January 12, 2014
Today, we are celebrating the broadcast anniversary of THE SQUIRE OF GOTHOS, which originally aired during Season 1 on January 12, 1967.
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In honor of its broadcast anniversary, watch the original episode (try amazon.com, Netflix or Hulu Plus).
Watch the episode in a whole new way by reading all of the great behind-the-scenes details in Marc Cushman’s These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One.
Watch the episode in a whole new way by reading all of the great behind-the-scenes details in Marc Cushman’s These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One.
When writer Paul Schneider (who had already written the episode "Balance of Terror") delivered the story for his second Star Trek assignment, he wrote to producer Gene Coon, "I think I understand now why I took so long with this story: because I had to work up the nerve to do it the way I felt it had to be done -- which is the wild way. And that it is, all right -- the wildest one I’ve ever attempted.... I feel the story has a “dash” to it which should make for good visuals and some toothsome character stuff. Also room for more than a pinch of comedy -- and a guaranteed-flabbergasting mystery, with a resolution just this side of conceivable.... I think I have something pretty damn good here."
After reading the story outline, Associate Producer Robert Justman wrote to Coon: "Paul Schneider was right. This story is science-fantasy. I leave it up to you whether you think this is the kind of story we want to do on Star Trek. Personally speaking, I rather like the idea."
A memo from Gene Roddenberry to Coon said, "Seems to me we have an interesting story here, one which could convert into an exciting script -- assuming Paul is willing to trim it into production size. He must find excitement and entertainment more in the characterizations and situations, less in opticals, costumes, and expensive sets.... Suggest we get back to the point of the original story premise, i.e., The Most Dangerous Game. “Gothos” is an avid sportsman, has trophies of the hunts in his drawing room -- the stuffed examples being a sort of “lizard man,” a hairy Neanderthal type but with huge brain sac, etc. Perhaps some of these can be heads slightly altered from creatures we have done in past shows.... Only slowly do we begin to realize that Gothos has waited, perhaps for centuries, for an Earth ship to pass within his reach. He’s heard of Man, has been fascinated by the schizophrenic bi-sexual homo-sapien creature; wonders if Man is as dangerous as other creatures he has hunted.... Plenty of action and adventure, and if we can avoid the fantasy elements, we also will have good action adventure in the 'sf' vein. By all means, let’s sit down with R. Justman and have a 'round table' on this one."
After Roddenberry, Coon, and Justman had their round table meeting, the decision was made to go forward with one of Star Trek's more fantastic, and entertaining, tales. Read all about the writing and making of "The Squire of Gothos" in These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One.
After reading the story outline, Associate Producer Robert Justman wrote to Coon: "Paul Schneider was right. This story is science-fantasy. I leave it up to you whether you think this is the kind of story we want to do on Star Trek. Personally speaking, I rather like the idea."
A memo from Gene Roddenberry to Coon said, "Seems to me we have an interesting story here, one which could convert into an exciting script -- assuming Paul is willing to trim it into production size. He must find excitement and entertainment more in the characterizations and situations, less in opticals, costumes, and expensive sets.... Suggest we get back to the point of the original story premise, i.e., The Most Dangerous Game. “Gothos” is an avid sportsman, has trophies of the hunts in his drawing room -- the stuffed examples being a sort of “lizard man,” a hairy Neanderthal type but with huge brain sac, etc. Perhaps some of these can be heads slightly altered from creatures we have done in past shows.... Only slowly do we begin to realize that Gothos has waited, perhaps for centuries, for an Earth ship to pass within his reach. He’s heard of Man, has been fascinated by the schizophrenic bi-sexual homo-sapien creature; wonders if Man is as dangerous as other creatures he has hunted.... Plenty of action and adventure, and if we can avoid the fantasy elements, we also will have good action adventure in the 'sf' vein. By all means, let’s sit down with R. Justman and have a 'round table' on this one."
After Roddenberry, Coon, and Justman had their round table meeting, the decision was made to go forward with one of Star Trek's more fantastic, and entertaining, tales. Read all about the writing and making of "The Squire of Gothos" in These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One.
