These Are the Voyages

James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock got a chance to meet wartime-era Nazis in a 1968 episode from the original Star Trek, proving that Hitler's henchman can disrupt even the time-space continuum. The episode from the beloved TV show's second season has the usual crew beam down on the planet Ekos only to discover the inhabitants aping the Nazi social order. The idea came from one of Kirk's old professors, who introduced the National Socialists on the planet to help organize the planet's chaotic society.

Hanks, Hollywood and History

News today that Tom Hanks (Saving Pvt. Ryan, could we forget?) has lent his talents to a new production debuting this November at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Beyond All Boundaries promises to be a cinematic experience using high tech wizardry and historical footage to tell the story of Americans involvement in World War II. Should be great. More from the AP. More from the museum.

Taking It Off At The Stage Door Canteen

Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-1970), the famed burlesque stripper, charms her audience in 1943's Stage Door Canteen. Compared to today's tramp-stamped pole dancers, Lee is both more charming and more erudite - dropping allusions to Cezanne and Oscar Wilde while dropping her drawers. What's more, servicemen and women in the 1940s understood the humor and appreciated her act. We've come a long way, baby. And it might not be an improvement.

Star Tissue

Brad Pitt looking less than pretty in this poster from Quentin Tarantino’s new WWII movie Inglorious Basterds. Pitt plays Aldo Raine, an Army Lieutenant with gristle for a soul and a previous pain in the neck, if his throat-spanning scar is any indication. Raine's task: recruit a squad of Nazi-killing soldiers and drop them in occupied France to wreak havoc. You can see what happens when the movie storms ashore this August. More pictures at the Vanity Fair site. As for Brad's hickey, take a poll: gross or no? Vote at right.