What is it about TOS that makes it look so distinctly 1960s?

[Joel_Kirk]

At first glance, this may sound like a dumb question. But I've been watching my blu-rays with the new effects, and overall, the episodes are so crisp and clean, it's like watching a new show.

But not quite. No matter what the episode (even when I watched them on DVD and VHS before that (and Beta before that!)) TOS still looks like a product of the 1960s.

I'm not talking about production values. Ignore production--costumes, sets, sound effects, etc. It's something else.

Is it the hairstyles? I've always noted how the male actors especially "look" 1960s. I can't nail it down. Maybe it's their hair. The women, especially, with the beehive hairdos and tons of eye makeup.

Or is it the overall style of the show, the way it's shot and lit. Modern TV just doesn't look like Star Trek.

So, what is it then?

(Oh, haven't posted in a long time. Hi, all!)

Things that are definitely 1960s in TOS:

*Captain Ramart's hair...

*Landru's hair....

*Chekov's hairstyle in some episodes....(not as crazy as Ramart's and Landru's hairstyles...but questionable)...

*No women taking charge, save for the tough, sexy, Romulan Commander in 'The Enterprise Incident' and Uhura in 'Mirror, Mirror.'

*The effects, obviously....which could be remastered...(as was done sometime ago)...

 

[Jeri]

I enjoy Turner Classic movies channel. A long time ago when I was a kid, I noticed that my mom (b. 1928) moved and spoke somewhat differently than I; that her actual demeanor was different.

When I watch classic movies from her formative time periods, I see those mannerisms and speech in those people, too. Probably an infinite, unreproducible number of variables that make up authenticity of any time period. It can really only be suggested.

 

[Hofner]

I agree with those who say you can tell what decade any show was made. But 70s movies and tv shows should get a special prize just for the men's hairstyles.

I'm going to be very cruel to Mr. William Shatner here and I apologize in advance but...

If you look at any picture of William Shatner you can always tell what decade it is by his hairpiece.

Robert

 

[Wynterhawk]

Hm, that's an interesting question. I'd go with the costuming and the bright colors. Probably how it was filmed as well earmarks it for that era.

 

[DevilEyes]

- the colors (I actually kinda really like them; makes the show look different than most of those I watch)

- the music (I really like the music, too)

- hairstyles and fashion

- bad makeup/masks, sets and effects (from today's POV) (I can live with it)

- sexism (the only one out of outdated elements that really bugs me)

 

[scotpens]

I agree with those who say you can tell what decade any show was made. But 70s movies and tv shows should get a special prize just for the men's hairstyles.

Also, movies and TV shows from the early '70s are identifiable by the wacka-wacka funky music -- and from later in the decade by the disco beat.

 

[Sarita]

I think it's the often fake-looking indoor sets with papier mache rocks, the choreography of the fight scenes, as well as bouffant hair-dos and conical breasts. Oh..and Scottie's Brilliantine.

 

[Orcus]

I think it's the often fake-looking indoor sets with papier mache rocks, the choreography of the fight scenes, as well as bouffant hair-dos and conical breasts. Oh..and Scottie's Brilliantine.

Yes, that works for me. All the difuse lighting, too...

 

[Captain Robert April]

I used to think the strongest "curse" I had ever heard from Captain Kirk was "Go to the devil." I've actually never heard anyone say that before in real life.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Capt. Kirk, "The City On the Edge of Forever", first example of noneuphamized swearing on network television.

 

[Harvey]

There was a good thread on this a few weeks ago, an article linked in there was one of the best reads I've seen on the art style of TOS. I've dug around but can't find the thread -- useless post is useless --

It's been mentioned in this thread, too, if you are referring to this one: http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/68/68startrek.php

 

[plynch]

I enjoy Turner Classic movies channel. A long time ago when I was a kid, I noticed that my mom (b. 1928) moved and spoke somewhat differently than I; that her actual demeanor was different.

When I watch classic movies from her formative time periods, I see those mannerisms and speech in those people, too. Probably an infinite, unreproducible number of variables that make up authenticity of any time period. It can really only be suggested.

Yes. People move and use different mannerisms over time. I show a video on the Cold War, and there is a man in the street interview with some people, bith adults and teens. They inflected differently, more modulation and energy in their voices. Before the current elderly were "old" sounding, I could hear it in them, too, 10 to 20 years ago. Kind of June Cleaver-ish, seriously, in the women. Probably goes back to things being a bit more formal in days past. "How to win friends and influence people," etc.

Someone earlier noticed a change in how lines are read now, but I think that holds true for how we generally speak, less energetic, with a trail-off at the end, sometimes with an I-don't-care sort of rasp to it. Listen to voices in commercials now as opposed to previous eras. Both to the announcers and people portraying real people.

I'm glad someone else notices these things!

 

[Hober Mallow]

I used to think the strongest "curse" I had ever heard from Captain Kirk was "Go to the devil." I've actually never heard anyone say that before in real life.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Capt. Kirk, "The City On the Edge of Forever", first example of noneuphamized swearing on network television.

An episode of one of Walt Disney's shows, showing scenes of the then upcoming film "Sleeping Beauty," had the word "hell" in it. This was a kids show and it predated "City" by about eight years.

 

[Christopher]

An episode of one of Walt Disney's shows, showing scenes of the then upcoming film "Sleeping Beauty," had the word "hell" in it. This was a kids show and it predated "City" by about eight years.

But as I said above, it was allowable to use "hell" in a literal or vernacular context, like "right out of Hell" in "The Doomsday Machine" or "hell-for-leather" in "Spectre of the Gun." The issue was with using it specifically as an expletive, as in "Let's get the hell out of here."

My Googling tells me that the line in Sleeping Beauty was "Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of Hell!" So "hell" wasn't being used as a curse word; Maleficent wasn't saying "Go to hell, Prince" or "Get the hell out of my castle." She was using the word literally, as the name of a supernatural realm. And such references were permitted on television at the time. What's significant about the reference in "City" is that it was unambiguously an expletive.

 

[Jeri]

I'm glad someone else notices these things!

Oh, yes; it's probably a whole line of study in some interdisciplinary program somewhere... Notice my sentence trailed off at the end there... In some ways, I think we are less definite. With more opinions getting aired all the time, we know there will be a caveat coming.

 

[plynch]

I'm glad someone else notices these things!

Oh, yes; it's probably a whole line of study in some interdisciplinary program somewhere... Notice my sentence trailed off at the end there... In some ways, I think we are less definite. With more opinions getting aired all the time, we know there will be a caveat coming.

I think it was last summer when I was posting a lot that I noticed we think alike.

Another linguistic mannerism is ending every sentence with a question? The speaker's pitch goes up at the end? I'm doing it now with my punctuation? It's like people are tentative and seeking approval of what they say?

and yeah [trails off indecisively in an unenergetic quasi-scratchy voice]

 

[scotpens]

Another linguistic mannerism is ending every sentence with a question? The speaker's pitch goes up at the end? I'm doing it now with my punctuation? It's like people are tentative and seeking approval of what they say?

I'm not particularly aware of that speech inflection in the U.S., but a lot of Australians talk that way. Especially Australian women. Maybe because their country's upside-down?

 

[Jeri]

I think it was last summer when I was posting a lot that I noticed we think alike.

Hey, yeah; I'll send you a friend request.

 

[Hober Mallow]

And such references were permitted on television at the time. What's significant about the reference in "City" is that it was unambiguously an expletive.

Well then, explain this.

And then there was the incident with Goofy on live television in the 50s who got fired for saying this.

 

[Amaris]

And such references were permitted on television at the time. What's significant about the reference in "City" is that it was unambiguously an expletive.

Well then, explain this.

Cartoon clip made specifically for WB Executives. It was never meant to be seen outside the boardroom.

And then there was the incident with Goofy on live television in the 50s who got fired for saying this.

Modified voice. Plus, it's a video game. Also, not in the 1950s.

 

[Hober Mallow]

And such references were permitted on television at the time. What's significant about the reference in "City" is that it was unambiguously an expletive.

Well then, explain this.

Cartoon clip made specifically for WB Executives. It was never meant to be seen outside the boardroom.

And then there was the incident with Goofy on live television in the 50s who got fired for saying this.

Modified voice. Plus, it's a video game. Also, not in the 1950s.

It was a joke. But thank you for the explanation, anyway, as it's something the real Sarek of Vulcan would have said in reply.