Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Lt. Jose Tyler (Peter Duryea) fire their phasers in the classic "Star Trek" two-part episode "The Menagerie" playing this Tuesday and Thursday night only.
Boldly going where no TV episode has gone before
Classic original "Star Trek" episode to beam down to theaters for two nights only.
by FreakShow
November 6, 2007
November 6, 2007
"Star Trek" fans will have to wait more than a year before the next epic movie, the 11th film in the franchise, blasts into theaters at warp speed on Christmas Day 2008. However, next Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., fans will have a rare chance to see one of the original episodes shown in movie theaters. Locally, it will be playing at the Edwards Theater in River Park.
The two-part episode "The Menagerie" is one of the more unique of the series. The episode, with Spock (Leonard Nemoy) being on trial for mutiny, is combined with archival footage of the rejected original pilot, when the starship Enterprise was commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). What makes this screening even more special is that it has been digitally remastered in High-Definition, Cinema Surround Sound and more.
"The episodes shown for the in-theater event have been completely remastered with new special effects," says Dan Diamond, vice president of National CineMedia's Fathom, which is bringing the show to theaters for this special showing in conjunction with CBS Home Entertainment and StarTrek.com. "Fans have never seen these episodes like this before. This will be a very powerful experience for fans."
"The Menagerie", the classic two-part episode of the original "Star Trek" series will be playing in movie theaters Nov. 13 and 15 only.
New CGI animated special effects and the orchestral re-recording of the show's theme music are not the only treats in store for the evening. A special 30-minute, in-theater-only exclusive featurette will preceed the showing. An introduction by series creator Gene Roddenberry's son Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry will greet theater goers, followed by behind-the-scenes footage that has never been shown before and a discussion about the remastering process.
"This event gives 'Star Trek' fans the opportunity to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event with other fans in their local theaters," Diamond says. "This is the only opportunity they'll have to see 'Star Trek' in its original form in movie theaters."
Grace Lee Whitney played Yeoman Janice Rand during the first season of the original series. Although she did not appear in "The Menagerie," Whitney knows it is a fan-favorite and one of the most foundational episodes for the appeal of the entire series.
"Do it," she says when she heard about the showing of a vintage 'Trek' episode in a theater. "Keep it going. We all love those old, original episodes. I don't think NBC knew what they had. It's a very good show."
Original series actress Grace Lee Whitney poses next to a poster of herself as Yeoman Janice Rand.
Whitney, who still does fan conventions and published her autobiography "The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy," is constantly amazed at the longevity of the series that premiered 41 years ago. The original series has since spawned five spin-off television series, innumerable paperback adventures, games, toys, 10 completed films with a new one on the way. But it's the original show that started it all and "The Menagerie," with it's part familiar series cast / part pilot, is one of the key episodes that paved the way for all the "Star Trek" that later came.
"That was an amazing episode," she says. "It's one of my favorites."
Whitney, who is a resident of Coarsegold, knew the original captain, actor Jeffrey Hunter, prior to his taking the helm in the pilot for the sci-fi series. "Jeff Hunter and I were good friends," she says. "We had just done a pilot at Warnor Brothers. It wasn't picked up and then he got the call to do 'Star Trek.' He was a wonderful man. He was very good as Captain Pike. The fans love him and 'The Menagerie.' Susan Oliver [who plays Vina in the episode], she's just my favorite. She was just beautiful. I'm happy it's playing."
Demand for this presentation, which was originally scheduled to be a one-time-only event, is expected to be high, so National CineMedia's Fathom opted to expand the showings to a second night with two additional screenings. Tickets cost $12.50. The event preceeds the debut of the totally remastered, High Definition release of the first season of the original "Star Trek" on DVD the following week.
Details: www.FathomEvents.com
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Star Trek - the Cage
the Cage the originally unaired pilot that was first aired on TV in 1988. Will be shown Remastered (with CGI animation of the USS Enterprise) on April 26, 2008 it will be shown on local TV station 53.
one of the new changes is that the "The picnic scene with Pike and Vina in Part II has been given a new 3D backdrop showing the Mojave City skyline" - Pike talks about Mojave City, interesting note the Mojave Airport is known as the first privately-funded Space Port, and it did not get that official designation until the summer of 2004. How did Gene Roddenberry know to use Mojave in writing his Star Trek pilot?
I kind of wish I would have seen Theatrical Menagerie.
VHS vs Beta
who will win the HD vs Blue-Ray format war? I'm leaning towards the HD because of the more affordable prices compared to the Blue-Ray, but I think the big movie studios are going to go with Sony and not Toshiba. I would want a HD player so I could watch the new digital Classic Trek episodes.
Even thought this post is about Star Trek and HD technology topics, it's also Fresno related because of the film that was shone and because Grace Lee Whitney live in a community close to Fresno.
Love it.
I grew up watching this stuff. Loved spock. Too bad I missed the theater showings.
A Few Technicalities Aside, it was...
...pretty good. It's shown in the 4:3 aspect ratio. The projection didn't seem as bright as usual for a movie, and the volume seemed to be a little on the low side as well. The image quality was very impressive though, and what few new effects they threw in were well done. There is a bit of a sales pitch before and after the actual episode for the new HD-DVD release, parts of which were funny/interesting. There was a good turn out--it was in the Egyptian Theater, and I'd say it was somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 full. I imagine a Saturday showing would have been sold out.
One thing that I got confused about--this is in a normal theater, not the IMAX. I don't know why I thought it was IMAX, but there were several people who got confused.
Last chance TONIGHT!
I totally missed it on Tuesday! how was it? Anyone go? I've GOT to see it tonight!
Tonight (and Thursday) is (are) the night(s)!!!
While I agree that some other classics would be cool to see on the big screen (Remember when the Tower used to show revival/art house/classic films? That was the BEST! Especially when they'd show those old 3-D movies! Soooo cool!), I can see why the Fathom people (or other companies) only put on shows like this "Star Trek" thing. It's got a built-in audience that is almost guaranteed. I think the Tower concept died because audiences just stopped coming (can you say "home video"??). While I'd enjoy a Hitchcock or Fellini revival, it's not as marketable. Ya know?
I know LA has LOTS of revival stuff. I have a friend down there always going to Grindhouse-like double features, 3-D film festivals, etc. The closest thing we have to that is this or the "Halloween 4" / "Halloween 5" double feature the same people who are doing this "Star Trek" thing did the day before Halloween---and there were about 20-25 people there...hardly worth their efforts (but I was glad they did it).
Anyway, I plan on taking advantage of the chance to see this on a movie screen. It could/should be cool.
The old is new again
I'd love to see Young Shatner & Co on the big screen but the inflated price will probably keep me away. I'm with Paul on the Hitchcock films on the big screen. But, how about Fellini? Hitchcock can only be bested by Fellini (but only slightly) in La Dolce Vita. In my humble opinion La Dolce Vita is the greatest movie of all time.
Alfred Hitchcock
I would pay $12.50 for a double feature of any Hitchcock film shown in the theater, maybe the studios can digitally remaster and use the 3D footage shot for Dial M for Murder and make one of those new digital 3D remasters from it.
I wish those flashback shows in Clovis would show some Hitchcock films.
a Double bill of Psycho & Rear Window or North by Northwest and Vertigo would be very cool.
The restoration is well done
Having seen the remastered episodes that air on KAIL Saturdays, the effects are done really well (mostly). They've done a great job of integrating the new stuff so that it isn't overly jarring. And the clean-up itself is great. I'd like to see it in HD, but I'm not sure any markets in the country are airing the HD versions.
Looking forward to Tuesday night....
What can you do?
Sorry---that isn't an option, unfortunately. This is still much better than nothing.
I'd rather see the original uncut Pilot 'The Cage' than the cut's used in the Menagerie episodes.
Beam me up for this!
This sounds kind of fun...what else is there to do on a weeknight anyway. I'm kind of bummed about the "new" effects/music...but it will be cool to see it on the big screen. Thanks!
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