Reviews (6)

Fantastic DVD release
CHARLIE'S ANGELS gets a wonderful DVD release with perfect picture and two choice episodes.

Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson star in two stories from the memorable first season; "Night Of The Strangler" and "To Kill An Angel". The only main qualm is the lack of chapters in the episodes.

Also included is the entertaining "Angels Forever" retrospective featurette which quizzes fans of the show as well as providing footage from the show and details from later cast members including Cheryl Ladd and Tanya Roberts.

Pretty impressive DVD package all-round!

The Angels are back !!!!!!!
This two-part special edition is definitely a collector's item especially for those die-hard "Charlie's Angels" fans.It features Jaclyn Smith, who deserves the recognition as the "most angelic of them all," and two of the best episodes of the series. We're not talking award-winning stuff in this dvd issue but an outstanding entertainment to "visit" the undisputed queens of the 70s television.

The episode "Night of the Strangler" shows why Jaclyn Smith lasted so long in the series. Her looks and style are timeless plus that scene in her famous white bikini is a must to see. Of course, Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are on hand to complete the trio.

For the episode "To Kill An Angel," new fans will be surprise that the show is not just pure bikini's and guns. It showcases also the dramatic sides of the trio.

The cover alone is worth the trip, so buy it now and collect! A must!

Charlie how do you your Angels get down
OMG, please tell me this is the first of many more to come, Having the Angels on DVD is way fun. One mishap though, NO SCENE SELECTION. But it makes up for that with the Angel Featurette and the digitally enhanced audio and video.

CHARLIE,S ANGELS
WONDEFUL lots of added features and Angels Forever is highlights from alot of the shows.This is a must for any Charlie,s Angels fan. Columbia and Tristar have done a GREAT job. Hope they come out with more. Charlie would give them all a week off with pay ,for a job well done.

Contains an Exclusive Featurette! Must Have For Angel Fans
Just finished viewing The DVD and in addition to the Two Classic epiodes mentioned in the description, the DVD also has an Exclusive Featurette Titled "Angels Forever"! This 20 Minute Documentary tells of The Impact that Charlies Angels has had on Various Fans and includes Vintage Scenes from The Series from The Farrah Year until the Tanya Roberts Last Year! The Special Feature Contains Hilarious Montages made of vintage scenes from the series! It made me realise why I loved Charlies Angels so much as a Kid and Love it even more now as an adult! The Show was Pure Fun and Escapism an I really missed those days when I would eagerly await every Wed Night for a New Angel Episode and to see what the Angels were Wearing(and in many cases not wearing). Hey for a 13 year old, seeing Farrah Fawcett's Nipples was a Big Deal(probably would not even be talked about today). If your an Angel Fan, you really need this DVD. I hope they release more episodes on DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Herman's a big lovable frump.
I remember seeing this movie when I was a kid. I hadn't seen it in many years. How could you not love the comedy team of Gwynne and Lewis. From "Car 54, Where Are You" to Herman and Grandpa, they are as well matched as any of the great duo's. The one thing missing in this movie are the laugh tracks. Some people hate them. I think they were nostalgia for that time period. I realize this was a movie, but I feel the use of the laugh track was a big part of the TV show's success because there are some parts of this movie that needed it. Comments that were funny, but were dry and/or quiet because of it not being there. This movie is a full length continuation of the TV show. I also enjoyed being able to see them in color and finally getting to see their green skin. The black and white TV show is reminiscent of all the great original monster movie's of the 30's and 40's seen in that same format and another plus in my opinion to the show's success. The Munsters were and still are an enjoyable part of my life. Even my five year old grandson loves Herman. That's got to tell you something.

From a die hard Munsters fan...
I loved this movie, I am sure to watch it, with my children several more times this year! The kids were just introduced to the Munsters this year and it looks like this movie may have inducted a new generation of fans!

Good Family Fun
Fans of the sitcom will enjoy this film, in which the Munster family become involved in a series of oddball capers during a trip to England. The British cast members complement the TV cast quite well, making this a very funny film which the entire family can enjoy. Another interesting feature about this film is that, unlike the TV series, it is filmed in color, giving the viewer an opportunity to see the Munsters in all their delightfully ghoulish glory. This one is vastly superior to both the 1981 reunion film "Revenge of the Munsters" and the dreadful syndicated series, "The New Munsters" which has none of the attributes which made the original series a winner. This one boasts the full TV cast (in their prime), a good script, and good direction. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Broadcast episode 2 of the original Star Trek series, the memorable "Charlie X," stars Robert Walker Jr. as a troubled teen presenting two big problems: pathological immaturity and powerful telekinetic powers. After he wills the destruction of a starship that drops him off with the Enterprise, the titular delinquent stalks a female member of the crew and creates havoc using his terrifying ability to make people, in his own words, "go away." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Entertaining, thought-provoking, but flawed episode
This episode is about Charlie, a boy raised from birth by aliens. Reminiscent of stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein except that Charlie is spoiled and unprincipled.

Charlie's naive attempts to court Yoeman Rand and Kirk's fumbling attempts at educating young Charlie make this a very watchable episode. As Charlie grows more aware of the extent of his powers, the episode becomes more exciting. Unfortunately, the resolution of the problem is not very satisfactory.

Uhura gets to sing, but the lyrics to her songs are horrid. If you rewatch the episode, you may want to remind yourself of your VCR's fast-forward button.

Still, this is decent Star Trek episode that deserves to be watched and considered.

"I can make you all go away."
"Charlie X" teaches us that teenagers can be a problem in any century. Yep, even the 23rd century has its own share of troubled youths. The difference this time around is that some teens in the future have psionic powers. Therefore, leather jackets, switchblades, slicked-back hair, and motorcycles are the least of your troubles. If you cross the wrong teen two hundred years in the future, you might find yourself being blinked out of reality.

Seventeen year-old Charles Evans (Robert Walker Jr.) boards the U.S.S. Enterprise after being found by the S.S. Antares on the planet Thasus. It turns out Charlie is the last survivor of a doomed colonizing expedition who had been given extraordinary mental powers by the Thasians to help him survive on the planet. However, due to the teenager's isolated existence from other human beings while marooned, he never developed the proper social skills to co-exist with others. Thus, he becomes easily offended when rebuffed or annoyed on the Enterprise and uses his psionic powers to inflict punishment on his perceived tormentors. In short order, Charlie destroys the S. S. Antares, causes Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) to disappear, and breaks the legs of Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Much to the relief of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), a Thasian eventually appears on the ship to take Charlie back to Thasus.

Virtually every television series does an episode centered on the "troubled teen" that makes life difficult for the adult characters. This was Star Trek's take on the theme and what results is a forgettable outing. Walker is great as the troublesome Charlie. He delivers in spades as the arrogant, whiny, and annoying teen, but even with the sci-fi twist of bestowing psionic powers on him, "Charlie X" just comes across as routine and bland. Not even a memorable slap on Rand's backside by Charlie can salvage this episode.

Trek hitting its stride
This strong episode is about an awkward and lonely young man with exceptional powers. The episode explores the transition from boyhood to adulthood, as well as the subtleties and arbitrariness of much of interpersonal interaction. The twist is that Charlie has the power to force adults, and the viewer, not to trivialize his plight. This episode also devotes attention to personality development through casual, leisure scenes including chess and music. Unfortunately, later shows almost completely got away from trying to give us a full portrait of life on the starship, as the episodes became more formulaic. But here, a simple, tight script, augmented by the fleshing out of details, generated a strong show. The solid writing and attention to human detail allows us to feel empathetic towards Charlie at the end, despite all the harm he's caused. You wouldn't see such subtlety in later years of the show.

This is a very important film to watch!
I like this film because it has serious stuff in there. I like it when Robbert Walker Jr. played Charlie Evans. The reason why I watch this film, as well as other episodes of the original series, is because they are not just stories, but they all have morals that help me understand what goes on with life, and they also help me understand what's going on in the world. Charlie's psychic powers reminds me of Where No Man Has Gone Before. I don't have that episode yet, but I will soon. I highly recommend this film to future Star Trek fans.

Flawed but enjoyable episode
Young Robert Walker, Jr. conveys much of the same creepiness as his dad (who is affectionately remembered as Bruno on Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train").

This episode reflects many concerns that are timeless, but also others that are characteristic of the 1960s, the period when the show was made. Young Charlie is a wild child. Should he be disciplined, and if so, how? Or should he yield to his impulses (which in this case are murderously destructive)? This episode ultimately sides with the importance of parental authority, reminding us that ST-TOS was often more Eisenhower-era than beatnik in its sensibilities. A point in its favor, I should add.

Other highlights to be enjoyed in this episode. Uhura sings gorgeously (as in "The Conscience of the King"). Shatner gets a chance to horse around in the gym. Grace Lee Whitney stands up against sexual harassment. And there are two strikingly gruesome Star Trek moments, which, once seen, never leave your mind. Two young female crewmembers get in Charlie's way. One lady has her face completely obliterated, another becomes hideously and shockingly aged in a matter of seconds. ST-TOS offers many of these never-to-be-forgotten visuals, some bloodcurdling, some breathtaking (two classic examples; the moment in "The Tholian Web" when the Thol ship starts building its web; the fruitless attempt to blast through the Talosian service elevator door in "The Cage/The Menagerie").

Though not one of the best ST-TOS episodes, newcomers to the show may enjoy this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Balance of Terror" is a terrific drama that was essentially an outer-space version of a 1950s submarine movie. Writer Paul Schneider introduced both the Romulans and the concept of a "neutral zone" to Trek lore, wrapped up in this story about the first encounter between a Federation and Romulan ship in 75 years. The resulting face-off between two vessels and their strong, noble captains--Kirk (William Shatner) and his Romulan counterpart (Mark Lenard, who later played Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek)--is directed and edited with suspense worthy of the classic sub movie The Enemy Below. It's an example of how the original Trek series took lots of risks and constantly invented itself, in contrast to the more codified look and feel of The Next Generation and subsequent series. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A classic submarine battle fought in outer space
Mark Lenard makes a memorable first appearance on Star Trek as the Romulan commander in "Balance of Terror." This episode is pretty much a classic submarine story updated to outer space, made compelling by the cat and mouse game between the two captains. Kirk is performing a wedding but is interrupted by news that several Earth Outposts have been attacked by a cloaked ship firing a plasma weapon. The Enterprise goes in pursuit of the Romulan vessel. When Spock pirates a view of the Romulan bridge we learn that this is the first time anyone from Starfleet has ever seen the Romulans, so there is some surprise that they look like Vulcans. The sub-plot involving Lt. Stiles, who distrusts Spock because of the physical comparison, shows that even in the Star Trek universe envisioned by Gene Roddenberry, human prejudice is still going strong. "Balance of Terror" does a nice job of working out the moves and counter moves in the running battle. Lenard brings a wonderful sense of dignity to his role and it is obvious from his first scene why they would take any opportunity to bring him back. That he was given the plumb role of Sarek was a fitting reward. I also think this is the point in the first season where William Shatner clearly has a handle on Kirk as the best starship captain in Starfleet. Also, as grating as the Spock/Stiles subplot happens to be, the bracketing subplot about the wedding is one of the better story lines involving those unfortunate extras who die all the time on Star Trek. Still, this is an episode that deservedly ends up on most fans' top ten episode lists. I know it is on mine.

The "first" encounter with the Romulans in the series
This is another classic episode of Star Trek and one of my top 5 favorites. It gives us a "first" glimpse at the Federations mortal enemy the Romulans (Romulan Empire) and my goodness they also look like Vulcans!?!?! Well, that is answered in episodes yet to come in upcoming series (The Next Generation).

This begins when a mysterious ship is destroying Federation Outposts and James Kirk and the USS Enterprise soon discover it is their classic enemies the Romulans. What follows is a classic strategic cat and mouse "game" that is like the movie "The Enemy Below" that starred Robert Mitchum as a WWII US Destroyer Captain and Kurt Jergens as a German U-Boat Commander. The Jergens part in this episode is played oustandingly by the late Mark Lenard. You can guess who plays Mitchum's part, why of course James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

Both of these Captains start to have a respect for each others skills and the best line of the episode is when the Romulan Commander tells Kirk, "in another reality we could of been friends". Talk about respect, that says it all dosen't it?

Overall, this is a classic episode and highly recommended to all Star Trek fans.

"In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
Star Trek produced its first truly outstanding episode in "Balance of Terror." Drama, pathos, conflict, great special effects, strong character moments, a great enemy, solid acting, top-notch dialogue, and an on-ship wedding. What more do you want? There's more stuff in this one episode than certain Star Trek films. It falls short of true perfection but it was still the first episode of the original series that dared to be great and the first that can officially be declared a classic.

The wedding of U.S.S. Enterprise crew members Angela Martine (Barbara Baldavin) and Robert Tomlinson (Stephen Mines) is rudely interrupted when the ship learns that Federation Outpost 4 along the Romulan Neutral Zone is under attack. It is soon obliterated and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) discovers that three other Federation outposts in the same area have been similarly destroyed. While investigating the carnage, the crew learns that a lone Romulan ship is the guilty culprit. The Enterprise pursues the ship but is at a marked disadvantage because the Romulan ship is employing a cloaking device which makes them impossible to track. As the two ships play a cat-and-mouse game with each other, the Enterprise manages to catch a glimpse of the Romulan bridge and discovers that their mysterious foes resemble Vuclans in their appearance. Lieutenant Andrew Stiles (Paul Comi) instantly becomes hostile toward Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) because he suspects the Vulcan of being a Romulan spy. When the Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard) is forced into a corner, he decides to directly take on the Enterprise. However, he is defeated and destroys his ship when faced with the prospect of capture. A blow also is dealt to the Enterprise when Kirk learns that Tomlinson did not survive the battle. With a heavy-heart, the captain comforts Martine who is devastated by her loss.

"Balance of Terror" is a landmark episode in so many ways. It introduced the Romulans who would become recurring villains for years to come and the concepts of the cloaking device and the neutral zone which would also become important Star Trek staples. It also was definite proof that Star Trek could do action and adventure without compromising any of its progressive ideals. The transplanted battleship-submarine conflict alone would have distinguished "Balance of Terror" as solid entertainment but the way the story took the time out to humanize the combatants while addressing the notion of bigotry elevated the episode into something truly special. Star Trek juggled many balls with this outing and did not drop a single one. In sum, "Balance of Terror" is a rousing episode that still entertains to this day. It easily ranks among the best works Star Trek has produced in any of its incarnations.

Best Trek yet
This Romulan battle episode was one of Star Trek's best shows. This episode demonstrates that while science fiction expands the range of possible stories, generally some of the best stories are the most universal. This episode could easily have been transported to the deep, and renamed Das Boot. The basic premise is simple enough, but the story is divided into discrete sections, each of which contains a surprise. I can't think of an episode which more often faded to commercial with actual drama. We are allowed right inside the Captains' minds, so we feel both their uncertainty and fear about encountering each other, and see them reformulating their strategies and estimations of each other as the chess match unfolds.
The episode is further assisted by Mark Leonard's acting (he's even better here than in Journey to Babel) and a dramatic score. The wedding scene also does not detract, since it reminds us that everything is affected by war. Kirk also is at his best here. Over the course of the episode he shows brilliance, compassion, and forgiveness. He also consoles, mediates, accepts criticism, is decisive, and stands up to injustice. Other pluses here include the stance taken on racism, and the fact that the brain trust, even at this early stage in the show, was not afraid to give Kirk a worthy adversary.

Brotherhood of Warriors
This is one of the finest of all the original Star Trek episodes. Because of budget constraints, the original series had to emphasize acting and quality scripts and less on "gee-whiz" special effects that have made the subsequent follow-up Star Treks much poorer in quality than the original. Mark Lenard puts in a superb performance as the tragic Romulan commander, a man of integrity serving a totalitarian dictatorship , similar to two other great warriors serving bad causes, knowing that they are in the wrong, but still compelled to fulfill their duty as they saw it knowing it would lead to disaster--General Robert E Lee and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
All the dilemmas and challenges of a military commander are seen in this episode: trying to outguess the enemy, insubordination, the necessity to disobey orders from above, the loss of comrades.
Get this video and see it! ... Read more

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A landing party beams down to Gamma Trianguli VI, a lush planet that's just like paradise... or is it? This is not the episode to be caught wearing a red shirt in: dangers abound and crew members drop like flies. Soon the party discovers a seemingly unspoiled tribe of innocents who spend their lives serving the god Vaal. Can it be that it's time to disobey the Prime Directive? The natives are all beautiful people with loincloths and entertaining hairdos, and of course Mr. Scott has an engineering dilemma. Another highlight is the sequence in which the natives learn a few facts of life from a particularly randy Chekov. Skip this one at your peril. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't watch this one if you have a soft-spot for red-shirts
This episode, in which the crew beams down to a 'pre-fall' planet where the lizard-god still controls his followers, is an unpleasant surprise. Star Trek was in the middle of a strong rhythm that was broken by this silly episode. I suppose the basic biblical premise is OK, but it doesn't go anywhere. The planet is just a vehicle for red-shirt carnage, and none of the guest actors are convincing in their admittedly silly roles. Chekov and the ensign are also given some really dumb lines as well. It's incredible what lightweights you encounter on the Enterprise once you get past Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty.

I suppose the question of whether these people will be better off after their paradise is lost is an interesting one, but unlike in Who Mourns for Adonais?, the question is not taken up here. Basically just a half-hearted, superficial 3rd season-like show, but without the trippy style many of the later shows at least contributed.

Some examples of the superficiality: We are never told what Val is being fed that could provide so much energy, nor why if he has such power he cannot feed himself. For that matter, if he can control the poisonous plants and the skies, why does he need help killing the landing party? Explanations of what is going on aboard the Enterprise are also vague and at times contradictory.

When Is It Right To Violate The Prime Directive?
One of the troublesome situations Star Trek created when it originally aired was it's human centric attitude towards the alien societies it encountered. The prime directive seemed of little importance to Kirk; he quite often got very involved in the alien cultures 'straightening matters out' or setting a culture on the right course'. Spock and McCoy would invariably have a heated debate about the virtues they have observed within the alien culture, which would regularly lead to a final moralistic and ethic punctuated passionate closing discourse by Kirk who then decides the course of proper events to follow.

But in 'The Apple' we find that the prime directive doesn't apply. The Enterprise is assigned to investigate a planet by the Federation who had received reports of 'odd readings' from another vessel earlier. Though the planet is idyllic in appearance there are unseen and unpredictable dangers. The away team discovers plants that shoot poisonous darts, rocks that explode if stepped on or tossed and lightening storms that can target with amazing accuracy. The present alien culture behaves like tranquil children who exist solely to appease a computer that grants all their needs. This initiates an intriguing debate between Kirk, Spock and McCoy with Spock reminding the good doctor "that humans are a small minority in the galaxy." A good point considering the assembled universe that Star Trek creates!

The reason that the prime directive wouldn't apply to this situation is this: There really is no thriving culture on the planet. The sophisticated computer, known as Vaal, has successfully eliminated disease, extended the life of the humanoids indefinitely, controls the weather, etc. The aliens have no need and therefore no desire to grow beyond what they consider to be normal. By definition then this is a stagnant and arrested development of humanoids that no one would classify as viable. If the Enterprise were to allow them to remain that way it is quite possible that another superior race of aliens could exploit this situation if they were to come to the planet as the Federation did. So in this instance Kirk does the right thing by effectively 'pulling the plug' on Vaal.

Overall a well-conceived and highly imaginative episode - though some questions that don't get answered hurt some of the impact here. For instance how and why did Vaal come into being? Who could have built such a computer to completely control humanoids? Who or what installed the antennae on Akuta? There is no summary provided that might hint at an explanation, it is simply ignored and that is frustrating. One thing I noted about Vaal during the episode was his tendency toward masculine thought. Though the men and women are equal on levels of society there are a couple of noteworthy items. He selected a male, Akuta, to be the leader. This alone is not very significant but when Vaal instructs him to kill the 'infestation' only the men are present - the women are not even in sight for this event, though the Enterprise away team has a female with them.

Some final notes: Spock takes quite a beating here! He gets struck down by poisonous darts; tossed considerably backward by a force field; still later he gets struck by lightening. Also, four security guards are eliminated by Vaal during the away mission - definitely not a good day for Enterprise Security. The actress playing Lt. Martha Landon, Celeste Yarnall, is one of the loveliest female costars that Star Trek was fortunate to get during it's series run in the sixties. She can also be spotted as the cover girl on Tom Lisanti's book 'Fantasy Femmes Of The Sixties Cinema' - it is quite a fetching photograph!

Kirk helps destroy yet another planet paradise
"The Apple" is another one of those Star Trek episodes where the Enterprise visits what seems to be a paradise, only to end up being disappointed. On Gamma Trianguli VI they find such a place, only to have three crew man suddenly die and the Enterprise lose power. Scotty reports that a tractor beam is slowly but surely dragging the ship into the planet's atmosphere. Meanwhile the locales, known as the Feeders of Vaal have no explanation, simply because they are too primitive to understand that they serve a super computer who is maintaining their way of life. Vaal, recognizing the Enterprise represents a threat to this "paradise," orders the Feeders to kill the strangers. But peaceful people with rocks and sticks are no match for Starfleet personnel with phasers. However, this time logical alone is not going to save the day and Kirk has to resort to brute force to prevent the destruction of his starship. I always wondered what happened to these poor people once their "god" was destroyed, but then I never did have a good understanding of that stupid Prime Directive. The title's allusion to the Garden of Eden is interesting, especially since Vaal seems equal parts Creator and Serpent. Star Trek was usually a little more subtle than that.

Some of the best special effects of the original series
A machine that overpowers and controls the people of its planet is holding the Enterprise ship in place above the planet's surface. Captain Kirk and the crew beam down to the planet and find people who don't know much about living because they are controlled by this machine whose entrance looks like a snake's head. The machine can control the entire planet, including making lightning strike, and making fruit on the trees for its people. Once some of Captain Kirk's people get killed by this planet's antics and he finds out that Scotty and the crew onboard the Enterprise can't figure out how to move the ship, Captain Kirk knows that he and his crew that are on the planet have to find a way to do something about the planet's machine.

"The Apple" isn't one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek series, but it is a good one. With the planet's machine, the lightning, and some of the other effects in the episode, "The Apple" does have some of the best special effects ever seen in the original series. The adventure is understandable and it's interesting, making this a good episode. If you like Star Trek, I recommend getting "The Apple." I give this episode 4 stars.

Good Action/Adventure Trek
Vaal, a powerful computer safeguarding a planet full of innocent natives, tries to destroy Captain Kirk and the starship Enterprise, when they visit the planet. Although he riskes violateing the non-inderference directive, Jim must destroy the computer in order to save his starship, and the natives will be placed under the watchful eye of the Federation. Good action/adventure story, and one of Trek's most thoughtful episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One Of The Best Christmas Shows Ever Done For Any TV Series!
"The Andy Griffith Show" was on network television for 8 seasons (1960-1968), and thanks to syndication it has never been off the air since.

The series' first season featured its one and only Christmas-themed show (entitled "Christmas Story"), and it is one of the finest Yuletide programs ever produced for a weekly TV series (in my own opinion, that is -- which is, I admit, tainted slightly with a built-in "Andy Griffith Show" bias). :)

"Christmas Story" co-stars Will Wright as mean and spiteful local department-store owner "Ben Weaver", who causes a bit of trouble on Christmas Eve for the Mayberry law-enforcement officers (Andy Taylor and Barney Fife). In reality, however, spiteful old Ben is deliberately *trying* to get himself arrested by "Fast Gun Fife", in order to join in the holiday festivities at the Courthouse.

The episode plays out very nicely, with Andy eventually "catching on" to Ben's little scheme. And, in typical Andrew Taylor fashion (with understanding and compassion -- even with regard to a man he's never really liked too much), Andy goes along with Ben's plan and dutifully arrests Weaver on the trumped-up charge of "emptying trash cans on the city streets".

Ben finally is able to join the party at the jailhouse, and even distributes gifts to everyone at the same time. Aunt Bee offers Ben a nice hot turkey dinner, and Ben's irritable and crusty nature melts away by episode's conclusion.

Another highlight of this moving and tender Christmas episode is when Elinor Donahue (who plays Andy's girlfriend, "Ellie Walker") sings "Away In A Manger" -- with guitar and vocal accompaniment from Andy. As the song progresses, the camera begins panning around the Courthouse and eventually pans to an outside window in one of the jail's cells -- and who's standing there behind the barred window? -- Ben Weaver, who sings right along with Andy and Ellie. A great, great scene.

Here's an interesting side note regarding the recording of that Christmas song for this episode ...... Elinor Donahue was evidently as nervous as a cat when it came time to pre-record the song for the show. Andy Griffith asked her to sit down on the floor of the recording studio because he could see she was nervous. They both sat on the floor in the middle of the studio, while Andy played his guitar and hummed along, telling Elinor she should start singing whenever she felt ready. So, whenever you're watching this Christmas episode, remember that Andy and Ellie were really sitting on the floor of a recording studio when they were singing "Away In A Manger".

"Christmas Story" was just the 10th episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" ever to air, first broadcast on CBS-TV on Monday night, December 19, 1960. The episode was directed by Bob Sweeney and written (expertly to say the least) by David Adler.

If this episode of "T.A.G.S." doesn't give you the "warm & fuzzies" all over, then I don't know what will. It's a program that begs to be re-visited each and every December 24th! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Enterprise arrives at a distant research outpost to find all the adults dead and their children eerily cheerful. No sooner are they aboard the ship than the children begin taking over, using strange powers bestowed on them by a malevolent "friendly angel." The kids make for an engagingly creepy episode as they alter the crew's perceptions to play on their worst fears, all with angelic smiles on their faces. Kirk's stiff-necked nature is well played against the manic playfulness of the kids, and legendary attorney Melvin Belli (who enjoyed a moderately busy acting career in the late '60s) does an interesting turn as the smooth-talking angel. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Season three was off to a strong start
Incredibly, the second of the 'children' episodes is even darker than the first (Miri). This atmospheric episode is shrouded in a sense of mystery and dread. I would go so far as to call the episode courageous in it's depiction of evil and willingness to give the children complicity in the adults' deaths. Each individual's insecurities and fears are exploited by the Gorgon, and at the height of the episode Kirk has lost control both of his ship and his entire sense of reality.
While some of the effects are quite gimmicky (the knives), others are effective in their simplicity (such as the summoning of the Gorgon). Overall I found this to be an effective, eerie and surreal episode, although some may dislike the fact that there is no simple moral. The cold finality of much of the death (such as being beamed into deep space) may also upset some. The conclusions/ means of dealing with the Gorgon were also admittedly weak.
Tidbits: It would be interesting to know how attourney Melvin Belli ended up in this role.

One of the Best Episodes Ever
Possibly the most intelligent and daring episode (no babes, no explosions) of all three seasons. It is quintessential Star Trek; searing social commentary disguised as 'entertainment', which still "goes over the head" of most viewers, even today. Written by Edward Lakso (whose credits include Mission Impossible, Wild Wild West, Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Air Wolf), the plot describes the rise and fall of the Nazi Youth movement, where impressionable teens were encouraged to denounce their parents, swear allegiance to a charismatic govt official and propel his rise to power. Apparently Lakso had been observing China... because when this episode aired in 1968, Mao Tse-tung's Cultural Revolution was two years old, unleashing the identical, devastating, social anarchy. It was if an "angel of evil" (named 'Chaos' in this episode) had hibernated after WWII, only to re-appear and initiate the same cycle of destruction, in a different country. In true Biblical, Greek, or Star Wars mythological style, Kirk is forced to confront and subdue his own "beast within" before tackling the external enemy, and exposing the 'beautiful' angel for what he is; ugly naked Greed, exploiting innocent minds with the complicity of the "silent majority". If this episode makes you uncomfortable, don't blame it on the primitive production values; look inside yourself and think.

This one gets my vote for Worst Star Trek Episode
I think I actually sat through "And the Children Shall lead" them ONCE in all the years I have been watching Star Trek. The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a scientific expedition on Triacus where they are shocked to find not only that all the adults have killed themselves but that their children do not seem to care. It turns out the children are enthralled to Gorgon, a sort of demon entity that lives on the planet. Lawyer Melvin Belli portrays the evil Gorgon is one of those horrendous casting decisions that get made from time to time. Anyhow, now Grogon wants to find a planet with millions of people he can make suffer and to distract the Enterprise crew he has them each imagine their worst fears coming true, which is really the only decent sequence in the show (e.g., Kirk worries about losing his ability to command). If I bothered to put one together, this episode would be in my Bottom 10 episodes of Star Trek. Actually, I think it is the worst of the bunch, mainly because Belli makes the most unthreatening evil etity you have ever seen while the children do not even come close to "Children of the Damned" status.

Not one of the better episodes
Captain Kirk and the crew beam to a planet and find many adults dead, but all the children are lively and running around and playing like nothing ever happened. Kirk decides to take them onboard the Enterprise, but he might regret it because soon the children will be taking orders from their 'friendly angel' and then they will make some of the Enterprise crew see things such as knives and swords flying at the ship, by pumping their fists.

Plotwise, "And The Children Shall Lead" is one of the worst episodes of Star Trek - The Original Series. It doesn't have much of anything else working for it either, it's not exciting and it's not even all that interesting. I give the episode two stars instead of just one because it had a good ending even if it was a not so good episode. I don't recommend getting "And The Children Shall Lead" unless you're a major Star Trek fanatic and you absolutely have to have all the episodes in your collection because it's far from being one of the best episodes.

This episode gets a D grade and is ranked 77th out of 80
When the U.S.S. Enterprise finds that all the adults in the Starnes expedition to Triacus have killed themselves, they beam to the planet's surface to investigate. The children, however, are alive and well and strangely oblivious to their parents' fates. They are beamed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise while Kirk searches for an answer to the strange occurrences. The children summon their "friendly angel" Gorgan, who tells them to take the U.S.S. Enterprise to a planet he can control. By garbling Kirk's words and deceiving Spock, the children are able to take control of the starship. Finally, seeing Kirk's anxiety at the loss of his ship, Spock realizes that something is wrong and helps the Captain regain control. Kirk shows the children tricorder tapes of their parents... and their graves, demonstrating to them that Gorgan is not a "friendly angel" but an evil force. The loss of his believers renders Gorgan impotent and he fades into oblivion. ... Read more

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"Miri," one of the most popular episodes of the original Star Trek series, featured a couple of soon-to-be-semi-icons from two very different kinds of films from the late 1960s: Michael J. Pollard (who would appear in Bonnie and Clyde) and Kim Darby (John Wayne's costar in True Grit). The intriguing story concerns a race of children on an Earth-like planet who are in fact 300 years old, kept pristine in the summer of their lives by a disease that also causes madness and death with the onset of adulthood. The Enterprise's landing party, including Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), are instantly contaminated and forced to remain on the planet until McCoy can find an antidote. In the meantime, Darby's character, Miri, falls for Kirk and becomes jealous of his attentions toward anyone else. Easily one of Star Trek's strongest shows, "Miri" is a must-see for Trekkers and Trekkies. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This episode gets a C+ grade and is ranked 48th out of 80
The U.S.S. Enterprise answers an old distress signal to find an unnamed planet that is almost an exact duplicate of Earth in the 1960s. A landing party beams down and discovers that 300 years before, the natives of the planet had conducted experiments to prolong life, but had, instead, created a deadly virus. The virus had killed all adults by rapid aging and madness. In children, the virus slowed the natural aging process greatly, providing centuries of prepubescence. There are no adults on the planet, only children, and they survive the best that they can without adults to aid them.

Strong episode
One of the most disturbing of the 1st season shows, Miri concerns a fatal fungus-like disease that strikes only adults. This cautionary tale about possible unforseen consequences of biological engineering should not fall on deaf ears today. The early parts of the episode wield a claustrophobic suspense more akin to a sci-fi/horror movie. The kids are quite chilling as well in the extent to which they have gone wild, and in their capacity for denial in the face of trauma. Kim Darby's performance also boosts the show, injecting an element of hope and a bridge between the 'young' and the 'old.' The taboo subject of adolescent female sexuality is handled gracefully and respectfully. The solution found to the illness is a bit anti climactic, but Star Trek certainly saw worse. At least here McCoy is allowed to shine; by the 3rd season all to often only Kirk, and Kirk alone, was allowed to be hero.

The episode is certainly not without its faults though. Several questions are left unadressed, including the discovery of another earth. The landing party is impossibly obtuse in putting the pieces together behind the illness. You can also feel the production team's uncertainty about whether Yeoman Rand and Kirk should be romantically involved. It seems to me they made the right choice in dispatching her after the next episode. She certainly is not a strong character here. Kirk is also gruffer and more bureaucratic in these early episodes. His snub of Rand ant the end of this show is particularly harsh.

The Enterprise finds a planet that looks like Earth but...
In "Miri" the Enterprise discovers a planet in the far reaches of the galaxy that looks exactly like Earth and a city inhabited only by children. This is the first of the many "parallel Earth" episodes in the show's history. It seems that 300 years ago on this planet there was an outbreak of a disease that kills children when they reach puberty. At that point they age really fast and go insane, but since the disease also slows down the aging process for these children big time, the planet is still inhabited. Kim Darby turns in a nice performance in the title role as the young girl who is about to turn into a woman and die. Miri develops a big time crush for Kirk and becomes dangerously jealous of Yeoman Rand. Of course, the entire away team comes down with the dreaded disease and McCoy has to come up with an antidote before they all drop dead. Unfortunately, the children do not trust the "grups," and sabotage McCoy's efforts forcing a confrontation between Kirk and the children. Just think of this as a twisted version of Peter Pan by way of the Omega Man. The fact that this planet looks just like Earth was a way of using Hollywood sets in a space opera, instead of finding futuristic looking shopping malls or whatever. But surely the plot of "Miri" did not need that particular set up. Michael J. Pollard, about to bust loose on the big screen in "Bonnie & Clyde," is Miri's very creepy male counterpart. Watching him in this episode still makes me wiggy. I also want to mention that I think this was clearly Grace Lee Whitney's finest performance as Janice Rand, helped by the fact that this is about the only episode where she has anything significant to do. Usually she just gives Kirk his log book or something to drink. Of course, she had to leave the show so that Kirk was free to chase another female guest star every other week. Trivia Note: The little blonde girl Kirk grabs during the big confrontation is, I believe, one of his daughters. Hard to believe Bill is now 70 years old.

Miri
While reviews of this Star Trek episode are usually negative and while it is a sad example, it has to be taken with on it's own terms. It is certainly one of the least viewable and unenjoyable, though the potential was there. The budget was not. I find it unfair that so many harsh words were said of Grace Whitney. Anyone who has done any genuine research into the history of the series will know she was not dropped because of poor acting ability, her appearance or any of the other harsh and sometimes cruel stories that have been circulating over the years. It was partially a production decision on behalf of the network and because of some very difficult personal problems in her life. It would have been interesting to see her character develop, but dreadful writing and sad circumstances prevented that from ever happening. With that said, this episode is a sad reflection on a very interesting idea gone completely wrong. As with "Plato's StepChildren", this episode is among the worst in being overdone in terms of acting and production. Definitely stay away if you are not a Trekkie and try to bear with it if you are. Worth wondering what it would be like if it were interpreted differently. Like a Ken Russel nightmare. Suprising it was ever released at all, but despite horrid production, a very interesting story line.

An Episode That the Series Could Have Done Without
There are some good ideas and concepts within this episode, but they are drowned out by the annoying chants of too many children.

Yoeman Janice Rand has a decent role in the story. Unfortunately, it was probably this episode that helped the producers to decide to writer her out of the show. ... Read more

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The popular and sexy "Mudd's Women" introduces the character of interstellar huckster and fugitive Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel, later to return in another classic episode, "I, Mudd"). The Enterprise beams aboard Harry and three beautiful and scantily clad women whom the con man is carrying as cargo. The transport damages the starship, forcing Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to take a detour to a mining world for a supply of dilithium crystals. Harry uses the women as bait to get the miners to help him flee from the authorities--but a revelation about his liberal use of an attraction-enhancement drug adds a twist to things. This clever and novel installment in the series grafted the unlikely element of a petty, colorful crook onto a science fiction show, an obvious forerunner of Deep Space Nine's inclusion of Quark among its own major characters. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Mudds women: Stardate 1329.1 Classic Trek at it's best.
The U.S.S Enterprise NCC 1701 pursues a Class J cargo ship which is not responding to hails. After the cargo ship pushes her engines to far and breaks down in an asteroid field, Captain Krik rescues Harry Mudd, a space trader who specialises in wives. But in capturing Harry Mudd the Enterprise is crippled and on auxilary power must get new dilithium crystals from mining planet Rigel 12. However after Harry Mudd is arrested by Captain James T Kirk, for various criminal charges, Harry has other plans for the crew of the Enterprise. A very good episode by Gene Roddenberry which gives us plenty of humour from the cast of Star Trek and some classical moments of the original series. We also see Harry Mudd again in another episode later in the series.

This episode gets a C grade and is ranked 52nd out of 80
The U.S.S. Enterprise pursues an unknown ship into an asteroid belt to save its crew before it's destroyed. The four people aboard are beamed on to the U.S.S. Enterprise; former nemesis, Harry Mudd and three beautiful, sultry women: Ruth Bonaventure, Eve McHuron and Magda Kovas. Mudd was transporting the three women to Ophiuchus VI to marry settlers there. The U.S.S. Enterprise computers reveal that Mudd has been charged with a number of infractions of the law. In pursuit of Mudd's ship, the U.S.S. Enterprise has burned out it's dilithium crystals, which power the starship's engines, and Kirk orders them to proceed as quickly as possible to the nearest dilithium mining planet. That planet is Rigel XII, which is inhabited by only three miners. Mudd manages to contact Ben Childress, the head miner, and make a deal with him. Mudd promises to deliver the three beautiful women to the lonely miners in exchange for dilithium crystals and their help in escaping Kirk. Upon reaching the planet, Eve tries to escape, having fallen for Kirk and not wanting to marry one of the miners, but Ben Childress brings her back. They discover that the women are using an extremely illegal Venus drug to make them beautiful and without they become quite plain. By the time the fraud is discovered, Magda and Ruth are already married to the miners, to the satisfaction of all parties involved. Eve, who realizes that Kirk is married to his career and to his starship, settles for marrying Ben. Kirk gets the crystals he needs for the U.S.S. Enterprise and Harry Mudd, on whom he has filed criminal charges.

That's not me Crew...That's me Cargo!
The Enterprise encounters space pirate Harry Mudd for the first time, and his "cargo" is a bevvy of beautiful women. Harry's always looking for a good deal, and if he can marry off his ladies to the lonely miners of Rigel 12, he figures he'll make a good haul. But, as Kirk discovers, the ladies looks are deceiving, and the artful Roger (the great Roger C. Carmel as Mudd) will have a lot of 'splainin to do about Mudd's Women.

Despite the obvious pre-feminist and somewhat sexist attitude toward the women in this episode from '66, it is still enjoyable and I love it when Eve dresses down Childress about the pots and pans ("Why don't you hang them outside and let the sand blast them clean?").

"This is me cargo."
Even in the far reaches of space, one must be careful not to be victimized by the con-man. And since the Ferengi would not make their presence known for another century in the Star Trek universe, Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel) gladly took advantage of any profitable venture that presented itself. If there still were snake oil men in the 23rd century, Mudd was their poster boy.

The U.S.S. Enterprise saves the crew of an unknown ship from destruction. The doomed ship's survivors beam aboard and are revealed to be Harry Mudd and three beautiful women: Ruth Bonaventure (Maggie Thrett), Eve McHuron (Karen Steele) and Magda Kovacs (Susan Denberg). Mudd tells Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) that he was taking the women to Ophiuchus VI to be brides for the settlers there. However, the Enterprise heads to Rigel XII instead to replace their burned-out lithium crystals. Once there, Mudd's women are exposed as frauds - their outward beauty was the result of an illegal drug.

Well, Star Trek hit a bump in the road with "Mudd's Women." The only redeeming aspect of this episode is its biting commentary on manufactured beauty. Aside from that, it is boring, slow, and tedious. The character of Harry Mudd would fare better when he returned later in the series but his initial outing is nothing memorable. He is fondly remembered today only because of his subsequent appearance in "I, Mudd." If "Mudd's Women" was Mudd's sole appearance in the series then he would now only be an answer to a second-tier Star Trek trivia question.

Not pretty, but pretty muddy
Mudd's Women-This episode, in which we meet Mudd and his three sirens, has never really worked for me. For one thing, it moves like molasses. The 'inquest' scene, for example, in which the women seduce the crew, in addition to being ineffective is at least twice as long as it need have been. Other evidence of low production values at this point in the show include the cheesy music and use of the (grossly) soft lens in the scenes with Mudd's Women. Other problems include the hopeless moralizing and cornball twist at the close of the episode. While it's true that later shows could be too cold, it's also true that first season episodes were often smarmily warm and cloyingly sincere.

The episode is not without it's pluses. It does explore some of the contradictions surrounding perceptions of beauty and the objectification of women, and I suppose makes a statement about drug use. They also did a nice job making the women look ugly (although in my opinion--probably by design--they weren't too eautiful to begin with). ... Read more

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In this taut, exciting episode, the Enterprise trespasses Melkotian space and is punished in a unique fashion. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Scotty (James Doohan), and Chekov (Walter Koenig) are all transported to the planet's eerie surface, where they are trapped in a re-creation of 1881 Tombstone and mistaken for the Clanton brothers, doomed principals in the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral.

Despite their efforts to avoid trouble, Kirk and company can't seem to avoid their fateful duel with the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday (Sam Gilman). When Chekov is shot dead by Morgan Earp (Rex Holman), the danger is all too clear. The strange Twilight Zone look and atmosphere of this episode--tumbleweeds and Old West facades popping up in a black void--grips one's imagination and doesn't let go until the very end. Fans of Captain Kirk's street-fighting style will especially enjoy the thrilling climax. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Surreal set & excellent performances make it one of the best
A major question that will have to be addressed when humans meet new species will be convincing them that our intentions are indeed peaceful. If the creatures can read our historical records and perhaps our minds, they will find ample evidence that we are not to be trusted. Our history is replete with the callous destruction of each other as well as any species deemed unworthy. Our minds are full of irrational fears, prejudices and impulses to destroy that which we don't immediately understand.
In this episode, the Enterprise is given specific orders to make contact with the Melkotians. As they approach Melkotian space, they encounter a buoy, which issues a warning, telling them that they are not welcome and to immediately leave the area. After noting the warning, they move onward to the Melkotian planet. Once arriving, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and Chekov beam down to the planet, only to find themselves in a fog, which parts to reveal a facsimile of a frontier town.
This is the backdrop to a reenactment of the famous gunfight at the OK corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. In that fight, the Clanton gang fought it out with the three Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. Kirk's party is forced to assume the role of the Clanton gang, which lost the fight. Only one member of the Clanton gang survived the battle, the person whose role is being filled by Chekov.
Despite everything they do to avoid it, the "Clanton gang" is clearly being forced into a fight that they feel they cannot win. However, when Chekov is "killed" by Morgan Earp, Kirk and company realize that the results are not pre-ordained. However, when they try to build a device to render the Earp gang unconscious, Spock realizes that there is a solution that does not involve killing the members of the Earp gang. He understands that what they are doing is not real, so if they truly believe that the bullets from the Earp gang are not real, then they will not be harmed. They manage to win the fight without "killing", which impresses the Melkotians, and they allow the Enterprise to continue and make contact.
This episode is superb, both in the premises of the story and the execution. The choice of a scenario from Earth's violent past (and Kirk's mind) is an excellent test of the true nature of the humans who desire the contact. All of the members of the Earp gang play their roles very well. Their muted, yet clearly violent hostility towards the "Clantons" is very well done. I consider it some of the best acting by guest stars in the series. The surreal aspects of the set and the other supporting members of the episode all combine to create just the right atmosphere for a test of what the human species really is capable of doing and avoiding. It is one of the better episodes in the original series.

Welcome to season three
Spectre of the Gun was the first third season episode to be produced, and one need watch no more than the teaser to sense that the show would have a very different feel during the 1968-1969 season. First off, those shiny, synthetic-looking uniforms that replaced the corderoys of the first two seasons. A minor point, yes, but perhaps a metaphor for other changes. The third season shows have a slick quality about them, an emphasis of style over substance. There is a sense that everyone is somehow in the know, no longer willing to invest themselves in the simple morality tales so common in the first season. This process was certainly well underway by the midpoint of season 2, when we began to see action (and high camp in the seminal case of I, Mudd) episodes that were light, devoid of moralizing, and somewhat tongue in cheek. By the third season, it could no longer be reigned in. Gone was the moral foundation of the show, but also gone was the feeling that the actors were having fun. What's left is highly formalized episodes.

It should be added though that stylistically season was 3 was by far the most developed season. Musically, scores became more florid and psychadelic, unusual camera angles and cuts became more common, and character' actions became less predictable. I for one enjoy the fluidity, trippyness, and dark tone of the third season. I know I'm in the minority (to say the least) here though.

But this is supposed to be a review of Spectre of the Gun, in which the crew are forced to participate in the events leading up to the gunfight at the OK Corral. Overall this is a pretty good episode, with more action than most 3rd season shows. Better though is the fact that this episode is very atmospheric, with a stong score, wind, and effects contributing to the sense of unreality and futility. But this too is an illusion. We end with the positive message that the crew were tested, and found worthy, for not killing. They are not judged on the basis of wanting to kill, but rather for not killing (although upon scrutiny even this worthiness is undermined somewhat by the fact that at that point the crew knows the Earps are unreal).

This episode doesn't hammer the moral theme as earlier seasons did. Surprising is the extent to which the crew must focus on their own survival, even to the extent of accepting demeaning abuse the Earps.

This episode has it's flaws though. Most notably, only Kirk seems phases by Chekov's death; of course the others were no doubt constrained by the new production team.

Galactic Cowboy
The Earps VS. Kirk's crew

In this one we get one of those surreal budget crunched episodes. That's one where the producers can't afford any lavish sets and costumes so the script has to center on something cheap to produce. The story is about Kirk and co. being taken to another dimension to fight the Earps. It's all an illusion by some other worldly being who wants to study humanity. How many times have we seen that plot? It's a good episode and we get to see Kirk in a moment where he's thinking "What if their guns aren't an illusion?" .
For all it's worth, it's better than most of the third season material. At least we get to see a few moments of drama and dialogue between the crew. Kirk is in top form in this one. We get to see him handle his command knowledge in a cowboy western environment.

Howdy Pardner!!!
Get a load of this one. The show was so broke, that the sets were 2x4 fronts. They weren't even cardboard buildings, just rickety boards nailed together. So hokey that it must be seen to be believed. If you believe the bullets aren't real you won't be harmed? I believe this hammer won't hurt when I bang it on my thumb...............OUCH!!!!!!!!

The Earps and Doc Holliday coming gunning for Kirk's crew
DeForrest Kelly played Morgan Earp in the 1957 film, "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," so there is an interesting bit of irony to "Spectre of the Gun." The Enterprise ignores the warnings of a Melkotian space buoy and orbits the planet. Apparently he has orders to establish contact at all costs. Well, the costs might be pretty high because the Melkotians order the execution of the landing party, taking the infamous gunfight at the O.K. corral from Kirk's mind as the setting for their deaths. Of course, the Enterprise officers are the Clayton gang and they are about to be gunned down by the Earps and their pal Doc Holliday. There is a very nice sense of "unreality" to the entire affair, somehow reminiscent of the dream ballet from "Oklahoma." Ironically, the Earps are portrayed rather accurately as the pistol-whipping thugs they were in Tombstone way back when. Again, there is a weakness in the premise, what with Kirk being order to force contact with the Melkotians, which is not exactly enlightened behavior on the part of the good guys (think Commodore Perry being ordered to "open" Japan). But strange situation is played out well and the best part of this episode is that it is Spock who effectively saves the day. "Specter of the Gun" ends up being an above average episode of Star Trek. ... Read more

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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 fascinating and surprisingly moving result was the two-part drama "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 reappear 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 reedited "Cage." A must-see for Star Trek fans, "The Menagerie" is a stellar example of Roddenberry thinking on his feet. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The original Star Trek pilot incorporated into the series
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the two-part story of "The Menagrie" is that Gene Roddenberry found a way to incorporate "The Cage," the original Star Trek pilot that was deemed "too cerebral" by the network into the series. Within that context the framing story of Spock hijacking the Enterprise in order to bring the ship's former captain, Christopher Pike, back to the forbidden planet of Talos IV, works quite well, once you get past the idea of Spock "as he was then," that emotional alien who yells "The Women!" when the female officers suddenly disappear. It is only when they have to come up with commercial breaks in the new show to accommodate the commercial breaks of the old pilot, that things get a bit strained. The idea that Spock's past and current captains have to sit in judgment of him during the court-martial certain puts Kirk in an interesting position, especially since all he really does for most of these two episodes is watch the original pilot along with the rest of us. I always liked the twist on the original ending, that whereas in "The Cage" the Talosians give Vina the illusion that Pike is still with her, in "The Menagerie" it is Pike who is given the illusion of health. Jeffrey Hunter's take on a starship captain is also worth preserving as well, and it is nice that a few Star Trek novels have flesh out his captaincy a bit. It is also fascinating to compare the tinkering Roddenberry did with the crew in retooling the series, giving us something else to debate eternally. Yes, I also have a slight preference for the original version of the pilot rather than this cut and paste effort, but there is value to the framing device, which amply proves Spock's loyalty to his captains, whatever Starfleet regulations and logic might dictate. Finally, it was nice of them to put both parts of "The Menagerie" on a single videotape.

Is Mr. Spock a Traitor?
That's the question in this well done episode that uses footage from Gene Roddenberry's first Star Trek pilot (The Cage). Spock hijacks the Enterprise and takes it to planet Talos IV, an act which is punishable by death, Why is Spock taking Captain Christopher Pike to that planet? Is his friendship with Jim Kirk over, or being honored in some strange way? What are the images of the Enterprise's first voyage to that planet coming from? What strange secreats to the Talosians hold for Captain Pike? Watch and find out.Written by Gene Roddenberry, Part 1 of the story was directed by Marc Daniels. Part 2 was directed by Robert Butler. Music Composed and Conducted by Alexander Courage.

Watch the Cage first
This two part episode based on pilot #1, in which Spock is in the hot seat, is difficult to evaluate separately from 'The Cage.' Overall, the team did a good job of generating an episode 'without' another episode. On the other hand, the main thing going for the episode is The Cage. And it is better just to watch The Cage as it was intended, without all the artificial breaks. As noted by another reviewer, it isn't just the breaks in The Cage that are awkward; the need for breaks in The Menagerie also made for some awkward moments. So ultimately this episode was a clever way of presenting 'The Cage', and not a lot more. The two exceptions: 1) it is interesting to see the extent of Spock's loyalty, and 2) the return of Pike to Talos IV was a nice touch. (2.5 stars for the Menagerie components alone, 3.5 overall)

pike is looking ugly
this is one of the best original series episodes.it shows scenes from "the cage" star treks unscreened pilot episode which starred jeffery hunter as captain christopher pike.this is very much a spock episode showing how much he cares about his captains.the injured pike is played by another actor [not jeffery hunter].it took about 6 hours to apply the makeup the actor wore.i myself think that the crew of pikes enterprise would make a good crew.but no bones.

Dance Vina Dance!!!!
Everyone thinks the 'big' scene is Mr. Spock smiling and grinning stupidly at some vibrating cardboard flowers, but they are wrong.

Susan Oliver as Vina, oh how beatiful she is. I have always been infatuated with green skinned slave girls anyway. I've made several bids for them, but always fall short cash wise (maybe a dylithium mine would help). Wathing Susan dance half-naked in her green body paint is much too seductive for 1960s and is possibly why the series was not picked up. I can see the producers now thinking "What the hell bloody show are you perverts trying to make? This is 1964 for crying out loud! Slave women who dance for their owners? Barbarians!"

Well I sit and watch Sweet Vina dance and dance and dance. I never get tired of her. If I was Pike I would have told Spock to fly off without me. I would have made sure the aliens kept her as the 'Green Illusion' and supplied them with a whole herd of slaves to do their manual labor. Sure when you saw her in her real state she was pretty messed up, but no worse than my ex-wife when she woke up with a hangover Sunday morning. I'm glad Pike finally got to be with her. Too bad it took for him to be as messed up as Vina for them to finally be together. Rock on Captain Pike! Even with lights to say 'yes' or 'no', you could still kick Pricard's butt. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Excellent Beginning To A Highly-Memorable TV Series!
"Fear In A Desert City" represents the premiere episode of one of the finest television dramas ever to grace the small screen -- "The Fugitive", starring David Janssen as "Dr. Richard Kimble", the physician who was falsely accused of murdering his wife, Helen (played a few times during the series by the lovely actress Diane Brewster, who also portrayed "Beaver" Cleaver's first school teacher, "Miss Canfield", in another Classic TV series, "Leave It To Beaver").

This debut episode of "The Fugitive" is a winner in my book. It features Brian Keith and Vera Miles as the primary guest stars -- both of whom are terrific in their roles here (particularly Keith, who is savagely menacing and brutal, to the point of being downright scary).

The picture and sound quality on this VHS video are pretty good. One of the things that might stand out boldly to those who watch this video for the first time is its relatively-lengthy running time: 49 minutes. As is fairly evident from this run time, TV shows back in the 1960s featured several fewer minutes of annoying commercial interruptions -- meaning longer episode lengths for shows like "The Fugitive". I think it's safe to say that this VHS version of "Fear In A Desert City" contains the complete, uncut program (as originally aired in 1963).

SOME "FUGE FACTS", SERIES' INFO, AND TRIVIA ------------

>> Kimble's first alias was "James Lincoln" (used in this pilot episode).

>> "Fear In A Desert City" was first broadcast (on ABC-TV) on Tuesday night, September 17, 1963 (at 10:00 PM, Eastern Time).

>> "The Fugitive" lasted for four fabulous seasons (1963-1967), with a total of 120 episodes aired. (The first three seasons were broadcast in Black-and-White; while the fourth and final season was shown in "Living Color". A little bit of "edge" and atmosphere were lost during the final color campaign, IMO. But, still, many first-rate episodes are included during the final year as well.)

>> Dr. Kimble saves the life of Lt. Philip Gerard, the man desperately attempting to re-capture Kimble, in FIVE separate episodes during the series' four years on the air. One show, in fact, has Kimble TWICE rescuing Gerard from near-certain