'City on the Edge of Forever' Question

[species5618]

Hey all, my first post in this forum, so I extend my apologies if this was discussed recently.

I was watching 'City' on the new Captain's Log DVD set, and I noticed something curious--Joan Collins is billed as 'Sister Edith Keeler' in the closing credits of the episode. Now this must have been some sort of mistake, because unless I'm incorrect, only Catholic nuns are ever referred to as 'Sister' and Keeler's feelings toward Kirk are definitely of a romantic nature. She also (obviously) isn't wearing a habit, not even a crucifix, and never mentions religion once. So my question is this--was Edith Keeler originally meant to be a nun? If so, was this credit simply a mistake, something that was meant to be corrected but slipped past the producers?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[Outpost4]

Religious preachers, especially evangelicals, are often referred to as "sister" or "brother". When you asked your question the first person that came to my mind was Aimee Semple McPherson, a Protestant evangelical from the first half of the twentieth century who was commonly called Sister Aimee.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Harlen Ellison based his characterization on Sister Aimee. She was as popular as seemingly Edith Keeler became in the alternate timeline.

 

[Therin of Andor]

species5618 said:
because unless I'm incorrect, only Catholic nuns are ever referred to as 'Sister'

Nurses in a promotions position are entitled to be called "Sister" - even male ones, although they don't usually use the title.

Sister Edith Cavell was a British nurse serving in Belgium during the First World War. She was accused of helping Allied prisoners to escape and was executed.

Doesn't the Salvation Army use the title "sister" and "brother" for its aid workers? I seem to remember the musical "Guys and Dolls" using the terms?

 

[Shatmandu]

species5618 said:
Thanks in advance for your responses.

In the original script, she's described as a black woman.

It would have been even more groundbreaking than the whole Kirk/Uhura being-forced-to-kiss-at-the-toga-party thing.

Joe, noted Trek historian

 

[DavidFalkayn]

That would have been a tremendously groundbreaking script had they kept it--of course, given the social condition at the time, there was virtually no way that was going to happen. The only way they got away with having Kirk and Uhura kissing was because it was forced--and even then several TV stations blacked it out.

People today don't really understand just how things have changed. On one of my "Laugh-In" dvds, Teresa Graves gives Jim Garner a quick kiss and then looking straight into the camera quips, "There goes Mississippi!"

 

[species5618]

Therin of Andor said:

species5618 said:
because unless I'm incorrect, only Catholic nuns are ever referred to as 'Sister'

Nurses in a promotions position are entitled to be called "Sister" - even male ones, although they don't usually use the title.

Sister Edith Cavell was a British nurse serving in Belgium during the First World War. She was accused of helping Allied prisoners to escape and was executed.

Doesn't the Salvation Army use the title "sister" and "brother" for its aid workers? I seem to remember the musical "Guys and Dolls" using the terms?

Well, I've never seen 'Guys and Dolls' so that's sort of lost on me. I wasn't referring to calling people 'brother' or 'sister' in a colloquial manner, but rather formal titles, such as your example of Edith Cavell. As for the Salvation Army, I know very little about them, but I was under the impression that they had quasi-military titles. I wasn't aware that it could apply to nursing though--sometimes I do manage to learn stuff from the internet.

I suppose I had a fairly rigid interpretation of the title and I associate it with Catholicism more than anything else--go figure, I work for a Catholic organization (though I'm not RC myself) so I suppose that might explain it.

 

[A beaker full of death]

DavidFalkayn said:
That would have been a tremendously groundbreaking script had they kept it

I believe he's taking a piss.

 

[Mysterion]

Outpost4 said:
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Harlen Ellison based his characterization on Sister Aimee. She was as popular as seemingly Edith Keeler became in the alternate timeline.

IIRC, Ellison did indeed base Keeler on McPherson. I believe he discusses this in his book about "City".

 

[Outpost4]

NEVER believe anything Shatmandu says when his signature is "Joe, noted Trek historian".

 

[DavidFalkayn]

I believe he's taking a piss.

Ok, I've been tagged...Isn't the first time and it won't be the last...

 

[Therin of Andor]

species5618 said:
I wasn't referring to calling people 'brother' or 'sister' in a colloquial manner

Neither was I.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

DavidFalkayn said:
That would have been a tremendously groundbreaking script had they kept it--of course, given the social condition at the time, there was virtually no way that was going to happen. The only way they got away with having Kirk and Uhura kissing was because it was forced--and even then several TV stations blacked it out.

People today don't really understand just how things have changed. On one of my "Laugh-In" dvds, Teresa Graves gives Jim Garner a quick kiss and then looking straight into the camera quips, "There goes Mississippi!"

Ah, Jimmy Garner! You gotta love Rockfish!!!

Remember when Rocky hit him in the head with the frying pan? Good stuff!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

A beaker full of death said:

DavidFalkayn said:
That would have been a tremendously groundbreaking script had they kept it

I believe he's taking a piss.

 

[Hambone]

TheLonelySquire said:

A beaker full of death said:

DavidFalkayn said:
That would have been a tremendously groundbreaking script had they kept it

I believe he's taking a piss.

He means it was joke. "Sister" Edith Keeler (where sister = sista). Get it?

 

[Shatmandu]

Outpost4 said:
NEVER believe anything Shatmandu says when his signature is "Joe, noted Trek historian".

Outpost4 is correct.

Joe, noted Trek historian

 

[Kryton]

So Outpost4 is NOT correct. But if that's so, then I sould ALWAYS believe Shatmandu when he signs that way...which would mean Outpost4 IS correct!

Norman! Norman! Coordinate! *bzzzt* beepbeepbeepbeep

 

[Woulfe]

^ Watches as the display of illogic fries yet another computer in the grand TOS tradition, while muching popcorn.

- W -
* This is fun isn't it ? *

 

[jtkirk]

i loved the Joan Collins/William Shatner introduction to "The City On The Edge Of Forever" episode.

i don't think i have ever heard JC speak of Trek in the past.

 

[Forbin]

She's spoken of the episode on a few televised specials or sci fi award shows, and she usually gets something astronomically wrong. Like the time she referred to Edith Keeler as Hitler's girlfriend.

 

[EnsignHarper]

Forbin said:
She's spoken of the episode on a few televised specials or sci fi award shows, and she usually gets something astronomically wrong. Like the time she referred to Edith Keeler as Hitler's girlfriend.

TVLAND just had her on one of their 'TVLAND Confidential' shows, and she actually got it almost correct this time! She actually pointed out something salient : COTEOF is Kirk's first 'romance'....