Product Details

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan
• Writers: Gene Roddenberry
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
• DVD Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00001MXXS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #79,697 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Television > Classic TV > Star Trek: The Original Series

• For more information about "Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 3 in The Star Trek: The Original Series Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Volume 3 in this terrific DVD library of original Star Trek programs includes "The Man Trap," the first broadcast episode of the Gene Roddenberry series. Though it was not the first story produced for the show, the process was still new enough that contracted writers were obliged to fill in various blanks, develop some of the key characters, and smoothly introduce some of the Trek technology we've come to take for granted. Writer George Clayton Johnson conceived a story in which an old flame of Dr. McCoy's (DeForest Kelley), a woman named Dr. Nancy Carter (Jeanny Bealy), is in need of medical supplies on a planet where she and her husband (Alfred Ryder) are the only humans. "Nancy," however, turns out to be a shape-shifting creature that sucks the salt from the bodies of humanoids. Once it's loose aboard the Enterprise, the "salt vampire" can look like anyone in its pursuit of nourishment.

With McCoy having such a pivotal part in the narrative, Johnson worked with the series' story editor and episode director (Marc Daniels) on fleshing out his underdeveloped character. There were other issues to think about: this premiere show introduced the Enterprise's transporter technology as well as Star Trek's realistic take on scary extraterrestrials. Everyone involved survived the episode, and while it played only to a meager television audience, Trek was off and running for three-plus decades.

Also on this DVD is episode 4, "The Naked Time," in which an alien disease that strips inhibitions from individuals affects the Enterprise crew. Sulu (George Takei) frees the swashbuckler in his soul, Kirk (William Shatner) battles his demons, and a young lieutenant, Riley (Bruce Hyde), serenades the entire starship and steers her toward certain doom. Still early in the proceedings, this episode introduced a psychological aspect that would become a cornerstone for the storytelling on all four Trek series. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only one criticism, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 3: Man Trap/Naked Time (DVD)

I am glad they are putting these out on DVD. My only complaint is the 2 episodes per disc. A lot of people who buy these are going to buy several (or all of them), and a DVD should be able to hold 6-8 episodes (or more?). I would pay more to get them on fewer discs.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where it all began...., May 1, 2000

By	Michael Hickerson (Augusta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 3: Man Trap/Naked Time (DVD)

Back on September 8, 1966, television was forever changed when the first broadcast episode of Star Trek hit the air waves. No one at that time knew that the series would endure for over thirty years, building up a strong, loyal fan base that would serve as the spring board for three new series and a string of successful films.

Looking back, it's interesting to think that Trek started with the rather so-so episode, "The Man Trap." It's the story of McCoy's old love who happens to turn out be a salt vampire. Along the way, we meet several members of the crew and get exposed to what could be described as a day in the life of the starship Enterprise. We also get a snippet of time with all the major players who inhabit the first 12 episodes of the original series.

On the far more enjoyable side is the classic episode (that Next Generation blatantly ripped off in only their second episode) "The Naked Time." The crew is infected by a virus that makes them act as if drunk and brings to the surface emotions and characteristics the crew usually leaves buried. In addition, the ship is spiralling down toward a dying planet and is forced to race against time. "The Naked Time" has it all from character development and moments to a taut, danger ridden plotline to some super music by the master of Trek music, Alexander Courage. It's simply a masterpiece of Star Trek and one that deserves another look. It also features what many consider some of the best acting of the original series--namely in the conflict between Kirk and Spock in the briefing room. And really, it's hard to argue...

My only major complaint with the DVD (and thus what keeps it from five stars) is that Paramount decided to package the episode as the special edition which was shown on the Sci-Fi channel. Paramount decided to mess with the original credits for the first couple of episodes until fan outcry forced them to restore the original version we know and love. However, instead of spending the time to replace the credit, Paramount used the Special Edition opening for "The Man Trap." I know it's nitpicky, but this small "correction" mars an otherwise flawless DVD and takes a bit away from the viewing experience.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "It's a mystery... and I don't like mysteries!", September 19, 2002

By	Zagnorch (Terra, Sol System) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 3: The Man Trap© / The Naked Time©

THE MAN TRAP© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Basic Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject Being Driven Into The Ground: Survival and Extinction; Allowing Nature To Take Its Course

Notable Historical Milestone: Although not the pilot episode, The Man Trap© is the very first Star Trek™ episode to be broadcast over the TV airwaves (September 8, 1966)

Notable Goof/Gaffe: Spock says that Vulcan has no moon in a bridge scene here. But during the kolinahr scene in Star Trek™ The Motion Picture©, there are several moonlike planetoids clearly visible in the Vulcan sky.

Expendable Crewmember (`Red Shirt') Casualty List: 4 Dead (none of whom actually wore a red tunic)

REVIEW & COMMENTARY: Although it's not the first episode in the way of Star Trek's continuity, it does feature the first `red-shirt' death, and McCoy's first utterance of `He's dead, Jim' to be broadcast on the boob tube. The Man Trap© is also notable for showing Star Trek™'s first shape-shifter, a salt-sucking creature that, with the help of telepathic powers, can mimic the appearance and personality of anyone, and blend in. Fortunately, Spock's Vulcan anatomy keeps him from becoming another course on the creature's meal ticket, marking the first use of the "Spock's Non-Human Anatomy Explaining How He Survived and Recovered From Traumas That Would've Killed Ordinary Humans" plot gimmick.

One particular moment that I enjoyed for its silliness is the botany lab scene, featuring a fairly goofy-looking venus-flytrap type plant that has the uncanny resemblance to a hand and forearm covered in green cloth with pink petals on the fingers! Hey, you don't think...? Hmmm...

THE NAKED TIME© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Basic Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject Being Driven Into The Ground: The Hazards Of Losing One's Inhibitions

Notable Historical Milestone: The first episode to be blatantly ripped off by Star Trek: The Next Generation™ (The Naked Now©)

Notable Goof/Gaffe: Actually, the `gaffe' status of this scene has been debated for some time-it's considered a slip-up to some Trekkies, intentional to others. Anyway, here's the deal: Scotty and another engineering officer are using hand phasers to cut through a bulkhead. But the thing is, the neither of the phasers emit a visible beam. Now here's the focus of the debate: Is the beam of a hand phaser set to `cutting' mode actually invisible, or did the effects department forget to animate the beams into the frames during postproduction? Now I know what you're thinkin', and my answer is this: yes, this little quandary really is something that many hardcore UberTrekkies obsess over. Sad, is it not?

Expendable Crewmember (`Red Shirt') Casualty List: 1 Dead

REVIEW & COMMENTARY: A nearly undetectable `booze-bug' that causes people to act like they're intoxicated starts to spread and affect the Enterprise crew. Mister Sulu goes shirtless-- and not just a bit over-the-top-- as he lives out his swashbuckling fantasy of being a member of the Three Musketeers™ (oh my!). Nurse Chapel professes her undying love to Spock, which leads to the half-Vulcan science officer losing control of his emotions and ending up a sobbing mess in the conference room. Captain Kirk is suddenly afraid he's losing his ship. Throw in Mr. Scott's now-famous "I cannot change the laws of physics!" line, a dire situation that the crew get themselves into then miraculously get themselves out of, and a classic bit of sniping between Spock and Dr. McCoy, and you have one of classic Trek's better outings. Oh yeah, let's not forget the discovery of a new method of time travel to top things off! Ya just gotta love the Advanced-Technology (heh) look of the helm's analog chronometer as the hours and minutes roll back during the going-backwards-in-time scene!

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