@@lenblack1462 we're not allowed to forget William Windom. Decker was probably the only performance to surpass Daystrom if any character had. Even the charismatic Ricardo Montalbán Khan Noonian Singh can't match this one or Decker, but he came close.
Second greatest guest performance of the entire series, only topped by the great William Windom as Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine", where an Emmy was certainly deserved but not realized.
Actually I would say Arnold Moss playing Kodos in "Conscience of the King" is second to this performance. Shakespeare, his deep voice and convincing projection of his pain. Superb..
@George Wodicka. Actually the three greatest performances by guest actors and actresses on the original "Star Trek" TV series, were equally great performances by Barbara Anderson as Lenore Karidian in " The Conscience of the King" , William Windom in "The Doomsday Machine" and Arnold Moss as Kodos/Anton Karidian in " The Conscience of the King". William Marshall's performance as Dr. Richard Daystrom in "The Ultimate Computer" was outstanding but not quite as challenging as Anderson's, Windom's and Moss' roles except for that one scene on the Enterprise bridge during which Daystrom starts to experience a nervous breakdown. But all 4 guest stars were superb in their respective performances on "Star Trek". William Campbell's performance as Trelane in "The Squire of Gothos" must also be cited as excellent.
My favorite part of this is when McCoy says he's on the verge of insanity, and so Kirk decides to smooth things over by saying "M5 must be destroyed." Way to go, Jim! That's sure to calm the guy down, telling him his life's work has to be vaporized.
Kirk’s remark very poorly chosen by the writers. I would prefer “neutralize or incapacitate so the glitches can be corrected in the programming. If not a possibility then consider total deactivation meaning destroy M-5
Kirk isn't trying to smooth things over though. He's trying to make Daystrom snap. M5 is modeled after Daystrom's mind so, considering the way that Star Trek computers work, an emotional display by Daystrom should reveal how to destroy the computer. That seems a more logical interpretation of Kirk's actions to me, at least. It's how he usually handles situations.
"Jim, he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown, if not insanity." And then immediately after Bones says this, not skipping a beat, Kirk goes with ,"The M5 must be destroyed." Frickin' hilarious, cause Bones just stated they're dealing with a stick of wet dynamite, and Kirk smacks it hard with a hammer in response..
@Sam Crubish Kirk didn’t end up saving all five ships because he pushed Doctor Daystrom over the edge. He ended up saving all five starships because he managed to convince the M5 computer that it had sinned against the laws of God and man. There there was nothing accomplished by driving Daystrom more crazy
There are a few others in TOS. "A Piece of the Action," "Menagerie," "Turnabout Intruder," "Operation Annihilate,"etc...The worse pinch was in STTMP when Spock gets spacesuit. The crewman goes down like he is in a gay porn movie. Watch it again!
One of my all time favorite episodes of STOS. William Marshal owned this role and elevated the episode. I was inspired by his casting and performance to take on a 36 year career in IT!!! 🖖🏿
Same here! Star Trek TOS in general spurred my interest in electronics and then computers through my teen years. Starting an IT career in the 80's totaling 37 years now.
... Before I say this, I want to point out that this is an amazing performance, and its really cool that it inspired your career path. That said... You got inspiration to go into IT from a computer engineer whose one major achievement was exploited by the business, and his career eaten alive, until he attempted a comeback so disastrous that it kills over 100 innocent military officers leaving him in such a state of misery and despair that he collapses into madness bordering on megalomania, disgracing him in the eyes of the field for the rest of his life. ... How did that inspire you to go into IT as opposed to becoming Amish?
@@gregdeandrea1450 Because you have to be in IT to understand it. Look at the initial breakthrough that it required. Look at the technological application of what was once a theory. Look at how bitter Daystrom became because he felt cheated and how those feelings were impressed into a computer to effectively mimic the human brain. Yes, it killed over 400 people.. it cracked. There were insufficient safeguards to prevent that from happening, a clear violation of the first law. This is going to sound callous, and perhaps it is - but the simple truth is that when you step into the unknown you put lives at risk. Look at the Comet. Look at Apollo 1. Look at what was learned from them. I separate this from things like Bhopal because they were man-made cost-cutting screwups.
Me at my job: "Seminars and lectures to rows of fools who couldn't BEGIN to understand my systems! Colleagues...colleagues laughing behind my back at the 'boy wonder.' And becoming famous building on my work. BUILDING ON MY WORK!"
There should be a review of obvious performances that are worthy of recognition!!! William Marshall & William Windom are just two examples of acting that should have been given far more credit!!!!
William Marshall's extraordinary performance as Daystrom is deftly framed by Alexander Courage's score. This is one of my favorite scenes from the original series.
The fact that a brilliant scientist and computer engineer was played by a black man on TV in 1968 was revolutionary. A lot of people today miss that part of this.
That's EXACTLY the point. They miss it because it's not relevant. It's relevant that Daystrom is a brilliant man who shapes the future of the universe for centuries to come. He's a passionate man and a great scientist. You don't have to label him because of his race. He's a great man (and in case it's not obvious, this use of "man" can mean a human being of either sex.). Does anyone doubt that a black person can be as great as anyone else? Heck no, so why mention it. Look, I get clearly that black folks have had a very hard history in America as well as around the world, and calling out reasons to be proud of who you are is totally understandable. I still hope, like Dr. King, that at some point we can be proud of the achievements of all our brothers and sisters who are human, no matter what their skin color is.
@@rjskrobola Calm down. That's his point. The fact that nobody on the ship comments on his race at all and just refers to him as a brilliant scientist and technician IS THE POINT. This was not quite so normal in 1968 as it is today. We don't think about it today because of all the work that has been done in norrmalizing seeing minorities in positions of authorities. Most of us see a black doctor and think "oh, a doctor." This is what scenes like this with Dr. Daystrom, or with the black Admiral in TOS Court Martial, were trying to make normal. The fact that it IS normal today is testament to the good work of men like Gene Roddenberry, among many others of course.
@@hagamapama And for all that work he and we did to normalize race relations and achieve some unity under one flag, the usual antagonists have now dredged it up again 50 years later to create the division we tried to eradicate. I'm sure Roddenberry didn't count on that happening -- especially by the Left.
@rjskrobola Seriously? Nazis are still around marching in the streets making the Republican party their home. That's why. Try living in someone else's shoes. The lofty point of privilege you view the world by isn't reality.
Captain James T. Kirk: The M-5 must be destroyed. Dr. Richard Daystrom: [distressed] Destroy it Kirk? No. We're invincible. Look what we've done: your mighty starships - four toys to be crushed as we choose!
We can see in William Marshall's performance why Dr. Daystrom slowly losing his mind. After years of being treated as accidentally genius. It's just shame that M5 Computer mirrors his internal resentment.
The interesting thing is that his reaction to Kirk at the end is a nervous breakdown, not insanity, the insanity was the inability to detach himself mentally from the fixation on surpassing his earlier achievements and being willing to do anything to achieve it.
Unfortunately...this same scenario actually happens in REAL life. People like Nikola Tesla, Jack Kirby, Granville T. Woods, NEVER truly recognized for their genius while others build on their success. "You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you wanna sell it." - Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park.
"The M5 must be destroyed"...."DESTROYED, Kirk?!?! NO! SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE!! YOUR MIGHTY STARSHIPS! FOUR TOYS TO BE CRUSHED WHEN WE CHOSE!"🤣 Favorite line of the episode.....and...Daystrum was right,too.
William Marshall portrayed Dr. Richard Daystrom brilliantly! Daystrom's performance as both genius and erratic is epic. Right up there with William Windom's character Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." And the music is similar, when the Constellation flies into the planet-killer's maw just before Kirk beams out, and Bob Wesley's mock attack force being ATTACKED by the Enterprise, thanks to the M-5 supercomputer. Two excellent episodes with intense drama, superb action, and of course Alexander Courage's musical score. Actor Barry Russo (Bob Wesley) also appeared in another "Star Trek" episode "The Devil in the Dark," as Lt.Cmdr. Giotto.
Both characters are feeling tremendous guilt over the deaths they’ve caused. It drives one to madness, and the other to suicide. Decker wants to destroy the planet killer no matter what the cost and Daysrom wants to save his computer no matter what the cost. Two great characters.
Marshall's self-assured brilliance slowly begins to break down as the episode progresses, like a mental slow burn. He begins to realize that M-5/Himself is not perfect, and runs at cross purposes. It is an amazingly restrained performance until the moment of his madness.
I completely, completely agree with him on the arrogance of students these days, even fellow staff. Daystrom makes a point. The arrogance...the callous indifference. Building on his work. He has EVERY right to be PISSED OFF.
But isn't "building on the work of others" considered to be a technological form of Evolution? If we didn't invent a canoe, than we'd not have a boat. Without a boat, Humanity would not expand their influence beyond Eurasia to encompass the world, building stronger boats and better forms of travel until: we take to the skies in Hot Air Balloons, then Blimps, then Zeppelins, and then we have Airplanes. Eventually we build rockets and travel to the moon, building better and better technologies, using what we've learned from the past to make improvements to the newer models and systems. I can't imagine any other group of individuals that'd fit the arrogant profile that Richard Daystrom has... except for the Qomar in the Delta Quadrant, who possess "Superior" technology... that can easily be shut down by a passive scan of an Intrepid-Class Starfleet Vessel just passing by.
Daystrom's lost it. How can colleagues build upon his work, yet he claims they don't understand his work. Can't have it both ways unless it's all in your head.
@@2QRh6g1I Agreed. Daystrom should have drained the blood of the nearest cretin and demanded RESPECT! SERVITUDE! UNDYING LOVE! He never got that. Blood should have been drained, and lackeys done away with.
@2QRh6g1I He was losing it, but it's possible two things can be true, people can steal your work, then reverse engineer it or use it at the core of a new product. And take credit for it.--- Examples: Facebook, Macintosh, MS DOS, Chinese & Russian Stealth Fighters, Gemini Program.... -------- _"Duotronics:_ Breakthrough computer system invented in 2243 by Dr. Richard Daystrom, used until its replacement by isolinear technology as the basis of computers for over 80 years on Federation starships -- such as the main computer system of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701"
2QRh6g1I But that’s the whole idea. He made the dutronic breakthrough at age 24 and he’s spent the last 20+ years trying to make a second breakthrough. He thought he’d finally gotten it with the M5. He’s spent the last 20 years giving lectures at universities, experiencing the jealousies of his colleagues and trying to come up with another breakthrough and it’s literally driven him crazy.
It is well known that Jimmy did most of the voice overs. Let me ask you this. Who told Kirk that the Turkey's were actually real over the Kirk's intercom-during Charlie X episode.
@@spockvskhan4561 That episode is now being played on Heros and Icons at this very minunite. That voice you were asking about about the turkeys was series producer, Gene Roddenberry's voice.
It is interesting he seems to be both in sympathy with Daystrom, then realizes it's not just the computer that's the threat, but the guy who built it as well.
He was a wildcard in a situation that was costing lives. Either get him to help or get him all the way out of the way. Both are preferable to this thing he is doing which is vacillating between helpful and obstinate.
2:51. William Marshall did some great acting in this episode. But it still cracks me up seeing the expression on his face when Spock neck pinches him. Even after all these years.
"You are great; I am great!" Classic line. Here's one for ya' "Freedom? It is our worship word. You shall not speak it!". The Yangs and the Comms baby!
I thought Windom's performance was THE best acting in TOS. Superb and believable. I'll give Marshall credit here but to me it came out stiff and it just felt like he was either putting too much into it or not enough -- overcompensating for maybe a lack of interest in the role.
The character of Dr Daystrom honored in later episodes and franchises with a couple mentions of the Daystrom Institute and when Starfleet command calls an emergency session Daystrom (conference room) in the reboot movie Star Trek into Darkness
I'll embellish what I've said elsewhere: Marshall had a presence that could knock the bridge crew clean through the nearest painted-over plywood backdrop. Watch him play someone just a leetle bit on the edge early on, especially when McCoy starts to question him, then over the edge, right about...here.
ikr? I always thought of that as a teenager. That Kirk says this *in response* to McCoy saying Daystrom's on the brink of a nervous breakdown! Then Kirk's like, "That's my cue! Hey, Daystrom! We're going to destroy your life's work!"
He wasn't trying to salve Daystrom's feelings. If Daystrom was willing to help, fine, if he wasn't, he needed to be neutralized, and Kirk need to know which one he could expect. Now, not 5 minutes later when more Starfleet ships and crewmen were dead. With Daystrom neutralized Kirk could bring his form of logic to bear on the computer without Daystrom running interference.
I love this scene because this is the natural reaction of the grief and tragedy. New Star Trek has none of this! None of it! People have died, thousands, maybe millions but the crew is like: " yeah, just another Tuesday..."
+BackAgainize He only had good intentions, there is no question on this. It's actually a sad episode. Because Daystrom only wanted to better society/space command. It's sad. M5 went nuts, and, in turn, so did it's creator. Sad. Daystrom is one awesome researcher/scientist/engineer/creator. and more.
The real truth is accurately displayed. You are great, I am great l, 20 years of talking to fools who couldn’t understand my work, and on top of that my a.. is black.
Commodore Wesley represented the epitome of Star Fleet character, he was gonna regroup with the ships he had left too attack the Enterprise knowing he may die.
I love this scene when he turns round to Kirk, Spock is straight up on his feet and ready to protect his Captain. Sure enough he grabs Kirk and wallop Spock to the rescue.
Yep :) Spock is always ready to defend Kirk (physically at least, sometimes he does question Kirk methods or ideas tho, so not alway defense there haha)
This is what happens when you create something superior to yourself then scan your own brain pattern into it. Three starships heavily damaged, one shot through and through killing all 430 men and women.
It was never supposed to happen, Daystrom’s creation malfunctioned it was only supposed to be a training exercise but the A.I. Daystrom created perceived it an actual combat and was unable to distinguish Star Fleet ships from enemy ships. This was Daystrom’s lifelong work and when Kirk suggested destroying it Daystrom had a meltdown to the point Spock had to incapacitate him, really a well acted scene.
@@R-L-I I know. I find it ironic that Commodore Wesley knows that M5 is in control of the Enterprise and demands to know what Kirk is doing when M5 attacks them.
What the M-5 forgot (actually malfunctioned) is that the battle against the 4 starships was an exercise. There was no chance any of those ships would have used actual lethal force against the Enterprise (until the Enterprise used lethal force against them). But somehow that datum got erased or deleted. What they should have done is disabled the weapons but given Kirk and his first officer the code for reactivating them. Only the captain and first officer would have that code. It wouldn't be stored in the computer but linked directly into the weapons hardware with no way for anyone, either human or M-5 to pry it out of the weapons without destroying them. But that would have killed the drama of the story.
that does remind me of the basis of the "X" universe series of sci-fi games. In it, terraformer robots were built to make life on other words more palpable; their AI was programmed to simulate hundreds of possible scenarios before applying a course of action. But a buggy software patch lead to them ending up being unable to distinguish between sandbox and reality, so they performed, say, asteroid drops on already-colonized planets without first calculating the negative result this would produce.
I thought it was great. It's like he is bitter over being dismissed as a computer nerd or maybe even based on his race. He gave that anger to his computer. The computer is like a son to him. He feels so deeply disappointed in his creation. But he's also angry: "Who's the nerd now? My computer's kicking butt!" I thought it was a great performance that really brought out his tragic flaw and how it was transmitted to his "son".
I didn't get that. I got overwhelming pride from him. It's like he didn't want to stop it till he showed what it was capable of. But he also had anger that was transmitted to the computer. A simulation is a game with rules, the real thing is you either win or die with no rules. He showed the M5 had that power. A well acted scene. I really felt for the guy and wished him there was a world he could win and still be in the right.
Well, if you'll recall from earlier in the episode, Daystrom had an early spurt of genius in his youth, inventing things like duotronics, then had a lacklustre career after that, trying to live under his own shadow. He must have been frustrated at his own long dry spell.
I don’t think it’s racial, remember in the Star Trek universe racism is basically a thing of the past. He had this revolutionary breakthrough at a young age and he’s spent the last 25 years giving lectures at colleges, experiencing the jealousy of his colleagues while watching them pass him and desperately trying to make another breakthrough and it’s literally driven him nuts. He thought he’d finally found it in the M5 and now his ‘son’ is spazzing out on him and that was the final straw that pushed him over the edge.
I know I'm in the minority for saying this. But, in a way, I kinda wish that Daystrom was never cured! He might have become a great recurring villain, on par with Khan. A Lex Luthor, Dr. Anton Phibes, Dr. Loveless, Blofeld, or Professor Moriarty type of supervillain, always seeking revenge on his perceived enemies, like his former colleagues, Starfleet, and...Captain James T. Kirk. In that other track, the noble Daystrom Institute would be a SPECTRE type of galactic underground network, The Daystrom Syndicate, headed by the ruthless, megalomaniacal Dr. Daystrom. Even the Klingons and Romulans would fear him, or want to cut deals with him. He would be out there, in the shadows, quietly manipulating things to his own advantage, exacting a complex, long-term plan of revenge. An evil Count of Monte-Cristo, always planning vengeance--and getting it. The rogues and criminals of the Federation would whisper his name in respect and fear. His only match would be the brilliant, valiant crew of the Starship Enterprise, his worthy foes. That brief glimmer of fiendish megalomania might have been parlayed into the birth of Star Trek's greatest villain. Kirk and Spock extinguished him in his cradle. No exile to an untamed planet for him; just therapy in a rehabilitation facility. And the founding of the Daystrom Institute. William Marshall was certainly up to the challenge, had things gone another way. His villainous version would have reset the bar for future villains. He could have done it easily. Imagine Daystrom forming an alliance with Khan and Garth! A triple threat! Kirk and Kor uniting to defeat them! But, alas, the evil "Dr. D" was a Star Trek supervillain who wasn't meant to be... :(
just before this I had viewed episode 7 of the latest X-Files season (11) where 50 years later we are REALLY dealing w/ the technology malfunctioning threatening to kill us!
Despite everything M5 did to its creator's psychological health, Daystrom would remain a respected scientist long after his death. The Daystrom Institute would be spoken of in many episodes of Star Trek and make its on screen debut in Star Trek Picard.
Note the buck-passing regarding blame in the episode. It's Daystrom's computer. Yet Starfleet, which ordered its installation and conducted the war games, is, apparently, not at fault at all for the disaster which ensued.
I guess Starfleet's response would be that they trusted Daystrom regarding the M5 operating properly. His fault that it didn't. He did program his own personality into the machine.
McCoy: jim he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown if not insanity Kirk: I know the one thing to say to him to help. (To Daystrom): The M5 must be destroyed.
THE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT DR. RICHARD DAYSTROM HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOOWN UPON DISCOVERING THAT HIS GREATEST CREATION THE M5 IS FLAWED AND HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN ! ANOTHER CLASSIC STAR TREK EPISODE ! THE PERFECT COMPUTER .
William Marshall and Percy Rodriguez could've have played brothers, on here. Add William Windom and Morgan Woodward, and you would've had an unreal episode.
William Marshall, and yes, he had a perfect voice and wonderful projection. No doubt he was a veteran of the Shakespearean stage. One of his finest performances was as Frederick Douglass in a one-man show that aired on PBS in the 1970s and sadly appears to be lost.
William Marshall's characterization of Daystrom is one of the finest guest performances on the original TREK .
agreed underrated actor in every way thats the shame
Daystrom's reaction to the Vulcan Pinch was priceless.
HUNHGH! 😵💫😵
Thank goodness he was able to get a job on the Peewee Herman show as the King of Cartoons after he was released from asylum.
Wouldn’t be nice if we could do that extract pinch IRL?
😂😂😂😂
Yeah, it was over the top coming for sure. Usually people just kind of close their eyes and flop.
William Marshall was well cast--what a presence! Between his imposing height, great voice, and fine acting, he fit the role perfectly!
Was he a Shakespearian actor? Very commanding figure & voice.
He was. There's video of his performance as Othello on CZcams
I am sure he was chosen for those very aptitudes to break a stereotype. Remember this was the 1960s.
@@CVTom Yep! He was indeed a Master Thespian (Shakespearean Stage Actor).
@@jonathanswifter2807 Yes, he was quite Shakespearean.
William Marshall's performance in this was great. I think he gives the best guest-star antagonist performance in the whole original series.
Him and .Lord Garth..two best appearances by far
Don't forget William Windom as Commodore Decker.
@@rubenmejias7302 yes Garth too.
Him & William Windom stole their respective episodes.
@@lenblack1462 we're not allowed to forget William Windom.
Decker was probably the only performance to surpass Daystrom if any character had.
Even the charismatic Ricardo Montalbán Khan Noonian Singh can't match this one or Decker, but he came close.
Second greatest guest performance of the entire series, only topped by the great William Windom as Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine", where an Emmy was certainly deserved but not realized.
Wow! That is True!!! Well said George Wodicke
True Indeed, Sci Fi is the 'Dr Daystrom' of the Awards process. Recognition comes rarely, and frequently later than is fair. 🙂
Actually I would say Arnold Moss playing Kodos in "Conscience of the King" is second to this performance. Shakespeare, his deep voice and convincing projection of his pain. Superb..
The actor who played Capt. Garth was one of the top 3 off actors of all-time.
@George Wodicka. Actually the three greatest performances by guest actors and actresses on the original "Star Trek" TV series, were equally great performances by Barbara Anderson as Lenore Karidian in " The Conscience of the King" , William Windom in "The Doomsday Machine" and Arnold Moss as Kodos/Anton Karidian in " The Conscience of the King". William Marshall's performance as Dr. Richard Daystrom in "The Ultimate Computer" was outstanding but not quite as challenging as Anderson's, Windom's and Moss' roles except for that one scene on the Enterprise bridge during which Daystrom starts to experience a nervous breakdown. But all 4 guest stars were superb in their respective performances on "Star Trek". William Campbell's performance as Trelane in "The Squire of Gothos" must also be cited as excellent.
My favorite part of this is when McCoy says he's on the verge of insanity, and so Kirk decides to smooth things over by saying "M5 must be destroyed." Way to go, Jim! That's sure to calm the guy down, telling him his life's work has to be vaporized.
V8cosworth Lol. So true
Awesome chocie if words from Kirk at THAT instant!! 😂😂😂
That's very soothing to know your life's work must be destroyed when you are starting to have a nervous breakdown. I feel much better now.
Kirk’s remark very poorly chosen by the writers. I would prefer “neutralize or incapacitate so the glitches can be corrected in the programming. If not a possibility then consider total deactivation meaning destroy M-5
Kirk isn't trying to smooth things over though. He's trying to make Daystrom snap. M5 is modeled after Daystrom's mind so, considering the way that Star Trek computers work, an emotional display by Daystrom should reveal how to destroy the computer. That seems a more logical interpretation of Kirk's actions to me, at least. It's how he usually handles situations.
As always, there's a fine line between genius and insanity. Marshall played this perfectly. One of the best performances in all of Star Trek.
Priceless
Or anywhere else
Really under utilized actor in Hollywood. Ripped up the screen here. On par with Shatner & Nimoy. As good.
What a voice!
Awesome just awesome.
Brilliant acting by William Marshall.
"You've murdered hundreds of people. We've murdered.... How can we repay that?"
"Jim, he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown, if not insanity." And then immediately after Bones says this, not skipping a beat, Kirk goes with ,"The M5 must be destroyed." Frickin' hilarious, cause Bones just stated they're dealing with a stick of wet dynamite, and Kirk smacks it hard with a hammer in response..
I like to think this is teamwork. Kirk distracts Daystrom. Spock understands Kirk's intention and takes him out.
And yet, Kirk gets laid constantly.
I have always laughed at that moment as well. Kirk is absolutely unconcerned and ruthless in his response.
Yeah, but the M5 killed .... his nervous breakdown isn't bringing back the dead shipmates
@Sam Crubish Kirk didn’t end up saving all five ships because he pushed Doctor Daystrom over the edge. He ended up saving all five starships because he managed to convince the M5 computer that it had sinned against the laws of God and man.
There there was nothing accomplished by driving Daystrom more crazy
The best Vulcan nerve pinch in all Start Trek TOS!!!!
That pinch was classic and hilarious!
No, the best reaction.
Daystrom's mind was so active his eyes couldn't close with the Vulcan neck pinch from Spock!!!
There are a few others in TOS. "A Piece of the Action," "Menagerie," "Turnabout Intruder," "Operation Annihilate,"etc...The worse pinch was in STTMP when Spock gets spacesuit. The crewman goes down like he is in a gay porn movie. Watch it again!
@@kingsman8475 No, no, no. The best pinch was when Spock nerve pinched a horse in ST:V.
One of my all time favorite episodes of STOS. William Marshal owned this role and elevated the episode. I was inspired by his casting and performance to take on a 36 year career in IT!!! 🖖🏿
Same here! Star Trek TOS in general spurred my interest in electronics and then computers through my teen years.
Starting an IT career in the 80's totaling 37 years now.
And of course , BLACULA!!!! YES !!!!
... Before I say this, I want to point out that this is an amazing performance, and its really cool that it inspired your career path. That said...
You got inspiration to go into IT from a computer engineer whose one major achievement was exploited by the business, and his career eaten alive, until he attempted a comeback so disastrous that it kills over 100 innocent military officers leaving him in such a state of misery and despair that he collapses into madness bordering on megalomania, disgracing him in the eyes of the field for the rest of his life.
... How did that inspire you to go into IT as opposed to becoming Amish?
@@gregdeandrea1450 Because you have to be in IT to understand it. Look at the initial breakthrough that it required. Look at the technological application of what was once a theory. Look at how bitter Daystrom became because he felt cheated and how those feelings were impressed into a computer to effectively mimic the human brain. Yes, it killed over 400 people.. it cracked. There were insufficient safeguards to prevent that from happening, a clear violation of the first law. This is going to sound callous, and perhaps it is - but the simple truth is that when you step into the unknown you put lives at risk. Look at the Comet. Look at Apollo 1. Look at what was learned from them. I separate this from things like Bhopal because they were man-made cost-cutting screwups.
@@JimAllen-Persona A decent point.
Me at my job: "Seminars and lectures to rows of fools who couldn't BEGIN to understand my systems! Colleagues...colleagues laughing behind my back at the 'boy wonder.' And becoming famous building on my work. BUILDING ON MY WORK!"
You’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown if not insanity!
@@neneshubby No! We're invincible! Look what we've done!
@@finnmccool684 Your mighty Star Ships! Four toys to be crushed!
When Elon Musk finally snaps.
There should be a review of obvious performances that are worthy of recognition!!! William Marshall & William Windom are just two examples of acting that should have been given far more credit!!!!
"You are great! I am great!"
I have my mail announcement with "You are great! I am great!".
This is Great!!!
@@dr.ashida6808 I have to try this.
William Marshall's extraordinary performance as Daystrom is deftly framed by Alexander Courage's score. This is one of my favorite scenes from the original series.
Agreed. I love the bassoon/bass clarinet and trilling flute.
The underlying score is very, very Bernard Herrmann, with its moody, low tones.
I am still watching this??? After 50 years???
The fact that a brilliant scientist and computer engineer was played by a black man on TV in 1968 was revolutionary. A lot of people today miss that part of this.
That's EXACTLY the point. They miss it because it's not relevant. It's relevant that Daystrom is a brilliant man who shapes the future of the universe for centuries to come. He's a passionate man and a great scientist. You don't have to label him because of his race. He's a great man (and in case it's not obvious, this use of "man" can mean a human being of either sex.). Does anyone doubt that a black person can be as great as anyone else? Heck no, so why mention it.
Look, I get clearly that black folks have had a very hard history in America as well as around the world, and calling out reasons to be proud of who you are is totally understandable. I still hope, like Dr. King, that at some point we can be proud of the achievements of all our brothers and sisters who are human, no matter what their skin color is.
@@rjskrobola Calm down. That's his point. The fact that nobody on the ship comments on his race at all and just refers to him as a brilliant scientist and technician IS THE POINT. This was not quite so normal in 1968 as it is today.
We don't think about it today because of all the work that has been done in norrmalizing seeing minorities in positions of authorities. Most of us see a black doctor and think "oh, a doctor." This is what scenes like this with Dr. Daystrom, or with the black Admiral in TOS Court Martial, were trying to make normal. The fact that it IS normal today is testament to the good work of men like Gene Roddenberry, among many others of course.
@@hagamapama And for all that work he and we did to normalize race relations and achieve some unity under one flag, the usual antagonists have now dredged it up again 50 years later to create the division we tried to eradicate. I'm sure Roddenberry didn't count on that happening -- especially by the Left.
@rjskrobola Seriously? Nazis are still around marching in the streets making the Republican party their home. That's why. Try living in someone else's shoes. The lofty point of privilege you view the world by isn't reality.
Ladies and Gentlmen....Now This is Acting. Todays actors could learn a lot watching this cast
William Marshall was brilliant in this episode. And he sold the Vulcan nerve pinch better than anyone - ever!
And this, boys and girls, is when tasers were invented.
Still one of the best guest stars on this show. William Marshall rocked as Dr. Daystrum.
Captain James T. Kirk: The M-5 must be destroyed.
Dr. Richard Daystrom: [distressed] Destroy it Kirk? No. We're invincible. Look what we've done: your mighty starships - four toys to be crushed as we choose!
We can see in William Marshall's performance why Dr. Daystrom slowly losing his mind. After years of being treated as accidentally genius. It's just shame that M5 Computer mirrors his internal resentment.
The interesting thing is that his reaction to Kirk at the end is a nervous breakdown, not insanity, the insanity was the inability to detach himself mentally from the fixation on surpassing his earlier achievements and being willing to do anything to achieve it.
Daystrom was one of the few people to take a Vulcan never pinch and continue to walk afterwards.
You can't help but feel sympathy for Daystrom.
True. Brilliant but he's lost the damn plot!
Unfortunately...this same scenario actually happens in REAL life. People like Nikola Tesla, Jack Kirby, Granville T. Woods, NEVER truly recognized for their genius while others build on their success. "You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you wanna sell it." - Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park.
"The M5 must be destroyed"...."DESTROYED, Kirk?!?! NO! SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE!! YOUR MIGHTY STARSHIPS! FOUR TOYS TO BE CRUSHED WHEN WE CHOSE!"🤣 Favorite line of the episode.....and...Daystrum was right,too.
Kirk: "Whose engrams?" Daystrom: "Why...mine, of course."
Way to go Kirk. Great diplomatic skills you have there.
LOL! Way, way back in the day, my friends and I had a running joke about that.
Blast diplomatic skills! Kirk just acted the damn thing to death.
Kirk was pissed about Daystrom’s invention eliminating his job. Pushing him over the cliff towards insanity was the perfect revenge.
Bones tells him of a sensitive situation. Kirk's response is to pour gas on the fire
People had died and more were about to, He wasn't really worried about diplomacy at that moment
William Marshall portrayed Dr. Richard Daystrom brilliantly! Daystrom's performance as both genius and erratic is epic. Right up there with William Windom's character Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." And the music is similar, when the Constellation flies into the planet-killer's maw just before Kirk beams out, and Bob Wesley's mock attack force being ATTACKED by the Enterprise, thanks to the M-5 supercomputer. Two excellent episodes with intense drama, superb action, and of course Alexander Courage's musical score. Actor Barry Russo (Bob Wesley) also appeared in another "Star Trek" episode "The Devil in the Dark," as Lt.Cmdr. Giotto.
Both characters are feeling tremendous guilt over the deaths they’ve caused. It drives one to madness, and the other to suicide. Decker wants to destroy the planet killer no matter what the cost and Daysrom wants to save his computer no matter what the cost. Two great characters.
Great acting! Always loved this scene..."Seminars..." -- he says this one word with such disdain.
Marshall's self-assured brilliance slowly begins to break down as the episode progresses, like a mental slow burn. He begins to realize that M-5/Himself is not perfect, and runs at cross purposes. It is an amazingly restrained performance until the moment of his madness.
I've always thought William Marshall was brilliant, particularly in this scene. Those are great lines, perfectly delivered. Perfect casting.
Bravura performance by William Marshall, right up there with William Windom in Doomsday Machine. Fantastic episode.
I completely, completely agree with him on the arrogance of students these days, even fellow staff. Daystrom makes a point. The arrogance...the callous indifference. Building on his work. He has EVERY right to be PISSED OFF.
But isn't "building on the work of others" considered to be a technological form of Evolution?
If we didn't invent a canoe, than we'd not have a boat. Without a boat, Humanity would not expand their influence beyond Eurasia to encompass the world, building stronger boats and better forms of travel until: we take to the skies in Hot Air Balloons, then Blimps, then Zeppelins, and then we have Airplanes. Eventually we build rockets and travel to the moon, building better and better technologies, using what we've learned from the past to make improvements to the newer models and systems.
I can't imagine any other group of individuals that'd fit the arrogant profile that Richard Daystrom has... except for the Qomar in the Delta Quadrant, who possess "Superior" technology... that can easily be shut down by a passive scan of an Intrepid-Class Starfleet Vessel just passing by.
Daystrom's lost it. How can colleagues build upon his work, yet he claims they don't understand his work. Can't have it both ways unless it's all in your head.
@@2QRh6g1I Agreed. Daystrom should have drained the blood of the nearest cretin and demanded RESPECT! SERVITUDE! UNDYING LOVE! He never got that. Blood should have been drained, and lackeys done away with.
@2QRh6g1I He was losing it, but it's possible two things can be true, people can steal your work, then reverse engineer it or use it at the core of a new product. And take credit for it.---
Examples: Facebook, Macintosh, MS DOS, Chinese & Russian Stealth Fighters, Gemini Program....
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_"Duotronics:_ Breakthrough computer system invented in 2243 by Dr. Richard Daystrom, used until its replacement by isolinear technology as the basis of computers for over 80 years on Federation starships -- such as the main computer system of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701"
2QRh6g1I But that’s the whole idea. He made the dutronic breakthrough at age 24 and he’s spent the last 20+ years trying to make a second breakthrough. He thought he’d finally gotten it with the M5. He’s spent the last 20 years giving lectures at universities, experiencing the jealousies of his colleagues and trying to come up with another breakthrough and it’s literally driven him crazy.
Excellent actors here and a well written story that shows us the dangers of computers.
Best reaction to a Vulcan nerve pinch ever. You rock, Daystrom!
Hilarious
M5's voice is James Doohan (Scotty).
His was also the voice of Commodore Enwright in the opening teaser.
It is well known that Jimmy did most of the voice overs. Let me ask you this. Who told Kirk that the Turkey's were actually real over the Kirk's intercom-during Charlie X episode.
@@spockvskhan4561 That episode is now being played on Heros and Icons at this very minunite. That voice you were asking about about the turkeys was series producer, Gene Roddenberry's voice.
Yes, I knew the answer. Few people do....
@@spockvskhan4561 As did I, with my Gen-X,(b.1968), 70'-80's era Trekker-boy self!
It is interesting he seems to be both in sympathy with Daystrom, then realizes it's not just the computer that's the threat, but the guy who built it as well.
“Your mighty starships! Four toys to be crushed as we choo, oh fuck” 🤣
McCoy: "Jim, he's on the edge of a nervous breakdown, if not insanity!" Kirk: All right, let's give him a push!
He was a wildcard in a situation that was costing lives. Either get him to help or get him all the way out of the way. Both are preferable to this thing he is doing which is vacillating between helpful and obstinate.
2:51. William Marshall did some great acting in this episode. But it still cracks me up seeing the expression on his face when Spock neck pinches him. Even after all these years.
Marshall was a trained veteran stage actor. He may have been playing to the back row here.
"You are great; I am great!" Classic line. Here's one for ya' "Freedom? It is our worship word. You shall not speak it!". The Yangs and the Comms baby!
As soon as Daystrom stands up, Spock senses a threat and stands up also. If necessary, he will give his life to protect his captain...and his friend.
Great acting by William Marshall! He plays Dr Daystrom as Dr Frankenstein, to M5's Frankenstein's Monster.
This along with William Windom's performance in the Doomsday Machine where some of the best acting of the series.
I thought Windom's performance was THE best acting in TOS. Superb and believable. I'll give Marshall credit here but to me it came out stiff and it just felt like he was either putting too much into it or not enough -- overcompensating for maybe a lack of interest in the role.
The character of Dr Daystrom honored in later episodes and franchises with a couple mentions of the Daystrom Institute and when Starfleet command calls an emergency session Daystrom (conference room) in the reboot movie Star Trek into Darkness
I always laugh at Daystrom's reaction to the Vulcan nerve pinch. It looked like Spock flipped the off switch.
He sold that thing like a WWE wrestler
I'll embellish what I've said elsewhere: Marshall had a presence that could knock the bridge crew clean through the nearest painted-over plywood backdrop. Watch him play someone just a leetle bit on the edge early on, especially when McCoy starts to question him, then over the edge, right about...here.
2:33 Well done, Kirk. You know just what to say when someone's on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
ikr? I always thought of that as a teenager. That Kirk says this *in response* to McCoy saying Daystrom's on the brink of a nervous breakdown! Then Kirk's like, "That's my cue! Hey, Daystrom! We're going to destroy your life's work!"
@@schleichface lmao
He wasn't trying to salve Daystrom's feelings. If Daystrom was willing to help, fine, if he wasn't, he needed to be neutralized, and Kirk need to know which one he could expect. Now, not 5 minutes later when more Starfleet ships and crewmen were dead.
With Daystrom neutralized Kirk could bring his form of logic to bear on the computer without Daystrom running interference.
Classic dialogue written by D.C. Fontana.
I love this scene because this is the natural reaction of the grief and tragedy.
New Star Trek has none of this! None of it! People have died, thousands, maybe millions but the crew is like: " yeah, just another Tuesday..."
you have to at least admit....the man is a genius.....and PISSED OFF, never mind insane
+BackAgainize anyone else "feeling" Daystrom's rage?
+BackAgainize not going to lie.....I truly, as a student, sympathize with him. Building on his work......
+BackAgainize He only had good intentions, there is no question on this. It's actually a sad episode. Because Daystrom only wanted to better society/space command. It's sad. M5 went nuts, and, in turn, so did it's creator. Sad. Daystrom is one awesome researcher/scientist/engineer/creator. and more.
Stop replying to your own posts.
The real truth is accurately displayed. You are great, I am great l, 20 years of talking to fools who couldn’t understand my work, and on top of that my a.. is black.
Greatest Vulcan nerve pinch reaction ever.
Security! Take him to Sick Bay.
Spock: Fascinating
Jim: Take care of him Doctor
Commodore Wesley represented the epitome of Star Fleet character, he was gonna regroup with the ships he had left too attack the Enterprise knowing he may die.
I love this scene when he turns round to Kirk, Spock is straight up on his feet and ready to protect his Captain. Sure enough he grabs Kirk and wallop Spock to the rescue.
Yep :) Spock is always ready to defend Kirk (physically at least, sometimes he does question Kirk methods or ideas tho, so not alway defense there haha)
This is what happens when you create something superior to yourself then scan your own brain pattern into it. Three starships heavily damaged, one shot through and through killing all 430 men and women.
It was never supposed to happen, Daystrom’s creation malfunctioned it was only supposed to be a training exercise but the A.I. Daystrom created perceived it an actual combat and was unable to distinguish Star Fleet ships from enemy ships. This was Daystrom’s lifelong work and when Kirk suggested destroying it Daystrom had a meltdown to the point Spock had to incapacitate him, really a well acted scene.
@@R-L-I I know. I find it ironic that Commodore Wesley knows that M5 is in control of the Enterprise and demands to know what Kirk is doing when M5 attacks them.
What the M-5 forgot (actually malfunctioned) is that the battle against the 4 starships was an exercise. There was no chance any of those ships would have used actual lethal force against the Enterprise (until the Enterprise used lethal force against them). But somehow that datum got erased or deleted.
What they should have done is disabled the weapons but given Kirk and his first officer the code for reactivating them. Only the captain and first officer would have that code. It wouldn't be stored in the computer but linked directly into the weapons hardware with no way for anyone, either human or M-5 to pry it out of the weapons without destroying them. But that would have killed the drama of the story.
that does remind me of the basis of the "X" universe series of sci-fi games. In it, terraformer robots were built to make life on other words more palpable; their AI was programmed to simulate hundreds of possible scenarios before applying a course of action. But a buggy software patch lead to them ending up being unable to distinguish between sandbox and reality, so they performed, say, asteroid drops on already-colonized planets without first calculating the negative result this would produce.
That’s the best Vulcan neck pinch reaction ever
I thought it was great. It's like he is bitter over being dismissed as a computer nerd or maybe even based on his race. He gave that anger to his computer. The computer is like a son to him. He feels so deeply disappointed in his creation. But he's also angry: "Who's the nerd now? My computer's kicking butt!" I thought it was a great performance that really brought out his tragic flaw and how it was transmitted to his "son".
I didn't get that. I got overwhelming pride from him. It's like he didn't want to stop it till he showed what it was capable of. But he also had anger that was transmitted to the computer. A simulation is a game with rules, the real thing is you either win or die with no rules. He showed the M5 had that power. A well acted scene. I really felt for the guy and wished him there was a world he could win and still be in the right.
Well, if you'll recall from earlier in the episode, Daystrom had an early spurt of genius in his youth, inventing things like duotronics, then had a lacklustre career after that, trying to live under his own shadow. He must have been frustrated at his own long dry spell.
I don’t think it’s racial, remember in the Star Trek universe racism is basically a thing of the past. He had this revolutionary breakthrough at a young age and he’s spent the last 25 years giving lectures at colleges, experiencing the jealousy of his colleagues while watching them pass him and desperately trying to make another breakthrough and it’s literally driven him nuts. He thought he’d finally found it in the M5 and now his ‘son’ is spazzing out on him and that was the final straw that pushed him over the edge.
The Vulcan pinch was hilarious.
Luv the Vulcan grip at the end!
I don’t know who this guy is but this is an outstanding performance, kudos! 👏👏👏👏
William Marshall. You may also know him as Blacula, or as the King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
The way Daystrom talks to the computer as if he were conversing with a living mind was eerie
I know I'm in the minority for saying this. But, in a way, I kinda wish that Daystrom was never cured! He might have become a great recurring villain, on par with Khan. A Lex Luthor, Dr. Anton Phibes, Dr. Loveless, Blofeld, or Professor Moriarty type of supervillain, always seeking revenge on his perceived enemies, like his former colleagues, Starfleet, and...Captain James T. Kirk. In that other track, the noble Daystrom Institute would be a SPECTRE type of galactic underground network, The Daystrom Syndicate, headed by the ruthless, megalomaniacal Dr. Daystrom. Even the Klingons and Romulans would fear him, or want to cut deals with him. He would be out there, in the shadows, quietly manipulating things to his own advantage, exacting a complex, long-term plan of revenge. An evil Count of Monte-Cristo, always planning vengeance--and getting it. The rogues and criminals of the Federation would whisper his name in respect and fear.
His only match would be the brilliant, valiant crew of the Starship Enterprise, his worthy foes.
That brief glimmer of fiendish megalomania might have been parlayed into the birth of Star Trek's greatest villain. Kirk and Spock extinguished him in his cradle. No exile to an untamed planet for him; just therapy in a rehabilitation facility. And the founding of the Daystrom Institute.
William Marshall was certainly up to the challenge, had things gone another way. His villainous version would have reset the bar for future villains. He could have done it easily.
Imagine Daystrom forming an alliance with Khan and Garth! A triple threat! Kirk and Kor uniting to defeat them!
But, alas, the evil "Dr. D" was a Star Trek supervillain who wasn't meant to be... :(
William Marshall was a fine Shakespearean actor.
Blacula in space!!!
just before this I had viewed episode 7 of the latest X-Files season (11) where 50 years later we are REALLY dealing w/ the technology malfunctioning threatening to kill us!
"Destroy it Kirk"? That delivery is right up there with "Don't you think I know that"?!
Yes...up there with William Windoms performance in Doomsday Machine
With a presence of Othello for which he was famous for.
Despite everything M5 did to its creator's psychological health, Daystrom would remain a respected scientist long after his death. The Daystrom Institute would be spoken of in many episodes of Star Trek and make its on screen debut in Star Trek Picard.
Starfleet really needs to improve it's mental health screening
Before Skynet, there was the M5.
The voice of the m 5 is scotty
They should have brought Marshall's Daystrom back for the 80s movies.
Never let Spock get behind you.
Building on my work. Building on my work!!!
Such an epic delivery. He had no rival
.
Spock comes through each and every time with the grip.
Excellent performance in an excellent episode of Star Trek TOS.
You are great!, I am great! That sounds like the voice in my head after I build something.
Yeah, but who's greater, you or it lol
Note the buck-passing regarding blame in the episode. It's Daystrom's computer. Yet Starfleet, which ordered its installation and conducted the war games, is, apparently, not at fault at all for the disaster which ensued.
I guess Starfleet's response would be that they trusted Daystrom regarding the M5 operating properly. His fault that it didn't. He did program his own personality into the machine.
McCoy: jim he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown if not insanity
Kirk: I know the one thing to say to him to help. (To Daystrom): The M5 must be destroyed.
😂😂
This is the greatest acted scene in history.
2:23 Kirk looks like he's thinking "Fascinating" haha
M5's voice should have Pe-Wee Herman's voice because Daystrom is the "King of Cartoons" on the 1980s television show Pee-wee's Playhouse.
DESTROYED Kirk?????
We're invincible! Look what we've done! Your mighty starships, four toys to be crushed in our grip.. Uughhh! 👍👍👍😁
Little known fact, the voice of the M5 was James Doohan aka Scotty.
My FAVORITE Star Trek episode
It's right up there. Those Fed Starships getting crushed like bugs when I was a kid watching the TV at dinner time back in the 1970s... 😲
2:02 How did he do that with his face?! God damn that’s amazing acting.
2:50 Spock: "Goodnight Dr. Daystrom."
That voice, his presence. He would have made a great actor choice to play a Captain.
Wow, in 1968 Star Trek predicted the chatbot!
You are great. I am great 😂
We'll be talking to our iPhones like this someday.
THE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT DR. RICHARD DAYSTROM HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOOWN UPON DISCOVERING THAT HIS GREATEST CREATION THE M5 IS FLAWED AND HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN ! ANOTHER CLASSIC STAR TREK EPISODE ! THE PERFECT COMPUTER .
It's funny that is how I feel about my job.
I'll destroy a thousand starships, before I let this computer die!"
A.I. is a good idea!
Riiiight...
William Marshall and Percy Rodriguez could've have played brothers, on here. Add William Windom and Morgan Woodward, and you would've had an unreal episode.
This is why Asimov's Laws are needed for AI.
Who played Daystrom? He's clearly an excellent actor of Shakespearean training.
William Marshall, and yes, he had a perfect voice and wonderful projection. No doubt he was a veteran of the Shakespearean stage. One of his finest performances was as Frederick Douglass in a one-man show that aired on PBS in the 1970s and sadly appears to be lost.
LordZontar I could not think of any better actor to portray Douglass!
probably best known as "Blacula"!
@@TheRealTommyRock And a perfect choice to portray an 18-19th Century Black Vampire King! At least I thought so as a young child, (still do)!
One of the best
Captain Kirk should be arrested for attempted murder when he pushed Daystrom over the edge by saying "M-5 must be destroyed" 😊