Star Trek: "Catspaw"

Premiered October 27, 1967

McCoy: Three witches ... what appears to be a castle, and a black cat.
Kirk:  If we weren't missing two officers and a third one dead, I'd say someone was playing an elaborate trick-or-treat on us. 
Spock:  Trick or treat, captain? 
Kirk:  Yes, Mr. Spock.  You'd be a natural.

The starship Enterprise is orbiting a planet.  A landing party has not checked in, this worries the ship's captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).  A crewman named Jackson beams up from the planet and dies upon arrival.  An eerie voice emanates from Jackson's mouth, telling the captain that the entire crew of the Enterprise will die if they don't turn back.

Kirk departs for the planet's surface to investigate the matter.  He's accompanied by Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelly).

Kirk and the others detect no lifeforms on the planet, but suddenly, three witches appear in front of them, telling the men to turn back and "remember the curse!"  Spock determines that the witches aren't real, so they proceed, eventually discovering a castle.

Upon entering the castle, they encounter a black cat wearing a crystal pendant.  They follow the cat, but the floor collapses underneath them and our heroes are knocked out due to the fall.  When they come to, they find themselves in irons in a spooky dungeon complete with skeleton.

"Bones?  Doc?"

Missing crew members Scotty (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei) appear.  They're alive, but somewhat zombiefied, apparently under the control of some outside force.    Kirk, Spock and McCoy try to snap their friends out of their catatonic state, but find themselves teleported to another room in the castle where they meet a man in mysterious wizard robes calling himself Korob (Theodore Marcuse) and see the black cat again.

The wizard appears to consult the cat for advice and then admits that he is not native to this world in response to Spock's questions.  Korob then attempts to ply our heroes with food, drink and gems -- all to get them to leave and not ask any questions. 

Kirk informs the wizard that he's done his research badly if he thinks they will leave without getting to the bottom of things.   Korob changes his tune and says that he wanted to test the crew and that they've proven themselves to be loyal, brave and incorruptible.

Sylvia performs some sympathetic magic on the Enterprise

The black cat leaves the room and shortly thereafter an alluring sorceress calling herself Sylvia (Antoinette Bower) appears.  She is wearing a pendant identical to the one worn by the cat. When Kirk demands that his men be released, she dangles a miniature of the Enterprise above a lit candle, and the crew on the ship reports a rapid inexplicable rise in hull temperature!  Kirk reluctantly agrees to cooperate to save his crew.

Sylvia finds that she likes these new (to her) human sensations,  but her tastes seem to trend a bit toward the sadistic and beyond the bounds of the original mission.  She and Korob argue about this.

Sylvia takes an interest in Kirk and tells him that she and Korob are visitors from another galaxy.

They can read and control human minds using something called a transmuter.   She then realizes that Kirk has been using her to get information and transforms herself into a giant cat. 

Hell hath no fury ... 

Will Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise survive this Halloween encounter?

RigbyMel says:

Even though it's not one of the best in the original series, "Catspaw" is a fun episode of Star Trek.  I've heard quite a few people try to fault Star Trek: TOS on its relatively low-tech and definitely low budget special effects, but I think they're part of what makes the series extra fun in general.  The story for "Catspaw" takes some abrupt turns which make it not quite as great as it could have been, but it's still quite enjoyable.

I really quite like the way the aliens of the week tap into the human collective unconscious in an attempt to frighten the Enterprise crew -- that's one of the important elements of Halloween, after all, isn't it?  Additionally, Korob and Sylvia have donned costumes in celebration of the spookiest of human holidays.

Korob and Sylvia in their natural forms ... that of somewhat unconvincing marionettes! 

The title of the episode "Catspaw" refers to a person used unwittingly or unwillingly by another and is a reference to a La Fontaine fairy tale.   Scotty and Sulu are used as catspaws to lure more crew members to the planet.    Moreover the transmuter serves as sort of a pseudo-scientific technological catspaw that allows Korob and Sylvia to attempt to bend the Enterprise crew to their will.

This episode was written by Robert Bloch who also wrote the novel upon which the classic horror film Psycho was based.  In addition to writing a couple of other episodes of Star Trek: TOS,  Bloch was a big fan of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and also contributed to various pulp magazines such as Weird Tales.

Robert Bloch

This episode is also notable because it marks the first filmed appearance of Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) -- they hadn't quite gotten his hair right.  The episode was the first one shot for season 2, but did not air until around Halloween in 1967.

Observe Chekov's rather over-the-top wig on the left! 

I remember watching this episode with fascination when I was eight or nine and it was being shown in re-runs.   Little me found it fun/creepy and older/wiser me still enjoys it.

If you're a fan of Star Trek: TOS and Halloween hi-jinks,  "Catspaw" is definitely a good addition to your spooky seasonal viewing!

RigbyMel's rating:

3 jack o lanterns

J.A. Morris says:

I'll note that Catspaw does NOT take place during Halloween.  However, the fact it was intentionally aired on NBC close to All Hallows' Eve and contains lots of skeletons, witches and black cats (plus multiple mentions of trick-or-treating), it was obviously intended to be a holiday episode.

 

I've been a fan of Star Trek for as long as I can recall.  This is basically a typical "Enterprise encounters alien of the week" episode...with the addition of Halloween trappings.  It's a fun episode and it's become part of my seasonal viewing.

"Catspaw" featured the final appearance of the character DeSalle, the Enterprise's assistant engineer.  It's the third appearance of the character and the only time DeSalle gets to sit in the captain's chair.  Shortly after this episode, Michael Barrier, who played DeSalle quit acting a became a lawyer for the U.S. Coast Guard. 

DeSalle takes command of Enterprise.

"Catspaw" is lots of fun and should be added to the list of Halloween viewing for every Trekker and will likely be enjoyed by everyone who enjoys Halloween episodes.

J.A. Morris' rating:

3 jack o' lanterns.

The Halloween Tree

As today (November 1st) is the Day of the Dead, a time for remembering those who have passed away, we would like to remember great American writer Ray Bradbury (who died on June 5, 2012) with a review of a special that was based on one of his stories.

Premiered October 30, 1993

Wally, Ralph, Tom and Jenny in their costumes

Four kids in a small mid-western town meet up on Halloween.  Each is dressed as a Halloween archetype: Tom Skelton is dressed as a skeleton, Jenny as a witch, Ralph as a mummy and Wally as a (Quasimodo-esque) monster.  They plan to meet up with their friend Tom "Pip" Pipkin -- " Pipkin who could yell louder, sing better, and eat more popcorn. Pip, the greatest boy who ever lived."  Pip's favorite holiday is Halloween, so they are shocked when he doesn't meet up with them at the appointed time.

The kids look for Pip but can't find him

They think it must be Pip playing a Halloween trick on them, so they go to his house and find that there are no Halloween decorations out and that Pipkin is being loaded into an ambulance.  Pip left his friends a note saying he has appendicitis and asks them to start Halloween without him. He says he'll catch up to them.

Pip being loaded into the ambulance

Worried about their friend and unwilling to start the Halloween fun without him, the kids decide to run to the hospital, taking a short cut through the forest.  Suddenly, they see Pip running in front of them through the ravine.  Again, they wonder if Pip is playing some sort of Halloween prank.  Wally thinks he can see right through Pip, but the others brush this suggestion off as impossible.  The kids chase after Pipkin and stumble on a creepy, old mansion at the edge of the woods.

 Since this seems to be where Pip has been leading them, the children knock on the door which opens by itself and they are suddenly sucked into the interior of the house.   There they meet the mysterious Mr. Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud (Leonard Nimoy).

Moundshroud is disappointed that the children don't know the symbolic significance of their costumes or why Halloween is even celebrated.

Ghostly Pip startles Wally

 Pip's spirit is then seen running through the house and climbing up an amazing gnarled old tree that is decorated with jack o'lanterns.

The Halloween Tree

 Pip seizes a jack o'lantern that bears a striking resemblance to himself and flies away with it.   Mr. Moundshroud is upset at the theft of his "property" and sets off to track Pipkin down.   Tom and the others ask to be allowed to accompany him and help their friend.   Moundshroud initially refuses because of the kids' lack of knowledge about Halloween, but relents.  He says they'll make a game of it and hopefully solve three mysteries by the end of the night -- bringing Pip back, learning about why their costumes are significant and exploring the origins of Halloween.

The October Kite

Moundshroud creates an October kite with the help of the four children using old circus posters from the side of a dilapidated barn (the children serve as the kite's tail) and they begin a magical journey that spans 4,000 years in pursuit of Pipkin's wandering spirit.

As they travel to Halloweens past,  they learn about the origins of the holiday and their costumes.

Spirits of Ancient Egypt

They visit ancient Egypt and learn about mummification and celebrations for the dead there.

They witness rituals of Celtic Druids and learn of the origins of witches in old England.

Moundshroud helps build Notre Dame

 They travel to the unfinished Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (and finish it themselves in minutes, with a little magical assistance from Moundshroud) and learn of the use of monstrous gargoyles to ward off evil.

The kids riding on gargoyles

 Finally, they wend their way to Mexico where they learn of the Day of the Dead celebrations there featuring sugar skulls and overcoming the fear of death.

Do the children catch up with Pip and rescue his wandering spirit?  Will Moundshroud get his jack o'lantern back?  Will the three mysteries of the evening be solved?   You'll have to watch this special to find out!

RigbyMel says:

This special is based upon Bradbury's 1972 fantasy novel for kids, also called The Halloween Tree and Ray Bradbury himself wrote the screenplay and serves as narrator.   In my estimation, this is a huge plus for this special, and evidently it was a plus for Emmy voters as well as this feature length adaptation won the Emmy for "Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program" in 1994.

Although the Halloween history aspect of the special (and the book) is a little bit compressed and simplified, the story does serve as a good introduction to the subject for kids.   Moreover, the imagery of the narration is amazing (as one might expect from Ray Bradbury) -- Moundshroud's house is described as looking "as if it had been cut out of black marble with so many chimneys the roof seemed a vast cemetery" and the imagery accompanying it is note perfect.

Sometimes celebrity voice appearances in cartoons can be distracting,  but Leonard Nimoy does a fine character voice as Moundshroud.

As a person who loves Halloween and history and language,  I found this special (and the book upon which it is based) to be quite a lot of fun.    

RigbyMel's rating:
3 and 1/2 Jack O'Lanterns

J.A. Morris says:
A very good adaptation of a great children's book.  I'm in general agreement with RigbyMel about this special.  I'll second what she said about Nimoy.  He does a great job here, he never sounds like Spock.

 If I have any problems with The Halloween Tree, it's that the characters aren't very defined.  Like the costumes they wear, Tom, Wally, Jenny and Ralph are sort of archetypes.  And considering that the special was made in the 1990s, it would have been nice to see a little more diversity in the cast.  In the book, all the characters are boys, so at least they added Jenny to the mix.  But the special somewhat makes up for that with the explorations of other cultures.

Trick or treaters.

 The Halloween Tree was recently released on dvd as part of the Warner Archive Collection.  So in order to see it, you may have to buy it.  So I recommend you read the book first to decide if you want to get the dvd. 

Jenny jumps a hedge in her witch costume.

This special is recommended and its release on dvd serves as a nice tribute to a fantastic author. 

J.A. Morris' rating:

3 and 1/2 Jack O'Lanterns