Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 1, Episode 20
Original Air Date: February 2, 1967
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| via Memory Alpha |
In this, Star Trek's second courtroom drama episode, Captain Kirk stands trial on charges of perjury and negligence. A crewman, Lieutenant Commander Ben Finney, has died in a freak accident. Kirk's account of the incident conflicts with the ship's computer record, thus the charges. To complicate matters further, the prosecuting attorney is Lt. Areel Shaw, his ex-girlfriend!
I won't spoil the plot twist, except to say that I did not see it coming myself.
*****
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| via Memory Alpha |
Cook was born December 26, 1903 in San Francisco. Growing up in Chicago, he started as a traveling actor on the vaudeville circuit at the age of 14. He got his big break when he was cast in the Broadway play Ah! Wilderness for a two-year run. His on-screen resume is lengthy, including films such as The Maltese Falcon, Shane and Rosemary's Baby. In addition to Trek, his television series appearances included Perry Mason, The Adventures of Superman, Batman, The Bionic Woman and Magnum, P.I.
He was married twice but was apparently a bit of a recluse. According to director John Huston,
[Cook] lived alone up in the High Sierra, tied flies and caught golden trout between films. When he was wanted in Hollywood, they sent word up to his mountain cabin by courier. He would come down, do a picture, and then withdraw again to his retreat.Cook died of a stroke in 1995.
My editor CJ loves Star Trek I am afraid to say I'm not a big fan; however I found the information about the actors reclusive life interesting, so thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteMy editor CJ loves Star Trek I am afraid to say I'm not a big fan; however I found the information about the actors reclusive life interesting, so thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteTrek is not for everyone, I know.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, joss!
I looked forward to the episodes that showed a bit more "ordinary life" in the Federation of the 23rd century -- even if highly dramatic -- as opposed to the Enterprise encountering yet another one-off alien threat. I always liked Samuel T Cogley, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree. Generally speaking, I think TNG did a better job of that. Life on the ship itself was much better developed.
DeleteI do remember (not very well, hey I am really old) many of these early episodes from the original series. I enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Elisha Cook in so many shows, he seems to always be there. The High Sierra is a beautiful place to live when not in the city. I use to go backpacking there it is truly breathtaking and a wonderful place to be still and enjoy the quiet.
cheers, parsnip
I totally get the reclusive inclination. The Vermont woods work very nicely.
DeleteSpoiler alert: Kirk was not found guilty. He was found to be a turnip!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm missing some in-joke here...
DeleteHappy New Year, Squid. Cool that you're still doing these. It's turned out to be a good series.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Suze, and thank you! I'm enjoying it.
DeleteI love Star Trek so much. Any Trek. When we had TV, I'd be flipping channels and the second it got to any kind of Trek, it would be instantaneous, I would go 'Ooh!' and Dwayne would go 'Nooo...', LOL!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is much the same way my wife reacts to me over Star Wars stuff.
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