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TOS episode #15 - Court Martial
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:28 pm    Post subject: TOS episode #15 - Court Martial Reply with quote

See also: Bogmeister thread! Very Happy
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This is one of the most dramatic episodes in the entire series, for several reasons.

The story, for example, is a powerful examination of how people's faith in themselves can be the driving force in their lives, determining how well they succeed or fail. Captain Kirk demonstrates that intelligent people who trust their own judgement aren't swayed by false information or the whims of popular opinion.

The episode also makes a strong statement about the rule of law and the importance of the legal system. The system isn't always right, but it's always better than anarchy.

On a more personal level, this episode proves that actor Richard Webb, the other captain who is adored by millions of science fiction fans — Captain Midnight — was a far better actor than we ever knew, based on his limited role in that great 1950s series.

He provides a powerful performance in this story which proves that he was severely neglected as an actor.






And finally, this episode gives us a sweet bit of jail bait — the daughter of Richard Webb's character, looking lovely in a 23rd Century school girl uniform that inspires thoughts that are both illegal and immoral! Shocked



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


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Jun 11, 2021 10:02 am; edited 3 times in total
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Pow
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 11:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Joan Marshall who portrayed prosecuting attorney Areel Shaw also played Phoebe Munster in the first test footage of the pilot for The Munsters.
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2019 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't say I had any immoral or illegal thoughts about the young girl to be honest! Boy I'm glad about that!
JB
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Pow
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 10:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Court Martial, "Trivia } Writer Don Mankiewicz was the son of Herman J. Mankiewicz who co~wrote the movie classic "Citizen Kane'' with Orson Welles.

Don also wrote for the supernatural TV show "One Step Beyond."

This was what is known in the biz as a "bottle Show." These are episodes done in order to keep the budget down by utilizing only existing (standing) sets. Other methods to make the show on the cheap was by not hiring lots of guest stars or needing any special/visual effects.

In the original draft of the script it was Finney's father who accuses Captain Kirk of killing his son.

Originally Samuel Cogley, Jr was to quit as Kirk's attorney because he believes Kirk has lied. Cogley Sr. stands by Kirk but is thwarted throughout the case.

Eventually the character of the son was dropped and just Sam Cogley defended Kirk.

Kirk was originally depicted as ready to give up, because he's in shock over the tragedy.

Cogley and Mr. Spock were to have helped Kirk escape and take a ship owned by Cogley to an asteroid where Finney is hiding out. They then bring him back to the Star Base.

Gene Roddenberry had a number of issues with the script, feeling that the following elements offered a very negative view of the future.

1.) The harbor master is immediately prejudiced against Kirk. The harbor master was a former star ship captain, and he's jealous of Kirk for still being one.

2.) The use of computers instead of human judgement.

3.) Individuals on the star base who hate Kirk for supposedly allowing Finney to die.

4.) The idea that "big brother is watching'' all aspects of life in the future via computers recording all human activity.

Percy Rodriguez, who played Commodore Stone, played the leader of the peaceful PAX culture in Gene Roddenberry's sci~fi TV pilot "Genesis II."

Elisha Cook (Sam Cogley) reportedly had trouble remembering his lines.

I always wondered just why Cogley was not present for the finale on board the Enterprise. It seemed odd that his character would be written out at the climax of the episode.

Perhaps Cook's trouble with recalling his dialogue forced the producers to eliminate his presence at the episode's conclusion.

This is a talky but entertaining episode. It appears that almost every TV series — no matter the genre — resorts to the trope of having one of their main characters have to stand trial in a legal courtroom.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

As usual, you're trivia is very interesting. Thanks, Pow! Very Happy

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


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Pow
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you (and I hope others) are enjoying it, Bud.
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Pow
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More Trivia } In spite of trying to keep costs down by having CM be a ''bottle show'', 4 new sets were constructed for this episode.

Port Master Commodore Stone's office, Kirk's quarters on Star base 11, Star base bar. and the courtroom.

The back wall for the bar was recycled pieces from the interior of the star ship Fesarius from the episode "The Corbomite Maneuver."

Original title for the episode: "Court-martial on Starbase Eleven."

This script was heavily re-written.

In a scene that was shot (but later cut), Jame Finney came into the engineering room at the conclusion of Kirk's fight with her father. When her father sees that Jame is on board the Enterprise — which is in its fatal decaying orbit — Finney then tells Kirk where he sabotaged the star ship, in order to save Jame.

Another alteration in the script explains Jame's emotions.
When she first sees Kirk in the Commodore's office, she is enraged at Kirk for (allegedly) killing her father. The next time we encounter her, she is polite and friendly towards Kirk — with no explanation offered.

It turns out that a scene from the script had Jame reading her father's letters. The bitterness he expresses in them towards Kirk makes her think that her father just might attempt to avenge himself against Kirk.

Star Fleet dress uniforms make their debut on CM. Prosecutor Areel Shaw wears the only female officer dress uniform ever shown on the series.

The barkeeper on Star Base Eleven wears the same outfit we see on a different barkeeper on Deep Space Station K~7 on "The Trouble with Tribbles."

The two-person transporter alcove seen in Commodore Stone's office will be seen again in Mr. Lurry's office on DSS K-7 on "The Trouble with Tribbles."

The ship bell that Commodore Stone uses to bring the court to order will also be used on Star Trek: The Next Generation's episode "The First Duty." I like that touch.

The sensor arm rest on the courtroom witness chair will reappear in the Enterprise's briefing room chair on the episode "Wolf in the Fold."

The Courtroom door is one of the very few hinged doors seen on the series.

This episode marks the last time that the audience will hear the sound of the Enterprise's engines in space.

The wall chart in Commodore Stone's office lists the currently active Constitution Class Federation star ships. The Intrepid is listed.

The Intrepid is the all~Vulcan crew star ship that will perish on the episode "The Immunity Syndrome."
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 2:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Your wonderful posts about the little-know facts concerning episodes like this one re-energizes our enthusiasm for each one! Very Happy

Rest assured that I'm speaking for many of All Sci-Fi's members (along with the dozens of "guests" we have each day) when I say that we appreciate your contributes to this board! Cool

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow, you could fill a book with your "trivia"! (I put that in quotes because to us your info is FAR from trivial!)
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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
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scotpens
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
. . . And finally, this episode gives us a sweet bit of jail bait — the daughter of Richard Webb's character, looking lovely in a 23rd Century school girl uniform that inspires thoughts that are both illegal and immoral! Shocked

Why, you dirty old man! Rolling Eyes

I enjoyed this episode when I first saw it more than 50 years ago, but it doesn't hold up very well.

First, there's that whole "ion pod" business. The Enterprise's sensors can detect the heat of a match from orbit a thousand miles up. Why does a man have to climb into a pod to manually take sensor readings? And it's never made clear why the pod had to be jettisoned.

Second, the episode doesn't work well as courtroom drama. Samuel T. Cogley is supposedly an eccentric but brilliant defense attorney, but he never offers a defense! He doesn't even cross-examine any of the prosecution's witnesses. He just stalls for time so that he can make a dramatic but irrelevant speech about rights -- specifically the right of the accused to confront the witnesses against him. The computer log isn't a "witness"; it's the prosecution's key piece of evidence which Cogley should have obtained a copy of during pretrial discovery.

Elisha Cook Jr. had a nice suit, though.


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

scotpens wrote:
Bud Brewster wrote:
. . . And finally, this episode gives us a sweet bit of jail bait — the daughter of Richard Webb's character, looking lovely in a 23rd Century school girl uniform that inspires thoughts that are both illegal and immoral! Shocked

Why, you dirty old man! Rolling Eyes

Oh lord . . . have a confession. I'm a dirtier old man than you thought! Shocked

I couldn't resist making several feminine enhancements to the image posted above. Below is the original picture on the left — and my altered version on the right.

I knew damn well that a young lady from the 23rd century would be more well developed and more daring in her apparel than the one in this episode. After all, the female military uniforms display the ladies' legs — right up to their matching undergarments! Shocked

So, I raised the young girl's hemline, accented her trim waist a bit, and gave her the upper body development she deserved!

Compare, please. Very Happy




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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Although she was portrayed as a "school girl" there was really no implication that she was anything but a twenty-something young lady a bit on the shy side, so Bud you can remain just a dirty old man without being accused of severe perversion!
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And sadly this actress was stuck in one of the most horrendous outfits ever conceived for the series.
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a child this was the first episode of Star Trek that I ever saw after hearing about it at school. But the tragedy was that I had upset my old man and he was keen on sending me to bed early. Howsoever, I was able to get around him by watching this new show. Sadly it's one of the dull ones to be honest! Sad
JB
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

IMDB has several interesting trivia items for this production. Very Happy
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~ This marks the only appearance of the female Starfleet dress uniform during The Original Series, worn by Lt. Areel Shaw (Joan Marshall). Key differences between this uniform and the standard female uniform are a satin-like sheen, a gold braid on the edge of the collar, and a longer skirt length.

Note from me: Let's be honest: pretty girls in miniskirts serving aboard a starship is the product male wishful think — not a "prediction of future fashion trends". Rolling Eyes

But we love it, of course. Very Happy

~ Elisha Cook Jr. had great difficulty remembering his lines. The speech of his character, Sam Cogley, was pieced together with editing.

Note from me: I'm always impressed by actors who can remember a huge volume of dialog. I certainly couldn't do it.

~ This is the first episode in which the names "Starfleet" and "Starfleet Command" were used.

Note from me: I'm surprised those familiar terms weren't used until the twentieth episode!

~ When Dr. McCoy first meets Lt. Shaw in the Starbase bar, a light, jazzy version of the Star Trek theme can be heard playing.

Note from me: This is common in movies and TV shows. The idea is silly; the background music being played at a public gathering place just happens to be a slowed-down, schmaltzy version of the title theme! Rolling Eyes

~ It is never clearly explained why Kirk is under pressure to jettison the pod. In his adaptation of the script in Star Trek 2, James Blish establishes that the pod is directly exposed to the vacuum of space, allowing its instrumentation to take accurate readings.

However, its plastic construction picks up radiation from dangerous ionization particularly quickly and must be jettisoned when its contamination begins to pose a threat to the rest of the ship.


Note from me: I've never understood what the "pod" was and why it's designed to be ejected from the ship. The long explanation above does nothing to clear up my confusion. Confused

~ At the end of the episode, Kirk explains the auditory capabilities of the computer to the court, now convened on the bridge of the Enterprise. He states that the computer can amplify sound by a factor of "1 to the fourth power". 1 raised to any whole number power is 1.

He may have meant 10 to the fourth power.


Note from me: Right. "1 to the fourth power" is 1 X 1 X 1 X 1 = 1. But 10 to the fourth is 100,000.

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