Influences of TOS

[Willsky7]

While Roddenberry denied the influence of "Forbidden Planet" on the original Star Trek series I think that there are some clear influences. "The Man Trap" has some thematic similarities. FP is about a scientist and his daughter studying the remanants of an alien solution, and a crew of interstellar explorers land for a routine checkup and are attacked by an entity that they can't see. "The Man Trap" is about a scientist and his wife studying a dead alien civilization when a ship of interstellar explorers land for a routine check up and are attacked by an entity they can't see. The stories are definitely not identical but the similarities are hard to ignore.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Requiem For Methuselah also has echos of Forbidden Planet. As does What Are Little Girls Made Of.

 

[Willsky7]

Requiem For Methuselah also has echos of Forbidden Planet. As does What Are Little Girls Made Of.

It's agreed. I am curious what other media influenced Star Trek as well, I can't seem to find a lot of info on the influences of the series

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Moby-Dick
The Enemy Below
Turnabout

 

[Nerys Myk]

It's agreed. I am curious what other media influenced Star Trek as well, I can't seem to find a lot of info on the influences of the series

If you look at some of the Westerns that preceded Star Trek you'll find some influences in characters and situations. The tone of those adult Westerns were very much on Roddenberry's mind when developing the show. For example, McCoy is very much in the mode of Doc Adams from Gunsmoke

 

[CorporalCaptain]

"Arena" by Fredric Brown
The Iliad
Shakespeare

 

[Willsky7]

"Arena" by Fredric Brown
The Iliad
Shakespeare

But didn't Fredric brown write the episode arena. Was arena written before Star Trek and adapted?

 

[Willsky7]

Moby-Dick
The Enemy Below
Turnabout

What is turnabout? I found a body switch comedy from 1940 titled turnabout, is that it or some other movie or book?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

But didn't Fredric brown write the episode arena. Was arena written before Star Trek and adapted?

Brown's story was published over 20 years before the episode was written. Brown had nothing to do with writing the episode, but he received a "story by" credit.

What is turnabout? I found a body switch comedy from 1940 titled turnabout, is that it or some other movie or book?

That's the one. It's hard to believe it's not the inspiration for "Turnabout Intruder."

 

[Nerys Myk]

That's the one. It's hard to believe it's not the inspiration for "Turnabout Intruder."

And a whole slew of other films.

 

[Push The Button]

The works of Shakespeare and the Hornblower novels. And so obviously Forbidden Planet, despite what Gene may have said to the contrary.

 

[UnknownSample]

Brown's story was published over 20 years before the episode was written. Brown had nothing to do with writing the episode, but he received a "story by" credit.

It was also adapted for TV by Outer Limits before Trek, though it would be hard to tell the similarities, watching and comparing both. I wonder which was closer to the original short story.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I never saw the Outer Limits episode, but the Star Trek episode is close enough to say that Brown deserved credit.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Star Trek is basically Forbidden Planet: The TV Series.

 

[Armus]

While Roddenberry denied the influence of "Forbidden Planet" on the original Star Trek series I think that there are some clear influences. "The Man Trap" has some thematic similarities. FP is about a scientist and his daughter studying the remanants of an alien solution, and a crew of interstellar explorers land for a routine checkup and are attacked by an entity that they can't see. "The Man Trap" is about a scientist and his wife studying a dead alien civilization when a ship of interstellar explorers land for a routine check up and are attacked by an entity they can't see. The stories are definitely not identical but the similarities are hard to ignore.

"The Gamesters of Triskelon" and "Bread and Circuses" bring to mind Roman gladiator movies.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

"The Gamesters of Triskelon" and "Bread and Circuses" bring to mind Roman gladiator movies.

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[Noname Given]

line from Forbidden Planet:
"We'll reach D.C. point at 17:01."
^^^
Yep - no influence on anything related to Star Trek here.

 

[Gary7]

I don't think there's any shame in admitting Forbidden Planet was an influence. That movie was a tremendous hit for its day. But in fact, all sci-fi before Star Trek possibly influenced it... just as Star Trek influenced so much that came after it. Same concept in the science and medical industries. Everything before has some influence on everything that follows!

 

[Gary7]

If you look at some of the Westerns that preceded Star Trek you'll find some influences in characters and situations. The tone of those adult Westerns were very much on Roddenberry's mind when developing the show. For example, McCoy is very much in the mode of Doc Adams from Gunsmoke

And Kelly had some acting credit on Westerns, didn't he?

 

[plynch]

Wikipedia lists the main Roddenberry biography as a citation for an assertion that he did speak of Forbidden Planet as an influence.