"Star Trek" The Apple (1967)

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Max Ehrlich (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

13 October 1967 (Season 2, Episode 5)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Kirk and a landing party beam down to what seems to be an ideal, Eden-like planet. They soon find however...

Plot Keywords:

Federation | Space | Starship | Computer | Vulcan

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Keith Andes	...	Akuta
Celeste Yarnall	...	Yeoman Martha Landon
James Doohan	...	Scott
David Soul	...	Makora
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
Jay D. Jones	...	Ensign Mallory (as Jay Jones)
Jerry Daniels	...	Marple
John Winston	...	Lt. Kyle
Mal Friedman	...	Hendorff
Shari Nims	...	Sayana

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:

This episode contains confirmation of a much-speculated upon topic: whether the Enterprise could separate the Engineering section and warp nacelles from the primary vessel. Mentioned in Kirk and Scotty's conversation by communicator, shortly after Kirk beams down to the planet with an away team, and Scotty takes a seat in the captain's chair on the bridge.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ground-level shots of the planet show a red-orange sky, yet clouds are shown forming in a bright blue sky.

Quotes:

Capt. Kirk: Trying to get yourself killed, do you know how much Starfleet has invested in you?
Spock: 122,200...
Capt. Kirk: [interrupting] Never mind!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Laserblast (#8.6)" (1996)

Same show, different day

As much as I hate to rate an episode of TOS poorly, there is really very little to recommend The Apple. The plot is yet another version of Patterns of Force, Return of the Archons, Shore Leave. The chief conflict is between an Enterprise landing party and the local God, Vaal (a supercomputer which runs the planet on which the party has landed). Inexplicably, explosive rocks, targeted lightning, and killer plants also inhabit this planet. Of course, the humanoid population are a group of large young-looking, white haired, orange skinned, immortals who are literally and figuratively the children of Vaal.

Redshirts die in new and original ways. Scotty gets fired. And writer Max Ehrlich also provides some of the strangest and least appropriate attempts at humor TOS ever had. One thing that does come across well in the mediocre script is the desperation and indecision of the landing party. Unfortunately, at times, Kirk become uncharacteristically whiney.

Joe Pevney's direction for this episode is decidedly pedestrian. Surprising given Pevney's track record (director of the great Trouble with Tribbles, Devil in the Dark, Amok Time, Wolf in the Fold, etc), and the budgetary limits on the sets, props and effects are very apparent.

Avoid unless you are a fan.