| Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 56: Spectre Of The Gun | 
 enlarge | Buy New: $24.95
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $2.98
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 8 reviews)
Sales Rank: 29344
Category: Video
Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy
Publisher: CBS Paramount International Television
Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
Manufacturer: CBS Paramount International Television
Label: CBS Paramount International Television
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Hifi Sound, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 46 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6300213609
UPC: 097360005639
EAN: 9786300213609
ASIN: 6300213609
Release Date: April 15, 1994
Theatrical Release Date: September 8, 1966
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
In this taut, exciting episode, the Enterprise trespasses Melkotian space and is punished in a unique fashion. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Scotty (James Doohan), and Chekov (Walter Koenig) are all transported to the planet's eerie surface, where they are trapped in a re-creation of 1881 Tombstone and mistaken for the Clanton brothers, doomed principals in the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral. Despite their efforts to avoid trouble, Kirk and company can't seem to avoid their fateful duel with the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday (Sam Gilman). When Chekov is shot dead by Morgan Earp (Rex Holman), the danger is all too clear. The strange Twilight Zone look and atmosphere of this episode--tumbleweeds and Old West facades popping up in a black void--grips one's imagination and doesn't let go until the very end. Fans of Captain Kirk's street-fighting style will especially enjoy the thrilling climax. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Beat Me Up, Pardner! September 14, 2007
This is a moody 3rd season episode that has a surrealistic quality -- a quality that makes sense in the context of the story. It is not, as some claim, simply an attempt to shoot an episode of "Gunsmoke." After an alien species -- the Melkotians -- say to the Enterprise crew "Go away, we don't want any," they punish the Earthlings by making the bridge crew (Kirk, Spock, and co.) refight the shootout at the OK Corral... apparently to arrange their deaths.
There's an fascinating issue at the heart of this episode: what were the Melkotian's true intentions? By making Kirk, Spock, and co. re-enact the shootout at the OK Corral, were they really arranging their deaths, as claimed? I don't think so.
Instead it seems to me, these aliens, after saying "Please leave us alone, we don't like salesmen (or visitors from other planets)" have two intentions: 1) They want to scare the heck out of Kirk, and 2) This is their way of demonstrating why Earth men are dangerous contaminators. In effect, "You bring too much history of violence with you."
This explains why the death of a crew member is reversible. It underlies the premise of the episode, that as Spock says, "The bullets are not real." Above all, it explains why Kirk's refusal to kill makes such a huge difference to the Melkotians. The biggest criticism of the episode I have is that its ending, after all, repeats the ending of the Gorn episode ("Arena"). But it's such a good ending, why not re-use it??? And something is added to that theme. The Enterprise, though in some ways international, is also representative of America, its strength and weaknesses. For America, it is the Old West that defines our history of violence -- the Civil War, vigilantism, and the run-ins with Indians -- and that is what we have to overcome to be worthy of Galactic Civilization.
Kirk & Co. manage to tick off yet another species November 29, 2004
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Starfleet sends the Enterprise to make contact with the Melkotians "at any cost." There is no reason stated for this urgency, just that no one has recorded contact with them. As they approach Melkotian space, they encounter a probe that communicates with all of them in their own language, telepathically. The telepathic message tells them to turn around and leave because they are tresspassing on Melkotian space - and they are told, "this will be your only warning."
Kirk has no respect for the Melkotian's claim on their space or desire for privacy, and Spock doesn't seem to think there will be any bad consequences. He concedes that he would prefer to be welcomed by them, but absent a welcome, they are going to beam down to the planet armed with phasers.
The Melkotians don't take kindly to this cowboy mentality and promise that they will all die for their actions. Since Kirk was the one in charge, they telepathically get images from his head to choose the pattern of death appropriate for them.
Everything blinks and suddenly, their phasers are gone, replaced by 6-shooters. They find themselves at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, circa 1881. When they try to leave town to avoid conflict, they are met with force fields. It seems inevitable that they will be forced to relive the last day of the doomed Clanton brothers, shot down by the Earps.
When Chekov is killed, they begin to grasp just how real this surreal movie-lot appearing town is. Consequences are real - but they then realize that Chekov, perceived as Billy Clanton by the townsfolk, was the only Clanton to survive the 1881 shootout - so maybe they aren't doomed to repeat history after all. Chekov might be dead, but they don't have to be.
Things would have been a lot simpler if they had just been polite to the Melkotians, respected their rights to privacy and sent them a Hallmark card instead. Fun fighting but the opening premise - pulllllease!
 Surreal set & excellent performances make it one of the best June 23, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A major question that will have to be addressed when humans meet new species will be convincing them that our intentions are indeed peaceful. If the creatures can read our historical records and perhaps our minds, they will find ample evidence that we are not to be trusted. Our history is replete with the callous destruction of each other as well as any species deemed unworthy. Our minds are full of irrational fears, prejudices and impulses to destroy that which we don't immediately understand.
In this episode, the Enterprise is given specific orders to make contact with the Melkotians. As they approach Melkotian space, they encounter a buoy, which issues a warning, telling them that they are not welcome and to immediately leave the area. After noting the warning, they move onward to the Melkotian planet. Once arriving, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and Chekov beam down to the planet, only to find themselves in a fog, which parts to reveal a facsimile of a frontier town.
This is the backdrop to a reenactment of the famous gunfight at the OK corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. In that fight, the Clanton gang fought it out with the three Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. Kirk's party is forced to assume the role of the Clanton gang, which lost the fight. Only one member of the Clanton gang survived the battle, the person whose role is being filled by Chekov.
Despite everything they do to avoid it, the "Clanton gang" is clearly being forced into a fight that they feel they cannot win. However, when Chekov is "killed" by Morgan Earp, Kirk and company realize that the results are not pre-ordained. However, when they try to build a device to render the Earp gang unconscious, Spock realizes that there is a solution that does not involve killing the members of the Earp gang. He understands that what they are doing is not real, so if they truly believe that the bullets from the Earp gang are not real, then they will not be harmed. They manage to win the fight without "killing", which impresses the Melkotians, and they allow the Enterprise to continue and make contact.
This episode is superb, both in the premises of the story and the execution. The choice of a scenario from Earth's violent past (and Kirk's mind) is an excellent test of the true nature of the humans who desire the contact. All of the members of the Earp gang play their roles very well. Their muted, yet clearly violent hostility towards the "Clantons" is very well done. I consider it some of the best acting by guest stars in the series. The surreal aspects of the set and the other supporting members of the episode all combine to create just the right atmosphere for a test of what the human species really is capable of doing and avoiding. It is one of the better episodes in the original series.
Welcome to season three September 23, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Spectre of the Gun was the first third season episode to be produced, and one need watch no more than the teaser to sense that the show would have a very different feel during the 1968-1969 season. First off, those shiny, synthetic-looking uniforms that replaced the corderoys of the first two seasons. A minor point, yes, but perhaps a metaphor for other changes. The third season shows have a slick quality about them, an emphasis of style over substance. There is a sense that everyone is somehow in the know, no longer willing to invest themselves in the simple morality tales so common in the first season. This process was certainly well underway by the midpoint of season 2, when we began to see action (and high camp in the seminal case of I, Mudd) episodes that were light, devoid of moralizing, and somewhat tongue in cheek. By the third season, it could no longer be reigned in. Gone was the moral foundation of the show, but also gone was the feeling that the actors were having fun. What's left is highly formalized episodes. It should be added though that stylistically season was 3 was by far the most developed season. Musically, scores became more florid and psychadelic, unusual camera angles and cuts became more common, and character' actions became less predictable. I for one enjoy the fluidity, trippyness, and dark tone of the third season. I know I'm in the minority (to say the least) here though. But this is supposed to be a review of Spectre of the Gun, in which the crew are forced to participate in the events leading up to the gunfight at the OK Corral. Overall this is a pretty good episode, with more action than most 3rd season shows. Better though is the fact that this episode is very atmospheric, with a stong score, wind, and effects contributing to the sense of unreality and futility. But this too is an illusion. We end with the positive message that the crew were tested, and found worthy, for not killing. They are not judged on the basis of wanting to kill, but rather for not killing (although upon scrutiny even this worthiness is undermined somewhat by the fact that at that point the crew knows the Earps are unreal). This episode doesn't hammer the moral theme as earlier seasons did. Surprising is the extent to which the crew must focus on their own survival, even to the extent of accepting demeaning abuse the Earps. This episode has it's flaws though. Most notably, only Kirk seems phases by Chekov's death; of course the others were no doubt constrained by the new production team.
Galactic Cowboy August 19, 2002
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Earps VS. Kirk's crewIn this one we get one of those surreal budget crunched episodes. That's one where the producers can't afford any lavish sets and costumes so the script has to center on something cheap to produce. The story is about Kirk and co. being taken to another dimension to fight the Earps. It's all an illusion by some other worldly being who wants to study humanity. How many times have we seen that plot? It's a good episode and we get to see Kirk in a moment where he's thinking "What if their guns aren't an illusion?" .
For all it's worth, it's better than most of the third season material. At least we get to see a few moments of drama and dialogue between the crew. Kirk is in top form in this one. We get to see him handle his command knowledge in a cowboy western environment.
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