Fact-Checking Inside Star Trek: The Real Story

[Hober Mallow]

I just want to say how much I've enjoyed lurking in this thread. Great work.

 

[Praetor]

Harvey, best of luck on the move. I think I speak for everyone when I say we can't wait to read more.

 

[Ssosmcin]

While it goes off the premise of "fact checking" the book, I would love to have some sort of definitive answer as to when they switched from using the "electric violin" version of the main theme to the Fred Steiner arrangement (the cello theme). The original DVDs don't get it quite right, since multiple people remember The Corbomite Maneuver having the cello theme. Since the theme was recorded in those same sessions, according to the LaLa Land TOS Soundtrack notes, that 10th aired episode would be the latest it was introduced. However, Balance of Terror and What Are Little Girls Made Of were also recorded the same day.

The guys who worked on the CD set couldn't find that information, so I'm wondering if it's listed in the files anywhere else.

 

[Harvey]

The UCLA files have some memos about the music, but nothing that I've found says anything about when the new version of the theme began being used in season one. Unless the Roddenberry estate has files about this unavailable at UCLA, I suspect it will remain a mystery.

 

[Ssosmcin]

That's too bad, but thanks for that at least. Damn. Now I wish I kept by crappy old audio tape recordings I made waaaay back then.

Keep up the amazing work. :-)

 

[Green Shirt]

The original DVDs don't get it quite right, since multiple people remember The Corbomite Maneuver having the cello theme.

In syndication since the early 70s, the electronic version was used in the first five aired episodes. Even though "Corbomite" was first in production order, it aired later - hence the cello.

 

[Ssosmcin]

The original DVDs don't get it quite right, since multiple people remember The Corbomite Maneuver having the cello theme.

In syndication since the early 70s, the electronic version was used in the first five aired episodes. Even though "Corbomite" was first in production order, it aired later - hence the cello.

The cello theme was actually recorded in the same session as the Corbomite Maneuver score, so it couldn't have been used before it was available (easily the most obvious thing I've ever said), which was only a few weeks after the premiere anyway. So that fits, but I always thought Mudd's Women had the electric violin theme. However, I was a kid, so I'm more than willing to be wrong.

 

[Harvey]

The first part of my piece about "A Private Little War" this week. Entirely introduction, but I need this material to last a few weeks while I job hunt. Got hired by a good temp agency here, which is good. Now I just have to hope they can find me a good, long-term assignment. Fingers crossed.

Scheduled a visit to the archives for next weekend. Hopefully I'll turn up something interesting.

 

[Warped9]

Can't wait to read more, Harvey.

 

[Melakon]

Best wishes for the job search, Harvey!

I watched "Private Little War" several times while my computer was down last month. Comparing the Nona bathing scene in the episode against the blooper reel, they sure must have spent more than a few minutes shooting footage of Nancy Kovack they knew would never make it to air. There has to be a juicy story there.

 

[Harvey]

I'm 99% sure there is, and it's in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story.

As I recall, the producers made sure they shot quite a bit extra footage of Nona and included it in the rough cut. That way, when NBC objected, they would have plenty of material they never wanted to cut out, while leaving in what they wanted in the first place.

At least, that's what I remember. Someone with the book handy could verify that.

 

[Melakon]

Yes, I've read Inside Star Trek, and I think there's something about the censor nearly falling over because a nipple was visible in one shot.

 

[Christopher]

Yes, I've read Inside Star Trek, and I think there's something about the censor nearly falling over because a nipple was visible in one shot.

Actually it was just a bit of "sideboob." The standards of the day were a lot more restrictive than they are now.

 

[Green Shirt]

Yes, I've read Inside Star Trek, and I think there's something about the censor nearly falling over because a nipple was visible in one shot.

Falling over to get a better view, no doubt.

 

[Harvey]

I think this is in the Solow/Justman book, but this letter was sent to the production after screening the rough cut:

Stanley Robertson to John [Meredyth] Lucas
November 2, 1967

Dear John:

This will confirm our telephone conversation of this afternoon in which I advised you that the above rough cut, viewed by us on Tuesday afternoon, was, in the form in which screened, unacceptable. Although we realize that certain cuts in the film have been made since our viewing, we have chosen to re-screen the film and view the results of these changes tomorrow afternoon at which time we will decide on the acceptability of the episode.

We realize, John, that the episode in question was not produced by you but, as a guideline for the future, we must reiterate our position that the costuming, the implied sex, and the forms of violence as we discussed, are totally unacceptable to NBC for airing over our facilities.

We strongly urge that you pass our feelings along to your creative staff so that in the future we can avoid such a situation as we currently have facing us.

Regards,

Stanley Robertson
Manager, Film Programming

 

[Christopher]

^Bob Justman in IST (on pp. 355-6 of the hardcover) reports a verbal conversation between himself and someone at Broadcast Standards. But apparently that was before Robertson screened it separately for NBC's Program Department.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Excellent intro, Harvey. I know you will do this piece justice. Good luck on the job hunt.

Sir Rhosis

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I'd just like to add a quick note: the quote from David Alexander (He chose "Judd Crucis,") is a typo. There was only one D in Jud.

http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x19hd/aprivatelittlewarhd0160.jpg

 

[Harvey]

Yeah, that's Alexander's typo. His book isn't as bad as anything self-published, but there are some odd ones that made it through. I'll add the [sic].

 

[Harvey]

Part two of my article on "A Private Little War" this week.

Found some interesting correspondence about attempted NASA astronaut cameos yesterday. Will do some more research and write that one up at some point.