Now I really know why I like Spock's Brain...

[Borjis]

I was watching it on DVD last night and for the first time, only now did I realize the following......

Directed by Marc Daniels.

Marc's episodes are among my favorites in the series.

I realized finally why I like this episode even when there is so much to dis like about it.

so here's to you Mr. Daniels.

 

[A beaker full of death]

Can you be more specific? What is it about his direction you like?
Unlike many, I don't hate this episode.

 

[Markas]

Any episode that has the line "brain and brain, what is brain?!?" can't be all bad.

 

[Christopher]

"Spock's Brain" is a greatly underappreciated episode. Sure, it's got a silly story, but it's got good production values, it features one of the best musical scores of the entire series, and it gives the whole cast a chance to participate more than usual. And, bottom line, it's entertaining. There are several TOS episodes that are worse than "Spock's Brain," notably "The Alternative Factor," which is a total mess and just isn't fun to sit through. "Spock's Brain" is fun. The reason it's so infamous as the "worst" TOS episode is not because it's actually the worst, but because it's the most enjoyable and unforgettable bad episode.

 

[scottydog]

^Agreed. There are three types of TOS episodes: Those that are profound and goose-bump inducing in their greatness (e.g., City on the Edge of Forever). Those that are just plain horrible in every way (e.g., Cat's Paw). And those that are campy and best enjoyed when not taken seriously. Spock's Brain falls into that latter category.

 

[Valin]

I thought this thread was going to be about the poster's favorite foods.

 

[Borjis]

Can you be more specific? What is it about his direction you like?
Unlike many, I don't hate this episode.

I don't honestly know, save for the fact that like a Spielberg movie,
I know I'm probably going to have entertainment satisfaction. His
direction likely means i'll have fun watching it. I feel the same about Mr. Daniels
and his episodes.

I took note after buying them all on DVD (individually as they came out)
that the episodes I liked the most just happened to be directed by him.

so when I noticed it just last night even though I'd seen it countless
times before I immediately thought AAHHHAA!

It was really great to see he did an episode of TAS too.

 

[Bad Atom]

"Spock's Brain" is a greatly underappreciated episode. Sure, it's got a silly story, but it's got good production values, it features one of the best musical scores of the entire series, and it gives the whole cast a chance to participate more than usual. And, bottom line, it's entertaining. There are several TOS episodes that are worse than "Spock's Brain," notably "The Alternative Factor," which is a total mess and just isn't fun to sit through. "Spock's Brain" is fun. The reason it's so infamous as the "worst" TOS episode is not because it's actually the worst, but because it's the most enjoyable and unforgettable bad episode.

Totally agreed. The direction and production values went a long way to make up for the ridiculous story. Compare it to "And the Children Shall Lead", which was also terrible from a writing standpoint. But it wasn't backed up by good production values, and it shows.

 

[Jeri]

...Those that are just plain horrible in every way (e.g., Cat's Paw)...

I like cat's paw; it has "cat" in the title, has a cat in the show and portrays the boys in chains in a dungeon. Very entertaining indeed.

 

[ClayinCA]

Can't speak to the "boys in chains" part of your post , but I agree with the "cat" part. I just wish it was a Siamese...

 

[EnsignJulka]

I like the sound of Spock's voice in this episode...

 

[Esteban]

Marc was a pro and a big fan of Star Trek. He really cared. I met him in the mid-eighties before he died. He told me that he didn't get along with the 3rd Season "producers" (he did not name names) and by mutual decision he never came back to ST.

Spock's Brain was a pretty block and tackle direction job (he was under orders to get it shot fast) but he took the time to do the bridge walk-around shots which were unique to the series (though partially done in Doomsday, also directed by him).

It all came down to money, really, and the increased pressure on the directors to complete shooting in 5 or 6 days, as opposed to the 7 that were budgeted (and often exceeded) in the first season and the six in the second. Ralph Senensky (a great ST director) was FIRED for going overtime on Tholian Web. Herb Wallerstein, a hack, finished the show, got the credit, and went on to tap dance his way through a bunch of 3rd season eps. Freddie Freiberger loved him becuase he was fast.

 

[EnsignHarper]

Marc was a pro and a big fan of Star Trek. He really cared. I met him in the mid-eighties before he died. He told me that he didn't get along with the 3rd Season "producers" (he did not name names) and by mutual decision he never came back to ST.

Spock's Brain was a pretty block and tackle direction job (he was under orders to get it shot fast) but he took the time to do the bridge walk-around shots which were unique to the series (though partially done in Doomsday, also directed by him).

It all came down to money, really, and the increased pressure on the directors to complete shooting in 5 or 6 days, as opposed to the 7 that were budgeted (and often exceeded) in the first season and the six in the second. Ralph Senensky (a great ST director) was FIRED for going overtime on Tholian Web. Herb Wallerstein, a hack, finished the show, got the credit, and went on to tap dance his way through a bunch of 3rd season eps. Freddie Freiberger loved him becuase he was fast.

Great post Esteban...Daniels is a TERRIBLY underrated figure in not only Trek, but TELEVISION history. Desi Arnaz somehow got all the credit, but it was Daniels and Karl Freund the cinematographer who really pioneered how to shoot I LOVE LUCY live and before an audience, thus inventing the modern sitcom. He was an extremely talented guy, who even managed to make oatmeal like HOGAN'S HEROES look good.

As far as Trek is concerned, Justman credits him with saving the show by showing that an episode could be done on time and within budget - both CM and MW had gone way over schedule and budget, and both NBC and Desilu were having second thoughts about the show. Daniels came in and banged out both Naked Time AND Man Trap two weeks in a row, and both on time and within budget - and not to mention being two classic shows! I have said this elsewhere here, but Daniels direction of the 'I'm in control of my emotions' briefing room scene in NT is possibly THE single most important scene in Trek history - it is the scene which defined Spock's character forever- and it is done in one exquisitely long dolly shot - and it was done in ONE take at the end of a shooting day! Any question, then, why it was Daniels who was entrusted with some of the most important Trek episodes?

 

[scottydog]

^Thanks for sharing all this. I had no idea of the important role Marc Daniels played in trek history.

 

[Esteban]

Daniels direction of the 'I'm in control of my emotions' briefing room scene in NT is possibly THE single most important scene in Trek history - it is the scene which defined Spock's character forever- and it is done in one exquisitely long dolly shot - and it was done in ONE take at the end of a shooting day!

You, sir, are a connoisseur. And absolutely dead-on.

A little more on Marc, according to Marc:

He really liked the shipboard sets. He hated Stage 9, the planet set. He actually told me that it was only in HIS episodes that he would never show Spock, at his science station, wrapping his hand around the edge of what was supposed to be a circular console. I couldn't believe he remembered that much.

I nearly genuflected.

He hated "A Private Little War", one of the few where he took the cast on location, and he was forced to shoot that one fast, too. It shows: you can often see LA in the background.

That was his last "regular rotation" ep in the 2nd season. He did "By Any Other Name", and then "Assignment : Earth" because Gene R had more of an interest in that pilot--and knew Marc could deliver, on time and on budget. Then, 5 months later, "Spock's Brain", and that was it.

Of course, he came back to write an Animated episode--anybody remember the name?--that lifted the "I will not kill--TODAY" line from "A Taste of Armageddon". Shows you what a fan he was.

Pevney was Good. Great on location (Arena). Senensky was poetic (This Side of Paradise, others...). But Daniels was the Man.

 

[Borjis]

Of course, he came back to write an Animated episode--anybody remember the name?

"One of our Planets is Missing"

Thanks very much for posting all that info about Marc.

Now I know why I like his shows the best

 

[Jeri]

Somebody ought to carve these posts out and put them in an FAQ somewhere.

 

[gottacook]

Compare it to "And the Children Shall Lead", which was also terrible from a writing standpoint. But it wasn't backed up by good production values, and it shows.

Well, ATCSL also had a good original score, by George Duning; not that it helps this episode much, but strange scripts brought out the best in him (see "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" and "The Empath" in particular) and those episodes were helped immeasurably by his contribution, as were the remaining third-season episodes that drew from those scores.

Is there any database of music cues of all episodes, showing who wrote each original episode score and which cues appeared in later episodes? [Probably the cue with the longest life was "Black Ship Tension" by Fred Steiner, which I think appeared in all three seasons starting with "Balance of Terror."]

 

[kirkshairpeice]

are you kidding? i love this episode! cute dumb women in mini skirts and go go boots who are the givers of "pain and delight''? beam me down scotty!( this one also has one of the best close up hero phaser shots in the series)

 

[Bad Atom]

Compare it to "And the Children Shall Lead", which was also terrible from a writing standpoint. But it wasn't backed up by good production values, and it shows.

Well, ATCSL also had a good original score, by George Duning; not that it helps this episode much, but strange scripts brought out the best in him (see "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" and "The Empath" in particular) and those episodes were helped immeasurably by his contribution, as were the remaining third-season episodes that drew from those scores.

Is there any database of music cues of all episodes, showing who wrote each original episode score and which cues appeared in later episodes? [Probably the cue with the longest life was "Black Ship Tension" by Fred Steiner, which I think appeared in all three seasons starting with "Balance of Terror."]

I'm not a big fan of the music in "ATCSL", although Duning's other scores were very good. There's a music database on this site that's very helpful. It doesn't go into specifics but it does show which episodes used "tracked" music.