A Piece of the Action 

The crew of the Enterprise struggles to cope with a planet of imitative people who have modeled their society on 1920s gangsters.

Director:

James Komack

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), David P. Harmon (teleplay by)

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Capt. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Anthony Caruso	...	Bela Oxmyx
Vic Tayback	...	Jojo Krako (as Victor Tayback)
Lee Delano	...	Kalo
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
John Harmon	...	Tepo
Sheldon Collins	...	Tough Kid
Dyanne Thorne	...	First Girl
Sharyn Hillyer	...	Second Girl
Buddy Garion	...	Hood
Steven Marlo	...	Zabo (as Steve Marlo)

Storyline

The Enterprise investigates a planet visited 100 years ago by the U.S.S. Horizon. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down and find themselves in a culture similar to Earth gangs of 1920 Chicago. They are quickly taken prisoner by men in the employ of a mob boss named Bela Oxmyx, who wishes them to give him phasers in exchange for "a piece of the action." When they refuse, Oxmyx puts them under guard. Kirk creates a diversion with a card game called "fizzbin," but without their equipment, the trio must find a way to unite the planet and escape to the Enterprise alive.

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Plot Keywords:

cultural contamination | boss | gangster | earthlike planet | fashion of the 1920s | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Piece of the Action

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only episode of "TOS" that ends with a freeze-frame.

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Goofs

When Kirk is being held by Krako, his room has an office desk. On this desk, there is a formidable-looking letter opener which could be used as a knife. First, it would be foolish of his captors to leave Kirk with such an obvious weapon. Second, Kirk shows no interest in the letter opener while searching the desk looking for a means of escape.

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Quotes

Spock: [Gangster accent] I would advise yas to keep dialin', Oxmyx.

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Alternate Versions

Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

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Connections

Referenced in The Toys That Made Us: Star Trek (2018)

User Reviews

Mobsters, Heaters and an Odd Solution

Season 2, episode 17. The Enterprise has orders to investigate what is going on on Sigma Iotia II. 100 years earlier, the U.S.S. Horizon disappeared shortly after leaving the planet's area - reported missing. Bela Oxmyx, an Iotian mob boss, has contacted the Enterprise and promise to give them information about the Horizon. Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down to quickly learn the inhabitants have patterned themselves after the 1920s Earth era. They are met by Bela's mob and they bring him to Bela. What Bela wants is "heaters" or phaser weapons so he can completely take over the everything. There are other mob bosses and gangs that want to take over as well. Kirk and crew must bring peace and a solution to the problem and Kirk comes up with an odd plan that works for all of them but leaves Spock questioning the future outcome.

Neat, odd and fun episode... one of my favorites due to it's quirkiness. It's quite different, quite illogical but quite a joy to watch.

9/10