The Cloud Minders 

Kirk and Spock are caught up in a revolution on a planet where intellectuals and artists live on a utopian city in the sky while the rest of the population toils in mines on the barren surface below.

Director:

Jud Taylor

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Margaret Armen (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
Jeff Corey	...	Plasus
Diana Ewing	...	Droxine
Charlene Polite	...	Vanna
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Kirk Raymond	...	Cloud Guard #1 (as Kirk Raymone)
Jimmy Fields	...	Cloud Guard #2
Ed Long	...	Midro
Fred Williamson	...	Anka
Garth Pillsbury	...	Prisoner
Harv Selsby	...	Guard

Storyline

In order to save an inhabited planet from being destroyed by a botanical plague, the Enterprise goes to pick up zenite, the mineral cure, on the only known planet where it is mined. When Kirk and Spock beam down, they are attacked by 'troglites' (troglodyte miners) but not captured. High council adviser Plasus intervenes and brings them to Stratos, a luxurious metropolis which literally floats in the sky. However, it is under attack from 'disruptors', troglite revolutionaries who want equal life conditions for their peers. They do all the hard work, mainly toiling miserably in mines and dwell in caves on the barren surface below. Dr. McCoy ascertains that the alleged intellectual inferiority of the troglites is not genetic but the reversible effect of exposure to an invisible gas emitted by the zenite.

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Plot Keywords:

floating city | bare midriff | woman with a bare midriff | two member team | high adviser | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The phrase "For what purpose?" is uttered several times by several characters, in different contexts.

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Goofs

After Plasus says "I would suggest that you and First Officer Spock be our guests on Stratus," Kirk replies "Very well." However, Kirk's lip movements do not match the words spoken.

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Quotes

Droxine: Mr. Spock, I thought you had accompanied Captain Kirk to the rest chamber?
Mr. Spock: Your movements awakened me.
Droxine: My apologies. I did not realize they would disturbe you.
Mr. Spock: Only Vulcan ears would find the noise discernable.
Droxine: [with shy, intense interest] It seems that Vulcans are fascinatingly different, in many ways.
Mr. Spock: The same may be said of Stratos inhabitants.
Droxine: Vulcan eyes are very discerning, too.
Droxine: [continuing] I hear that, intellectually, Vulcans are as highly evolved as Stratos city dwellers.
Mr. Spock: [moves to face her] We ...

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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

Featured in For the Love of Spock (2016)

User Reviews

"DROXINE?"

The first time I saw this episode I suddenly burst out laughing, and every time I think of it I continue to laugh my rear end off. There's a character, a beautiful woman named Droxine, and when I saw this name I turned to my folks with whom I was watching and exclaimed "DROXINE? What an odd name---sounds more like a medicine!" And being a pharmacist's kid---my dad was a pharmacist and a good one who would often bring home various pharmaceutical publications which I would read---I got curious and looked it up. And there it was: Droxine, the brand name of a medicine---a bronchodilator, an antiasthmatic which was used in the treatment of asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other such respiratory ailments. And I have often wondered---did the scriptwriter, perhaps, have such a problem? As for "spoilers"---not really, just a thoroughly amusing note.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

Greek English

Release Date:

28 February 1969 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3