Now I really know why I like Spock's Brain...

[bintak]

Marc was a pro and a big fan of Star Trek. He really cared. I met him in the mid-eighties before he died. He told me that he didn't get along with the 3rd Season "producers" (he did not name names) and by mutual decision he never came back to ST.

Spock's Brain was a pretty block and tackle direction job (he was under orders to get it shot fast) but he took the time to do the bridge walk-around shots which were unique to the series (though partially done in Doomsday, also directed by him).

It all came down to money, really, and the increased pressure on the directors to complete shooting in 5 or 6 days, as opposed to the 7 that were budgeted (and often exceeded) in the first season and the six in the second. Ralph Senensky (a great ST director) was FIRED for going overtime on Tholian Web. Herb Wallerstein, a hack, finished the show, got the credit, and went on to tap dance his way through a bunch of 3rd season eps. Freddie Freiberger loved him becuase he was fast.

Great post Esteban...Daniels is a TERRIBLY underrated figure in not only Trek, but TELEVISION history. Desi Arnaz somehow got all the credit, but it was Daniels and Karl Freund the cinematographer who really pioneered how to shoot I LOVE LUCY live and before an audience, thus inventing the modern sitcom. He was an extremely talented guy, who even managed to make oatmeal like HOGAN'S HEROES look good.

As far as Trek is concerned, Justman credits him with saving the show by showing that an episode could be done on time and within budget - both CM and MW had gone way over schedule and budget, and both NBC and Desilu were having second thoughts about the show. Daniels came in and banged out both Naked Time AND Man Trap two weeks in a row, and both on time and within budget - and not to mention being two classic shows! I have said this elsewhere here, but Daniels direction of the 'I'm in control of my emotions' briefing room scene in NT is possibly THE single most important scene in Trek history - it is the scene which defined Spock's character forever- and it is done in one exquisitely long dolly shot - and it was done in ONE take at the end of a shooting day! Any question, then, why it was Daniels who was entrusted with some of the most important Trek episodes?

This is one of the best technical history of production posts [combine both posters' entries] that I've read in a long time. I learned much.

Thank you.

 

[Doomsday]

The Lazarus episode tried to be moody and creepy but the cheesiness and massive loopholes in logic in the plot sank it. The Eden episode tried to make a comment on late 60s hippie philosophy and its failings, but the over-the-top campiness and goofiness tanked it.

I guess this is one of those "personal taste" issues. Like many other posters, I think Spock's Brain is great fun to watch, and I feel the same about Way to Eden.

However, I think Alternative Factor was not as bad as so many people say it is. It wasn't the best, obviously, but those inter-dimensional scenes always creeped me out.

The episodes that were unwatchable for me have always been Whom God's Destroy and Plato's Stepchildren.

Garth and his little rabble were just too annoying and silly for my tastes, as weel as the PS's "gods".

 

[kissthestar]

The episodes that were unwatchable for me have always been Whom God's Destroy and Plato's Stepchildren.

But I like the giant floating chess pieces. They are too much for TV.

 

[kissthestar]

Sorry Doomsday. Tried to quote you, but something went wrong.

 

[cooleddie74]

The episodes that were unwatchable for me have always been Whom God's Destroy and Plato's Stepchildren.

But I like the giant floating chess pieces. They are too much for TV.

"Plato's" has a decent premise. And the delightful actor who plays Alexander the dwarf who was on WILD WILD WEST. But its too campy and many of the sets look too confined and cheesy for my tastes. Alexander and Spock save it from being a total dud.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

I like the "Giver's of Pain and Delight" in this episode.

Cheers!

 

[cooleddie74]

While watching Kara and Luma...the delight came first. Then, if there was TOO much delight, my wrist experienced the pain.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

The Lazarus episode tried to be moody and creepy but the cheesiness and massive loopholes in logic in the plot sank it. The Eden episode tried to make a comment on late 60s hippie philosophy and its failings, but the over-the-top campiness and goofiness tanked it.

I guess this is one of those "personal taste" issues. Like many other posters, I think Spock's Brain is great fun to watch, and I feel the same about Way to Eden.

However, I think Alternative Factor was not as bad as so many people say it is. It wasn't the best, obviously, but those inter-dimensional scenes always creeped me out.

The episodes that were unwatchable for me have always been Whom God's Destroy and Plato's Stepchildren.

Garth and his little rabble were just too annoying and silly for my tastes, as weel as the PS's "gods".

Not to mention that in Whom God's Destroy its a little hard for me to imagine that Garth had the ability to create a highyield explosive in a mental institution.

 

[Christopher]

Not to mention that in Whom God's Destroy its a little hard for me to imagine that Garth had the ability to create a highyield explosive in a mental institution.

I figure that was just a fiction arising from his insanity -- that when he claimed to kill Marta using just a tiny speck of the explosive, he actually had a larger amount rigged to do the deed, but deluded himself into believing it was his amazing new super-explosive that had done it.

 

[gomtuu20]

Daniels direction of the 'I'm in control of my emotions' briefing room scene in NT is possibly THE single most important scene in Trek history - it is the scene which defined Spock's character forever- and it is done in one exquisitely long dolly shot - and it was done in ONE take at the end of a shooting day!

You, sir, are a connoisseur. And absolutely dead-on.

A little more on Marc, according to Marc:

He really liked the shipboard sets. He hated Stage 9, the planet set. He actually told me that it was only in HIS episodes that he would never show Spock, at his science station, wrapping his hand around the edge of what was supposed to be a circular console. I couldn't believe he remembered that much.

I nearly genuflected.

He hated "A Private Little War", one of the few where he took the cast on location, and he was forced to shoot that one fast, too. It shows: you can often see LA in the background.

That was his last "regular rotation" ep in the 2nd season. He did "By Any Other Name", and then "Assignment : Earth" because Gene R had more of an interest in that pilot--and knew Marc could deliver, on time and on budget. Then, 5 months later, "Spock's Brain", and that was it.

Of course, he came back to write an Animated episode--anybody remember the name?--that lifted the "I will not kill--TODAY" line from "A Taste of Armageddon". Shows you what a fan he was.

Pevney was Good. Great on location (Arena). Senensky was poetic (This Side of Paradise, others...). But Daniels was the Man.

I don't recall seeing LA in any of the backgrounds. Do you have any specific scenes in mind?

 

[cooleddie74]

The Lazarus episode tried to be moody and creepy but the cheesiness and massive loopholes in logic in the plot sank it. The Eden episode tried to make a comment on late 60s hippie philosophy and its failings, but the over-the-top campiness and goofiness tanked it.

I guess this is one of those "personal taste" issues. Like many other posters, I think Spock's Brain is great fun to watch, and I feel the same about Way to Eden.

However, I think Alternative Factor was not as bad as so many people say it is. It wasn't the best, obviously, but those inter-dimensional scenes always creeped me out.

The episodes that were unwatchable for me have always been Whom God's Destroy and Plato's Stepchildren.

Garth and his little rabble were just too annoying and silly for my tastes, as weel as the PS's "gods".

Not to mention that in Whom God's Destroy its a little hard for me to imagine that Garth had the ability to create a highyield explosive in a mental institution.

And wouldn't that powerful an explosive in such tiny quantities be almost on the level of the GENESIS DEVICE if used in something the size of a torpedo or large bomb casing? One sand-sized grain in Yvonne Craig's necklace caused an explosion big enough for the sensors on the Enterprise in high planetary orbit to detect.

 

[DeafPoet]

Not to mention that in Whom God's Destroy its a little hard for me to imagine that Garth had the ability to create a highyield explosive in a mental institution.

I figure that was just a fiction arising from his insanity -- that when he claimed to kill Marta using just a tiny speck of the explosive, he actually had a larger amount rigged to do the deed, but deluded himself into believing it was his amazing new super-explosive that had done it.

Stand back, folks. This is how the professionals explain this crap

 

[cooleddie74]

Not to mention that in Whom God's Destroy its a little hard for me to imagine that Garth had the ability to create a highyield explosive in a mental institution.

I figure that was just a fiction arising from his insanity -- that when he claimed to kill Marta using just a tiny speck of the explosive, he actually had a larger amount rigged to do the deed, but deluded himself into believing it was his amazing new super-explosive that had done it.

Stand back, folks. This is how the professionals explain this crap

If so, I'll stick with completely deluded and misled fanboys.

 

[Warped9]

Can you be more specific? What is it about his direction you like?
Unlike many, I don't hate this episode.

Agreed. Unlike "And The Children Shall Lead" I also have a soft spot for "Spock's Brain." Perhaps because I can see past the clumsy execution and see a genuine science fiction story in the rough that just a little rewriting (and a better title) could have brought forth.

eg: "The Controller" (or preferably something a little more poetic sounding)
Kirk must choose between saving Spock's life and risking the survival of an entire civilization, one needing a living mind to continue.

Make the Morg women and Eymorg men less dense and airheaded and you're already on your way to salvaging the story. Throw in a little extra money for set dressing and you're almost there.