So, Shatner wrote a Star Trek script, huh?

[Eddie Roth]

Shatner's "The Web of Death"

I don't know if thsi is common knowledge, but this is the first I've ever heard of William Shatner submitting a Star Trek script outline way back in 1966. Only goes to show that even after decades of being a fan, there's always something new left to learn.

What do you think of his story idea?

 

[NathanielM]

if it is the movie Star Trek V... OMFG

EEEWWWWW

Although it was a direct barb at Roddenberry for his god thing idea that was always basically rejected.

Probably because it Gene who was submitting it...

My opinion: What the hell were you thinking shatner...

BAD dialogue. A decent plot, not very strong in some places. Pretty decent idea... It is not a NICK Meyer idea... although he helped contribute...


As for his 1966: that idea was put in as the "Tholian Web" Episode although it was heavily rewritten by another author.... Although that is not a favorite episode it is NOT a bad episode of Trek...

Generally the idea was good.

Just my two cents and rant on Shatner's ST:5

All Shatner really contributed otherwise were tensions between Roddenberry, Nimoy, Paramount, the Producers, and even a few Writers for the series. Being an ass...

Nathaniel

 

[Outpost4]

Doesn't Justman and Solow's book talk about this? That Shatner asked for the opportunity to pitch GR on a script, which Roddenberry allowed him to do as a courtesy to his star, only to find out the idea wasn't half bad. The punchine, if I remember correctly, was that they still didn't use his script.

 

[Therin of Andor]

NathanielM said:
Although it was a direct barb at Roddenberry for his god thing idea that was always basically rejected.

IIRC, Shatner really wanted Roddenberry's approval. Gene Roddenberry had made very public reservations about elements of ST II, III and IV and Shatner really wanted ST V to have the Roddenberry seal of approval, so the now-familiar "Enterprise seeks God" theme was like a salute to the big boss.

And several of the Shatnerverse ST novels have used Shatner movie pitches. There was a "fountain of youth" script idea, which he used eventually for "The Ashes of Eden" novel; a ST V pitch called "An Act of Love"; a different post-"Generations" Kirk resurrection movie idea, which became "The Return"; and the new "Academy: Collision Course", which the Reeves-Stevenses pitched as a TV series.

 

[Christopher]

Shatner didn't write a script, he wrote a story outline. It never went beyond that.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Christopher said:
Shatner didn't write a script, he wrote a story outline. It never went beyond that.

I started calling them "movie pitches" but it's nearly midnight here. Bed time!

 

[CaptainJon]

Are we sure this is legit? The first episode of "Star Trek" debuted in September 1966. This thing is dated (and it could perhaps be an error) April 1966. Now, this could be perfectly legit depending on when the show into production and all. Or, perhaps the date was just an error.

Just my couple questions on the subject.

 

[Eddie Roth]

The pilot had filmed lomg before April 1966, so the date is plausible.

 

[Sec31Mike]

Not a half bad idea for Shatner. I'm sure the TOS writers could have polished it a bit to make it an interesting creature episode. It would have been better tan the Gorn idea, and possibly the giant caveman bears that were hammering the shuttlecraft.

 

[Leandar]

Eddie Roth said:
The pilot had filmed long before April 1966, so the date is plausible.

"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was filmed in mid-late 1965, if memory serves, so there's plenty of time for this outline to have been written.

 

[CaptainJon]

leandar said:

Eddie Roth said:
The pilot had filmed long before April 1966, so the date is plausible.

"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was filmed in mid-late 1965, if memory serves, so there's plenty of time for this outline to have been written.

Okay. Thank you. I'm cool then. I wasn't sure what the timeline for everything was, so I just wanted to check.

 

[Mallory]

I've read this before. It actually isn't too bad of a story concept.

 

[Cyrus]

http://www.trekbbs.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=TOS&Number=7576541

 

[Mallory]

Thanks for digging up the link Cyrus.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Did any of the other cast write outlines? IIRC Koenig scripted an episode of TAS, anyone else have a crack at it?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Stanley Adams (Cyrano Jones in "The Trouble With Tribbles" and "More Tribbles, More Troubles") co-wrote "The Mark of Gideon".

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Therin of Andor said:

And several of the Shatnerverse ST novels have used Shatner movie pitches. There was a "fountain of youth" script idea, which he used eventually for "The Ashes of Eden" novel; a ST V pitch called "An Act of Love"; a different post-"Generations" Kirk resurrection movie idea, which became "The Return"; and the new "Academy: Collision Course", which the Reeves-Stevenses pitched as a TV series.

I know that the "fountain of youth" idea was the Trek VI movie he pitched, but isn't "An Act of Love" just an early version of the Trek V plot (a religious zealot, at this stage not related to Spock, takes the Enterprise to find god)? What Shatner novel did that turn into (I've only read Ashes of Eden and The Return, which I knew he pitched as Generations II).

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^Yes, An Act of Love was Shatner's original story title for what became TFF. I remember him on a morning talk show, when the film was released, disingenuously "wondering" how his simple story (referring to it as "An Act of Love") became this extravagant action-packed film.

As far as I know none of the cast, other than Shatner, submitted stories. Doohan and Kelly, refreshingly, in interviews, always stated that they honestly had no talent in this area.

As for other Trek actors and staff: Actor Malachi Throne (Commodore Mendez) co-wrote a Story Outline (with Gene Lesser) entitled The V. I. P.'s, and frequent director Marc Daniels wrote one called The Beast. Neither story, apparently, ever went beyond this stage. I only know of them because they are listed in GR's acquistions list (forget which university houses his material).

Sir Rhosis

 

[Therin of Andor]

Sir Rhosis said:
frequent director Marc Daniels wrote one called The Beast. Neither story, apparently, ever went beyond this stage.

Unless it inspired his TAS episode.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Remind me again, Therin, what was his TAS episode title and brief plot, if you don't mind.

Sir Rhosis, not as up on his TAS