NEWS              GENERAL    TOS    TAS    TNG    DS9    VOY    ENT    DSC    PIC    LOW    PRO    SNW    ACADEMY    MOVIES    GAMING    
Apr 02, 2025 - [SNW] Watch the STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Teaser Trailer!
Mar 30, 2025 - [HOME] Nacelle Reveals Wave 2 STAR TREK Action Figure Lineup
Mar 30, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY Season 2 Screencaps: "Touch of Grey"
Mar 30, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY Season 2 Screencaps: "Brink"
Mar 29, 2025 - [HOME] Master Replicas, Hiya Toys Launch New STAR TREK Preorders
Mar 29, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS Season 5 on Blu-ray: Review & Giveaway
Mar 28, 2025 - [TOS] Wand Company Tricorder Replica Pricing, Fulfillment Plan Revealed
Mar 27, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Life, Itself"
Mar 24, 2025 - [TOS] TOS Season 2 Screencaps: Remastered Visual Effects
Mar 23, 2025 - [HOME] IDW Unveils Three STAR TREK Comic Miniseries for 2025
Mar 23, 2025 - [TOS] Master Replicas Offers Full-Sized Original Enterprise Plaque
Mar 21, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 214 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Ascension, Part I"
Mar 21, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 215 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Ascension, Part II"
Mar 19, 2025 - [DS9] Video Update: "DS9" Interviews & Behind-the-Scenes
Mar 18, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS S4 Screencaps: "The Inner Fight"
Mar 17, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Lagrange Point"
Mar 16, 2025 - [HOME] WeeklyTrek: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Starts Season 4 Filming
Mar 15, 2025 - [TOS] TOS Season 1 Screencaps: Remastered Visual Effects
Mar 14, 2025 - [TOS] Master Replicas Recreates Original STAR TREK Coffee Cup
Mar 14, 2025 - [HOME] Fundraiser Success - Thanks to You!
Mar 14, 2025 - [DS9] "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Episode Trailers — Season 7
Mar 13, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 213 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Cracked Mirror"
Mar 13, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 212 Blu-ray Screencaps: "A Tribble Called Quest"
Mar 11, 2025 - [DS9] CherryTree Debuts DS9-Inspired Raktajino Mug Replica
Mar 09, 2025 - [HOME] REVIEW: Fanhome's Stargazer and Farragut Models, Plus: Subscriptions Reopen March 10!
Mar 08, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS S4 Screencaps: "Caves"
Mar 08, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Labryinths"
Mar 07, 2025 - [DS9] "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Episode Trailers — 'Final Chapter'
Mar 06, 2025 - [SNW] STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Character Portraits Arrive!
Mar 05, 2025 - [HOME] INTERVIEW: Brian Volk-Weiss on Nacelle's New TREK Action Figures
Episode Behind the Scenes

  TOS NEWS
  TOS EPISODE GUIDE



  BLU-RAY
  S1 SCREENCAPS
  S2 SCREENCAPS
  S3 SCREENCAPS
  S1 REMASTERED FX
  S2 REMASTERED FX
  S3 REMASTERED FX
  BONUS FEATURES
  OPENING CREDITS
  RODDENBERRY VAULT

  OTHER CONTENT
  BEHIND THE SCENES
  ENTERPRISE MODEL
  PUBLICITY PHOTOS
  TOS SET TOUR EXHIBIT
  VHS COVER ARCHIVE

TREKCORE > TOS > EPISODES > THE MENAGERIE, PART I > Behind the Scenes

A conflict in the production schedule required two episodes to be prepared in the time span it would normally take to prepare one. To combat this, Gene Roddenberry used the expensive footage from the unaired pilot and integrated it into this episode.
   
This is the only two-part episode in all of the classic episodes of "Star Trek". No other two-part episodes would air until "Star Trek: The Next Generation's" infamous "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I" and "Best of Both Worlds, Part II".
   
Gene Roddenberry had planned to produce several two-part episodes for "Star Trek" so more money could be spent on an elaborate alien vista for such an episode, but it never materialized.
   
Jeffrey Hunter, who played Captain Pike in "The Cage", was unavailable for this episode (as well as for "Where No Man Has Gone Before"), hence the reason why Captain Pike was scarred and mutilated; so he could be played by another actor.
   
Sean Kenney, who plays the crippled Captain Pike, also portrays the recurring role of Lieutenant DePaul, one of the navigators of the Enterprise.
   
Malachi Throne, who plays Commodore Mendez, would later betray Mr. Spock in the role of Senator Pardek in "Unification, Part II", an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation".
   
Captain Pike's wheelchair has become one of the most identifiable objects from "Star Trek" and has been parodied in a number of other shows, including "Futurama" and, of course, "South Park."
   
Gene Roddenberry had originally named the unaired pilot as "The Menagerie". After this episode was released, and the original pilot made its way around conventions and so forth, fans began referring to it as "The Cage". It eventually became its official title.
   
Dr. Boyce holds a common BIC pen during the briefing room scene.
   
Captain Pike has a television set in his quarters. Lieutenant Tom Paris would eventually have one in his quarters aboard the U.S.S. Voyager in the episode "Memorial" of "Star Trek: Voyager".
   
The only characters to be identified by name in "The Cage" footage are Captain Pike, Mr. Spock, Dr. Boyce (but never as "Dr. Boyce", only as "Phil" and "Boyce"), Vina and Dr. Theodore Haskins. (One could also count Number One if you accept that "Number One" is her actual name.)
   
Captain Jean-Luc Picard would nickname Commander Riker "Number One" on "Star Trek: The Next Generation".
   
Miss Piper mistakenly refers to Helen Noel from "Dagger of the Mind" as "Helen Johansen."
   
Captain Kirk refers to Mr. Spock's rank as being "Lieutenant Commander" (a similar error was made in "Court Martial") despite the fact that Mr. Spock has a full commander's rank insignia.
   
The original "warp-speed" effect from "The Cage" was wisely cut.
   
Won Hugo award for dramatic presentation.
   
In a blooper, when Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy enter Captain Pike's quarters aboard the Enterprise, the doors make the starbase door sound effect instead of the traditional Enterprise "shee-thwop" sound effect.


BACK TO EPISODE LIST, BACK TO THE MENAGERIE, PART I INDEX, Quick Section Links: Behind the Scenes, Captioning Log, Credits, Guests Characters, Quotes, Screencaps, Synopsis, Trivia

 

TrekCore.com is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with Paramount, CBS Studios, Paramount Pictures, or the Star Trek franchise.
All STAR TREK images, trademarks and logos are owned by CBS Studios Inc. and/or Paramount Pictures.
All original TrekCore.com content (c) 2025 Trapezoid Media, LLC. - Terms & Conditions