"Star Trek" This Side of Paradise (1967)

Director:

Ralph Senensky

Writers:

D.C. Fontana (teleplay)
Jerry Sohl (story) ...

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

2 March 1967 (Season 1, Episode 24)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Enterprise is ordered to Omicron Ceti III, believed to be under constant irradiation from deadly Berthold Rays...

Plot Keywords:

Federation | Space | Starship | Vulcan | Computer

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Jill Ireland	...	Leila Kalomi
Frank Overton	...	Elias Sandoval
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Grant Woods	...	Kelowitz
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Michael Barrier	...	DeSalle
Dick Scotter	...	Painter
Eddie Paskey	...	Crewman

Runtime:

50 min | Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

The title refers to 'This Side of Paradise' the debut novel of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious stunt doubles for Kirk and Spock as they fight in the transporter room.

Quotes:

Elias Sandoval: Well, doctor. I've been thinking about what sort of work I could assign you to.
McCoy: [annoyed] What do you mean "what sort of work"? I'm a doctor!
Elias Sandoval: Not anymore, of course. We don't need you, not as a doctor.
McCoy: [stands up] Oh no. Would you like to see just how fast I can put you in a hospital?
Elias Sandoval: I am the leader of this colony. I'll assign you to whatever work I think is suitable!
[begins to walk away]
McCoy: Just a minute!
[grabs Sandoval]
McCoy: Better make me a mechanic! Then I can treat little tin gods like you!
Elias Sandoval: [swings at McCoy - McCoy blocks and punches Sandoval in the stomach. Sandoval doubles over and falls to the ground] Sorry, Sandoval. I don't know what made me do that.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Relics (#6.4)" (1992)

Spock In Love

"This Side of Paradise" is one of the show's most enjoyable episodes. It has a memorable storyline (courtesy of the show's resident guru D.C. Fontana). The story is very simple: Kirk and co. are beamed down to a planet where its habitants lead a mysteriously rural "happy" life. Behind the facade of the ordinary strange plants (similar to the plants in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers") make people on the planet very passive. Spock falls under the influence of the plants and things take an odd turn for the worse. This is the episode in which Spock falls in love (with no other than Jill Ireland, formerly known as Mrs. Charles Bronson), and this unusual situation is played to the hilt by writer Fontana. In terms of dealing with a character who does not display emotions, this episode finds a clever way to explore the show's most unusual character. In fact, it is one of Leonard Nimoy's best episodes. Nimoy is given a chance to play with his character in a way that other episodes don't allow him. Final confrontation between Spock and Kirk is classic Star Trek. Truly great show that even non-fans will enjoy.