Captain Pike's boots

I was watching The Cage last night on blu ray and noticed something I had never seen before. When Captain Pike is fighting on Rigil 7, He has buckles on the top of his boots. I have never noticed this ever. Some of you may have seen this or it may have been disscussed here or in the costume forums on the web at length.

 

I've never noticed that...

Anyone have some frame captures?

 

Once again, our good friends over at TrekCore have anticipated our every possible screencap need.

Here are the best examples:












Well, I'll be frakked, they do have buckles. And just when I thought I'd learned every freakish bit of minute trivia about TOS there was to know ...

Dakota Smith

 

Looking at the screencaps, what I'd have to guess is this:

The boots manufactured for "The Cage" weren't as tightly-fitted as those used in the series proper -- probably not unusual for a pilot's costuming. Unfortunately, badly-fitted boots were probably a hindance in shooting action sequences.

What it looks like they did was strap a small leather belt around the top of the boots. This allowed Hunter to shoot the action sequences without the boots either slipping off his feet or getting his cuffs gummed up in their top.

Hell, now I'm going to have to look at other screencaps for evidence of these straps in non-action scenes ...

Dakota Smith

 

Hmmm, learned something new today...

 

Always something new to learn!

 

I think they were right off the shelf!

 

you know TV producers'; they're always trying to save money. Well, that's Shoe Biz.

 

As an aside, every time I see Hunter as Pike, I kind of wished they'd hired Ray Liotta to play him in 2009:



I thought Bruce Greenwood as Pike was awesome, by the way ... but Ray Liotta looks a hell of a lot more like Jeff Hunter.

Dakota Smith

 

True...but the voice... way too nasally (or something). Hunter was far more a 'smooth' talker.

 

This is definitely true. Liotta's just a touch stereotypically Italian in his vocal cadence, which works really well for a lot of the roles he's done. But Hunter was part of an acting tradition that taught actors how to speak for the stage. Liotta wasn't, and it definitely shows in his voice.

Bruce Greenwood, on the other hand, has a very effective speaking voice that was perfect for Pike.

Dakota Smith

 

I might tend to agree with this. I remember boots that looked just like that when I was a kid (yes, way the hell back in the '60s).

Though Dakota's explanation could make sense, too.

 

Now that's funny!

 

oh.......THOSE kind of bucked boots...

I was imagining Pilgrim-type buckled shoes.

 

I'm pretty sure Kirk had the same boots in Where No Man Has Gone Before. I remember spotting the buckle in the Photonovel.

 

I'll be hornswaggled and dipped in Bantha poodoo. You're right: Kirk's wearing the same buckled boots:













Further: it appears on inspection that both Shatner and his stunt double are wearing the boots with buckles. Neither Gary Lockwood nor his stunt double wear them. In fact, their boot design seems closer (though not identical) to those used on the series.

Maybe they were just off the rack.

Dakota Smith

 

DakotaSmith, look at your fifth picture again. That is Lockwood or his stunt double from behind, and he is obviously wearing the buckled boots. See his right foot.

 

Shatner appears to be wearing them as well.

 

They might have been cowboy boots just old stock reused for the pilot westerns were big at the time !! Jeff hunter what a actor !!!!