the Talking Bell

plot
On a hunting trip with Professor Haggerty, Raeburn accidentally shoots down a strange bell-shaped creature.  The creature is able to decode the English language and tells them that it has come from the star system Betelgeuse.  As his real name would be unpronounceable to humans, Raeburn gives him the name “Mister Bell”.  Mister Bell, however, cannot stay on Earth for long, as his mother ship, which is in orbit around Neptune, might leave without him.  As he takes their visitor home in Galasphere 347, Dart is contacted by Raeburn, who tells him to go straight to Jupiter to collect a plant specimen.  On his way to Scientific Headquarters, however, he falls into a hole in the ground and is unable to free himself.  While Slim and Husky try to rescue their captain, Mister Bell uses his tentacle to provide Dart with the energy he needs to survive.  Slim and Husky manage to dig him out, and they return Mister Bell to his mother ship.

notes
This is the third time we see the crew of Galasphere 347 make contact with life from another solar system, this having previously occurred in the Planet of Light and Message From a Star.

credits
a National Interest Picture production
produced by Roberta Leigh and Arthur Provis
directed by Frank Goulding
created & written by Roberta Leigh
voices by Libby Morris, Dick Vosburgh, Ronnie Stevens, Murray Cash
puppetry by Martin & Heather Granger, Joan Garrick
electronics by F.C. Judd
space consultant: Colin Ronan
recordist: Cyril Brown
dubbing editor: John Beaton
RCA sound recording
script assistant: Denise Kaye
cameraman: Arthur Provis
editor: Roy Hyde
art director: Roland Whiteside
models: Derek Freeborn
special effects & animation: Bill Palmer, Brian Stevens, Bert Walker
2nd unit cameraman: Jimmy Hopewell