Is the bridge at a funny angle?

[yotsuya]

Yes, and here's another thing. I can't remember if it was the book Inside Star Trek (Justman, Solow), or Shatner's book, or possibly somewhere on Ralph Senensky's blog, but I read one of these insiders saying that every director who came on the show wanted to film a scene inside the complete, sealed-up bridge. And they could never make it work.

My thoughts as to the (unstated) reason:

• There would only be enough floor space in there for a hand-held camera, and while they did use one for the barroom brawl in "The Trouble with Tribbles" (in conjunction with the usual big camera), this was years before Steadicam™, and hand-held cameras were too wobbly for anything but brief shots. A full look around would require a long shot with a lot of camera movement— and if you can't do that smoothly enough for the (then) standards of professional television, then the bridge might as well be in pieces, because the audience will never know the difference.

• The heat issue I mentioned earlier might also be a factor. We're told the complete bridge would cook almost like an oven.

But we know the whole bridge was built, and directors found the idea tantalizing.

Interesting how you put that because there were two episodes where we follow Kirk onto the bridge through the turbolift. The camera is moving and could have panned to both sides of the bridge to get the complete view. But in WNMHGB we she the port side and in The Corbimite Maneuver we she the starboard side. That episode (the first series production episode - the one I have listed as episode 3 in production order) shows that each piece of the bridge is distinct and we see each one on screen. In The Doomsday Machine Spock's station has been moved over one, probably to allow camera access. The wedge normally removed to get shots of Spock at his station has been omitted. So the only sections of the bridge not seen in that shot are the omitted one, Communications, and the turbolift. I think it is safe to assume that those two were in their original positions (being connected to the command island) and Spock's station was moved over one and that area left blank for camera access. Just a few minutes later there are a couple of shots that pan across two of the port wedges, the turbolift, communications and to Spock. So through slight of hand, we sort of get a 360 view of the bridge in this episode, we are just one wedge short (the slight of hand).

 

[GNDN18]

being connected to the command island

You might be right over all, but the command module (per FJD), was not connected to anything. It started moving around the bridge as early as “The Cage”

and WNMHGB

Not to mention BAON

 

[BK613]

the command module (per FJD), was not connected to anything. It started moving around the bridge

Exactly so.
We also know that (at least early on) the command chair could be removed, like it was in Charlie X:
Notice how much space there is here and the angles of the platform.
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd519.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd520.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd521.jpg
And compare that to the reverse shot:
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd524.jpg

 

[GNDN18]

Exactly so.
We also know that (at least early on) the command chair could be removed, like it was in Charlie X:
Notice how much space there is here and the angles of the platform.
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd519.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd520.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd521.jpg
And compare that to the reverse shot:
https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd524.jpg

I see. The post-Pike foot rest could easily be removed, but I’m uncertain whether the column supporting the chair is anchored to anything.

These shots might be helpful. I see that two are birdofthegalaxy restorations, so I’m sharing a low-res version

 

[BK613]

I see. The post-Pike foot rest could easily be removed, but I’m uncertain whether the column supporting the chair is anchored to anything.

These shots might be helpful. I see that two are birdofthegalaxy restorations, so I’m sharing a low-res version

No, just speculating, but I think the whole chair and post-Cage pedestal is a unit, the helm/nav console is a unit and the platform those two set on are two units (with the dividing line being the black line you see at Pike's feet and as a seam in that one Kirk closeup from my post)

 

[GNDN18]

No, just speculating, but I think the whole chair and post-Cage pedestal is a unit, the helm/nav console is a unit and the platform those two set on are two units (with the dividing line being the black line you see at Pike's feet and as a seam in that one Kirk closeup from my post)

I think you’re right.

 

[yotsuya]

True, all the sets were designed and built as modular so they could be reconfigured for different shots or even for different purposes. But after a certain point, a lot of that modular ability was ignored. So while some things could be moved, as the series went on, there is less evidence that they were, unless it was something frequently used, like the bridge wedges. For instance, after the set redesign for season 2, the engine room set was never used for anything else.

 

[cooleddie74]

Except maybe auxiliary control for the U.S.S. Constellation, which appeared to be a redress of the Season 2 Enterprise engine room set.

 

[Phaser Two]

Except maybe auxiliary control for the U.S.S. Constellation, which appeared to be a redress of the Season 2 Enterprise engine room set.

Really! I thought that was just auxiliary control, possibly in its first appearance, and perhaps looking a bit different as they hadn't settled on its "proper" look yet. (Actually auxiliary control always looks a little different to me in each separate ep in which it appears.) What makes you say it was a redress of engineering?

 

[GNDN18]

What makes you say it was a redress of engineering?

I can’t speak for Eddie, but the 1st season engine room panel

is also seen in the phaser control room

and the auxiliary control room.

The grill might be the cathedral gate, too.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Is that ceiling arch from the briefing room?

 

[Phaser Two]

Hmmm. But on the actual blueprints of the Desilu/Paramount stage (Stage 9?), isn't auxiliary control shown as its own separate space?

 

[GNDN18]

Is that ceiling arch from the briefing room?

I think so. The view screen, repurposed from the pilots, was also part of the season 1 briefing room configuration.

Desilu/Paramount stage (Stage 9?),

You might have seen blueprints for “The Doomsday Machine,” or another episode.
This image, purportedly from “Journey to Babel,”

show the rec room. Other prints have that space down as the briefing room, complete with conference table.

It seems likely that this set was redressed as auxiliary control with elements borrowed from engineering.

 

[Phaser Two]

I think so. The view screen, repurposed from the pilots, was also part of the season 1 briefing room configuration.

You might have seen blueprints for “The Doomsday Machine,” or another episode.
This image, purportedly from “Journey to Babel,”

show the rec room. Other prints have that space down as the briefing room, complete with conference table.

It seems likely that this set was redressed as auxiliary control with elements borrowed from engineering.

Yes, I think that's got to be right. And come to think of it, when Auxiliary Control appears, the Briefing Room does not, at least not as far as I can remember. I'm assuming they wouldn't have the time (practically speaking) or inclination to redress a set in the middle of the filming of one episode.

It also seems likely, from corridor and door position, that the briefing room/rec room/Auxiliary Control set was Environmental Engineering in Wink of an Eye. They did a nice job making that look like a completely different room.

 

[cooleddie74]

I knew it was a reuse of engineering but just got the season wrong. The background of the Constellation auxiliary control room clearly uses a redressed engine room section from the Enterprise.

 

[jackoverfull]

In that episode Scotty is seen in the engine room in what’s definitely new footage, though.

 

[GNDN18]

In that episode Scotty is seen in the engine room in what’s definitely new footage, though.

Well, not all new footage.

 

[Henoch]

The cardboard set showed the Auxiliary Control Room as a modular set, along with Emergency Manual Monitor.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

The cardboard set showed the Auxiliary Control Room as a modular set, along with Emergency Manual Monitor.

That is definitive, because it was the planning tool used by directors to plan their shoots. Auxiliary Control was its own, purpose-built set they added to enhance the second season.

Also, you see the little boxy piece that's up against the two removed bridge segments? That must be the Emergency Manual Monitor, which was also built for year 2. It was on stilts, and apparently wild like the bridge pieces so they could get it out of the way when not in use.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

And come to think of it, when Auxiliary Control appears, the Briefing Room does not, at least not as far as I can remember. I'm assuming they wouldn't have the time (practically speaking) or inclination to redress a set in the middle of the filming of one episode.

Well, we've established that Aux Control was not a redress of the Briefing Room. And not to pile on, but I have a hard, documented fact that fits right in here:

As everyone knows, the ship's chapel was a redress of the Briefing Room. Fun fact: the Stage 9 blueprint for "Balance of Terror" has a hand-written note pointing to the Briefing Room that says "Chapel Shoots Mon 25 July [1966]. Note-- Chapel Shoots First then Revamps to Briefing Room."

So they were comfortable doing a major set redress during the shooting week.