The SF roots of the phaser

[Patrick Degan]

While many pages have been written about the possible mechanism for the phaser's disintegration effect (most notably the NDF Theory), it does well to look at the origins for the phaser in science fiction; the disintegrator beam weapons which featured in Republic Saturday morning serials and in larger budget SF movies.

The other day, AMC ran The Day The Earth Stood Still. Great movie. One of the finest SF movies ever made. If you recall, Gort's beam weapon is shown to exhibit phaser-like characteristics, in that it causes the object it strikes to be consumed by some sort of internal reaction which disintegrates it completely yet seems not to cascade outward to other objects. Gort disintegrates Army rifles, a tank, two 50mm artillery pieces, the block of KL9 the army attempted to seal it into, and finally two soldiers. Unlike a phaser, however, there was accompanying heat with each disintegration; burn spots are left on the ground where the targets stood.

Then, there is the infamous "skeleton beam" of the Martian war machines in George Pal's 1953 production of War Of The Worlds. Green energy bolts strike the target, causing it to glow green, then red, then vanish in a cloud of smoke, leaving a burn-spot behind. In the first battle between the Army troops and the Martians in the movie, Dr. Forrester describes the weapon's action to Gen. Mann thusly:


"It must work by neutralising mesons somehow. They're the atomic glue holding matter together. Cut across their lines of magnetic force, and anything simply ceases to exist! Take my word for it, general —this sort of defence is useless against that kind of power!"


These I believe must have been the direct sources which Gene Roddenberry and his production people drew upon for the phaser. The staple disintegration beam of SF seen in movies for twenty years beforehand.

[Darth Wong]

You should watch "Forbidden Planet". It is simply not possible to watch that movie and not see it as the source from which Gene Roddenberry stole Star Trek, lock, stock, and barrel.

Consider: explorer spaceship. Captain and first officer and medic head down to visit the planet. Some kind of babble explaining their FTL drive which is not elaborated on. Their sidearms are goofy-looking but cause attackers such as a tiger to vanish with a flash of red light and no physical residue whatsoever. The movie ends with an attempt to generate some kind of insight into human nature.

[Mr Bean]

Oh yes! I remeber Forbbiden Planet, Don't forget the Giant Picnic Table Cannons Wong

Or the speed at which the "Lasers" travel

I'm guessing that they where traveling at roughly 15 MPH

[Patrick Degan]

You should watch "Forbidden Planet". It is simply not possible to watch that movie and not see it as the source from which Gene Roddenberry stole Star Trek, lock, stock, and barrel.

Consider: explorer spaceship. Captain and first officer and medic head down to visit the planet. Some kind of babble explaining their FTL drive which is not elaborated on. Their sidearms are goofy-looking but cause attackers such as a tiger to vanish with a flash of red light and no physical residue whatsoever. The movie ends with an attempt to generate some kind of insight into human nature.

Another of my favourite movies. And I think it's pretty much an open secret that it "inspired" Star Trek.

[Connor MacLeod]

While many pages have been written about the possible mechanism for the phaser's disintegration effect (most notably the NDF Theory), it does well to look at the origins for the phaser in science fiction; the disintegrator beam weapons which featured in Republic Saturday morning serials and in larger budget SF movies.

The other day, AMC ran The Day The Earth Stood Still. Great movie. One of the finest SF movies ever made. If you recall, Gort's beam weapon is shown to exhibit phaser-like characteristics, in that it causes the object it strikes to be consumed by some sort of internal reaction which disintegrates it completely yet seems not to cascade outward to other objects. Gort disintegrates Army rifles, a tank, two 50mm artillery pieces, the block of KL9 the army attempted to seal it into, and finally two soldiers. Unlike a phaser, however, there was accompanying heat with each disintegration; burn spots are left on the ground where the targets stood.

Then, there is the infamous "skeleton beam" of the Martian war machines in George Pal's 1953 production of War Of The Worlds. Green energy bolts strike the target, causing it to glow green, then red, then vanish in a cloud of smoke, leaving a burn-spot behind. In the first battle between the Army troops and the Martians in the movie, Dr. Forrester describes the weapon's action to Gen. Mann thusly:


"It must work by neutralising mesons somehow. They're the atomic glue holding matter together. Cut across their lines of magnetic force, and anything simply ceases to exist! Take my word for it, general —this sort of defence is useless against that kind of power!"


These I believe must have been the direct sources which Gene Roddenberry and his production people drew upon for the phaser. The staple disintegration beam of SF seen in movies for twenty years beforehand.

Don't forget Mars ATtacks

[Patrick Degan]

Don't forget Mars Attacks

I doubt MA had any influence. The original bubble gum cards first appeared in 1962, and there was certainly no Mars Attacks movie or comic book. I think GR and co. would have taken their inspiration for phasers from the movies they saw for at least a good ten years before working on Star Trek.

[The Nomad]

Unlike a phaser, however, there was accompanying heat with each disintegration; burn spots are left on the ground where the targets stood.

Actually it happened at least one time - "A Simple Inquisition", DS9. Not a feddie phaser, however.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

You should watch "Forbidden Planet". It is simply not possible to watch that movie and not see it as the source from which Gene Roddenberry stole Star Trek, lock, stock, and barrel.

Consider: explorer spaceship. Captain and first officer and medic head down to visit the planet. Some kind of babble explaining their FTL drive which is not elaborated on. Their sidearms are goofy-looking but cause attackers such as a tiger to vanish with a flash of red light and no physical residue whatsoever. The movie ends with an attempt to generate some kind of insight into human nature.

Don't forget the Id Monster, the best damn part of the whole movie.

[General G]

Don't forget the Giant Picnic Table Cannons

Best part of the whole movie

[Darth Servo]

Don't forget the Id Monster, the best damn part of the whole movie.

And one of the crew falls in love with gorgeous babe on Alien planet.