I know I sound like a broken record, but it has been a hard week and I am glad it is Friday again!
If you are looking for something to celebrate this weekend, Sunday is the 53rd anniversary of the television debut of Star Trek in 1966. In “The Man Trap” episode, the crew visit an outpost to conduct medical exams on the residents, only to be attacked by a shapeshifting alien creature seeking to extract salt from their bodies.
Well, I’m always ready to toast these guys.
“The Man Trap” placed first in its timeslot, with Nielsen ratings of 25.2 during the first half-hour; some 46.7 percent of all televisions in use at the time were tuned in to the episode. I was in the fifth grade and I remember watching with my older brother who was in the 10th grade. I’m sure we thought it was pretty hokey (because it was), but we kept tuning in, didn’t we?
Please note that there is a big celebration planned for Dolly Parton’s 50th Anniversary of being an Opry Member. There’s going to be a week-long celebration of Dolly’s “impact on music and the Opry,” all leading up to her 50th anniversary performance on the Opry stage on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Unfortunately, I will have to pass on this, but it sounds like a real good time to me!
I have been readings essays by E.B. White this week and he was a big one for noticing the little things…the changing of seasons and the goings on of the flora and fauna around him. It is a good reminder of the old lesson to pay attention. Summer is coming to an end here in flyover country, although the temperatures are still pretty balmy. It’s getting dark earlier, but still the cacophony of lawnmowers and weed-whackers fills the air on a constant basis. Whenever I lay my head down for one of my frequent naps, the sound of a lawnmower revving up is sure to follow. It never fails.
Yesterday William Shatner turned 86, but according to the NYTimes, James Tiberius Kirk won’t be born for another 216 years. Fun fact: there is an actual plaque in the town in Iowa where, according to Star Trek trivia experts, he will be born.
Well, well.
The OM and I were recently watching some old Star Trek episodes from the first season of the original show. I was struck by several things.
1.William Shatner was really quelle handsome and very appealing. He was, indeed, dreamy…and smart! Basically he is the whole show.
2. Everything else is terrible–from the cardboard sets to the sexist costumes to the ridiculous hairdos. Everyone else’s acting is terrible and the writing is (mostly) preposterous.
3. However, the show is engaging and fun to watch.
This is not logical. I have to conclude that the success of the show is entirely due to William Shatner.
So here’s to giving credit where credit is due. Hats off and happy (belated) birthday to William Shatner! May you live long and prosper.
The woman in this painting looks comfortable, doesn’t she? Reading under an umbrella at the beach. Lovely. It was very hot this weekend in my flyover town and I could have used a beach, but there is no beach nearby. I had to make do with an air conditioned house. Not complaining.
I was working on my DIY project anyway. I developed blisters on my hand and had to stop. You might think this is because I was working so hard, but really I am just a wimp.
I finished the Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) mystery which I enjoyed. I hope she writes more with Private Detective Cormoran Strike. I started in on John Cheever stories. I am not a big fan of short stories. They are always a little too creepy and clever. Cheever’s are no exception, but he is a good writer.
I went to evensong with the boy to see his old pal Michael preach–his first homily since getting the green light for divinity school.
The boy and his old chorister buddies (head proctor, middle, and chaplain, right, at the RSCM camp)
The chaplain’s grandmother told me that she thinks we should all rent a bus and travel to NYC together when he is ordained. I was like, for sure, great idea! I can picture it now: the bus pulls up in front of St. Bart’s and all Michael’s flyover friends and family spill out on to Park Avenue! I am so ready.
I watched several movies including Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) wherein Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) et al go on “a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.”
My expectations were low, so I enjoyed it. Personally I think they should make a whole movie about Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) who definitely did not get enough face time in this voyage of the starship Enterprise.
I also watched an old favorite of mine, Proud Rebel (1958), which deeply affected me as child.
Alan Ladd plays a former Confederate who is searching for a doctor who can help his son who is mute as a result of a traumatic event during the Civil War. His son is played by his real-life son David Ladd and they make a likable and attractive duo. Wonderful Olivia de Haviland plays the woman who helps them and gives them a place to live and falls in love with both of them. The supporting players are good and it is well directed by the great Michael Curtiz. The music is even by Jerome Moross! It is a good movie that has a lot going for it. If only Alan Ladd weren’t as stiff as a board! If only he could muster an iota of romantic interest in Olivia’s character! If only he could act! It has everything going for it–even a smart and loyal dog–except for a leading man who is up to the part. There are many reminders of Shane in this film–from the boy to the bad guys–but one of the reasons I suppose Shane works is that the title character (as played by Ladd) endeavors heroically not to show his feelings for Mrs. Starrett. Alan Ladd is good at not showing his feelings.
And what did we learn here? That Alan Ladd could have played Spock? Discuss among yourselves.
The other day the boy happened to mention to me that the Star Trek movies are now available on Netflix to watch instantly. He had watched Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982), one of our favorites.
Later that evening when challenged with the persistent “What to watch” question, I thought, “Wrath of Khan!” (Have I mentioned how much I love Watch Instantly?)
I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this outing of the Starship Enterprise. In reality it is the best of a very mediocre series, but we always make allowances for the campy/cheesy Star Trek franchise, because why not admit it, we love James T. Kirk as portrayed by the one and only William Shatner. It reminds me of my childhood, watching the original show with my older brother. I think even as a fourth grader I knew it was cheesy–the cardboard sets, the plaster of Paris planets, the ridiculous hair and makeup on all the busty women on the show, the pajama-like uniforms. But there were characters, real characters. They were not cardboard.
The Wrath of Khan includes all our favorite characters, played by the original (albeit aging and not very attractive) actors. It also boasts Ricardo Montalban in his best role, the Melville-quoting and Ahab-channeling Khan. The film also introduces a trim Kirstie Alley as a Vulcan. The plot is engaging: “It is the twenty-third century. Admiral James T. Kirk is feeling old; the prospect of accompanying his old ship, the Enterprise–now a Starfleet Academy training ship–on a two-week cadet cruise is not making him feel any younger. But the training cruise becomes a deadly serious mission when Khan Noonien Singh appears after years of exile–and holding the power of creation itself.” (IMDB.com)
Following up on an episode from the original series which dealt with Khan (also played by Matalban in a wig)–a product of late-20th century genetic engineering. Fifteen years later, Khan, now sporting a graying fright wig and prosthetic chest, is bent on revenge.
This is a perfect set-up for all the Star Trek bells and whistles. But unlike more current movies, it is not totally focused on computer-generated battles (although there is some of that), but rather on the thought processes of our dueling brainiacs. This is good stuff. Plus there is good dialogue, including the usual repartee between McCoy and Spock:
McCoy: Dear Lord. You think we’re intelligent enough to… suppose… what if this thing were used where life already exists?
Spock: It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix.
McCoy: Its “new matrix”? Do you have any idea what you’re saying?
Spock: I was not attempting to evaluate its moral implications, Doctor. As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.
McCoy: Not anymore; now we can do both at the same time! According to myth, the Earth was created in six days. Now, watch out! Here comes Genesis! We’ll do it for you in six minutes!
Spock: Really, Dr. McCoy. You must learn to govern your passions; they will be your undoing. Logic suggests…
McCoy: Logic? My God, the man’s talking about logic; we’re talking about universal Armageddon! You green-blooded, inhuman…
And there is, of course, Khan quoting Melville:
To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!
There is also the underlying theme of Kirk’s feeling old. Dr. McCoy chides him about it: “Damn it Jim, what the hell is the matter with you? Other people have birthdays, why are we treating yours like a funeral?” Perhaps watching this movie now with the perspective of a fifty-something-year-old, I can relate more now than ever with our hero. He is struggling and kind of sad and this makes him, I think, all the more appealing.
Anyway, Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan is my pick for a Friday funfest. I will admit that I also watched Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) this week, which is pretty darn bad–but also enjoyable on a certain level. And, you know, sometimes, you are just in the mood for Star Trek and not Citizen Kane. Am I not right?
And as if I could do a blog post about this movie without including THIS:
So here’s to giving credit where credit is due. Hats off and happy (belated) birthday to William Shatner! May you live long and prosper.
dual personalities 