Harlan Elison's City on the Edge of Forever screenplay

[sgsmitty]

Ok, I bought this book tonight when the kids and I went to half-priced books, it was all of $4.98 so I could not pass it up.
I read the first 10 pages or so as light reading. Wow, all I can say is "Bitter! party of 1, your table is ready!"
I do not proclaim to know much about his beef and all the circumstances surrounding this episode but it seems like he needs to move on.
I mean, for me the episode was okay but not the end all best star trek episode ever made. I never understood the hype about the episode.
Anyway, I thought I would pop on and mention my observation about this book of his.

 

[Brendan Moody]

Harlan Ellison? Bitter??

Well, this is the first I've heard of it.

 

[KRAD]

^ Good thing this is the internet -- you never would've been able to hold the straight face in conversation....

 

[Trent Roman]

I mean, for me the episode was okay but not the end all best star trek episode ever made. I never understood the hype about the episode.

Nor I. Since it keeps making top-ten marathons, it's one of the few TOS episodes I've seen, and more than once (well, sort of--it doesn't have much re-watchability value, once you know how it turns out). What undoes it is the so-called tragedy has no emotional impact. Supposedly Kirk sacrifices the love of his life to preserve history, but he just met her! I get that what Kirk lacks in terms of emotional range he makes up for in intensity, but come on. Just because the lead emotes all over the screen doesn't good TV make.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

Harlan is a bit over the top in the introduction to that book, but he's a bit over the top all the time. I found the essay very interesting as, at the time, I wasn't aware of a lot of what went on behind the scenes at Trek or the "feud" between Roddenberry and Ellison.

Personally, I found Harlan's original story to be much more powerful than the version that was filmed and aired, which is still a favorite though I don't think its "the best" of TOS by any means.

I would say that any fan of that episode or any fan of Harlan Ellison's writing should definitely check it out.

 

[Christopher]

Supposedly Kirk sacrifices the love of his life to preserve history, but he just met her!

Actually the episode implies that Kirk and Spock spent a fair amount of time in the past looking for McCoy, during which Kirk gradually grew closer to Edith Keeler. The Crucible novels make this explicit, establishing that they were in the past for, I believe, a few months. However, it was the nature of episodic TV drama in the '60s and '70s that even the deepest, most passionate romance in the hero's life had to unfold over the course of a single episode, or a 2-parter at most. So if you found "City" unengaging for this reason, you must feel the same way about every other romance in every other primetime drama from the era.

 

[RookieBatman]

I read the book, up to the second treatment. I must say, based on that, I preferred the filmed episode (I decided not to read the full script because it seemed much the same as the treatment which I disliked, and I had a bunch of other stuff to read). But, to each his own.

 

[Scott Pearson]

Ok, I bought this book tonight when the kids and I went to half-priced books, it was all of $4.98 so I could not pass it up.
I read the first 10 pages or so as light reading. Wow, all I can say is "Bitter! party of 1, your table is ready!"
I do not proclaim to know much about his beef and all the circumstances surrounding this episode but it seems like he needs to move on.
I mean, for me the episode was okay but not the end all best star trek episode ever made. I never understood the hype about the episode.
Anyway, I thought I would pop on and mention my observation about this book of his.

I had the opportunity to speak with Harlan Ellison on the phone while he was writing the intro to the screenplay. He was telling me much of what ended up in the intro, and he practically had me rolling on the floor. His schtick comes across much better in person than in print, where it seems much more bitter. But it is hard to tell with Ellison where the bit ends and the bitter begins . . .

 

[Amy Sisson]

So if you found "City" unengaging for this reason, you must feel the same way about every other romance in every other primetime drama from the era.

And it's not just limited to TV from that time. In Next Gen, we had Riker supposedly finding the love of his life -- the one he was about to ditch his Starfleet career for! -- on that planet that discouraged gender in favor of androgeny. And this is after he wouldn't commit to Deanna, even though he wouldn't have had to give up Starfleet for her! I think that's one of the most ridiculous episodes I've seen, which is too bad because the premise was interesting.

In DS9, Jadzia Dax was about to ditch her Starfleet career for the guy on the planet flickering in and out of our plane of existence (yes, I could look the name of the planet up, but it's not even 9 a.m. here yet so cut me some slack! )

 

[Scott Pearson]

Consider the slack cut, Amy. Good examples. All TV shows have people fall head over heels too fast to be believed for the purposes of the story. Of course, it can still be done well or done poorly . . .

 

[Christopher]

And "City" is one where it was done well, because it does suggest that they had a fair amount of time to grow close. Unlike "Requiem for Methuselah," which is a lovely episode in a lot of ways, but seriously flawed by the fact that Kirk develops this profound love for Rayna in the span of two or three hours.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

I read this gem a few years ago. The different versions of the screenplay are a fascinating look at how the story developed, and those alone are well worth it.

But the "essay" about how the script was treated - well, it has to be read to be believed. The first time I read it, I honestly thought that the man was mentally ill. It comes across as the ravings of a paranoid suffering from some serious delusions. But as I thought about it some more, it became pretty clear that it's at least partly meant to be satirical and deliberately over the top, as opposed to being taken seriously.

Overall, a really interesting book, and also quite amusing in that it's largely a screed against all things Trek (including Trek fans, for whom Ellison holds a special venom) and yet it's also an obvious Trek cash-in, given its cover.

 

[TGTheodore]

My fiendish mind thinks there would be a great parody book in someone writing something similar about their experience with their fake teleplay being very literate and erudite but "mangled" by TPTB, and ending up as "Spock's Brain."

Hardly Ellison's Sh*tty on the Edge of Whatever.

Hmmmm ...

--Ted

 

[Christopher]

Overall, a really interesting book, and also quite amusing in that it's largely a screed against all things Trek (including Trek fans, for whom Ellison holds a special venom) and yet it's also an obvious Trek cash-in, given its cover.

Ellison was initially one of Star Trek's most vocal and ardent supporters, extolling it as the greatest work of science fiction ever created for television -- until they rewrote his precious words, ever since which he's condemned it as the worst thing ever. What a hypocrite.

 

[Trent Roman]

Actually the episode implies that Kirk and Spock spent a fair amount of time in the past looking for McCoy, during which Kirk gradually grew closer to Edith Keeler.

Did it? Not the impression I got. Certainly not explicit in the episode. I didn't think they spent more than a couple of days there, long enough for Spock to get his gizmo-whatsit working, figure out Keeler had to die and cue the melodrama.

However, it was the nature of episodic TV drama in the '60s and '70s that even the deepest, most passionate romance in the hero's life had to unfold over the course of a single episode, or a 2-parter at most. So if you found "City" unengaging for this reason, you must feel the same way about every other romance in every other primetime drama from the era.

Wouldn't know. To the best of my knowledge, Star Trek is the only primetime drama of that era I've ever seen. Well, that and Twilight Zone, but that's obviously a much different creature.

In Next Gen, we had Riker supposedly finding the love of his life -- the one he was about to ditch his Starfleet career for! -- on that planet that discouraged gender in favor of androgeny.

I'm not sure about that interpretation. Riker, as we all know, is quite active and interested in diversity of experience. Such flirtateousness is par for the course for him. But he's also an ethical person, and by encouraging what's-her-name to express herself openly as a female, he had placed her at risk of being brainwashed by a repressive culture that considers gender a perversion. He risked his Starfleet career not primarily for love but because he felt he had a responsibility towards what's-her-name for imperilling her personhood.

In DS9, Jadzia Dax was about to ditch her Starfleet career for the guy on the planet flickering in and out of our plane of existence (yes, I could look the name of the planet up, but it's not even 9 a.m. here yet so cut me some slack! )

Don't even remember that one. Obviously not an all-time great like "City...".

All TV shows have people fall head over heels too fast to be believed for the purposes of the story. Of course, it can still be done well or done poorly . . .

True. Subtle performances, for instance. Or just not making the 'tragic' scene look laughably like something out of a soap opera.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[TGTheodore]

I always got that Kirk and Spock were back there a few months. A few quick dating montages, and comments about how long it took to earn money for the parts of Spock's project.

--Ted

 

[Christopher]

Did it? Not the impression I got. Certainly not explicit in the episode. I didn't think they spent more than a couple of days there, long enough for Spock to get his gizmo-whatsit working, figure out Keeler had to die and cue the melodrama.

As Ted said, the episode established that Spock first had to make enough money to buy the equipment he needed to build his device. Think about it. He ended up with enough vacuum tubes, wiring, and other electronics to fill half the room. And he and Kirk were making the money to buy this stuff by sweeping floors and doing other menial jobs -- during the Depression. Obviously that's going to take more than a couple of days, or even a couple of weeks. A couple of months is more like it. (Although I have to admit, I never quite realized that myself until I read Crucible. But I always assumed they were there for somewhat more than two days.)

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Harlan is a bit over the top in the introduction to that book, but he's a bit over the top all the time. I found the essay very interesting as, at the time, I wasn't aware of a lot of what went on behind the scenes at Trek or the "feud" between Roddenberry and Ellison.

Personally, I found Harlan's original story to be much more powerful than the version that was filmed and aired, which is still a favorite though I don't think its "the best" of TOS by any means.

I would say that any fan of that episode or any fan of Harlan Ellison's writing should definitely check it out.

The original script would have worked as a standalone episode. It would have been impossible to fit into the larger Trek 'verse. If for no other reason than Kirk's actions at the end:

Spoiler: City

Kirk still intended to rescue Edith - the others had to stop him. That would have been disastrous for Kirk's reputation. After that, no one would - or should - have ever trusted Kirk again. His integrity would be shot to hell. He was willing to completely ruin Earth's entire history, just for one woman? That's not the Kirk we know.

 

[ronny]

I'm with Christopher here. I always assumed more than a couple days, but frankly never gave it much thought, but it wasn't until Crucible made it plainly obvious, it had to have been months.

I'm also in the camp that thinks this is one of the great TOS episodes.

After Kirk has watched Edith Keeler die and they get sent back, the guardian saying "Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway", like he would want to make another journey like that, and his response "Let's get the hell out of here". Just awesome.

I ask myself in situations like this "OK, if you don't consider that a great TOS episode, what DO you think is great?"

As far as comparing the original script and what ended up on the screen, as interesting as that idea was, there's no way drug dealing on the Enterprise was going to make it on the screen. So Ellison got re-written just like anyone else would have. There's one bit in the original script I like a lot. The bum that dies in the episode, in the script he dies saving Kirks life and there's no effect in history and Kirk is left with the feeling of wondering why that bums life was so meaningless as far as history was concerned but Keelers was so important. Tragic stuff.

As far as Ellison himself. Based on this rant, http://harlanellison.com/rants/rt980510.htm, I'm sure he thinks I'm a total idiot based on my choice of reading material but I don't care, this was some funny stuff.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I
As far as comparing the original script and what ended up on the screen, as interesting as that idea was, there's no way drug dealing on the Enterprise was going to make it on the screen. So Ellison got re-written just like anyone else would have.

It was my impression that Harlan was less bothered by the rewrite than he was by the spin Roddenberry would later put on it about him "Having Scotty dealing drugs" or whatever.