tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post3392258307377542952..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Star Trek 50th Anniversary Blogging: "Who Mourns for Adonais" (September 22, 1967)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-64468633486554130502016-08-19T20:52:29.881-04:002016-08-19T20:52:29.881-04:00John,
Not much to add, except for the mention of t...John,<br />Not much to add, except for the mention of this episode's giant green space hand in the recent Star Trek Beyond; not only is the green space hand referenced in Scotty's dialogue - it actually appears in the closing credits! Right after the actors' names, a gaseous green hand takes a swipe at the camera. I thought that was a really cool reference to include in the film - twice!!<br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101722769411384962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-51348197185594109302016-08-19T00:27:35.460-04:002016-08-19T00:27:35.460-04:00JKM, I need to point out here that Kirk's line...JKM, I need to point out here that Kirk's line about Palamas' possibly marrying and leaving the service was much less sexist than it seems: it was written toward her eventual pregnancy! A sequence about her being pregnant by Apollo was filmed but cut, as was probably other material written toward that ending, while Kirk's line remained. Her character was probably intended to evince some ambivalence about remaining in Starfleet and a desire for a family which Apollo picked up on. Of course, one cannot be pregnant on a 5 year mission with the ship configuration as it was then . . . that would have to wait until over 80 years later when TNG had a much larger vessel and missions were designed to accommodate families on long voyages.Sherinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-23540767975339768412016-08-18T11:20:21.060-04:002016-08-18T11:20:21.060-04:00I think the clostest you might get to the male sid...I think the clostest you might get to the male side of these episodes is "Elaan of Troyius". There, Kirk is able to fend off his (chemically-induced) infatuation, just as Palamas is able to do here, and as McGiver wasn't.<br /><br />But note one of the big things in this episode: it proves that the Greek gods did exist in ST's history. And so probably most of the myths surrounding them.raitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-37744634208654117422016-08-17T14:29:47.100-04:002016-08-17T14:29:47.100-04:00Thanks, John. There's a couple of things about...Thanks, John. There's a couple of things about this episode that also come to mind...<br /><br />1) The title comes from the poem "Adonais" by Shelley: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45112<br /><br />2) Kirk's line "We find the one [God] sufficient" sounds rather un-Roddenberry, leading some to think it was put there to appease the network. Heaven forbid the viewers extend the "we don't need you any more" argument to the predominant religion of the day!<br /><br />3) The fan-produced series "Star Trek Continues" produced as its first episode a sequel to this episode, "Pilgrims of Eternity" starring Michael Forest himself! http://www.startrekcontinues.com/Brianhttp://www.moonbasealpha.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-11373966921964541512016-08-17T12:50:41.106-04:002016-08-17T12:50:41.106-04:00Terrific analysis, John. I won't repeat any of...Terrific analysis, John. I won't repeat any of your points.<br /><br />I really like this episode. The reasons for my affection, in addition to your story points, are as follows...<br /><br />- The terrific opticals of the oversized Apollo.<br />- Fred Steiner's great score. One of the best episodic tv scores ever.<br />- The sense of drama: while on the surface this episode appears to stream unbridled melodrama, it actually is a fine fusion of affecting performances and story (themes).<br /><br />A few years ago I read an interview with actor Micheal Forest where he talked about his trip on <b>Star Trek</b>. The producers at first made calls to agencies in England in order to get a British actor. Forest auditioned for the role and the producers asked him if he could do a British accent, to which he responded with a simple "I could but it wouldn't be me".<br /><br />Micheal Forest was great in the role as Apollo. So affecting were the dramatics as Apollo gave his speech from the heart, that he and Leslie Parrish were actually crying. Watch Scotty, Kirk, and the rest in this scene. The acting is top drawer.<br /><br />Final note: Micheal Forest was so impressed with the temple set the designers and crew had constructed on the stage that he felt it helped his greater performance as Apollo. When he sat in his seat for the first time he felt right at home.Barry Smighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464450751543573690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-20079419668231556642016-08-17T10:11:04.958-04:002016-08-17T10:11:04.958-04:00It is interesting (and cringe inducing) to see a l...It is interesting (and cringe inducing) to see a lot of the sexist attitudes woven through old television shows, especially one so forward thinking as Star Trek. I think the reason why the writers and producers were so blind to it was because I don't think they realized that it was actually demeaning. I can recall the news coverage of the Women's Liberation Movement in the early 70s where the male reporters seemed genuinely baffled by their cause. Why wouldn't women want to stay home and raise kids rather than deal with the rat race? Men simply didn't get it back then.Neal Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17053148427058126745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-30979998836739151842016-08-16T17:50:06.965-04:002016-08-16T17:50:06.965-04:00Nailed it. They weaved a lot of pathos and melanch...Nailed it. They weaved a lot of pathos and melancholy into Adonis. And we do indeed feel sorry for him. Superb work from Michael Forest.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03097420555737415471noreply@blogger.com