costumes during filming of the original series. Thankfully, the long and sweaty days can improve when someone like the lovely Laurette Spang comes to assist, as seen in this behind the scenes shot from the filming/publicity for Saga of a Star World at Universal Studios, during the Summer of 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO FELL A CYLON...

Our Colonial Warrior heroes, now aware of the Ovion's secret liaisons, are more proficient than ever at killing Cylons, as seen in this great image linked to unused footage, or specially staged action for the press, linked to the finale mine escape sequence.

MUSIC FOR A ROYAL AUDIENCE!

Seetol and her workers from the onscreen scene of Saga of a Star World.

A Queen loves nothing more than being entertained by her minions, especially the alien Ovion Queen known as Seetol (played by stuntwoman/actress Sandra Gimpel, best known in 1960's Star Trek as playing the first alien monster in The Man Trap), enjoying the adoration brought to her, and delighted to be in league with the Cylons in capturing the human race for their unique dinner menu. Fine alien monsters created for Saga of a Star World.

Images from the original, more eerie looking filming before the re-shoot on a revised set previously used for the underground lair corridor.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A WINNING STREAK!

It's a gambling paradise for Starbuck at the newly discovered, seemingly too good to be true Carillon Casino. And having known all the casinos on the star circuit, how has this one prior escaped his notice? The beginning of a deadly mystery for our Viper pilot hero, and his long suffering and loyal buddy Boomer, from Saga of a Star World.

EXPLOITING THE HUMAN HOLOCAUST!

It's hard to believe that Sire Uri was one of the best and brightest of the Twelve Colony worlds' human populace. By the tine of Saga of a Star World, such characteristics are long gone. Now he's a corrupt, greedy and foolhardy figure intent on bringing the last remnants of his people to unforeseen ruin on the luxury death trap that is the Ovion resort on Carillon.

A fine and accomplished character actor, Ray Milland proved a superb casting choice in the Galactica pilot. What a shame the character never cam back for more antagonistic powerplay tussles with his old enemy, Adama...

CLASSIC IMAGE: STARBUCK - THE WANNABE POP GURU!

One of the great scenes from Saga of a Star World, as Starbuck and Boomer, newly arrived at the bizarre but popular Carillon Casino, discovers its many mysterious pleasures, in particular the singing sensation talents of the now series iconic Toucana sisters. Money signs are soon in Starbuck's eyes with the trio's potential on the music star circuit, and as their potential manager!

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON CONFRONTATION!

Born to fight their long time enemy, Starbuck and Boomer encounter their dreaded Cylon enemy at the heart of the Carillon Casino operation, in this great posed publicity image from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC ART: LANDED ON A STRANGE WORLD...

Another one of the much-missed Ralph McQuarrie's concept/production paintings for the Saga of a Star World pilot from 1977/78, an evocative piece showing one of our heroes' Colonial Vipers parked on a strange world's terrain, which I presume is an early iteration of the tylium fused world of Carillon? 

CLASSIC IMAGE: STARBUCK SHOOTS TO KILL!

 

Deep within the dangerous and vile Ovion mines of Carillon, Lt. Starbuck takes down more Cylon opposition in another famous series posed promotional image of Dirk Benedict from Saga of a Star World used on many merchandise items, most notably for US and International jigsaw puzzles of varying sizes.

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE REALM OF THE OVIONS!

Deep in the bowels of the mystery world of Carillon, an insectoid Ovion mine worker leads his Colonial visitors in a trek across the bridge entrance to the alien race's underground realm of power and nightmares in this unseen angle/moment from Saga of a Star World that ultimately made it to TOPPS card form in 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON FURY!

Their secret garrison located under the Ovion casino now called out, the Cylons continue their attack against the soon ascendant escape party led by Apollo and Starbuck, in this memorable moment from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: BLAST-OFF!

Colonial ships tear away from the surface of Carillon to aid the attacked Galactica, in this great effects shot that looked very effective when seen on the big screen back in 1978/79.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: GOING, GOING...

Too late to make escape velocity after having been tricked by Apollo and Starbuck's Vipers, the Imperious Leader's Cylon Basestar is caught in the Tylium energy vapours of the planet and is soon part of Carillon's devastating explosion!

Listen carefully to the audio effects of the impending explosion of the Basestar- there's lots of old reused Universal Studios horror film sounds of electrodes and power channeling going back to Frankenstein. The varying explosions for the basestar were all shot separately and added together for this shot. The separate explosions would also be seen throughout the course of the weekly series, whenever a sequence involved massive destruction. The far left explosion was even desaturated and used as part of the series opening narration visual sequence.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: DESCENDING FOR PROTECTION!

Despite dangerous escalating fires building on the Tylium crusted surface of Carillon, the Imperious Leader's Basestar descends further to the planet, what with the news of Colonial Viper 'squadrons' heading their way to attack them, in this great angle from Saga of a Star World.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: SPEEDY DEPARTURE!

"Boy, are they in for a surprise!", declares Starbuck, as the combined Viper squadrons of the Galactica depart Carillon and soon engage the Cylon armada attacking their home vessel. This time, however, the surprise factor has been turned directly to Humanity's advantage...

'GALACTICA' AT 40: UNDER THE CARILLON SKY

The secretly sent planet-side Blue Squadron vipers await their newly arrived piloting masters on Carillon, in this lovely matte painting art from ILM/Apogee (note the fuel tanker vessel in the background - in the official novelisation Starbuck was to perilously pilot it to the fleet amidst Cylon attack).

Whoever did the painting is unknown, though it was also used as a photo blow up for Carillon exterior scenes filmed at Universal, behind the close-ups scenes needed of the main pilots racing to their ships - primarily the full-scale build Viper prop and several cut-out dummies behind that, and a visual trick that had also been used with the Rebel hangar scenes of the original Star Wars during its London filming in 1976.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: SURFACE TRAVELLERS!

In quick second unit filming, costumed background extras (possibly including members of the original ILM/Apogee), including one playing Boomer, travel the singularly-built Galactica Landram across the deserts outside California, for an insert scene for Saga of a Star World.

The location filming took place at Ridgecrest Trona Pinnacles. Its epic expanse was also used in several Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episodes (likely stock footage from what was shot for Galactica) and also for a lot of the action of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.