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Star Trek
S2.E6
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IMDbPro

The Doomsday Machine

  • Episode aired Oct 20, 1967
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Star Trek (1966)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Marc Daniels
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Norman Spinrad
  • Stars
    • William Shatner
    • Leonard Nimoy
    • DeForest Kelley
Top credits
  • Director
    • Marc Daniels
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Norman Spinrad
  • Stars
    • William Shatner
    • Leonard Nimoy
    • DeForest Kelley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 43User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos25

    William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, and William Windom in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, and William Windom in The Doomsday Machine (1967)
    Star Trek (1966)
    Star Trek (1966)
    Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, and William Windom in Star Trek (1966)
    Star Trek (1966)
    Star Trek (1966)
    William Windom in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner and William Windom in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and William Windom in Star Trek (1966)
    Star Trek (1966)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Shatner
    William Shatner
    • Capt. Kirkas Capt. Kirk
    Leonard Nimoy
    Leonard Nimoy
    • Mr. Spockas Mr. Spock
    DeForest Kelley
    DeForest Kelley
    • Dr. McCoyas Dr. McCoy
    William Windom
    William Windom
    • Commodore Deckeras Commodore Decker
    James Doohan
    James Doohan
    • Scottas Scott
    George Takei
    George Takei
    • Suluas Sulu
    Elizabeth Rogers
    Elizabeth Rogers
    • Lt. Palmeras Lt. Palmer
    John Winston
    • Lt. Kyleas Lt. Kyle
    Richard Compton
    • Washburnas Washburn
    John Copage
    • Elliottas Elliott
    Tim Burns
    • Russas Russ
    Jerry Catron
    Jerry Catron
    • Montgomeryas Montgomery
    Bill Blackburn
    • Lt. Hadleyas Lt. Hadley
    • (uncredited)
    Roger Holloway
    • Roger Lemlias Roger Lemli
    • (uncredited)
    Jeannie Malone
    • Yeomanas Yeoman
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Paskey
    Eddie Paskey
    • Lt. Leslieas Lt. Leslie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Marc Daniels
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Norman Spinrad
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James Doohan's favorite episode for its highlighting of the engineering aspects of the Star Trek world.
    • Goofs
      Decker is clearly unfit for command when he takes the Enterprise. When McCoy first finds him, he's in a state of extreme shock and borderline catatonic, and even after McCoy gives him a shot to bring him out of it, he slips in and out of complete hysteria. McCoy would easily be able to prove this should Starfleet make an issue of it, particularly since as CMO, he has the authority to order a physical or psychological examination of any crewman serving on the Enterprise (as Decker now is) at his discretion.
    • Quotes

      Capt. Kirk: Mr. Spock, relieve Commodore Decker immediately. That's a direct order.

      Matt Decker: You can't relieve me and you know it, according to regulations...

      Capt. Kirk: BLAST REGULATIONS! Mr. Spock, I order you to assume command on my personal authority as Captain of the Enterprise.

      Mr. Spock: Commodore Decker, you are relieved of command.

      Matt Decker: I don't recognize your authority to relieve me.

      Mr. Spock: You may file a formal protest with Starfleet Command, assuming we survive to reach a Starbase, but you are relieved. Commodore, I do not wish to place you under arrest.

      Matt Decker: You wouldn't dare.

      [Mr. Spock signals two security guards who immediately step forward at his command]

      Matt Decker: You're bluffing.

      Mr. Spock: Vulcans never bluff.

      Matt Decker: [sadly] No. No, I don't suppose that they do. Very well, Mr. Spock, the bridge is yours.

    • Alternate versions
      Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song. Highlights include Decker's shuttle impatiently taking off before the hangar doors had fully opened.
    • Connections
      Featured in Star Trek: Nemesis Review (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Theme
      Music credited to Alexander Courage

      Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

    User reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Superb Story of Obsession
    One of the other commentators described this story as "Moby Dick" in space, and William Windom makes a hell of an Ahab.

    The Enterprise comes across the remains of the U.S.S. Constellation, whose only survivor is its commanding officer, Commodore Matt Decker (Windom). Kirk learns that the crew of the Constellation, as well as the star system it was patrolling, was the victim of a large, cone-shaped, matter-sucking machine. Decker, overwhelmed with guilt for the loss of his crew and an obsession for vengeance, takes command of the Enterprise (while Kirk is trying to repair the Constellation) and attempts to destroy the machine.

    The key to this episode is Windom's superb performance, which is balanced against Nimoy's (as always) level-headed Spock and Shatner's sympathetic Kirk. The finale is also remarkably suspenseful.
    helpful•23
    3
    • chrstphrtully
    • Jul 7, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • handitv
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Desilu Productions
      • Norway Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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