The Cage
- Episode aired Oct 4, 1988
- TV-PG
- 1h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
Capt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.Capt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.Capt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.
Majel Barrett
- Number One
- (as M. Leigh Hudec)
John Burnside
- Bridge Crewmember
- (uncredited)
Carol Daniels
- Bridge Crewmember
- (uncredited)
Michael Dugan
- The Kaylar
- (uncredited)
Sandra Lee Gimpel
- Talosian
- (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt
- Transporter Chief Pitcairn
- (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim
- Third Survivor
- (uncredited)
Bob Johnson
- First Talosian
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Jon Lormer
- Dr. Theodore Haskins
- (uncredited)
Ed Madden
- Enterprise Geologist
- (uncredited)
William McCarter
- Survivor
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLeonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock was the only character from the first pilot retained into the series. The ship's first officer character, Number One, was rejected for the series by the network because she was female (according to Gene Roddenberry), or because of her lack of acting ability (according to Desilu production chief Herbert F. Solow). Actress Majel Barrett (Roddenberry's girlfriend at the time and later wife) was recast as Nurse Chapel. When the pilot was recycled as The Menagerie: Part I (1966) and The Menagerie: Part II (1966), it was established that Captain Pike's voyage to Talos IV took place 13 years prior to the events of the Star Trek (1966) series.
- GoofsAs Pike retreats up the stairs from the warrior on "Rigel VII", you can see the blade of his spear bend as it pushes against the warrior's chest.
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
- ConnectionsEdited into Star Trek: The Menagerie: Part I (1966)
- SoundtracksStar Trek Theme (Original TV Series Version)
(uncredited)
Featured review
history in the making
Just think...if Jeffrey Hunter had wound up playing the Captain in Star Trek, he might be alive today. Hunter died in 1969 from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, probably caused by an explosion that imploded instead during a film he was working on in Europe. Interesting thought.
The Cage was the most expensive pilot in NBC history to that point. Though the Star Trek idea had its supporters, the network couldn't see past its nose to pick up the series. They did, however, agree to a second pilot with some changed elements - like a woman who was second in command. The reasons why Hunter did not do the next pilot have been debated. A friend of Hunter's stated that Hunter's wife, Dusty, thought science fiction was low class and didn't want him involved in the show. And, according to Shatner's book, she also made unreasonable demands of the producers.
It's worth remembering that back in the '60s, science fiction, space movies, etc., did not have the "A" status that they do today. B movies only became A movies after Star Wars.
The Cage is a not only very good but touching, and of course, it's fascinating to see "Star Trek" before it became a cult classic. The story concerns a planet that exists basically on Mind Control, and the inhabitants in charge capture Pike in the hope that he can help replenish their race with an earth woman who is there as a result of a ship crashing. Susan Oliver is the woman.
During the run of the series, in order to recoup some of the costs of this fabulously expensive pilot, it was incorporated into a two-part episode, with another actor playing the now near-vegetative Captain Pike.
I love seeing films such as this that were done before all the special effect technology became available, because they were done in such innovative and imaginative ways. The Cage is worth a look to see the genesis of a show that became part of our culture.
The Cage was the most expensive pilot in NBC history to that point. Though the Star Trek idea had its supporters, the network couldn't see past its nose to pick up the series. They did, however, agree to a second pilot with some changed elements - like a woman who was second in command. The reasons why Hunter did not do the next pilot have been debated. A friend of Hunter's stated that Hunter's wife, Dusty, thought science fiction was low class and didn't want him involved in the show. And, according to Shatner's book, she also made unreasonable demands of the producers.
It's worth remembering that back in the '60s, science fiction, space movies, etc., did not have the "A" status that they do today. B movies only became A movies after Star Wars.
The Cage is a not only very good but touching, and of course, it's fascinating to see "Star Trek" before it became a cult classic. The story concerns a planet that exists basically on Mind Control, and the inhabitants in charge capture Pike in the hope that he can help replenish their race with an earth woman who is there as a result of a ship crashing. Susan Oliver is the woman.
During the run of the series, in order to recoup some of the costs of this fabulously expensive pilot, it was incorporated into a two-part episode, with another actor playing the now near-vegetative Captain Pike.
I love seeing films such as this that were done before all the special effect technology became available, because they were done in such innovative and imaginative ways. The Cage is worth a look to see the genesis of a show that became part of our culture.
helpful•1055
- blanche-2
- Jul 9, 2005
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- Star Trek the Original Series: The Cage
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