"Cold Hands, Warm Heart" is an episode of the original ''
The Outer Limits'' television show. It first aired on September 26, 1964, during the second season. The episode features
William Shatner
William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...
in the lead role as a space explorer, not long before he was cast as
Captain Kirk
James Tiberius Kirk, often known as Captain Kirk, is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Originally played by Canadian actor William Shatner, Kirk first appeared in ''Star Trek'' serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterp ...
in ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...
''. Shatner's ''Outer Limits'' character is involved in a mission called "Project Vulcan". During the opening scene, Shatner is shown parking his car and walking into a building at
Space Park, right past a reflecting pool where he and other ''Star Trek'' crew members beamed down in a 1967 first-season episode,
Operation -- Annihilate!.
The episode was a ''Star Trek'' "preunion", as three of the co-stars would later have guest roles in television or film episodes of the series.
Malachi Throne portrayed Commodore Mendez in the episode "
The Menagerie".
Lawrence Montaigne portrayed the Romulan Decius in the episode "
Balance of Terror
"Balance of Terror" is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by Paul Schneider and directed by Vincent McEveety, it first aired on December 15, 1966.
The series, ...
" and the Vulcan Stonn in the episode "
Amok Time". Montaigne was also considered for the original role of
Spock
Spock is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. He first appeared in the Star Trek: The Original Series, original ''Star Trek'' series serving aboard the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), USS ''Enterpri ...
on that series.
would later appear as Captain Styles in the film ''
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' (1984).
Opening narration
"The most brilliant planet in our solar system is Venus, named for the Goddess of Love. It is closer to Earth than any other planet –twenty-eight million miles away. Until sometime in the last half of the twentieth century it is still a planet shrouded in mystery, enveloped in a heavy blanket of clouds and steam. Because its surface temperature was believed to be several times that of Earth's, it was not thought possible for Man to reach Venus and come back... until one day, somebody did it."
Plot
After completing the first crewed mission to orbit Venus, astronaut Jeff Barton returns to Earth with recurring nightmares and an increasing inability to stay warm. Barton's condition continues to worsen and is accompanied by a peculiar webbing of his fingers. Only after his nightmares become more vivid does he recall an unrevealed alien encounter in the Venusian atmosphere. Barton's doctors suspect the astronaut had been genetically affected by his mission, and they then struggle to treat and cure him before his mutations completely take over.
Closing narration
"The eternal, never-ceasing search for knowledge often leads to dark and dangerous places. Sometimes it demands risks not only of those who are searching, but of others who love them. These, in their own special way, know that knowledge is never wasted, nor is love."
Cast
Notes
External links
The Outer Limits (1963 TV series) season 2 episodes
1964 American television episodes
Venus in television
Works about astronauts
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