 |
Valley of the Dinosaurs
"Smoke Screen"
TV episode
Written by: Unknown
Directed by: Charles A. Nichols
|
A race of primitive ape-men attack the
cave-dwellers.
Notes from the Valley of the
Dinosaurs Chronology
I have placed this as Episode 2 in the chronology, despite its
original airing as Episode 5, since it is here that John Butler
shows the cave-dwellers how to make and use a bow and arrow and Lok
is seen carrying one in "Katie's Challenge", which seems to take
place early in the Butler family's time in the Valley of the
Dinosaurs.
Didja Know?
The writers of each TV episode are not specifically revealed,
but the end credits of every episode listed the series writers
as: Peter Dixon, Peter Germano, James Henderson, Ernie Kahn, Ben
Masselink, Dick Robbins, Henry Sharp, and Jerry Thomas.
The pterosaur seen at the beginning of the episode appears
to be a Pteranodon. A water-dwelling plesiosaur and
a pair of brontosaurs are also seen, as well as what could
be a Gallimimus.
The ape-like hominoid species seen in this episode (called "geebos"
by Gorok) are difficult to identify taxonomically.
The giant lizard seen at 3:36 on the DVD may be a
Postosuchus. Fossils of this species of ancient reptile
have been found only in North America, not South.
Gorok identifies a large, male geebo he calls Creen as
leader of the apes.
Oddly, Gorok states that the ape-like geebos do not climb!
When Greg wants to accompany Lok and Katie to confront Creen,
his father says, "Hold on, Tarzan."
Tarzan, of course, is the world-renowned character created by
Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912, a British boy who was lost in
the African jungle and raised by apes.
Katie compares Creen to a baboon in the
San
Diego Zoo. Her mention of this zoo may mean the Butler
family lives in the southern California area. However, a
statement she makes in
"Forbidden Fruit" vaguely suggests a
Brooklyn
origin for the Butlers; however, the San Diego Zoo reference
here is stronger.
Notice at 8:02 on the DVD that Creen still has a piece of
rope around his left ankle from the Butler's snare. But it
wasn't there just moments earlier!
The birds seen at 8:14 on the DVD are probably
Archaeopteryx judging by the large frond-tail.
The equids seen at 11:28 on the DVD may be the extinct
species Eohippus, a miniature ancestor of
the modern horse, known to have lived in North America
during the Eocene epoch 56-34 mya.
To protect them all from the rampaging geebos, John shows
his cave-dweller friends how to make a bow and arrow,
adding, "Later, you'll find it a fine tool for hunting." Yeah,
and also for making war with your neighbors! Of course, this
is a kid's show, so we don't see these negative ramifications
of the Butlers' interference in the lives of the primitive
cave dwellers!
As Lok pulls back his bow in the confrontation with the
geebos, Katie tells him, "Fire away, Robin Hood!" Robin Hood
is the heroic outlaw archer of English folklore known since the
late 13th Century.
When Greg says, "Big deal" at 20:27 on the DVD, it sounds
like someone other than usual voice actor Jack E. Haley
doing the voice!
Memorable Dialog
what have we done wrong now?.wav
lizard stew and worm spaghetti.wav
Back to Valley of the Dinosaurs
Episode Studies
