Star Trek History 101: TV & Movie Influences in Creating Star Trek
Written by Will Stape on April 25, 2009 – 6:51 am -
Star Trek 2009: Cast Shot. © Paramount Pictures
Gene Roddenberry created science fiction powerhouse Star Trek as ‘wagon train to the stars’ – a kind of western in space. Instead of cowboys looking for a fight around every saloon door and tumbleweed, the starship Enterprise would be a crew of scientists and explorers who’d only use deadly force when necessary – or when ratings plummeted. As director J.J. Abrams releases a new Star Trek vision in movie theaters this summer, it’s interesting to look back at the influences on its creation.
Over the years, Roddenberry pointed to several sources of inspiration for his classic sci-fi TV series. Most notably the Great Bird of the Galaxy, as he’s affectionately known to Trekkers, used the Horatio Hornblower series of books as a template for Captain Kirk and Captain Picard. There are also television and film influences which either directly inspired him, or contain a real Star Trek like feeling to them.
Forbidden Planet 1951
This 1951 MGM feature film boasts several key ingredients which are clearly inspirations for Roddenberry’s Enterprise crew and even contain close variations on technology like the famous transporter. After viewing this film, it will be clear to any Star Trek fan just how much Roddenberry was inspired – from the crew uniforms, to how the crew interacts with each other.
Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, Earl Holliman, Anne Francis and mechanical thespian Robby The Robot round out the cast in this classic tale of sci-fi adventure. The story is based on William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and in Roddenberry’s biography, he states how the movie influenced Star Trek’s creation. The TV show’s episode Requiem for Methuselah is also inspired by Forbidden Planet.
Tales Of Tomorrow 1951-1953
This ABC anthology series, which aired live, was full of exotic science fiction and fantasy tales. It exposed the American public to intelligent space faring sci-fi a full 15 years before Star Trek.
Legendary names like Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff and even Forbidden Planet’s Captain Leslie Nielsen himself graced these weird stories. One episode in particular which starred Nielsen would be right at home as a Trek episode. Entitled, ‘Appointment On Mars’ relates the adventures of three astronauts surviving on Mars. When things go awry, deadly consequences result from the men’s actions, while a shadowy alien presence watches the tragic proceedings. Although shot in black and white, on a low budget and broadcast live with no way to obscure mistakes, this show clearly has a Star Trek feel.
The Twilight Zone 1959-1964
Master of TV mystery and mayhem, Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone may have emphasized dark sci-fi, fantasy and even horror, however a Star Trek vibe is definitely present.
Many Twilight Zone tales see spacemen grapple with aliens and weird technology, but it’s a tale starring Roddy McDowall (Planet Of The Apes) that most captures a Star Trek ambiance, years before the starship Enterprise ever left space dock. The episode “People Are Alike All Over” tells the tale of two humans crash landing on a planet. One is killed in the crash, while the other is taken in by a friendly group of human looking aliens. Before long it’s revealed the aliens aren’t that nice. The Trek parallel is so strong here, even the co-star of the show, actress Susan Oliver would later appear in Roddenberry’s first Star Trek pilot, “The Cage.” Her role there would be as a human who crashed along with her crew, then taken captive by aliens called Talosians – a nifty flip of her role in Twilight Zone.
- Will Stape has written for Star Trek: The Next Generation & Deep Space Nine. He lives in the NYC area.
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Tags: Chris Pine, Eric Bana, Gene Roddenberry, JJ Abrams, Star Trek, Zachary Quinto
Posted in SF-TV & Movie News | 2 Comments »
By Sharon E. Dreyer on Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
You are so very correct! This article contains how one novel or show influences another. Throughout the history of science fiction and fantasy tales, one good story can positively be reflected in another. As a science fiction and fantasy fan and author, I am certain that my tales have been directly influenced by numerous books or movies. Kudos for your gifted insight!
By Ian Cullen on Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Sharon,
I’m sure Will appreciates the compliment.
You could do articles like the above for pretty much every major hit sci-fi show that’s ever graced the television screen. Though I’d skip Andromeda from that list. Sure it was based on Roddenberry’s work, but the producers well and truly screwed the pooch on that. And Kevin Sorbo sucking the life out of every scene couldn’t have helped. Have seen more emotive power in tree bark.
Babylon 5 springs to mind as another great example of borrowing from other sources. I mean the whole war with the shadows was very similar to how stuff played out in Lord Of The Rings, and this was before Lord Of The Rings was made into three cracking movies. Admittedly the books go much deeper, but the movies were really faithful as well.
Anyway, thanks for your feedback, and I will be sure to let will know that you left a comment:)