Leonard Nimoy Before Star Trek - Outer Limits: I, Robot

From a 1964 episode of the Outer Limits entitled I, Robot.
xRadio.us
An alternative "color shifted" gold version:
• Leonard Nimoy Before S...

[@russelldunn5969]

This was a good story on the original Outer Limits. In the 90s version, it was remade with Nimoy playing the part of the lawyer defending the robot. Leonard was given the chance to stretch his acting ability to the limit and did an amazing job. Hollywood needs to get over it’s typecasting phobia and give veteran actors another chance

[@CubanPete1990]

R.I.P Leonard Nimoy and live long and prosper.

[@cointrickrTM]

That statement is most illogical

[@cynthiaayers7696]

Totally for sure for sure... can't be dead and still live and prosper. So all those thumbs up.. like...wtf😅

[@whactya]

@@cointrickrTM Why does the original post have 40 thumbs up and your response has only two? I find humans illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.

[@cointrickrTM]

🤣

[@Jungleland33]

@@cointrickrTM Bravo 👏.

[@lyleliliwort8489]

the Outer Limits may have been on a shoestring budget...but man the B/W film quality is phenominal!!

[@sh-ig9fm]

That's film for you low budget TV today looks bad because of cheap cameras Film tends to be made out of the same materials and is largely all the same tho I'm not sure about that

[@adamabele785]

The old black and white film material had a much finer resolution than the first color film. Even today satellites and probes have black and white cameras to get the highest possible resolution and additional filters to get the color information.

[@ldchappell1]

You can do wonders with black and white film if you have a good lighting person. It can make a big difference with the finished product.

[@adamabele785]

@@ldchappell1 There are more tricks with the negative. You can put a shadow on bright parts and develop longer with underexposed parts. With colour film this would result in colour imbalance between different part of the frame, which was hard to remove in those days.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

This episode is an adaptation of Bradbury's I ROBOT story which was also adapted for one of EC COMICS' Science Fiction titles!

[@markdavid4897]

They did an amazing job of hiding Mr. Spock's ears.

[@dropkickirish4449]

He didn’t have his prosthetics on.

[@karlydoc]

@@dropkickirish4449 You know he was joking right?

[@andreichivu7653]

Live long and prosper folks !

[@dropkickirish4449]

@@karlydoc Am I wrong?

[@MichaelMMiddleton098]

Prosthetics…Rounded lobe prosthetic ears. Had to tuck the points in.

[@DefLeppardVanHalen]

Nimoy would play the robot's lawyer in the 1995 remake.

[@sheabutter3260]

And Adam Nimoy directed it.

[@James-bw7rk]

He was very good

[@richardwhite3924]

Howard de Silva, who appears in this scene with Leonard Nimoy, was blacklisted during the McCarthy Red Scare of the 1950's and eventually played Ben Franklin in the movie version of the Broadway Musical "1776".

[@johnholliday5874]

Funny. Now it is the Leftists doing the blacklisting.

[@mackenziedrake]

I had no idea he'd been blacklisted.

[@richardwhite3924]

@@mackenziedrake He refused to "rat out" a friend who had been a member of the Communist Party as a college student in the 1930s. When it was found out that Howard knew his friend had been a Communist once but did not out him in the middle of the Red Scare of the 1950s, Howard was himself blacklisted.

[@mackenziedrake]

@@richardwhite3924 Thank you.

[@scottmccloud9029]

Leonard Nimoy was on the original series of Mission Impossible also, along with a young Sam Elliott.

[@jameretief8327]

It's amazing how much future star power early 1960's shows had.

[@rogerpaquette109]

they were the foundation for the next generation.

[@sheabutter3260]

AHHH!!! now I remember that his son Directed the rebooted version of this in the 90s!!!

[@coiledsteel8344]

Leonard Nimoy had a much greater range as an actor than just Spock - he could REALLY show genuine emotion, unlike Spock.

[@hungrydragonvsfrightendhob7799]

Spock showed so much emotion. He was one of the most deep and expressive characters in the show.

[@robertallen5531]

He was a brilliant actor but the character he create Spock into will never be surpassed by anyone else trying to play the part. He made him his own.

[@AmericanActionReport]

Spock smiled and laughed more than any other regular actor on Star Trek. In many episodes, it was hinted that Spock denied his emotions. Also, one of the hardest things for an actor to do is elicit emotions from the audience while holding the same emotions back.

[@ClockworkGearhead]

Did we watch the same Star Trek?

[@garyfrancis6193]

It is not that we do not have emotions. It is that we choose not to show rhem for the common good according to the collective wisdom of the Pon Far. To break such an oath would be the gravest breach of the Vulcan code of honor.

[@kali3665]

Nimoy and Howard Da Silva had the best lines of the entire episode.

[@deniseeulert2503]

I thought that was DaSilva! He has a distinctive voice.

[@paulmcwilliams1709]

I can remember Leonard Nimoy played parts on the Rifleman, and Gunsmoke too. He was a great actor, but he is best remembered as Mr. Spock. Live long and Prosper All.🖖

[@jackamelar1455]

He was also in the original Mission Impossible TV series seasons 4 and 5.

[@matthewcauthorn3948]

He had a role in Gean Roddenberry “The Lieutenant “ the year before Star Trek started.

[@howardkerr8174]

@@matthewcauthorn3948 He also had several appearances on Sea Hunt and at least 1 or 2 on Highway Patrol.

[@kathrynbellerose3925]

From a West End Girl to a West End Boy l wish him eternal peace and thank you for all his wonder hours of entertainment,

[@KrawmKruach]

This episode ended with the robot breaking free from the guards and running into the street to push a small child out of the way of a truck, sacrificing itself to save another. I was 8 when i first saw this episode and i cried for the robot in the end.

[@lordfaladar6261]

So did I. I had just read all of Asimov's robot books and stories by then, I was 13 and it broke my heart , It's about racism btw at least that's what my sociology teacher told us.

[@alcoholic2412]

They remade this episode in the early 00's. This time Nimoy played the lawyer.

[@kinsmed]

Spoilers, man!

[@nosoupforyou425]

So true, so true

[@MrPGC137]

Yeah, I had the exact same reaction when I first saw it as a kid, too.

[@ausi14u]

I still can't stop thinking it's Spock in the roll, I find a calming familiarity in his voice. Go Leonard, reach the stars, live long and prosper.

[@watchgoose]

role

[@johnbockelie3899]

Leonard Nimoy also starred in the remake of this episode when the new Outer Limits was made years later.

[@robertcromwell9736]

Leonard Nimoy was also in an episode of 'The silent Service' As a sonar man. Deforest Kelly was also in a different episode of the Silent Service.

[@spikespa5208]

Seen early on in a miniscule role in "Them" , 1953 (?) .

[@willmfrank]

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner both guest starred in the same episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." a year or two before Star Trek.

[@lordfaladar6261]

great episode.

[@sofismamaior2080]

Amazing how this robot characterization (1964) closely resembles the costume worn by Robin Williams in 'Bicentennial Man' (1999)! [BR 🔰] Incrível como esta caracterização de robô (1964) se parece muito com a fantasia usada pelo Robin Williams em 'O Homem Bicentenário' (1999)! [BR 🔰]

[@johnrobinson4445]

Well, I Robot and Bicentennial Man are both Asimov titles, so....

[@sofismamaior2080]

@@johnrobinson4445 😁👍

[@PoeLemic]

Yeah, Sofisma, I noticed that too.

[@sofismamaior2080]

@@PoeLemic Incrível semelhança ! Incredible resemblance!

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

@@johnrobinson4445 What are Asimov titles?

[@MrPGC137]

That also happens to be one of my absolute all-time favourite "Outer Limits" episodes, too. I remember when I first saw it as a kid & it made a really strong impression on me. I remember feeling so sorry for the robot at the end. Great episode.

[@righttorecord3538]

I saw it as a kid and wondered how a toaster could be charged with a crime.

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

@@righttorecord3538 I died laughing! 😂😂😂 Best comment.

[@agb1953]

@@farmgirlguitarist6822 Glad to know I made somebody laugh today. My work here is done.

[@karmicselling4252]

In the end, I love the fact that Leonard Nimoy did transcend Spock to become universally recognised as being a great character actor.

[@LibertyandFreedom4]

It is amazing how the 50"s, 60"s and 70"s all had their moments of greatness in terms of T.V. and movie experiences. The 50's blazed the trail, the 60's was the opportunity to experiment and the 70's was the time to reflect and face the hard issues that where at the forefront of society. People think today's television and movie's are do that, but is a f-ing joke. Woman, black, Latino, gay, lesbian and all the others were fighting the real fight in those decades, they were the one's on the front line and the writers and directors of those era's took their stories and creatively put them in these shows to make the viewer think.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Howard De Silva - How strange that he is forever in my mind as both Nikita Khrushchev and Benjamin Franklin. He was perfect in both roles. How can that be?

[@scottmiller6495]

Because he was a great Actor and a real gentleman!

[@zorkmid1083]

I remember him as the guy who narrated the Tom Baker Doctor Who episodes when they were brought to the US.

[@richardwhite3924]

One of the things I have always found interesting about Leonard Nimoy's early acting career is how many times a nice Jewish kid from Boston, Massachusetts, like Nimoy played American Indians on various TV westerns in the early 1960s.

[@LibertyandFreedom4]

Dude, really??!! EVERYBODY knows he is a Jewdian so it really is not that far fetched🤨

[@TheFrog767]

So many storylines came from this series

[@russs7574]

I remember this episode. Outer Limits was a great series, and had one of the greatest opening sequences in the history of TV.

[@tag427]

Gosh I loved that show! and a -great episode

[@keithnaylor1981]

Just watched this episode from my DVD set. This is possibly the best episode in the whole of the two series 1963/64. Leonard Nimoy gives a terrific cool performance. The moving ending brings to mind the STAR TREK episode starring Joan Collins: City on the Edge of Forever.

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

Yeah, it does. Except City on the Edge of Forever was sadder, I wanted to give Captain Kirk a hug when I watched it. 😔😔😢

[@Erekose2023]

In one of his essays, Isaac Asimov Ph.D. stated that he found the idea of any of his works being made into a film or tv series, with the inclusion of over blown 'modern action' scenes. Funny then how an Outer Limits TV story held to the spirit of Isaac Asimov far more than modern works. Given the choice I'd much rather watch this episode than the travesty staring Will Smith

[@lordfaladar6261]

Yeah that movie was made for $$ told. they Did a great job with Bicentennial Man .

[@FloatingFatMan]

@@lordfaladar6261 As good of a job as they did with Bicentennial Man with Robin Williams, they still screwed up the ending. It would have been impossible for Galatea to turn off that life support machine, no matter what. It worked emotionally for the audience, but doesn't work within the 3 laws.

[@lordfaladar6261]

@@FloatingFatMan true! but maybe he made her like him, an almost human

[@Hedgehobbit]

This episode wasn't based on an Assimov story but one by Otto Binder. Assimov's publisher stole the name of the Binder story (I, Robot) and used it as the name of the book. Supposedly, Assimov was upset by this, as he was inspired by the original story.

[@Erekose2023]

@@Hedgehobbit Fair enough.. I wasn't aware of that. Even so, the esence of my comment still stands. Outer Limits diod a better job back then of staying true to Binder''s story, than modern Hollywood did with Asimovs. I'Robot is a 100% trravesty in my view, and I would far rather watch this Outer Limits, than that big screen rubbish any day. Oh, and thanks for pointing me at Otto.. Always good to learn more things. [I did do another post which I deleted when I realised that this was connected to the 'Outer limits#' and not to a post I made on a clip from that .. can't thinkj of a suitabloe derogatory, film that was made.

[@shibolinemress8913]

This also had John Hoyt (Dr. Boyce in TOS "The Cage"). The lawyer was probably an inspiration for the character of Samuel T. Cogley in TOS "Courtmartial". And as commented below, the trial probably also helped inspire TNG's "The Measure of a Man". It's fascinating to see all these connections! 🖖😁

[@gecko-sb1kp]

Nimoy had so much potential as an actor. Outside of Spock he was a brilliant actor...

[@howardkerr8174]

Sorry, I didn't read all the comments. But, for those who are into B/W programming from the 50s, Leonard Nimoy appears several times on Sea Hunt, usually as a criminal of some type and I believe makes an appearance or 2 on the old Highway Patrol series. There's also an episode of...shoot, I forget the series name, where he plays an Indian. Strange, I remember this episode of Outer Limits but had forgotten Nimoy played a journalist, I didn't remember his appearance at all.

[@dirk.o4424]

Leonard Nimoy also starred in the 1954 film Formicula(Them) as a US Air Force sergeant.

[@theloneranger2101]

For anyone that's never watched the original black & white Outer Limits do yourself a big favour and watch them all. Only two series were made and they still stand up after all these years as a great sci-fi series with some very creepy episodes indeed. Stay well clear of the 90's remake series it's rubbish! Please don't be put off by the fact the original series was made in black and white it really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the episodes. I think it was the best sci-fi TV series ever made, try watching them very late at night on your own for the full affect of how creepy some episodes are. The two series are available on DVD.

[@racookster]

I don't entirely agree with that. "A Stitch in Time," which first aired on January 14, 1996 and starred Amanda Plummer, was one of the best things ever produced for television. Plummer won an Emmy for it. Unfortunately, they did two sequels (one of them a clip show - *gag*), and they both stank.

[@lesnyk255]

I agree that the reboot fell far short of the original in cinematic originality - it looks pretty conventional by comparison. (Season 2 of the original suffered the same bland look, but that was because of network micromanagement.) A few of the reboot shows - a very few - are quite compelling, if not cinematically, then thematically. "Think Like a Dinosaur" starts off with a silly premise, but ends asking some difficult questions; "The Conversion" is quite good, though the sci-fi elements are totally unnecessary - would work much better as a 2-person play; and "Replica" has a surprise upbeat ending that I never saw coming. The clip shows are embarrassing, as are the remakes of "Nightmare" & "Feasibility Study".

[@brucewelty7684]

IF you can find radio replays of X minus ONE give them a listen

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

I agree totally! I am a Outer limits fan and the 90s Outer Limits were just not hitting it. The original black & white Outer Limits was the best.

[@mtrich8113]

That was a good story, the robot show that he was more human than all of us.

[@steveevans424]

Lenard was a natural actor, smooth, likable, confident, and believable....You know who is close ringer it's John. B .Wells.....regards

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

I really liked him in Columbo. What a great actor!

[@stevemar4779]

Now they have amazing Robots

[@ikagura]

He still got that Vulcan look.

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

And we wouldn't have it any other way! 😊😊 RIP Mr. Spock.

[@danmallery9142]

Interesting side note: Howard Da Silva co-starred with William Shatner in a 60s tv show called "For the People"

[@starguy2718]

Fascinating.

[@scottmiller6495]

What a powerful message and episode with 2 class act stars. Wonderful !!!!!

[@scottmiller6495]

Howard De Silva and Leonard Nimoy the best absolutely !!!!!

[@fjccommish]

What's the powerful message?

[@scottmiller6495]

@@fjccommish About humanity and how people weren't ready even back then to accept things as they are or to become.

[@fjccommish]

@@scottmiller6495 What is it people are supposed to accept?

[@scottmiller6495]

@@fjccommish That Howard DeSilvas defense speech about the Robot who was innocent and human nature being afraid of such a contraption showed how people were quick to judge about the future of man and that we should try to understand the good of this instead of the bad.

[@bbbailey47]

And way before this he started his career and I saw him as a child in an old sci-fi movie called Zombies of the Stratosphere in 1952 and Them in 1954.

[@patrickforston7215]

Nimoy appeared in many old westerns in the late 50's to early 60's as well as more contemporary roles but then he landed that role on mission impossible..

[@farmgirlguitarist6822]

He could play any role. 🙂

[@philharvey881]

This episode of The Outer Limits was based on a 1939 science-fiction short story by Eando Binder, not Isaac Asimov or the collection of stories he wrote by the same name.

[@willmfrank]

Fun Fact: "Eando" is not a name; it's a pair of initials - separated, of course, by the word "and" They stand for "Earl" and "Otto" and they were brothers - not sure if they were twins or not.

[@olsmokey]

What's with those funny round ears?

[@turtletouche]

Good actor all around,star trek,bonanza.

[@mcleanblades9234]

everyone remembers nimoy. no one remembers the robot.

[@jjmars9160]

It was the first edition of c-3po

[@rusalkin]

now i know where cameron stole the line to terminator 2's ending "if a machine can learn the value of life maybe we can too"

[@JohnS-il1dr]

Well Terminator stole it from her as well

[@onlythewise1]

the great outer limits shows so good

[@boclemmons640]

Bumpy raised his famous eyebrow even then

[@kitcat7538]

Nimoy said in an interview that he had moved his eyebrows like that all his life, and the Star Trek writers picked up on that and began writing it into the scripts. He added that he had to stop the writers from overusing it because he was afraid of ruining its effectiveness.

[@normanlee6609]

Besides, Leonard Ninoy aka Mr Spock of Star Trek: TOS, in this episode also featured Marianna Hill (Nina Link, niece of the late Professor Link) who later would portray Dr. Helen Noel in Star Trek: TOS/Season 1/Ep 09/Dagger of the Mind

[@leximatic]

The robot is awesome.

[@Hclann1]

That amazing hair of his.

[@rictusmetallicus]

"If a robot can understand, then maybe we mortals can catch on, too." - The Outer Limits, 1964 "Because if a machine, a Terminator, can learn the value of human life, maybe we can too." - Terminator 2, 1992 Think about it.

[@willmfrank]

We already know that JC lifted elements of "Terminator" from "Demon with a Glass Hand" and "Soldier," but he cribbed a line from "I, Robot" too?

[@marstondavis]

Howard DaSilva was one hell of an actor. He made a lot of films but one of his best was 'Three Years Before the Mast'.

[@nickymatthews2465]

A better example of his earlier career is from season 11 of Gunsmoke (April 1966). Obviously, his later characterization of Spock is based on his earlier role as John Walking Fox. Very inscrutable.

[@lapplandsjagare]

Hello from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@bigjake2061]

the actor playing the defense attorney would later play as Benjamin Franklin in the movie 1776. He did a good job as Ben Franklin. Both he and Nemoy are solid in this drama as well.

[@joneardley73085]

They did a remake of this where Leonard Nimoy was the lawyer it was pretty good. One of my favorites

[@katmandoism]

The first movie Leonard was in is called "Them". Check it out.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

The one with giant ants?

[@sauluribe7082]

He's done Twilight Zone, he's done Perry Mason, Get Smart etc,.

[@crazycappy01]

Leonard Nimoy had a small part in the movie "THEM!" The movie about giant ants.

[@Mister_Pedantic]

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner appeared in the same episode of The Man From UNCLE although they didn't appear in a scene together.

[@xaenon]

They rebooted the Outer Limits in the 1990s (? I think?) and redid this very story. Mr. Nimoy was in that episode as well.

[@russelldunn5969]

He did an excelllent job

[@SBatts-vn1bd]

@ :48 until the famous eyebrow raise @1:01 this was Mr. Spock talking to this man.

[@grgyll4273]

He even does the Spock 'single arched eyebrow' at 1:02.

[@eddieboggs8306]

I saw him on Bonanza. The Animal I think was the episode's name.

[@hoganrichard9627]

I see where the writers of "Bicentennial Man" got the look of their robot.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Interesting captain.

[@maureencora1]

Good Episode of O.L.

[@jeffreyweaver9854]

How about Leonard Nimoy's appearance on an episode of Perry Mason?

[@williamwilson6499]

Hard to believe Gene Roddenberry’s choice for Spock was Goober from the Andy Griffith show.

[@mackenziedrake]

That's an interesting visual. I had no idea.

[@willmfrank]

It wasn't. Gene Roddenberry created the role of Spock for Leonard Nimoy; he suggested George Lindsey as The Less Attractive Alternative, knowing that the studio and the network would pass on him: "Have you got anybody else in mind?" they would say, and Gene would reply "Well, there is Leonard Nimoy..." and they would say "Yeah. Get that Nimoy guy, not Goober. Definitely not Goober."

[@samagainaloneandin1464]

We will meet again someTime

[@gordonadams5891]

I recall the voice of the actor playing the attorney but not his name. Anyone?

[@kinsmed]

And the lawyer for the defense is known to me as Ben Franklin in 1776, Howard Da Silva.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

The voice of Galvitron.

[@goose-archbox2833]

Leonard Nimoy Before Star Trek - Outer Limits #leonardnimoy #spock #outerlimits

[@lyleliliwort8489]

Bob Carroll a good 3 (4?) years b4 Star Trek was syndicated!!

[@lesnyk255]

He also appeared in a season 1 episode, "The Production & Decay of Strange Particles" - but he wasn't given very much to do. He shows up VERY briefly toward the end of the movie "Them!", as an army teletype operator with the unforgettable line "This just in, Sir".....

[@HariSeldon913]

Check out the Man From UNCLE episode, The Project Strigas Affair. 2 years before Trek and it has Nimoy and Shatner as well as Werner Klemperer (Col Klink).

[@SupesMe]

I've read I Robot, This actually seems way more like one of the stories in the book then that crappy movie they made

[@johnbockelie3899]

Forget that crappy remake excuse of a movie. This story is faithful to the original.

[@liman42]

There have been several stories titled "I, Robot". The movie I don't think was based on the Asimov story.

[@ThePoreproductions]

@@liman42 Are you guys talking about the 2004 movie with Will Smith?

[@liman42]

@@ThePoreproductions Si. I guess it WAS based on the Asimov version. I read it so long ago I didn't recognize it.

[@CassandrashadowcassMorrison]

@@liman42 It was not. It was based on Eando Binder's novel Adam Link---Robot published in 1950. Asimov admired the book very much though. It is available for Kindle.

[@jackieshafran5109]

leonard u look young?

[@Renshen1957]

For is an unlikely number in Mandarin, sounds like the word death, double 4 worse, and triple 4 is the worst.

[@Jamesalec63]

The robot looks a lot like the one in Robin Williams film I am guessing this inspired that movie and Twicky from Buck Rogers In 25th Century?

[@Zak6959]

That’s why they call the the outer limits.

[@mitchcoop1]

A.I. in 1964.....It's gonna happen

[@marvwatkins7029]

And Keeyan Wynn.

[@eq1373]

He looked logical even then

[@donbrassco301]

The Ears Know's😤

[@lliamjurdom9505]

Poor robot got cancelled ...

[@zachreyhelmberger894]

What did the robot say? The closed captioning did not catch it.

[@markw208]

Leonard Nimoy named his son Adam

[@swampfuel20]

We mortals...

[@onlythewise1]

courts a place were greed and money go on and innocents suffer

[@davepitts4479]

Leonard in an earlier role :-)

[@williamscott614]

RIP Spock, See you in the 🌙

[@bellbookcandle3051]

Was that the same actor playing the older guy who played Henry Mudd on Star Trek? 🤔

[@tomryan914]

No, That was Roger C. Carmel.

[@bellbookcandle3051]

@@tomryan914 Thx!

[@johngranato2673]

Quite logical

[@hypercomms2001]

Hey is that Bicentennial man, and Robin Williams?

[@randomhuman1965]

Someone please CG the ears and eyebrows

[@waverlyking6045]

At the expense of sounding like a Luddite, the prosecution turned out to be right despite the episode trying to pull our heartstrings toward the defense. Adam went berserk in the courtroom and he injured a child even if it was not intended.

[@allan5750]

Howard da Silva

[@Doggeslife]

My other Nimoy moment comes from Mission Impossible, not this.

[@HenryCasillas]

☮️