ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Another unsold pilot from Gene Rodenberry, perhaps his best, an intelligent non-action story in which Robert Foxworth portrays an android who feels driven to solve the mystery of his missing creator's whereabouts and true identity, as well as the recovery of certain areas of his memory which have been inexplicably erased.

In a fascinating opening scene, the half-finished android completes his own facial and body features while alone in the laboratory. Then he goes to the research lab's library where he educates himself by scanning through a few thousand books.

Mike Farrell (MASH) is a sympathetic young scientist who accompanies the escaped android on his quest. Farrell serves as the android's advisor concerning the confusing subject of human behavior while the two flee from authorities, following elusive clues concerning the whereabouts of the android's creator, a man named Questor.

The final solution to the mystery is both interesting and typical of Rodenberry's optimistic vision of the future.

Foxworth's performance is admirable, effective, and consistent. His android character displays some remarkable similarities to Data of "Star Trek - The Next Generation".

The fine supporting cast includes some familiar faces: Lew Ayres ("Donovan's Brain"), Dana Wynter ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers"), Robert Douglas ("The Flame and the Arrow", "The Fountainhead", many others). Directed by Richard A. Colla.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

TQT is considered the finest of the GR TV-Pilots.

It would have made a fine sf series if GR had been allowed to produce it the way he wanted to do it.

Alas, the network got involved & wanted to turn Q into Richard Kimble & have him on the run each week from the evil government. The Mike Farrel character was eliminated.

Years later we did get to see Q, sort of, as Data on Star Trek:The Next Generation. The Q concept was resurrected & became Data.

[Bud Brewster]

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I've yet to see this famous unsold pilot!

I've never known it to have aired in my area on any channel — which doesn't mean it has not aired, just that I didn't know about it.

Amazon lists a half-dozen different DVDs, ranging in price from about $12.00 to $24.00. I should problem just buy one of them and stop whining about it. But I'm still not convinced that I'd like it, so I continue to procrastinate.

And whine . . .
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

I believe you would find it entertaining, Bruce. It was well done for its time. I recall liking it very much and disappointed it was not picked up as a series.

The performances are all quite fine. Some of the visuals might date poorly.

This is still a workable idea by Roddenberry, and worthy of being revived. I love his Star Trek: TOS and its franchise spin-off TV series that have all come along.

However, I'd relish seeing The Questor Tapes & Genesis II getting rebooted for a change of pace, instead of yet another Trek iteration.