When I say "Feature Film" I refer to the look, feel, and the Feature Film Actors used in this very 1950's style Pilot that was rejected by NBC.
The first time I had seen the full cut of this was when it was released by Gene Roddenberry as an "Extended Version" back in 1989, it was released during the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
It was great, but several key scenes had only existed in Black and White Prints at the time, the full Colourised version had been lost, so that version, the best that could be released at the time, was all there was available.
It is only recently with the "Remastered" version of TOS which includes the "Enhanced Content", that the full version of this in full colour has been made available - And so we, the original Fans of Trek, get to see, finally the Original First Pilot AS INTENDED - The way it was shown to NBC Executives way back in 1965 or so.
The Enhanced version I am referring to, was left pretty much the way it originally looked. One of the things that was amazing about this Pilot was the COLOUR, very rich. It brings to mind such 1950's sci-fi classics as "Forbidden Planet".
The final thing I realised, just recently, was this Pilot used Feature Film actors: Jeffery Hunter as Captain Pike, John Hoyt - Himself veteran of "When Worlds Collide" - As Dr Boyce - Peter Duryea, son of Dan, as Lt. Tyler, and Laurel Goodwin, from Elvis Presley's Misnamed "Girls Girls Girls" as the red-haired and flaming Yeoman Colt. Even Majel Lee Hudec, as Majel Barrett/Roddenberry was named back then was originally a feature film "Black Widow" on several 50's Noir films.
If this were just another 40 minutes longer, it could have been released as a major Motion Picture and made some money back for Desilu. Too bad nobody ever thought of this back then. Fortunately, this mini-feature film became the backbone for one of the best Original Series and only double-episode, "The Menagerie" - Hugo Award winning material. So this Pilot did not have to sit on a shelf for 25 years before we were able to see at least parts of it.
But during the 25th anniversary of Trek, it was finally released by Gene, and practically another 25 after that, it was remastered, re coloured, and given to us so watch in the best way possible, in the enhanced edition Blu Ray release.
Watching this brings me back to the first Movies I ever saw as a Kid, the books I read by Heinlein, the short stories of Poul Anderson and Harlan Ellison.
The first time I had seen the full cut of this was when it was released by Gene Roddenberry as an "Extended Version" back in 1989, it was released during the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
It was great, but several key scenes had only existed in Black and White Prints at the time, the full Colourised version had been lost, so that version, the best that could be released at the time, was all there was available.
It is only recently with the "Remastered" version of TOS which includes the "Enhanced Content", that the full version of this in full colour has been made available - And so we, the original Fans of Trek, get to see, finally the Original First Pilot AS INTENDED - The way it was shown to NBC Executives way back in 1965 or so.
The Enhanced version I am referring to, was left pretty much the way it originally looked. One of the things that was amazing about this Pilot was the COLOUR, very rich. It brings to mind such 1950's sci-fi classics as "Forbidden Planet".
The final thing I realised, just recently, was this Pilot used Feature Film actors: Jeffery Hunter as Captain Pike, John Hoyt - Himself veteran of "When Worlds Collide" - As Dr Boyce - Peter Duryea, son of Dan, as Lt. Tyler, and Laurel Goodwin, from Elvis Presley's Misnamed "Girls Girls Girls" as the red-haired and flaming Yeoman Colt. Even Majel Lee Hudec, as Majel Barrett/Roddenberry was named back then was originally a feature film "Black Widow" on several 50's Noir films.
If this were just another 40 minutes longer, it could have been released as a major Motion Picture and made some money back for Desilu. Too bad nobody ever thought of this back then. Fortunately, this mini-feature film became the backbone for one of the best Original Series and only double-episode, "The Menagerie" - Hugo Award winning material. So this Pilot did not have to sit on a shelf for 25 years before we were able to see at least parts of it.
But during the 25th anniversary of Trek, it was finally released by Gene, and practically another 25 after that, it was remastered, re coloured, and given to us so watch in the best way possible, in the enhanced edition Blu Ray release.
Watching this brings me back to the first Movies I ever saw as a Kid, the books I read by Heinlein, the short stories of Poul Anderson and Harlan Ellison.