Arena
- Thread starter Zakk
- Start date
kind of liked the episode would have liked it if they maybe did something with the gorn in the tng series or something
Definitely one of my favorites. Loved the Gorn. I also wish they had done something with the species in the TNG era, especially on DS9. It would have been easy enough, since they often referred to how Kassidy Yates' brother lived on Cestus III.
Hardly the most famous Trek episode of all, though it may be one of the most parodied.
I love this episode, it's one of my favorites. The script is wonderful, and the episode as produced demonstrates both the imaginative scope of the series and the extraordinary production challenges they faced in realizing those ideas. The audacity of the show is breathtaking and still exciting.
Despite his over-fondness for god-like aliens, Gene Coon was probably the best writer/producer Trek ever had. It's a pity that his influence was lost so early in the history of the Franchise - more of him and less of some of the other creative "leading lights" could only have improved matters after 1969.
I love this episode, it's one of my favorites. The script is wonderful, and the episode as produced demonstrates both the imaginative scope of the series and the extraordinary production challenges they faced in realizing those ideas. The audacity of the show is breathtaking and still exciting.
Despite his over-fondness for god-like aliens, Gene Coon was probably the best writer/producer Trek ever had. It's a pity that his influence was lost so early in the history of the Franchise - more of him and less of some of the other creative "leading lights" could only have improved matters after 1969.
Well, for one thing, the alien was totally different. I read the story years ago; there were some basic similarities in plot, but I'm betting that Coon was honest about coming up with his story on his own.
Gerrold's "Tribbles" was obviouly inspired by Heinlein's flat-cats, though it probably was subconsciously.
Gerrold's "Tribbles" was obviouly inspired by Heinlein's flat-cats, though it probably was subconsciously.
There's probably unconscious influence in "Arena" as well - too many congruencies.
At what point in the process were the rights to Brown's story purchased? I ask because is it possible Coon's final draft was consciously shaped to parallel it more closely once that was done or was the purchase made to cover themselves?
They were short of scripts during the first season and Gene Coon locked himself away one weekend and banged out "Arena." It was sent for network approval and out to Kellam Deforest for factual and legal research. Kellam's assitant recognized the similarity to Fredric Brown's story and that's when Desilu's Business Affairs called Brown that they'd like to buy the rights to his story. Brown was delighted and accepted the deal. According to Solow, they never told him that the script had already been written. (Source: "Inside Star Trek" by Herb Solow and Robert Justman, pp.206-207.)
The alien in Brown's story was a ball-shaped, multi-tentacled creature called a “Roller.” Its method of locomotion was, well, rolling -- which it apparently accomplished by shifting its center of gravity at will. Imagine trying to show THAT on a TV series in 1966! Hell, the Gorn lizard suit looks cheesy enough by today's standards.
Weather balloon, I think.
Dose anyone know when and why it was decided to give the Gorn the multi-faceted, fly-like eyes? I've seen several images in the last few years showing the costume pieces both sitting upon a table and being worn but before the "tunic" and bracers were fitted. In those "behind the scenes" snaps, the eyes seem to be simply glossy, "smoked" plastic.
Was it simply to make the creature looks a tad different, more alien? Or was there some production practicality involved? Were they originally going to paint them in a reptilian fashion, or fit painted spheres under the smoked plastic and the final look and/or mechanics proved less than "acceptable"?
Sincerely,
Bill
Was it simply to make the creature looks a tad different, more alien? Or was there some production practicality involved? Were they originally going to paint them in a reptilian fashion, or fit painted spheres under the smoked plastic and the final look and/or mechanics proved less than "acceptable"?
Sincerely,
Bill
Thanks. I really ought to dig up a copy of that book.
I suspect it was a design/look decision. The eyes weren't practical in any sense of the word: the performer looked out through slits lower in the mask.
As to the faceted-esque eyes, it wasn't entirely uncommon in that era. For instance, in the 1967 kaiju film X From Outer Space (Uchū Daikaijū Girara) the monster's eyes are segmented {albeit lit from within).
I just watched the remastered version of Arena for the first time last night, and noticed something interesting. After Kirk blasts the Gorn with the cannon, I thought I saw a small, jagged piece of diamond sticking out from the Gorn's shoulder with a tiny trickle of red blood. I don't recall seeing that in the original version. Anyone else see this or can verify if this is some kind of digital alteration?
They were there on the original as well, you can verify by checking screengrabs over at http://tos.trekcore.com/gallery
When the Metron appears at the end of the story, there's a “twinkling” effect around him (her)* that I thought had been added digitally in the remastered version. But it's lens flare that was present in the original film.
*Played onscreen by actress Carole Shelyne, voice dubbed by Vic Perrin. And, of course, the Talosians in “The Cage” were all played by women. Wonder if G.R. had a cross-dressing fetish?
*Played onscreen by actress Carole Shelyne, voice dubbed by Vic Perrin. And, of course, the Talosians in “The Cage” were all played by women. Wonder if G.R. had a cross-dressing fetish?
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