"STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES _ THE RODDENBERRY VAULT"
CLASSIC SERIES: Surprise! You'd think after 50 years there's nothing new to be seen from "Trek's" 1960s small-screen prototype, but here it is! Watch the enduring saga's themes/characters develop, through newly preserved raw-footage dailies (from clapboard start to director's "Cut!"), deleted scenes (Sulu discusses China-America relations leading to World War III!), and more, from 12 key episodes. (Those 12 are seen in full, listed by on-screen menus as main programing.) The outtakes' unpolished effect lends the feel of being on-location or in the studio, eavesdropping as the creators figure it out.
(And now their home-video successors are finally figuring out packaging. This set's three discs nestle into a regular Blu-ray case, which goes inside a compact hardboard "vault" with magnetic "lock" and "door" _ a clever design that's eminently giftable yet easily shelvable.)
EXTRAS: Here's the meat of the set. The 90-minute documentary "Inside the Roddenberry Vault" weaves insightful interviews (William Shatner, series writers/crew, archivists, industry fans) around the recovered tidbits. These deeply explore how the series' core values, philosophy and templates took shape, providing fine context in which to (re) appreciate the saga's against-all-odds quality, creativity, humanity.
Other goodies: half-hour featurettes on series origins and design/effects, additional unseen footage, commentaries, more.
LIST PRICE: $77 Blu-ray, from CBS
