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Star Trek - The Original Series: The Cage (Pilot)
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300213050
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6300213056
Label: Paramount
Languages: English (Original Language), Analog
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Paramount
Release Date: April 15, 1994
Running Time: 46 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: 1966
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Editorial Review:
Watching "The Cage" is like visiting some parallel universe. That's the Star Trek theme song, and there's the Enterprise, and that's Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock... but wait--he's smiling and firing weapons. And who are the rest of these duds manning the controls? If this were any other series pilot, it would probably be laughed out of the galaxy with its wooden acting, silly costumes, and cheesy special effects. But this was Star Trek's dry run, and so it is a must-own collectible for every Trekker, as well as instructive viewing for anyone interested in the evolution of a TV show. Now, there are some who staunchly believe that Jeffrey Hunter's Christopher Pike was the Enterprise's best captain. Pike doesn't exactly inspire confidence in his leadership abilities; reflecting on a recent devastating battle, he anguishes, "I should have smelled trouble when I saw the swords and the armor." He is also "tired of being responsible for 203 lives" and is considering resigning his Starfleet commission. But Pike is roused from his ennui after the Enterprise answers a distress call on the planet Talos IV, and he is imprisoned by super-intelligent aliens with the telepathic power to manipulate memories. Susan Oliver guest-stars as Vina, whom the aliens select as Eve to his Adam. The lackluster (and virtually all-white) crew includes Marjel Barrett as a somber Number One and John Hoyt as Dr. Boyce, who dispenses martinis as well as advice. This episode never aired, but some scenes were used in the two-part original series episode The Menagerie. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Star Trek history
It's not often you get to own television history of what was to become a Star Trek phenom. Reading the back of the box "Airdate:Never shown on TV!" in red ink is something! Many people make comparisons between Pike and Kirk. Everyone says it's the acting of William Shatner vs. Jeffrey Hunter with Hunter's Pike seeming to think too much vs. Shatner's Kirk being more energetic. Shatner replaced Hunter so Kirk was written to be more energetic, have more fight scenes, being the womanizing captain in ... Read More
Rating: - FEATURES GOOD ALIENS or BAD ALIENS: TAKE YOUR PICK!
This original pilot from 1964 [that never aired until almost 30 years went by] is very different from, yet very similar to, the Star Trek that we all know and love. Except for Spock as Science Officer and Majel Barrett as First Officer, the entire crew is different, yet the ship appears the same. The crew [just 203 vs. 400+], however, looks like they are a mix of 1960s beach-party extras and stuntmen. Call it an eclectic cast or maybe just thrown together, take your pick.
THE PLOT:
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Rating: - You can see the seeds of the Star Trek phenomena
The only way to view this video is with your mind firmly locked into the historical context. When Gene Roddenberry first proposed the Star Trek series to network executives, the American television viewers were in the midst of their love affair with the western. Therefore, he described the proposed series as "wagon train to the stars." However, that is not what he gave them, and there were some objections, so a second pilot was requested.
The idea of a woman second in command was immediately ... Read More
Rating:  - "I'll break out of this zoo somehow and get to you!"
One of the most enduring legacies on television actually had a very curious beginning with "The Cage." The first pilot for the original Star Trek series featured the U.S.S. Enterprise and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) but the iconic Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was nowhere to be found. Instead the original captain of the famous Federation starship was none other than Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). While Captain Pike is still remembered among the fan base, he has faded into obscurity ... Read More
Rating: - What if...
The first pilot episode of the show, which featured a different captain (Jeffrey Hunter) as Pike would be worth watching for comparative purposes even if it was not an interesting episode. Much feels clumsy and disconcertingly different in this episode, but how could it be any other way, given that this was their first attempt, and so much was rejected by the suits? But a female second in command would have been really interesting (I'm not sure Barrett would have been up to the task though), as would ... Read More
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