Talk:The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)

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Reference ideas for The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)

The following references may be useful when improving this article in the future:

Nimoy, Leonard [@TheRealNimoy] (2013-08-12). "Why did I limp in the original ST pilot? Mr. Roddenberry told me to. LLAP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via Twitter.

October 2005

So it seems to me that the plot of "bulbous headed aliens try to use humans as a stronger breeding stock to revive their race" is very similar to the long term plot of Earth: Final Conflict.

Should it be noted? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.123.85.201 (talk • contribs) 03:02, 31 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

No. The clue is your phrase "it seems to me." Derekbd (talk) 11:26, 25 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Episode title

I have removed the claim that the episode title was changed from "The Cage" to "The Menagerie" early on. The shooting script dated November 20, 1964, only days before filming began, was still titled "The Cage" (I've seen the script cover). I have seen no evidence from 1964-1969 that the pilot episode was ever called "The Managerie". — Walloon 06:54, 12 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, I've read too many Star Trek books to tell you which of them I got this info from, but here's the story I've been told - Originally, the episode was called "The Cage", then the title was changed to the Menagerie. (The change could have happened after they started shooting, as they were still a long way from being finished at that time.) Then, when the TV series decided to incorporate the footage into a two parter, they named the two parter "The Menagerie", and renamed the original pilot "The Cage". Or at least they renamed it "The Cage" when they included it in the syndication packages as its own episode. At any rate, I realize it would be helpful if I pointed out some sources here. Perhaps Gene Roddenberry's authorized biography? Or one of those books about Star Trek's original series. It's somewhere in one of these. 70.231.17.128 00:43, 14 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The removal of the claim makes this bit out-of place: "...most of it was recycled in the later Star Trek episode 'The Menagerie' (leaving the pilot itself to revert to its earlier name of 'The Cage'[2])" so I am removing the parenthetical phrase. Derekbd (talk) 11:28, 25 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Stardate

Okay, the article's text says no stardate was given in this episode. So why does the sidebar claim that it's stardate 1513.1? Especially since that stardate comes after some of the Season 1 episodes? -- CWesling 07:05, 17 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Stardate was removed, apparently. Derekbd (talk) 11:31, 25 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Canon

Is it canon please tell me on my talk Jamhaw 18:23, 31 May 2006 (UTC)jamhaw[reply]

Is it on the dvd?

is it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.213.145.212 (talk • contribs) 22:59, 8 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Is what on the DVD of The Cage? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Walloon (talk • contribs) 23:05, 8 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Star Trek The Original Series - The Complete Third Season on DVD contains The Cage. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.195.25.63 (talk • contribs) 06:31, 2 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Update: The Remastered Series Third Season box set contains the remastered version of The Cage with new CGI enhancements, as well as the reassembled color/black and white version (confusingly called the Extended Version although it's actually the same length as the remastered version) with intro and outro by Roddenberry.Lee M (talk) 21:11, 27 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Doctor Boyce

It was suggested that Phillip Boyce be merged with the Cage. I would personally recommend not since it is likely that his article will be expanded and since Pike is going to be in the new movie it is likely that most of his crew will appear as well. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dr. Stantz (talk • contribs) 22:35, 21 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I recommend against the merge as well. Boyce and Number One were fleshed out enough to rate character bios of their own. Agree with the above poster; hold off till the movie comes out to see if we learn more about the character. Sir Rhosis (talk) 04:53, 22 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

40th Anniversary Remastering

I believe some of the footage of the Talosians from The Cage adds digital enhancements to their voice tracks so that they match the treatments used in The Menagerie. If anyone can confirm this should be added. Lee M (talk) 21:11, 27 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Outer Limits

I cannot even make sense of this text to edit it. Perhaps a Trekker can better explain. Shaque (talk) 15:14, 14 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You are not alone, my friend. I took the liberty to edit out all of the dreadful grammar and everything with weasel words in it, along with information that does not belong in an article on Star Trek. Furthermore, I merged it into "Production" paragraph, where it belongs. Also did some minor format corrections on the rest of the article. Matzeachmann 11:38, 20. Dec 2009 (CEST)

Twilight Zone

Cannot help but notice similarities to Twilight Zone episode "People are alike all over" which had a similar theme of collecting inter-planetary species for a zoo and also starred Susan Oliver. 71.233.184.58 (talk) 02:44, 1 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Production no. ?

"Production no.:

001 - Restored Version

099 - Original Version"

I'm heavy wondering (1) what the concrete source of the production numbers and the versions they mean is [because there's no source/citation/reference link right there], and (2), how the original version, the first version of 1964/1965, when they thought they produce only one pilot that will air, should not be production no. 001 [as it is, I think], but instead the/an "Restored Version" could be so.

In addition: what "Restored Version" precisely is meant? It's not cleared out in the text, even. Should it mean the shortened,only-black-and-white-version (b)? Or the fully-length(?),black-and-white/colour-combined-version (c)? Or does it just mean the re-found original,uncut-fully-colour-version, but just of in a somewhat light digitally remastered version (a) [not meaning the 40th anniversary heavy edited re-worked version (d) ]? However, I think, the original version is prod. no. 001 and if there even exists a prod. no. 099, than it only could be a later version/edit [of whatever].

compare http://www.trekweb.com/articles/2008/11/12/A-Look-Back-at-The-History-of-Star-Trek-First-Pilot-The-Cage.shtml [link taken via wikipedia's TOS episode list - pilots - the cage]

84.62.227.9 (talk) 23:11, 13 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

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I thought only Spock transitioned to the series?

This closing passage from the lead strikes me as wrong: "The pilot introduced several members of the ship's crew, which have since become iconic characters of film and television, such as Spock, a Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy." I've never seen the episode, but everything I've read about it says that Spock was the only character on "The Cage" who continued to the series? That's what the main article on ST:TOS says: "Only the character of Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, was retained from the first pilot, and only two cast members, Majel Barrett and Nimoy, were carried forward into the series." Can anyone clarify? Mr Serjeant Buzfuz (talk) 20:50, 27 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No-one has commented on my question, so I edited the article to delete the references to "other characters", leaving only Spock. Mr Serjeant Buzfuz (talk) 01:48, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The pilot introduced several members of the ship's crew, which have since become iconic characters of film and television, such as Spock, a Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy. This is true. "The Cage" introduced Spock (later appearing in The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Short Treks, and Very Short Treks), as well as Captain Pike and Number One (later appearing in Discovery, Short Treks, and Strange New Worlds). I wouldn't describe them as "iconic" without reliable sourcing thereto, but they were introduced in the original unaired Trek pilot. I've never seen the episode, but everything I've read about it says that Spock was the only character on 'The Cage' who continued to the series? This too is true, and not in conflict with (nor the meaning behind) the original sentence about which you were asking. — Fourthords | =Λ= | 16:36, 4 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Captain Pike

Why is he not noted in Wiki episode cast? 74.88.193.170 (talk) 03:26, 18 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Claims of another print of the episode

This was in the article as uncited:

Gene Roddenberry in fact had another personal 16mm copy of "The Cage" which he gave to a friend and advisor in California shortly following production and accompanied by another 16mm reel labelled "Star Trek Out Takes". All three film reels were subsequently acquired by a private collector who has kept them in secure storage ever since the acquisition. It is understood the film has not been run in a projector since around 1972 and it is also believed that this is the only surviving complete original 16mm print of "The Cage".

Is this a fact? Then it must be proven and references given. Who is this friend? When was "shortly after production?" Is there a public record or advertisement of the sale in which said "private collector" purchased the prints listed of both "The Cage" and "Star Trek Out Takes?" The last sentence of the paragraph has weasel wording such as "It is understood..." and "It is believed..." Thus the whole paragraph has been marked as needing citation. Kether83 (talk) 19:49, 21 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]