"Star Trek" Journey to Babel (1967)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

D.C. Fontana (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

17 November 1967 (Season 2, Episode 10)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Enterprise hosts a number of quarrelling diplomats, including Spock's father, but someone on board has murder in mind.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide Pill | Federation | Space | Starship | Computer

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Jane Wyatt	...	Amanda Grayson (as Miss Jane Wyatt)
Mark Lenard	...	Sarek
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
William O'Connell	...	Thelev
Majel Barrett	...	Nurse Chapel
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
John Wheeler	...	Gav
James X. Mitchell	...	Josephs
Reggie Nalder	...	Shras

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

In the first episode ever to feature Spock's parents, actors Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt asked Leonard Nimoy for advice on how the two of them could display their affection for one another in a subtle way since the Vulcans are without emotion since it was Nimoy who had created the Vulcan Neck Pinch and the Vulcan Salute. Nimoy suggested that they touch and stroke each others hands by the index and middle finger.

Goofs:

Continuity: Kirk gets attacked by a knife-wielding Andorran. During the fight, the knife gets knocked out of the Andorran's hand and it falls on the ground to his left. There is a quick change in camera angle and the Andorran is now holding the knife in his right hand.

Quotes:

[first lines]
McCoy: [Captain Kirk is adjusting uniform in mirror, Dr. McCoy pacing behind him, tugging at tight collar] Dress uniforms - spit and polish. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to stand this. I feel like my neck's in a sling.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: New Voyages: To Serve All My Days (#1.2)" (2006)

The Cultural and Political Complexities of Life in the 23rd Century

This excellent Joe Pevney/D.C. Fontana episode introduces Sarek and Amanda - Spock's mother and father - to the Star Trek canon. Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt are two of the best guest stars in TOS, and they not only nail their characters, but help Journey to Babel to flesh out Vulcan psyche - in particular Spock's - more than any previous episode. Veteran character actor William O'Connell also does a nice job as Thelev.

All three of the series' main characters are nicely scripted and well played in this episode, and the only moment at which the directing slips slightly over-dramatized moment just after a fairly wild fight scene between Kirk and Thelev. The cinematography, special effects and editing are all about as good as TOS gets.

The Enterprise is delivering a number of diplomats from various cultures to the neutral planet Babel for a negotiation summit. After an argument with Sarek, one of the delegates turns up murdered by what appears to be a Vulcan martial arts technique. Soon after, Sarek falls ill with a cardio-vascular problem. And Spock, his disassociated son is his only hope for a blood donor. This takes us about 1/3rd of the way through the story..... Things get much worse later on.

Recommended for those generally familiar with TOS, not recommended as an introduction to the series.