differences between "The Cage" and "The Menagerie"
WEBROBOT
between this first pilot and the two-part THE MENAGERIE. Some
original dialogue and scenes were cut.
Even if you haven't seen THE MENAGERIE many times (or have a copy of
James Blish's STAR TREK 4), it is easy to spot these missing
scenes. Since they are using the original tapes, the sound quality
becomes more scratchy. It is even easier to find the original dialog
of the Keeper because his voice goes from the higher, alien range to a
lower, deeper, more masculine voice.
Some differences were minor. The opening title doesn't have the
swish of the Enterprise passing by, inconsequential extra dialog,
some action scenes, etc.
But most were major differences that made for a much more interesting
story. Since this was a pilot, (unlikely to be seen by the regular TV
audience) they could get away with a some things which could not make
it past the censors.
While I watched the program, I made notes of 15 such major
differences:
(1) ENTERPRISE GOING INTO WARP
The bridge scene became partially transparent, allowing the stars to
be seen. Also it sometimes blinked on and off.
(2) WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE
After crashing into the female yeoman, Captain Pike was obviously
uncomfortable about having women on the bridge. Number One was the
exception because she was different .
(3) OTHER TALOSIAN CAPTIVES
When Captain Pike first wakes up in his cell, he sees 3 other
captives:
1. a huge ape-like creature. It is later re-created as the Keeper
tries to prevent Pike from twisting off his head.
2. a large bird-like creature that was flapping its leathery wings.
This was possibly a costume borrowed from the Outer Limits episode
SECOND CHANCE
3. maybe a third creature, but only its shadow was visible, just
before the Talosians arrive to give Pike the once-over .
(4) THE BRIEFING ROOM
In addition to plans for rescuing Pike, the senior officers were
discussing why the Captain was captured. Also a brief drawing of a
Talosian was put on the screen with Spock describing them as have a
brain three times the size of ours .
(5) PIKE'S BATTLE
As Pike fights the savage Kalar, the creature reacts as a normal
opponent would. Pike asks Vina: Why would an illusion be
frightened? Vina responds: Because that's the way you imagine him.
(6) VINA'S CLOTHING
Pike asks Vina why she wears the same metal mesh cloth that the
Talosians wear. Vina responds with a smile, and says: Well, I have
to wear something, don't I?
(7) THE PICNIC
There were a lot of interesting tidbits in this illusion. Vina,
trying to pretend to be Pike's wife, complains of headaches when
Pike talks about illusions. Pike also talks about how the ship's
doctor said that he needed to have a rest. Vina has a recipe for
chicken-tuna sandwiches. (Yum ) Pike and Vina talk about the locale
of this park, especially similar to the one near Pike's Mojave
birthplace.
(8) THE KEEPER'S OBSERVATIONS ON HUMANS
As the Keeper watched Vina and Pike at the picnic, the Captain
described his first impression of Vina as a wild little animal . The
Keeper observed that humans are A curious species; they have
fantasies they hide even from themselves .
(9) GUESTS IN THE ORION COURTYARD
Captain Pike's guests made more lusty comments than in THE
MENAGERIE: Glistening green. Almost like secret dreams a bored ship
captain might have and Funny how they are on this planet. They
actually like being taken advantage of .
(10) THE KEEPER'S OBSERVATIONS OF NUMBER ONE
Refering to Number One (Majel Barrett), the Keeper comments:
Although she seems to lack emotion, this is largely a pretense. She
often has fantasies involving you. Number One looks surprisingly
embarrassed and flustered.
(11) ENTERPRISE TRIES TO ESCAPE TALOS
For the safey of the crew, Spock becomes the acting captain and
orders the Enterprise to leave orbit. When the engines don't work, he
even orders the rockets (impulse engines?), but they don't work
either. All the ship's systems are fading out.
(12) SPOCK AND CREW MAKE REPAIRS
Spock and the others have taken apart a console, trying to get it to
work. They comment that without batteries, they will lose oxygen and
gravity. Suddenly, the computers are turned on as the Talosians scan
all the tapes, micro-records , etc. Spock now believes they have
waited too long and that, after they have collected all the
information, the Talosians have decided to swat them.
(13) TALOSIAN LIFE SPAN
After Pike and the others escape to the surface, the Keeper explains
that the Talosian life span is much longer than a human's. It will
allow them to evolve the humans, so that they will be trained to
serve as artisians, technicians...
(14) THE ILLUSIONARY CAPTAIN PIKE
After the Keeper shows Vina's true form, Pike tells him to give back
her illusion of beauty . To which, the Keeper smiles and
responds: ... And more . When Pike looks again, he sees the lovely
Vina accompanied by himself, going back to the elevator. The Keeper
responds: She has an illusion. And you have reality. May you find
your way as pleasant .
This is only a slight re-working of the scene used in THE MENAGERIE.
But the phrase And more makes more sense in this context.
(15) FINAL SCENE ON THE BRIDGE
As Pike enters the bridge, the doctor comments that he looks 100%
better. The Captain says: Didn't you recommend a rest? Well, I've
even been home. Does that make you happy?
After the yeoman bumps into Pike (again), she asks who would have
been Eve ? Number One interrupts and pointedly comments that the
yeoman has already given the captain her report.
The doctor can't help chiming in: Eve?... As in Adam?
Pike responds back: As in all ship's doctors are dirty old men
I guess that is all the major missing scenes that I can find.
Did I miss anything?
Does anyone have any comments on the scenes that I found?
Graeme
> Did I miss anything?
Right before the second beamdown, there's a short exchange in the
corridor, where Spock tells Geological Technician Fischer (not named
in The Cage, but he's the geologist, and that's his name in Enemy
Within) that they've located an underground cavern. Fischer asks if
that could be an illusion too. Spock looks troubled. They walk into
the transporter room, and Spock proudly points out, as if he'd thought
of it himself, that if their readings were an illusion, one could find
oneself beaming into solid rock.
In The Menagerie, the exchange between Spock and Fischer in the
corridor is cut out, making it look as though Spock really did think
of it on his own.
Steven L.
"WEBROBOT" <jwsd...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:322c6255-0abd-4963...@l14g2000yqb.googlegroups.com:
> Those who have seen THE CAGE probably noticed the many differences
> between this first pilot and the two-part THE MENAGERIE. Some
> original dialogue and scenes were cut.
>
> Even if you haven't seen THE MENAGERIE many times (or have a copy of
> James Blish's STAR TREK 4), it is easy to spot these missing
> scenes. Since they are using the original tapes, the sound quality
> becomes more scratchy. It is even easier to find the original dialog
> of the Keeper because his voice goes from the higher, alien range to a
> lower, deeper, more masculine voice.
>
> Some differences were minor. The opening title doesn't have the
> swish of the Enterprise passing by, inconsequential extra dialog,
> some action scenes, etc.
>
> But most were major differences that made for a much more interesting
> story. Since this was a pilot, (unlikely to be seen by the regular TV
> audience) they could get away with a some things which could not make
> it past the censors.
>
> While I watched the program, I made notes of 15 such major
> differences:
>
> 3. maybe a third creature, but only its shadow was visible, just
> before the Talosians arrive to give Pike the once-over .
I'm pretty sure that the shadow of the third creature is seen in The
Menagerie too. But it's a very short scene.
> (8) THE KEEPER'S OBSERVATIONS ON HUMANS
> As the Keeper watched Vina and Pike at the picnic, the Captain
> described his first impression of Vina as a wild little animal .
That line is also in The Menagerie.
Are you sure you're working with the original episode, rather than a
recut version from CBS?
-- Steven L.
WEBROBOT
> "WEBROBOT" <jwsdis...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Yes. It was the original episode.
-
I was just including those lines ("a wild little animal") and the
extra deleted lines that followed.
That way you could see where the cuts were made.
Karl Johanson
> (7) THE PICNIC
> There were a lot of interesting tidbits in this illusion. Vina,
> trying to pretend to be Pike's wife, complains of headaches when
> Pike talks about illusions. Pike also talks about how the ship's
> doctor said that he needed to have a rest. Vina has a recipe for
> chicken-tuna sandwiches. (Yum ) Pike and Vina talk about the locale
> of this park, especially similar to the one near Pike's Mojave
> birthplace.
Most important in this scene, I think, is Pike pointing out that the
headaches will be hereditary. Basically that the Talosians want their
children as slaves as well.
Karl Johanson