Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Jeffrey Hunter

Star Trek’s The Menagerie Deep Dive with Pike Actors

There’s more intense weather in the forecast for New Jersey, but provided Roy’s studio doesn’t go dark (as on Friday), we’ll grab our umbrellas and pull on our wellies for another intrepid attempt to address the “Star Trek” two-parter, “The Menagerie” (1966).

Every thundercloud has a silver lining, and Friday’s delay has allowed us to add a couple more names to the guest list. Therefore, in addition to Chris Hunter, son of Jeffrey Hunter (who plays strapping Captain Pike in the series’ pilot, “The Cage” – ample scenes from which are ingeniously interpolated into “The Menagerie” as flashbacks), we’ll also host Sean David Kenney (who plays Pike when he’s all messed up) and everyone’s favorite Talosian, Sandra Lee Gimpel.

With so many chefs in the kitchen, I’ll mostly sit respectfully and flash “yes” or “no.” Keep tossing us the red meat from the comments section. We’ll have a veritable menagerie to discuss “The Menagerie” on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Sunday evening at 7:00 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

September 10, 2023
Star Trek Menagerie 200th Episode Celebration

In space, no one can hear you scream. Oh, wait a minute. That’s August.

Following a month’s silence, during which Roy and I went our separate ways to pursue our personal passions, or at any rate family obligations, we’ll be back to direct our screams at one another for our 200th EPISODE. What better way to celebrate “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner” than with a spirited discussion of “Star Trek?”

The point of departure will be the classic two-part episode “The Menagerie” (1966). Our special guest will be Chris Hunter, son of “King of Kings” Jeffrey Hunter, who plays Captain Christopher Pike in the “flashback” sequences – actually scenes from the original series’ unaired pilot, ingeniously interpolated.

That’s right, this is the mind-reeling episode in which we watch the cast of “Star Trek” watching an episode of “Star Trek.” You have to admire Gene Roddenberry’s chutzpah. Actually, it’s said that the “gimmick” of reusing footage from “The Cage” was formulated so that the series could keep up with an accelerated production schedule.

But I don’t want to talk it out! Tune in tomorrow, when the floodgates will be opened.

For now, scream it from the rooftops! Join us in celebrating our first 200 YEARS! I mean 200 episodes. Our veins will be standing out on our heads like a couple of Talosians on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Flash once for “yes” and twice for “no” in the comments section, as we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:00 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

September 7, 2023
Dimension 5 A Christmas Movie Sci-Fi Oddity?

Is “Dimension 5” (1966) actually a Christmas movie?

Unless the United States withdraws all its troops from Southeast Asia, a foreign crime ring is set to detonate a hydrogen bomb in Los Angeles on December 25.

Justin Power (Jeffrey Hunter), of Espionage Inc., is teamed with Chinese agent Ki Ti “Kitty” Tso (France Nuyen) to take on the nefarious Big Buddha (Harold “Oddjob” Sakata, the closest to James Bond this film is ever going to get).

Oh yeah, there’s also a little matter of time travel. Very little, it turns out, since “Dimension 5” has probably the most bafflingly underutilized piece of advantageous gadgetry in sci-fi history.

Made on a TV budget and with rudimentary technique, the film is of principal interest for providing employment for a veritable farm team of future “Star Trek” guest stars. No less than five cast members appeared on the original, classic “Trek” – one of them was in three different episodes! – and a sixth appeared on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

To be perfectly honest, I kind of wish I could time-hop out of this one. Sadly, that kind of technology is unavailable. I’ll risk dementia in our discussion of “Dimension 5,” on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Leave your marbles in the comments section, as we livestream on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:00 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

PLEASE NOTE: If you plan to subject yourself to the film in preparation for Friday’s show, it appears currently to be available for streaming in the U.S. only on YouTube. It’s your call. The film may be free, but it’s also 90 minutes of your life you’ll never see again, without a time-belt.

June 24, 2021

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