The quote above is from Captain Chrostopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) stranded on the planet Talos IV, but it could just as well have been Gene Roddenberry considering how he might bring his visionary space-Western to the small screen back in the Sixties. With hindsight, one wonders how the execs at NBC didn't see the potential for a cerebral sci-fi show back then, but then again, cerebral execs are putting things like 'Jersey Shore' on TV today, so what do I know.
The story line for 'The Cage' should be familiar to anyone who's seen both parts of 'The Menagerie' which debuted in Star Trek's first season. Roddenberry used most of the footage to explain the eventual fate of Captain Pike in what many consider one of the best stories of the entire series. Watching it in both it's original and restored versions is an interesting exercise, as we get a unique glimpse into what Roddenberry might have been originally thinking about. Majel Barrett for example could have been destined to be second officer in command one day. Introduced as Number One on the bridge of The Enterprise, Barrett's role was downgraded to Doctor McCoy's assistant once the series got underway, and as a blonde to boot.
Though it's not as apparent in 'The Menagerie', Spock is presented here as a bit too strident considering his character's development over time; one might say he was almost emotional. Other than Pike, Spock and Number One, the rest of the crew seemed rather bland, with John Hoyt's portrayal of Dr. Boyce as the only other character of significance. It might be his age worked against his making the final cut. Sure it's discrimination, but can you see him arguing with Spock each week the same as McCoy after having that bartender/doctor talk with Pike?
A couple things I got a kick out of - did you catch the old style 1960's TV set in the Captain's quarters with the wood cabinet? That's as stylish as it got back in the day. Also, I don't recall another episode of Trek in which the crew, when not on duty, would walk around in casual clothes on board the Enterprise. In fact I don't recall anyone ever being out of uniform unless it was on shore leave or in costume as part of a story line.
Fortunately for us fans, 'The Cage' is readily available for viewing today, released almost two decades after the original series run, in 1988. Though the special effects and cinematography aren't anywhere near what you'd expect to see in films made today, for it's time the show was breaking new ground and would have an impact on both TV and movies in the future. It's probably a cliché to say that the series went where none had gone before, but still, it all had to start someplace, and this was as good a place as any.
The story line for 'The Cage' should be familiar to anyone who's seen both parts of 'The Menagerie' which debuted in Star Trek's first season. Roddenberry used most of the footage to explain the eventual fate of Captain Pike in what many consider one of the best stories of the entire series. Watching it in both it's original and restored versions is an interesting exercise, as we get a unique glimpse into what Roddenberry might have been originally thinking about. Majel Barrett for example could have been destined to be second officer in command one day. Introduced as Number One on the bridge of The Enterprise, Barrett's role was downgraded to Doctor McCoy's assistant once the series got underway, and as a blonde to boot.
Though it's not as apparent in 'The Menagerie', Spock is presented here as a bit too strident considering his character's development over time; one might say he was almost emotional. Other than Pike, Spock and Number One, the rest of the crew seemed rather bland, with John Hoyt's portrayal of Dr. Boyce as the only other character of significance. It might be his age worked against his making the final cut. Sure it's discrimination, but can you see him arguing with Spock each week the same as McCoy after having that bartender/doctor talk with Pike?
A couple things I got a kick out of - did you catch the old style 1960's TV set in the Captain's quarters with the wood cabinet? That's as stylish as it got back in the day. Also, I don't recall another episode of Trek in which the crew, when not on duty, would walk around in casual clothes on board the Enterprise. In fact I don't recall anyone ever being out of uniform unless it was on shore leave or in costume as part of a story line.
Fortunately for us fans, 'The Cage' is readily available for viewing today, released almost two decades after the original series run, in 1988. Though the special effects and cinematography aren't anywhere near what you'd expect to see in films made today, for it's time the show was breaking new ground and would have an impact on both TV and movies in the future. It's probably a cliché to say that the series went where none had gone before, but still, it all had to start someplace, and this was as good a place as any.