‘Tis the season to be a Star Trek fan. JJ Abrams’ blockbuster Star Trek reboot just hit DVD. And on Dec. 15, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will release season three of Star Trek: The Original Series on Blu-ray. One of the extras includes a piece of pretty sweet Trek arcana that hard-core Trekkers/Trekkies (pick whichever one offends you the least) are going to eat up.
As almost everyone knows, each episode of Star Trek began with William Shatner’s James T. Kirk intoning the memorable preamble:
Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before…
As it happens, however, a rare, alternate version of Trek’s pilot episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (actually the second pilot that was shot for Trek… oh, but that’s another story), began with a different opening monologue. Wanna see it, like, right now? Here you go:
For those who want a transcript:
Enterprise log, Captain James Kirk commanding. We are leaving that vast cloud of stars and planets which we call our galaxy. Behind us, Earth, Mars, Venus, even our sun are specks of dust. A question: What is out there in the black void beyond? Until now, our mission has been that of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task. A probe out into where no man has gone before.
Definitely more verbose—and a little harder to memorize. And “a probe out into where no man has gone before” is a real clunker. “Probe”? Seriously? Still, I like the strong existenstial vibe of “What is out there in the black void beyond?”
Sounds like the DVD is a must buy for Trekophiles. What do you think about the rival openings? Which one do you like better? Do you think the original series would have more or less inviting with the alternate preamble? Post your thoughts below.
Comments (1-15) of 17 Add your comment
Absolutely cool!
It tempted me to actually commit to Blu-Ray, something I’ve resisted. But with the remastered series already available in regular DVD format, I’ll wait for this version to slide down to the regular format.
All we need now is a Star Trek Vs. Friday The 13th crossover comic.
More like Jason is found on the SS Botany Bay instead of Khan in Space Seed.
There is a Star Trek Fan Film makes me think of Friday the 13th, vis: Star Trek, A New Beginning http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/89.html
This isn’t an alternative opening, its basically the start of an episode without a formal opening, probably another thing DesiLu requested be changed before any episodes were bought.
I saw this version at a Trek convention in Baltimore years ago. I’ve always wondered why it was never released on DVD. It’s great it’s happening now.
Any relation[ship]?
Another hidden pilot? Did they find this in Majels addict with all the lost scripts??
I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me the “transcript” doesn’t match the clip. The first two sentences are the same, but the rest is different!
Did anyone notice that the video doesn’t match the “transcript”?
Whenever I go to a bookstore, I always stick a copy of “Dating for Dummies” in the Star Trek section…
I think it is great. It would not have worked as well as the opening we are used to. But what would have become of what I believe to be the greatest TV program of all time.
This was on alphaairlock.com last week.
Did someone at EW screw up? They have a long transcript of the alternative opening but only the first two sentences are actually heard in the clip.
Whatever. It’s clear the opening as they had it is way better.
I’ve had this version on bootleg VHS for years. The transcript is correct, they clip is just annoyingly short.