In exchanging equipment with a penal colony on the planet of Tantalus, the Enterprise ends up beaming aboard a deranged man, Van Gelder (Morgan Woodward, "Cool Hand Luke"), who'd stowed away inside a container. After listening to some of his rantings, Kirk gets concerned enough to beam down to the penal colony to investigate the facility. Accompanied by a psychiatrist named Helen Noel (the enticing Marianna Hill, "High Plains Drifter"), he learns that the man in charge, Dr. Adams (the great character actor James Gregory, "The Manchurian Candidate"), is experimenting in mind control.
Written by Shimon Wincelberg ('Have Gun - Will Travel'), 'Dagger of the Mind' is good entertainment that explores the interesting idea of how to deal with mentally unbalanced individuals. Here, Dr. Adams has developed a "Neural Neuralyzer" that basically removes old memories and replaces them with memories of Adams' choosing. Kirk is temporarily victimized as he finds out all too well what happens when he is manipulated by the device. Since he and Helen have a bit of a past, he's convinced that he's in love with her. And on back the Enterprise, Bones does everything he can to assist the unfortunate Van Gelder. This prompts Spock to use the "Vulcan mind-meld", the first instance of its use during the series.
Provocative, intriguing, and intelligent, with some decent tension, 'Dagger of the Mind' is a fine early episode, marked by good acting all around. Woodward (only 40 years old at the time, but looking much older) is memorably intense, and the lovely Ms. Hill is allowed to play a female character of depth and intellect. Gregory is appreciably subtle as the antagonist of the tale, playing all of his scenes in a matter-of-fact way.
Directed by Vincent McEveety, a TV veteran whose theatrical credits include such Disney fare as "Treasure of Matecumbe" and "The Strongest Man in the World".
Seven out of 10.
Written by Shimon Wincelberg ('Have Gun - Will Travel'), 'Dagger of the Mind' is good entertainment that explores the interesting idea of how to deal with mentally unbalanced individuals. Here, Dr. Adams has developed a "Neural Neuralyzer" that basically removes old memories and replaces them with memories of Adams' choosing. Kirk is temporarily victimized as he finds out all too well what happens when he is manipulated by the device. Since he and Helen have a bit of a past, he's convinced that he's in love with her. And on back the Enterprise, Bones does everything he can to assist the unfortunate Van Gelder. This prompts Spock to use the "Vulcan mind-meld", the first instance of its use during the series.
Provocative, intriguing, and intelligent, with some decent tension, 'Dagger of the Mind' is a fine early episode, marked by good acting all around. Woodward (only 40 years old at the time, but looking much older) is memorably intense, and the lovely Ms. Hill is allowed to play a female character of depth and intellect. Gregory is appreciably subtle as the antagonist of the tale, playing all of his scenes in a matter-of-fact way.
Directed by Vincent McEveety, a TV veteran whose theatrical credits include such Disney fare as "Treasure of Matecumbe" and "The Strongest Man in the World".
Seven out of 10.