"The Cage" outtakes

[Methuselah Flint]

While science fiction often isn’t rooted in aspects of reality I think we can acknowledge the idea that just as humans have skin pigments that are quite varied there is no reason to think extraterrestrial species are not as well.

Seeing all Andorians the same shade of blue or all Orions the same green or all Vulcans caucasian with the same haircut is fictional shorthand. It is actually more interesting and more believable if we see variations.

Indeed. And to be honest it was only TNG onwards that made the Vulcans and Romulans have the same straight style haircut as Spock, which came to define them. In both roles in TOS, Mark Lenard's hair is far more natural, as are the other Vulcans and Romulans. Indeed, in TOS females of both races also have freer-flowing hair. It was TNG that made them all look the same 'mono' style.

 

[Maurice]

Hardly any at all, since according to some sources, the series' color blind director was choosing them.

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Hal_Sutherland

That's been somewhat debunked.

 

[mb22]

That's been somewhat debunked.

In the Hal Sutherland Memory Alpha entry linked above, TAS designer Robert Kline blames the colors on color director Irvin Kaplan. In any event, the question remains why Fontana, or anyone else familiar with TOS didn't complain about these things and try to keep the colors the way they were supposed to be.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

That's been somewhat debunked.

Which is why I wrote "according to some sources."

 

[Maurice]

Ahhhh

 

[Maab]

The Orion illusion sequence went through several iterations:
2. There was a "long" version (using Roddenberry's notation) that shortened the sequence, e.g., by removing the male servant lashing Vina with the whip. However, this version retained the female servants feeding the trio around the table and included some additional stuff of the Space Office and Trader trying to tempt Pike, Vina rubbing water on her body, etc. I have the uncut b/w film from this version.

Sorry, is this the black and white print Roddenberry used to show at conventions?

Would love to see it!

Me too.

 

[Methuselah Flint]

And me!

 

[alchemist]

Sorry, is this the black and white print Roddenberry used to show at conventions?

No. As far as I know, Roddenberry showed a 16mm b/w print based on the final version of the 35mm print. The film I have consists of about five minutes of 35mm dailies footage that Roddenberry had removed after the workprint was supposedly locked and before the final 35mm and 16mm versions were made. My film is comprised of several long pieces rolled together and marked with grease pencil by Leo Shreve, the person who edited "The Cage." There's about two minutes of inconsequential heads and tails of scenes on the bridge and with the Talosians. Three minutes of this film, however, is of material removed from the Orion illusion sequence. As mentioned, it shows the servants feeding the three men, Vina crawling on the floor like an animal, the male servant, etc.

Me too.

I would need to get permission from CBS.

 

[Methuselah Flint]

Interesting! Is there any actual unused dialogue in those heads and tails moments?

Also, is Meg Wylie's original voice on there?

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

Frankly, it requires Timo levels of mental gymnastics to conclude otherwise.

Is he ever coming back to this forum?

 

[Therin of Andor]

That's on the Blu-ray set. It premiered as a pay-per-view on cable in October 1986, and I paid to see it.

The b/w stuff really helped gain perspective on what was new. Released Down Under and UK on home video by CIC-Taft. Beautiful cover art! Mention was made in the GR introduction of the trimmed scenes being lost during the editing of "The Menagerie" two-parter. Supposedly the original editor realised he still had those trims in his attic and contacted Paramount.

[I see I have been pre-empted...] Later, "The Cage" first aired in full colour during the hiatus before the strike-delayed TNG Season Two. Hosted by Patrick Stewart, It was called "A Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next" and led into the TV premiere screening of "The Cage".

 

[Maab]

No. As far as I know, Roddenberry showed a 16mm b/w print based on the final version of the 35mm print. The film I have consists of about five minutes of 35mm dailies footage that Roddenberry had removed after the workprint was supposedly locked and before the final 35mm and 16mm versions were made. My film is comprised of several long pieces rolled together and marked with grease pencil by Leo Shreve, the person who edited "The Cage." There's about two minutes of inconsequential heads and tails of scenes on the bridge and with the Talosians. Three minutes of this film, however, is of material removed from the Orion illusion sequence. As mentioned, it shows the servants feeding the three men, Vina crawling on the floor like an animal, the male servant, etc.

Wow, most interesting, thanks for the details.

I would need to get permission from CBS.

I've talked to them and they say it's OK!

 

[mb22]

I've talked to them and they say it's OK!

Yay! Waiting with baited breath...

 

[wayne66]

I read Herb Solow and Robert Justman's Star Trek book and Solow mentioned a 78 minute version of The Cage. I would love to see that version.

 

[Takeru]

Is he ever coming back to this forum?

He left? I noticed he didn't post for some time but I figured it was holiday related.

 

[1001001]

Is he ever coming back to this forum?

He is not.