Product Details

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan
• Directors: Joseph Sargent
• Writers: Gene Roddenberry, Jerry Sohl
• Producers: Gene Roddenberry, John D.F. Black, Robert H. Justman
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1994
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300213072
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,080 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While exploring an uncharted region of the galaxy, the Enterprise encounters a cube-shaped alien probe (a predecessor of Borg vessels?) that Kirk promptly destroys. That action brings the wrath of a spaceship called the Fesarius, which locks the Enterprise in a tractor beam from which it can't escape. The show is perhaps best known for something of a surprise ending when the "captain" of the Fesarius (played by Clint Howard, brother of Ron and child star of TV's Gentle Ben) is revealed. Directed by Joseph Sargent (Colossus: The Forbin Project). --Tom Keogh

From the Back Cover

While on a star-charting mission, the Enterprise encounters a radioactive cube. When Kirk is forced to destroy it, an enormous ship appears, commanded by the ominous Balok.

TREK TRIVIA
Clint Howard (the "baby Balok) later starred in Rock 'N' Roll High School and is the younger brother of actor-director Ron Howard.
The voice of the "baby" Balok was provided by Vic Perrin, the "control" voice of TV's The Outer Limits. The voice of the Balok puppet was supplied by actor Ted Cassidy, best remembered as Lurch from The Addams Family TV series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It all boils down to a kid and grapefruit juice, April 24, 2002

By 

Johny Bottom "Insane and lonely guitarist" (Jacksonville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 3: The Corbomite Maneuver [VHS] (VHS Tape)

You know after a Star Trek episode, during the credits they show stills from other episodes? The last one is the goofy alien head that looks like someone suddenly and surprisingly placed a cold hand on it's privates and told him to cough? Well this is the episode! The 'Carbinite' Move reminded me of Plan 9 from Outer Space and the 'Solarbinite' bomb.

This spinning pyramid in space is enclosing the Enterprise in a web and will destroy it. When Spock sees no way out he mutters 'Checkmate'.

"No Mr. Spock.......not chess......poker".

Well the menacing alien is a puppet used by the real alien. You remember the former child star from Gentle Ben? He grew up to be an actor of sorts. Fellow child actor Ron Howard always throws him a bone in his movies. Anyway the alien looks just like this kid. So SPock, Kirk, and the freaky looking kid have some grapefruit juice and all is well. Rock on Spock.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Not chess, Spock. Poker. You know the game?", October 28, 2003

By 

Steven Y. "Pop Culture Addict" (Marvel Universe 616) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 3: The Corbomite Maneuver [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Yep, this is the episode that featured that rubber alien that often was the last image you saw during that slide show that accompanied the end credits. This was also the episode that featured that giant beehive in space. And who can forget Tranya? Aaahhh . . . delicious and invigorating Tranya. Yet, despite these dubious distinctions, "The Corbomite Maneuver" is actually a half-way decent episode.

The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a strange cube in space and destroys it in order to pass. The cube's destruction attracts the attention of the I.S.S. Fesarius. Upon making contact with the gigantic ship, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is confronted by a threatening alien who calls himself Balok. Balok threatens the Enterprise with destruction for its hostile actions. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Kirk bluffs his way to victory by telling the Fesarius that the destruction of his ship will guarantee Balok's end also. Soon Balok's true identity is revealed to Kirk when he beams over to the Fesarius. It turns out he really is only a child-sized humanoid (Clint Howard) and that the threatening alien seen on the viewscreen was a mock-up. An exchange program is suggested to Kirk and Lt. Bailey (Anthony Call) is chosen to be the lucky crew member who will get to spend the foreseeable future hunched over within the corridors of the Fesarius.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" is the ultimate bipolar Star Trek episode. It starts off with the Enterprise in dire peril and ends up with Kirk attending a cocktail party trading laughs with the being who had earlier threatened him. And the strange thing is that it works! There is true suspense in the confrontation scenes. There is true gumption in Kirk's gambling. And there is true amusement in seeing a young Clint Howard guffaw it up while serving drinks. How can you not like an episode that gets goofier and goofier as it goes along? "The Corbomite Maneuver" is not one of the deeper episodes of the original series' run, but it is one of the more amusing ones. Another round of Tranya bartender!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential for Star Trek fans, November 7, 2001

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 3: The Corbomite Maneuver [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A mysterious alien named Balok accuses the Enterprise of trespassing, so now Captain Kirk and his crew must try and find a way to outwit this alien being who keeps blocking the ship's path by means of a cubic object and other forms.

After watching the whole episode of "The Corbomite Maneuver," it was hard for me to believe that it was only the third episode of the classic series named Star Trek. It has good acting, an interesting plot, great special effects (for the time), and one of the coolest-looking enemies. To top it all off, be on the lookout for a big surprise at the end of the episode.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" in my opinion, is a good all-around episode. It has its moments of suspense, conflict between the crew members, some good lines, and even a lighthearted part or two. If you like Star Trek The Original Series, I definitely recommend getting "The Corbomite Maneuver."