Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 8, Episode 16: The Menagerie, Parts I and II

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Volume 8 in the DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes the fascinating two-part drama "The Menagerie." As if guided by the frugal wisdom of schlockmeister producer-director Roger Corman, Trek creator Gene Roddenberry found a clever way of using, instead of losing, extensive and costly footage from the then-unseen, discarded Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." Roddenberry's solution was to integrate pieces of "The Cage" into a whole new story context, and the surprisingly moving result was "The Menagerie." First, a bit of background: "The Cage" starred film actor Jeffrey Hunter (King of Kings, The Searchers) as Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise. Among Hunter's costars was Leonard Nimoy as Science Officer Spock, who eventually carried over, of course, into the reconfigured series starring William Shatner. Rather than write off "The Cage," Roddenberry conceived of a story line in which Captain Pike would re-appear on the show in a badly disfigured, paralyzed, and mute form--the result of a terrible accident in which the character saved a number of lives but took a pounding in the process. In "The Menagerie," Spock hijacks the Enterprise to transport Pike to a secret destination. During court-martial proceedings for this crime, Spock's defense is presented via archival footage of an old, pre-Kirk mission aboard the Enterprise. That footage, of course, is a re-edited "The Cage." A must-see for Star Trek fans, "The Menagerie" is a stellar example of Roddenberry thinking on his feet. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

As good as I remember.......2007-09-03

Like many middle aged Americans, I grew up on a steady diet of STAR TREK, Laugh In, Johnny Quest and others too numerous to mention. Not everything is as good to me now as I remember. But this episode is pure gold. I believe the older episode within the newer episode was the pilot. I hope that my kids will have a show or two that when they reach my age, will be as good as they remember. Like this is for me.

Recycled pilot still entertains.......2007-01-02

Gene Roddenberry conceived these episodes to utilize footage from the costly first Star Trek pilot, which had been considered too cerebral by the network. Now that it is possible to view "The Cage" in its intended version, there is really no reason for these episodes anymore. Of course, no one could know that then, and for many years this was the only way that fine pilot could be seen in any form. The framing story, in which Spock (Leonard Nimoy) risks court martial to return his disfigured former captain (Jeffrey Hunter) to Talos IV, is frequently awkward. However, it does provide a plausible pretext for strong conflict between the main characters and a touching send-off for the former captain of the Enterprise, Christopher Pike.

The Best Episodes of Season One!.......2006-07-03

These are by far the best 2 episodes of the first season and as such are must haves if you are picking and choosing which volumes to collect. Incorporating footage from "The Cage", the very first Star Trek pilot featuring Cpt Christopher Pike as captain of the Enterprise, the quality of the acting is very good and Jeffrey Hunter shows just what a great actor he was in this role. Not only do these episodes rank among the best Trek episodes ever, they also rank among the best science fiction episodes ever. This is a must have for any sci-fi fan's video library. Very highly recommended.

Seminal Trek.......2006-04-27

SPOILERS

When Star Trek's production crew started falling behind in both schedule and budgets during the first season, they came up with the brilliant idea of using the unsold The Cage pilot as the basis for a two part episode. The result: One of the most important and brilliant Treks ever done!

Everyone knows the basic plot by now: Spock kidnaps his crippled former Captain, and hijacks the Enterprise, and sets course for the one forbidden planet in all The Federation. He eventually is court-martialed en route, and presents as his evidence an unusally detailed account of the Enterprise's visit to Talos IV 13 years prior.

THIS is the episode which cements Spock's character forever: the supposedly emotionless Vulcan, who demonstrates more passion and loyalty than most humans. Leonard Nimoy's performance is one of his best as Spock : initially seeming as though Spock had gone crazy almost, kidnapping Pike, using false computer tapes and voices to convince people that the ship is under 'secret orders', all sorts of indications SOMEthing must be wrong with Spock...until after the Talosian's plan is revealed,where it is found THEY have been manipulating events all along, and Spock returns to his stoic self.....except..when leaving the briefing room with Pike for the last time, his head bowed, shoulders slumped.

Shatner's understated performance in this has been sloughed off in some circles. I say :'unfair'...Frankly, it is PERFECT for the events - all during these events, Kirk acts rather stunned at all these events: His friend and 1st Officer has seemingly gone crazy and hijacked his ship, he almost dies going after him in a shutle, THEN he is releived of command for all of this! By the time the Talosians supposedly abandon Spock and forces the trial board to take a vote, even Kirk is convinced Spock should be put away.But..at the end..is able to smile when the Talosian shows him the 'rejuvenated' Pike happy again at last.

All of these performances are directed with care by Marc Daniels, the veteran TV director who was at the helm of the 'envelope'. They make an deliberate point of cutting to the more mature, unemotional Spock during the famous 'laughing' scene,and you can ALMOST see a flicker of 'was I THAT emotional?' cross his face!

The makeup used on Sean Kenney, the 'substitute' Captain Pike (Jeffery Hunter was unavailable),might be some of the best ever done for any Trek: it holds up totally through repeated cuts back and forth from the pilot footage: you are totally convinced this is an older, horribly maimed Jeffrey Hunter!

Some small parts of The Cage are cut: some shots of Pike's fellow 'zoo-mates', some VERY sexist lines about 'women on the bridge', and the obligatory 'aliens running through the computer' scene. None of these are very important to the plot of EITHER the pilot or the envelope.

And just to add some trivia:

Part II of The Menagerie was the highest rated episode of Star trek ever in prime time!

Actor Malachi Throne had been the original voice of the Talosian Keeper in the pilot. Since he was cast as Commodore Mendez, voice artist Vic Perrin was dubbed in as The Keeper.

As per the Director's Guild, Marc Daniels was credited as director for Part I, while the director of The Cage, Robert (Mr Pilot) Butler, was given the screen credit for Part II.

The Menagerie is amazing experience from start to finish!

Just Too Much Perry Mason.......2004-03-10

I'd give this episode(s) 5 stars except for the reason the main story (The Cage) got incorperated into it, the Trial of Spock. Not only was it a sad excuse to re-view Capt. Pike's adventure but uses something a more perfect future should be done with - lawyers!

I realize that the story needed a context for the present Enterprise crew to contemplate Pike's story but Spock could have kidnapped Pike and explained the back story to audience in flashbacks during the trip (as an example). Even a battle scene where Kirk has to stop Spock from landing on Talos IV would have been great (oops! sorry, no decent special effects then).

Only the confrontation between Kirk and Spock should have been left alone.

p.s. ST:TOS also played the lawyer card in Court-Martial, a lame excuse for a story. ST:TNG had at least four court-cases, played out to predictable endings.

Among them:
1) Data is saved from a scientist who wants to dis-assemble him.

2) Riker is falsely accused of murder.

3) In The Drumhead an out of control witch hunt is stopped when the lawyer looses it!

4) A Society is freed from an alien posing as "their god".