Thoughts on The Deadly Years

[Roxana]

Just random ramblings that may interest somebody

I was watching The Deadly Years last night (not remastered or anything just on DVD). I really like the episode, I think the plot holds together well enough and especially through Shatner's acting it manages to be a moving episode without being sentimental.

I do however wonder if four different makeup people employed four different ways to age Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty, as they all look totally different!

Scotty seems to be covered in clown makeup and powdered hair, fair enough though not at all realistic.

McCoy I did think they pretty much succeeded with the sunken eyes, jowls and progressively madder countenance (although why did his hair get longer??? ageing wouldn't do that).

Spock just looked more distinguished and sexy as he got older - nicely subtle although of course he aged slower than the rest. Lucky Spock I guess.

But Kirk's ageing was just mad! Could they not get grey toupees then? His hairline was all over the place, too.

 

[Forbin]

Aging doesn't make your hair grow?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Roxana said:


But Kirk's ageing was just mad! Could they not get grey toupees then? His hairline was all over the place, too.

IIRC, they actually used Shatner's real hair line for the older Kirk.

 

[Red Ranger]

Peeps,

Yeah, the makeup was all over the place. My favorite part is an exchange between Spock and McCoy. Spock is becoming more sensitive to cold and asks McCoy if he has a remedy. The following exhange takes place:

MCCOY: I'm not a magician, Spock, just an old country doctor.
SPOCK: Yes. As I've always suspected.

Red Ranger

 

[A beaker full of death]

middyseafort said:

IIRC, they actually used Shatner's real hair line for the older Kirk.

That's right. Though at the same time, Shatner expressed concern that Kirk not look "TOO old."

I think the makeup on McCoy was brilliant. Amazing how much worse it was in the TNG pilot.

 

[Michael]

A beaker full of death said:
I think the makeup on McCoy was brilliant.

That's exactly what I think. Pretty impressing make up work for the 60s.

 

[Roxana]

Forbin said:
Aging doesn't make your hair grow?

Ha ha ha! Point taken!

(although Scotty's, Kirk's and Spock's stayed the same length)

 

[Ronald Held]

in the TNG pilot, McCoy was much older physiologically.

 

[Roxana]

I know not this TNG - although my boss at work says it is better than TOS! Worth getting into?

 

[Plum]

Better than... bah!

 

[A beaker full of death]

Ronald Held said:
in the TNG pilot, McCoy was much older physiologically.

And old age, of course, turns your skin into thick white latex that bears no relation to your bone structure.

 

[Timo]

That, or whatever McCoy is taking for fighting old age?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Roxana]

Plum said:
Better than... bah!

I'll have to watch a few episodes and see.

He says I might not like it though as Picard tends to do things by consensus? I like Kirk's assertive attitude to management, and always ask What Would Kirk Do when making decisions. But maybe I should ask What Would Picard Do???

I was reading about the Deadly Years and due to short timescales apparently 11 makeup artists were used, which might explain the difference in approach for each character.

 

[Gojirob]

In a fic that followed-up TDY, I once asserted that a lack of nutrients and vitamins (how many could you take, even by hypo?) as they aged so rapidly, contributed to how bad they looked. Poor Galway's family had a history of back problems and a genetic tendency towards senile dementia, easily treatable in the 23rd Century but for her aging process.

 

[Kegek]

This episode has the best makeup work in the entire series, and it's pretty darn entertaining to boot. The scene with Kirk rambling as they attempt to relieve him of command is both humourous and pathetic.

 

[22 Stars]

While watching this, I thought it would be fun if the living actors shot their roles now, and had their older selves inserted into the show. I know it's a stupid idea, but it's something that popped in my head.

 

[Forbin]

Scotty and McCoy would look REAL bad!

 

[Roxana]

Spock would still be a babe... Nimoy must really be a Vulcan!

 

[Roxana]

Kegek said:
This episode has the best makeup work in the entire series, and it's pretty darn entertaining to boot. The scene with Kirk rambling as they attempt to relieve him of command is both humourous and pathetic.

That's what I meant by moving but not sentimental. He really portrayed a "young" looking person developing Alzheimer's well. (I don't watch Boston Legal... what's the Shat like in that? should I watch it, we do get it here in the UK)

 

[Kegek]

Boston Legal is available in the UK. I caught an episode once, the one where Shatner says 'I once commanded my own spaceship!' It's on Living, IIRC.