"Star Trek" The City on the Edge of Forever (1967)

User Rating:

9.3/10   

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Harlan Ellison (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

6 April 1967 (Season 1, Episode 28)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

When a temporarily maddened Dr. McCoy alters history and eliminates his time, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent it, but the price to do so is high.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Classic | Time Travel | Federation | Space

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Joan Collins	...	Sister Edith Keeler
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scott
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
John Harmon	...	Rodent
Hal Baylor	...	Policeman
David L. Ross	...	Galloway
John Winston	...	Transporter Chief
Bart La Rue	...	Guardian (voice) (as Bartell La Rue)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage)

Runtime:

50 min | Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

Harlan Ellison's original story had the time portal manned by people who were the real guardians of time, rather than a machine entity.

Goofs:

Continuity: The makeup on DeForest Kelley (Bones) switches between light and heavy from scene to scene.

Quotes:

Capt. Kirk: "Let me help." A hundred years or so from now, I believe, a famous novelist will write a classic using that theme. He'll recommend those three words over "I love you."

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Red Dwarf: Tikka to Ride (#7.1)" (1997)

One of science fiction TV's finest moments (so far)

Before you read any review of this, you should check out 'a l i e n's review - it's the one with the highest vote count, and it's entitled Ellison. This user does a very nice job of explaining Harlan Ellison's various issues with the way the script was handled.

City on the Edge of Forever is a truly remarkable episode of Star Trek's original series. Written by now-veteran sci fi author Harlan Ellison (with help from Roddenberry and his writing team), and directed by one of the original series' most consistently excellent directors - Joseph Pevney - COEF begins with the Enterprise being bombarded by meteors and Sulu knocked unconscious. McCoy injects him with cordrazine and he is fine, but then McCoy falls on the needle and is injected with an overdose. Deranged, McCoy beams down to a nearby planet and the bridge crew follows shortly thereafter.

The rest of the story involves time travel, a bit of romance and some great acting and directing. Kelley, Shatner, Nimoy and guest star Joan Collins give remarkable performances, and bring this fine story to life in a touchingly dramatic and satisfyingly logical manner.

If you want to get somebody hooked on ST, this is a great place to start.