The Cloud Minders (Episode)
Series | Star Trek |
Season | 3 |
Episode | 21 |
Production Number | 74 |
Release Date | 28 Feb 1969 |
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Stardate 5818.4: Kirk is forced into negotiating peace on a planet with severe class inequities.
In search of the crucial and rare mineral zenite, which is needed to stop a plague on planet Merak II, the Enterprise travels to Ardana, where the substance is excavated by miners — Troglytes — who are forced to live on the harsh surface while the ruling class — Stratos-dwellers — reside in a luxurious city, floating high above the planet's surface. When the Troglytes refuse to turn over the zenite, Captain Kirk is drawn into their struggle for equality. Plasus, the High Adviser of Ardana's ruling council, maintains that the Troglytes are naturally inferior beings. While Spock is involved with Droxine, Plasus' daughter, Kirk befriends Vanna, a Troglyte leader. Kirk, Vanna, and other Troglytes enter a zenite mine, where Kirk causes a cave-in that isolates them, and has Plasus transported into the mine with them. Without protective filter masks, they all begin to display violent, unreasoning behavior. Plasus, now aware of the reason for the Troglytes' mental state, reluctantly agrees to address his planet's social structure — and the Troglytes agree to gather the needed zenite.
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Related Data
Credits
Created by
Gene Roddenberry
Starring
William Shatner
Also Starring
Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
and
DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy
Teleplay by
Margaret Armen
Story by
David Gerrold and Oliver Crawford
Directed by
Jud Taylor
Produced by
Fred Freiberger
Executive Producer
Gene Roddenberry
Associate Producers
Edward K. Milkis
Gregg Peters
Guest Star
Jeff Corey as Plasus
Co-Starring
Diana Ewing as Droxine
and
Charlene Polite as Vanna
James Doohan … Scott
Nichelle Nichols … Uhura
Kirk Raymone … Cloud Guard #1
Jimmy Fields … Cloud Guard #2
Ed Long … Midro
Fred Williamson … Anka
Garth Pillsbury … Prisoner
Harv Selsby … Guard
Story Consultant
Arthur H. Singer
Theme Music by
Alexander Courage
Additional Music by
Fred Steiner
Art Director
Walter M. Jefferies
Director of Photography
Al Francis
Film Editor … Bill Braeme
Unit Production Manager … Gregg Peters
Assistant Director … Claude Binyon Jr.
Set Decorator … John M. Dwyer
Costumes Created by … William Ware Theiss
Photographic Effects … Cinema Research Corp.
Sound Effects Editor … Douglas H. Grindstaff
Music Editor … Richard Lapham
Re-Recording Mixer … Gordon L. Day, C.A.S.
Production Mixer … Carl W. Daniels
Script Supervisor … George A. Rutter
Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Casting … William J. Kenney
Makeup Artist … Fred B. Phillips, S.M.A.
Hair Stylist … Pat Westmore
Gaffer … George H. Merhoff
Head Grip … George Rader
Property Master … Irving A. Feinberg
Special Effects … Jim Rugg
A Paramount Production
In Association With
Norway Corporation
Executive Vice President in Charge of Production
Douglas S. Cramer