Movies - TV
Star Trek Used A Clever Trick To Get Two Kirks In The Enemy Within
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
In the “Star Trek” episode “The Enemy Within,” Captain Kirk undergoes an unexpected transformation after beaming up from the planet Alpha 177, covered in mysterious magnetic dust.
Unbeknownst to the crew of the USS Enterprise, the dust interferes with the ship's transporter, creating a duplicate Captain Kirk with an altered personality.
The duplicate Kirk exhibits aggressive and cruel behavior, while the original Kirk retains his gentle nature. Throughout the episode, the clone wreaks havoc aboard the Enterprise.
However, because of the show's modest budget and the technological limitations of the time, the episode employed creative solutions to depict two Kirks on screen simultaneously.
Instead of split-screen photography, the production team used clever editing techniques, body doubles, and distinctive makeup to differentiate between the Kirks.
The episode was a huge success despite the challenges, thanks to the contributions of writer Richard Matheson, director Leo Penn, and the seasoned body double actor, Don Eitner.