TREKCORE > TOS > EPISODES > THE MENAGERIE, PART II> 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.)
	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.
	The ending of the Talosian transmission differs from actual events. In "The Cage", when Captain Pike asks The Keeper if he'll give Vina back her illusion of beauty, The Keeper nods yes and also gives her an illusion of Captain Pike to take back down to the Talosian community. In the transmission the Talosians send, Vina is just seen restored to beauty.
	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