View source for Planet of the Slave Girls

{{Infobox episodes
|name={{PAGENAME}}
|season=1
|numbers=3 & 4
|image=File:BR25 - Planet of the Slave Girls - Title screencap.png
|imagewidth=300
|airdate=September 27, 1979
|teleplay=Steve Greenberg<br>Aubrey Solomon<br>Anne Collins
|story=Steve Greenberg<br>Aubrey Solomon
|director=Michael Caffey
|previous=[[Awakening]]
|next=[[Vegas in Space]]
}}"'''Planet of the Slave Girls'''" is the third and fourth episodes of the 1st season of ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''.

==Synopsis==
The majority of Earth's fighter squadron becomes incapacitated after using poisoned food discs. Buck, Wilma and Duke Denton fly to the distant planet of the food's origin, Vistula. They seek to track down a slave trader named Kaleel who is collaborating with the planet's governor. While on the planet Vistula, they find that Kaleel has been building a fleet of attack ships in secret, and plans to use them against Earth's weakened defense forces. With Earth's defense force now heavily outnumbered 10-to-1, Buck decides that he must destroy the attack fleet and rescue Wilma, who has become trapped in Kaleel's mountain fortress.

==Plot==

<tabber>
 Act 1=
{{quote
|Dr. Elias Huer|His father is [[Tabor Saroyan]], the governor of [[Vistula]]. I suppose I should notify him personally. 
|Col. Wilma Deering|Just how serious is his condition?
|Dr. Elias Huer|It's his nerves controlling his voluntary muscles and motor coordination. They're deteriorating, just like all the others.
|Col. Wilma Deering|Others?
|Dr. Elias Huer|Yes. The [[Computer Council]] has ordered that a definitive statement to the general public not be made just yet. BUt so far here in New Chicago, 25,000 case have been reported. 
|Col. Wilma Deering|When did all this start?
|Dr. Elias Huer|Three days ago, while you and {{buck|Buck}} were gone. And another thing: this disease, or whatever it is, has cropped up in other cities on [[Earth]], but here in [[New Chicago]] it's much, much worse... You see, what the Computer Council is trying to keep secret is its effect on our defense squadrons, for they've been hardest hit of all.
|attribution=Dr. [[Elias Huer]] and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] discuss the condition affecting [[Regis Saroyan]], {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls|prose=Y}}
}} 
* 
 Act 2=
<!--{{quote
|Princess Ardala|One of the king's [[star fortress]]es on its way to [[Earth]] on a peace mission. 
|William "Buck" Rogers|On its way ''to'' Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not ''on'' Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that [[aspirin]].
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] to {{buck}} after the [[Draconians]] revive him, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}} -->
* 
 Act 3=
<!--{{quote
|Princess Ardala|One of the king's [[star fortress]]es on its way to [[Earth]] on a peace mission. 
|William "Buck" Rogers|On its way ''to'' Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not ''on'' Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that [[aspirin]].
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] to {{buck}} after the [[Draconians]] revive him, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}} -->
* 
 Act 1=
<!--{{quote
|Princess Ardala|One of the king's [[star fortress]]es on its way to [[Earth]] on a peace mission. 
|William "Buck" Rogers|On its way ''to'' Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not ''on'' Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that [[aspirin]].
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] to {{buck}} after the [[Draconians]] revive him, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}} -->
* 
 Act 4=
<!--{{quote
|Princess Ardala|One of the king's [[star fortress]]es on its way to [[Earth]] on a peace mission. 
|William "Buck" Rogers|On its way ''to'' Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not ''on'' Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that [[aspirin]].
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] to {{buck}} after the [[Draconians]] revive him, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}} -->
* 
 Act 5=
<!--{{quote
|Princess Ardala|One of the king's [[star fortress]]es on its way to [[Earth]] on a peace mission. 
|William "Buck" Rogers|On its way ''to'' Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not ''on'' Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that [[aspirin]].
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] to {{buck}} after the [[Draconians]] revive him, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}} -->
* 
</tabber>

==Notes==

[[File:BR25 - Planet of the Slave Girls, Part II - Title screencap.png|thumb|right|300px|"Planet of the Slave Girls, Part II" title card on the syndicated version of the episode.]]
*Originally aired as a 120-minute episode, but has been formatted as two 60-minute episodes in most subsequent re-airings for scheduling reasons. While many guides list it as a two-parter, its initial airing and release on DVD as one double-length episode should make this the official recognition.
* In the scenes where Dr. [[Elias Huer]] and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] visit [[Regis Saroyan]], and later when they make their way to Dr. [[Mallory]]'s lab, Deering is wearing a gold wrist watch on her left wrist, over her uniform's sleeve. This fleeting appearance of the 20th century-looking timepiece is never explained, particularly as it is distinctly out-of-place with her entire uniform. It suggests that this is either a costuming error, or part of a sub-plot that was either reshot or discarded during production.
* [[Ardala's launch]] is re-used as the shuttle heading to [[Kaleel]]'s fortress in the [[Sea of Stone]].
* The [[Galactica shuttle|''Galactica'' shuttle]] makes its first appearance in {{BRTV}}, although it is by accident as it is inferred that this is the craft piloted by Maj. [[Duke Danton]] and Capt. {{buck}} in pursuit of Deering's abductors—although that craft is later revealed to be the two-seater [[Thunderfighter]].

== Analysis ==

* Earth's reliance on outside sources for vital supplies is an Achilles' heel that is continually exploited by enemies.
* The fact that [[Earth]] has little knowledge of slavery (or indentured servitude) is discordant with facts around this episode, particularly when it seems abundant in the galaxy. It is not only exemplified by the subjects of the [[Draconian Empire]], such as [[Ardala]]'s [[handmaiden]]s, but other direct examples of it in various later episodes. For instance:
** [[Amos Armat]] is known for slave trafficking, according to [[Marla Landers]] {{BR25|Vegas in Space}}.
** The [[Ruathan]] envoy Mr. [[DeBronin]] (an [[ambuquad]]) is conveyed by his human subject in much the same way [[Twiki]] conveys Dr. [[Theopolis]] {{BR25|Planet of the Amazon Women}}.
** The illegal arms dealer [[Roxanne Trent]] uses Terran slave labor in the form of the deaf-mute [[Alicia]], and goes to note that the only reason Alicia is still "employed" by Trent is because the Terran labor market is depressed {{BR25|Return of the Fighting 69th}}.

== Questions ==

* Where did [[Wilma Deering]] get the gold wrist watch she carries, which seems out of place for her uniform? 
* How did [[Kaleel]] come by his powers?
* What is [[Galen]]'s story? How long ago did he defect from the [[Earth Defense Directorate]]?
* From what sources did Kaleel acquire his cache of weapons and [[Scorpion fighter]]s?
* How did the [[Food Directorate]] not know of Kaleel and the slave labor, particularly as there have been 3 successive appointments of [[Tabor Saroyan]]?

==Quotes==

==Cast==

<tabber>
Episode Cast=
*[[Gil Gerard]] as Capt. [[William Rogers|William "Buck" Rogers]]
*[[Erin Gray]] as Col. [[Wilma Deering]]
*[[Tim O'Connor]] as Dr. [[Elias Huer]]
*[[David Groh]] as Major [[Duke Danton]]
*[[Roddy McDowall]] as Governor [[Tabor Saroyan]]
*[[Brianne Leary]] as [[Ryma]]
*[[Macdonald Carey]] as Dr. [[Mallory]]
*[[Karen Carlson]] as [[Stella Warden]]
*[[Michael Mullins]] as [[Regis Saroyan]]
*[[Buster Crabbe]] as Brigadier [[Gordon]]
*[[Jack Palance]] as [[Kaleel]]
*[[Felix Silla]] as [[Twiki]]
*[[Mel Blanc]] as Voice of [[Twiki]]
*[[Robert Dowdell]] as [[Galen]]
*[[Sheila Wills]] as Major [[Fields]]
*[[Don Marshall]] as [[Julio]]
*[[Diane Markoff]] as [[Female Pilot]]
*[[June Whitley Taylor]] as [[Leila]] (credited as "Woman")
*[[Borah Silver]] as [[Leila's husband]] (credited as "Husband")
*[[Michael Masters]] as Worker
*[[Don Maxwell]] as Guard
*[[Nathaniel Brian Wine]] as Technician
*[[William Conrad]] as Voice of Narrator (uncredited)
*[[Eric Server]] as Voice of Dr. [[Theopolis]] (uncredited)

|-|
Episode Crew=
*Directed by Michael Caffey
*Teleplay by Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Solomon and Anne Collins
*Story by Steve Greenberg and Aubrey Solomon
*Produced by Jock Gaynor, Medora Heilbron, Bruce Lansbury, Glen A. Larson, David J. O'Connell and David G. Phinney
*Music by Johnny Harris
*Cinematography by Ben Colman
*Film Editors - Michael Berman and Leon Ortiz-Gil
*Casting - Phil Benjamin
*Art Directors - Fred Luff III and Paul Peters
*Set Decorators - Victor Hugo and Frank Lombardo
*Costume Designer - Sal Anthony

|-|
Production Management=
*Harker Wade - Unit Production Manager

|-|
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director=
*Bob Bender - First Assistant Director
*Gerald T. Olson - Second Assistant Director

|-|
Art Department=
*Jerry Allen - Model Builder
*Ted Wilson - Carpenter (uncredited)

|-|
Sound Department=
*Earl Crain, Jr. - Sound
*Dick Wahrman - Sound Effects Editor

|-|
Special Effects=
*Chuck Arrigo - Special Effects Coordinator (uncredited)

|-|
Visual Effects=
*Peter Anderson - Visual Effects Supervisor: Universal Hartland
*David M. Garber - Miniature Effects
*Wayne Smith - Miniature Effects

|-|
Stunts=
*Bob Bralver - Stunts (uncredited)

|-|
Camera and Electrical Department=
*Gary Armstrong - Assistant Camera
*Kenneth Hale - First Assistant Camera

|-|
Music Department=
*Johnny Harris - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)
*Stu Phillips - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)

|-|
Additional Crew=
*Alan Brennert - Story Editor
*Anne Collins - Story Consultant
</div>

</tabber>

==Related Subjects==

{{Episode Subjects|{{PAGENAME}}}}

==References==

==External links==
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0533107/ ''Planet of the Slave Girls''] at IMDb
*[https://www.nbc.com/buck-rogers-in-the-25th-century/video/planet-of-the-slave-girls-part-1/3979534 ''Planet of the Slave Girls, Pat I''] at NBC.com
*[https://www.nbc.com/buck-rogers-in-the-25th-century/video/planet-of-the-slave-girls-part-2/3979535 ''Planet of the Slave Girls, Part II''] at NBC.com

{{Episodes (BR25)}}</div>
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[[Category: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]
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