The City on the Edge of Forever 

When a temporarily insane Dr. McCoy accidentally changes history and destroys his time, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent the disaster, but the price to do so is high.

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Harlan Ellison, Gene Roddenberry (created by)

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Joan Collins

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Capt. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Joan Collins	...	Edith Keeler
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scott
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
John Harmon	...	Rodent
Hal Baylor	...	Policeman
David L. Ross	...	Galloway
John Winston	...	Transporter Chief
Bart La Rue	...	Guardian (voice) (as Bartell La Rue)

Storyline

When an accident causes Dr. McCoy to go temporarily insane, he escapes to a strange planet. There, the search party discovers a device left by a superior, vanished civilization, a time portal that plays the history of Earth for them - but then Bones jumps through it into the past, causing a change in history important enough to make the Enterprise vanish. Kirk and Spock, who fortunately made a tricorder recording, must attempt to go through to just before McCoy's arrival and stop him from changing history in the United States during the Great Depression, where they have no advanced technology available.

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Plot Keywords:

altering history | alternate timeline | alternate history | time travel | 2260s | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

After Kirk and Spock talk about the "flop", the scene changes to a street view, where a kosher meat store, with a conspicuously large Star of David on its front, is displayed in the center of the scene. This is one of the very few times a human (Earth) religious symbol is displayed in this series.

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Goofs

About 6 minutes in Uhura uses her communicator and part of it is flipped open much too wide as she talks into it. Later, at about 10 minutes, she uses it again and it is flipped open normally.

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Quotes

Capt. Kirk: Spock... I believe... I'm in love with Edith Keeler.
Spock: Jim, Edith Keeler must die.

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits are set against a combination background of stills from that episode and previous episodes, as is standard Star Trek: TOS practice.

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Alternate Versions

Syndication versions since the early 1980s and most home video prints replace a recording of "Goodnight Sweetheart" heard in this episode with a generic instrumental track due to music rights issues. The original recording was heard in reruns prior to then and on an early 1980's VHS release by Paramount. The original version was restored when the series was released to DVD.

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Connections

Referenced in StarTalk: William Shatner (2016)

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Soundtracks

Theme From Star Trek
Written by Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Amazing - Even 52 Years Later

I have never written a review for any Star Trek episode. However, last night on H&I. I saw COTEOF probably for the fifty some time including when it was originally aired in April of 1967. The more I see it over the years, the more amazing it is and severe admiration is to be Harlan Ellison, the writer. It is wonderfully acted by a restrained Kirk who faces the decision of love vs. humanity. Spock knows this and fears if left alone to make the decision, Kirk would choose love. It is rated the best Star Trek, TOS episode and it's easily to see why. If it's your first time watching this episode, one word....ENJOY.

Details

Official Sites:

handitv Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

Greek English

Release Date:

6 April 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital (re-mastered version) DTS (re-mastered version)

Color:

Color Black and White (flashbacks) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1