STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) MOVIE NEWS & REVIEW

star trek iiI: the search for spock (1984) movie

Genre              |   Science Fiction

Classification   |   PG 

Running time   |   105 minutes

Released         |   1 June 1982 

cast

William Shatner ... Kirk
Leonard Nimoy ... Spock
DeForest Kelley ... McCoy
James Doohan ... Scotty
Walter Koenig ... Chekov
George Takei ... Sulu
Nichelle Nichols ... Uhura
Christopher Lloyd ... Kruge
Merritt Butrick ... David
Robin Curtis ... Saavik
Scott McGinnis ... Mr. Adventure
Robert Hooks ... Admiral Morrow
Cathie Shirriff ... Valkris
James Sikking ... Captain Styles (as James B. Sikking)
Miguel Ferrer ... First Officer
Mark Lenard ... Sarek
Judith Anderson ... Vulcan High Priestess (as Dame Judith Anderson)
Mark Lenard...Sarek

director

Leonard Nimoy

writer

​Gene Roddenberry ... (based on "Star Trek" created by)
 
Harve Bennett ... (written by)

cinematographer

​Charles Correll

music

James Horner​

film editor

​Robert F. Shugrue

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box office result

Worldwide             $​​​​​​76,471,046

Australia                 $​​​​​ not available

North America       $​​​​​​​76,471,046

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movie minutiae

The young Spock was voiced by Frank Welker. Welker and Nimoy shared the role of Megatron/Galvatron in THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE (1986). Welker also provided numerous voices in TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (2009), directed by Nimoy's cousin, Michael Bay. Nimoy was offered the title role, but declined. He voiced Sentinel Prime in TRANSFORMERS: DARK O FTHE MOON (2011).

This was the first "Star Trek" production to be directed by a member of the cast. Leonard Nimoy also directed STAR TEK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986), and William Shatner directed STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989). This would later become commonplace on the various "Star Trek" television series: Jonathan Frakes directed STAR TREK: FIRST OCNTACT (1996) and STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998), as well as fourteen television episodes over three "Star Trek" series while LeVar Burton directed twenty-nine episodes over four "Star Trek" series. Other "Star Trek" cast members who went on to direct their castmates were Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Andrew Robinson, Robert Duncan McNeill, Roxann Dawson, Robert Picardo, and Tim Russ.

Miguel Ferrer appears briefly as the helmsman of the Excelsior. He would later become well known for his appearances in ROBOCOP (1987) and TWIN PEAKS (1990). In those roles, he appeared with several other actors who would also go on to make appearances on STAR TREK: Peter Weller, Kurtwood Smith, Ronny Cox, Ray Wise, David Warner, Richard Beymer, Carel Struycken, Ashley Judd, Mädchen Amick, and Ian Abercrombie.

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related movies

STAR TREK IV:
​THE VOYAGE HOME (1986)

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) MOVIE IMAGES

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STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) STORY SYNOPSIS

​Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) has defeated his archenemy but at great cost. His friend Spock has apparently been killed, the USS Enterprise is being scrapped, and starship physician Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) has taken ill. McCoy's odd behavior is evidence he's harboring Spock's Katra, or animating spirit, and Kirk seeks to take the Enterprise back to the Genesis Planet and find his friend. Rebuffed, Kirk takes dramatic action that results in war with deadly Klingons.

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) MOVIE REVIEW

Reviewed by Mark Geraghty   |   Review date 1 June 2015

​​Pop Movee Rating

The success of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN guaranteed there would be a STAR TREK III. An open-ended conclusion, imposed by Paramount management, for the second film left future story opportunities for the Enterprise and her crew well and truly open. The biggest question to answer was whether Leonard Nimoy would be involved in the third film. Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer had successfully lured Nimoy in to the second film by offering him the chance to play Spock’s death scene. As an actor, there was nothing left for Nimoy to do with the Spock character. Fortunately for Harve Bennett, the production of STAR TREK III coincided with Nimoy’s developing capability as a photographer and director. With minimal convincing of Paramount executives, Bennett offered Nimoy the chance to direct the film as long as he would return as Spock by the end of the film.

Multiple story options were canvassed, but a number of elements were firmly in place early in the story development process. The story would follow-up the ramifications of the creation of the Genesis planet, it would feature the Klingons and by the film’s end Spock would be resurrected. Unfortunately, Nicholas Meyer opted not to participate in STAR TREK III, as he felt the return of Spock compromised the story choices he had made in STAR TREK II. This left Harve Bennett to write the screenplay on his own. The result was a reflection of Bennett’s time spent in the television medium with less time spent on thematic development. The story was plot-driven, with Kirk and his crew going from point A to point B to pint C in order to get to the return of Spock by the film’s conclusion.

The story picks up immediately after the events of the previous film with the Enterprise heading back to Earth. The crew is still in shock over Spock’s death; especially Doctor McCoy who has started to exhibit some strange behaviours over the loss of his friend. The passage of time and their circumstances is brought home to the crew upon their return to spacedock where they bear witness to the U.S.S Excelsior, a new generation of starship capable of transwarp drive. Their situation doesn’t improve when Starfleet Admiral Morrow tells them that the Enterprise is to be decommissioned and her crew reassigned.

Back at the Genesis Planet, the USS Grissom is in orbit with David Marcus and Saavik on board. The sensors pick up a life-form that creates excitement among the entire bridge crew. David convinces the ship’s Captain – Esteban – to allow him and Saavik to beam down and investigate. Elsewhere in space, a Klingon female – Valkris – is the sole passenger merchant trader spacecraft. She is waiting for a signal … Suddenly, a vessel materialises in front of the trader ship; it’s a Klingon Bird of Prey. Valkris transmits a message to Commander Kruge, the ship’s Captain. She informs Kruge that he will find the information useful. Kruge’s demeanour changes as he realises that he must now destroy the trader ship. The Bird of Prey swings across the bow of the trader ship and comes about in an attacking manoeuvre. It locks phasers and fires, destroying the trader ship and Valkris along with it.

Back on Earth, James Kirk receives a visit from Sarek, Spock’s father. Sarek explains that Kirk should have brought Spock’s body back to Vulcan. Kirk tells him that there was never a chance for Spock to share his Katra – his Vulcan spirit. The answer is revealed to both men upon viewing the Engine Room flight recorder footage. Spock may not have mind-melded with Kirk, but he made contact with Dr.McCoy just before he entered the warp core chamber. Kirk now understands the reason for McCoy’s irrational behaviour about Spock. He vows to Sarek that he will return to the Genesis Planet and bring Spock’s body back to Vulcan.

On Genesis, David and Saavik have made a startling discovery – a young Vulcan boy! David assumes that the Genesis effect somehow regenerated Spock’s body, creating a new life. Saavik, however, is concerned what is happening around them. The planet is developing in wrenching fits and starts at times without warning or explanation. Their situation becomes graver when they lose contact with the Grissom. Unknown to either of them, the Kruge has arrived at Genesis and has destroyed the ship. One of his officers tells him that there are life-forms on the planet below. Kruge commands that he will lead a landing party to the planet’s surface.

Kirk arranges a meeting with Admiral Morrow and tells him that there may be a possibility to save Spock. He asks to take the Enterprise back to Genesis, recover Spock’s body and go to Vulcan. Morrow declines his request, but Kirk pushes him. Morrow warns Kirk that he could stand to lose his career in Starfleet if he keeps up such irrational demands. Kirk finally concedes that he had to try, even if there was a slight chance to save Spock. After his discussion with Morrow, Kirk meets with Chekov, Sulu and Uhura. He tells them that their mission has been declined, but they’re going anyway. Chekov and Sulu accompany Kirk to a holding facility where Dr.McCoy has been detained by Starfleet security officers. Rescuing the good Doctor, the group briefly reunite with Uhura, who is now in charge of a Starfleet transporter station. She tells them that she’ll see them on Vulcan and then beams them to the Enterprise. Meanwhile, on board the Excelsior, Scotty, the newly-appointed Captain of Engineering, is making some last minute “checks”. He runs into Captain Styles, who takes pleasure in goading Scotty about breaking the Enterprise’s speed records in the morning. Scotty is not amused as he departs via the turbolift. A few minutes later, Scotty appears on the Enterprise bridge, joining Kirk, McCoy, Sulu and Chekov.

Kirk takes the opportunity to tell his friends that only he and McCoy have to return to Genesis; the others do not. It’s little surprise however when Scotty, Sulu and Chekov all opt to sta. As they start to make their way out of Spacedock in a highly-automated Enterprise, warning alarms begin to trigger everywhere, including on board the Excelsior. Captain Styles immediately makes his way to the bridge, Meanwhile, the Enterprise is bearing down on the Spacedock doors, but the over-ride code that Scotty has programmed is failing to respond. In the nick of time, the doors accept the code and the Enterprise squeezes through with little room to spare. However, Kirk and his crew aren’t free yet. The Excelsior is after them and is gaining ground quickly. Kirk tells Sulu to jump to warp just as the Excelsior gets within range. On the Excelsior bridge, Styles gives the command to engage the trans-warp drive, but as the count-down reaches zero the ships fails to launch as it loses all power. Back on board the Enterprise, Scotty gives McCoy a number of parts from the Excelsior’s trans-warp drive and tells him the more complicated the plumbing the easier it is to “gum up the works”.

As Kirk and his skeleton crew race toward the Genesis Planet, they are unaware of the Klingon threat in the space above it and on its surface. David and Saavik however have become acutely aware that someone is tracking them across the rapidly changing landscape of the planet. It’s also now obvious that Spock’s aging is directly linked to the changes occurring around him. Saavik, who is deeply concerned for her fellow Vulcan, presses David on why the planet is so unstable. He confesses that he used proto-matter, an outlawed highly volatile form of matter, to achieve the spectacular development they are witnessing; albeit in a tone that belies an acknowledgement of failure on his part.  The situation doesn’t get any better for the trio when Kruge’s landing party catches up with them the next morning. David and Saavik try to explain to Kruge that Genesis is a failure, but the Klingon isn’t having any of it. He demands that they share the secret of the Genesis Project or they will die. Kruge’s interrogation is interrupted by one of his crew, who advise him that a Federation Starship has just entered the sector. Kruge beams back to his Bird of Prey in anticipation of battle.

As the Enterprise approaches Genesis, Chekov thinks, just for a moment, that he has seen a Klingon Bird of Prey on the sensors. Their concerns are heightened when they are unable to raise the Grissom on sub-space communications. Suddenly, the Bird of Prey de-cloaks and a savage volley of shots is exchanged between the two ships. The Bird of Prey is badly damaged and Kruge can't understand why the Enterprise hasn’t finished them. He doesn’t realise that the great ship has been jury-rigged for automated flight and has a total crew of five! Kirk realises that the Enterprise has suffered too much damage in the exchange, so he hails the Bird of Prey to discuss the terms of their surrender. The tables are turned when Kruge tells Kirk that he is holding three hostages on the planet below and is prepared to kill them if the Enterprise and her crew do not surrender. Kruge patches David and Saavik through to Kirk. David tells his father that Genesis is a failure and he can’t believe that Kruge would kill one of them. True to his word though, Kruge orders his men to kill one of the hostages. Saavik is chosen, but David throws himself in front of the Klingon before he can bring his knife down his victim. David, however, is not strong enough to fight the Klingon and Kruge’s man brings his knife down into David’s chest, killing him. Desperate to learn what has happened, Kirk is stunned when Saavik announces that “David is dead”. Kruge presses his advantage, promising to kill another hostage if Kirk does not surrender immediately. Kirk concedes his request, but is already working out a new plan to beat Kruge. Along with Scotty and Chekov, Kirk activates the Enterprise self-destruct program.

Kirk and his crew beam to the surface of Genesis just as the majority of the Klingon crew beam aboard the Enterprise to take control. Making their way to the bridge, the boarding party are confused by the absence of a crew. One of the Klingon officers reports back to Kruge and tells him that the only sign of activity is coming from the Enterprise computer. All too late Kruge realises that Kirk has tricked him … The self-destruct program reaches zero and explosions start to rip the Enterprise apart as, for one final time, the great ship saves her crew in the ultimate sacrificial act. On the planet below, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov watch on as the Enterprise disintegrates into fireball across the Genesis Planet’s night sky.

Kirk and his crew re-group quickly as they’re now racing to find Saavik and Spock before Kruge’s men can kill either of them. Upon finding them, Kirk quickly dispenses with the remaining Klingon guard and rushes to their aid to make sure they’re both okay. He then sees David’s lifeless body and takes a moment to grieve his loss; but his mourning is short-lived. Kruge beams down to the planet in seeking vengeance and the chance for a one-on-one fight with Kirk. Kruge orders everyone but Kirk and Spock to be beamed to the Bird of Prey. Face-to-face, both men realise that only one of them is going to make it off Genesis alone. Kirk prevails in the fight, but only after a brutal, bloody exchange that leaves Kirk in bad shape and Kruge dead. He uses what strength he has left to grab Spock and impersonate Kruge’s voice to beam up to the Bird of Prey.

The remaining Klingon on the ship is caught unawares when Kirk materialises and is quickly overcome. Kirk and his crew manage to commandeer the ship just in time to escape the being sucked into the gravity of the Genesis Planet and being destroyed. 

Spock has been rescued, but at great cost. There is no guarantee either that Spock’s Katra will be able to be separated from McCoy and mind-melded back into his own restored body. Undeterred, Kirk and his crew make their way to Vulcan and land the Klingon ship at the foot of Mount Selaya, where the ancient Vulcan ritual of Fal Tor Pan must take place if there is any chance of Spock’s Katra being re-joined with his physical body. Uhura and Sarek meet Kirk and his crew upon their arrival and lead them up the steps on a long procession to the unknown.

The ceremony takes all night and finishes just as day breaks. After what seems an eternity, McCoy emerges from the Vulcan temple. He looks visibly drained but tells his crew mates that he is all right. Soon after, a hooded figure emerges from the temple. Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and Saavik watch to see if there is any recognition from the figure. The figure has almost passed by the group, but then stops and turns to look at Kirk. He pulls the hood of his robe down and begins to speak …

The story finishes with Spock’s crewmates gathering around him. By some miracle, he has been returned to them and the crew of the Starship Enterprise are together once more.

So, is STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK any good?

As a piece of speculative fiction, the story is too reliant (no pun intended) on the events of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN and a broader understanding of ‘Star Trek’ mythology for it to truly connect with a mainstream audience. Harve Bennett’s plot-driven story makes sure the action moves forward at a good pace and it makes for an entertaining film, but the amount of self-reference that occurs makes it difficult for non-Trek viewers to know whether or not what they’re watching is really any good.

The screenplay could have done with a little more of the intuitive drama that STAR TREK II's story introduced into the series, where the thematic elements of age and death played a vital part in the film’s narrative and individual characterisations. Kirk especially seems to magically wind the clock back nearly twenty years and recaptures the physicality of his persona from the original series. There’s not much doubt that William Shatner had input into this creative decision, as Kirk’s age issues may have been a little too on-the-nose for him in the previous film.

In acting terms, William Shatner carries STAR TREK III from beginning to end. Leonard Nimoy’s absence doesn’t translate into an equitable redistribution of scenes for Scotty, Sulu, Chekov or Uhura. DeForest Kelley’s McCoy is the only character who picks up any additional screen-time as Kirk seeks to resolve the dilemma of Spock’s Katra in McCoy’s head. The two actors who benefit the most from Nimoy’s absence are Merritt Butrick as David Marcus and Robin Curtis as the re-cast Saavik. Butrick and Curtis benefit as they become the regenerated Spock’s protectors against the backdrop of Christopher Lloyd’s Commander Kruge, who chews the scenery in his relentless quest to discover the secret of the Genesis “weapon”. Unfortunately, as wonderful as Christopher Lloyd is in other roles, his Klingon is a one-note villain who lacks the vengeful motivation of Khan Noonien Singh from the previous film.

The triumph of STAR TREK III is Leonard Nimoy’s direction.

Paramount’s senior management saw the value of Nimoy’s appointment before the production started filming, with the in-built marketing point of having ‘Spock’ direct the film. There were no guarantees of success. It could have been a train wreck. Fortunately, Nimoy had spent a number of his post-Trek years learning how to direct actors on the stage and in television productions. Nimoy was praised by both cast and crew for his professionalism, his work ethic and his above-average technical competency, especially in the field of shot composition. It’s no surprise that, in his later years, Nimoy has been recognised as a highly regarded still photographer.

Another highlight of the film is the return of James Horner to score the film. The STAR TREK III score is not as good as the previous film, but that may be to do with the scope of the film’s action and suspense. It’s not quite up there with STAR TREK II but it remains memorable for several pieces. ‘Stealing the Enterprise’ is a stand-out set piece, as is his new interpretation of the Klingon theme which helps to make Kruge and his crew less warrior-like and a little more mercenary in their nature and actions. STAR TREK III has a broader style range than the second film, which is highlighted in the musical pieces for the crew’s voyage to Vulcan. Given the nature of the story at this point in the film, Horner provides a more upbeat, ethereal style of music to highlight the mysticism of the finale. Unfortunately, this would be Horner’s last STAR TREK film score, as he became more in-demand and subsequently more expensive than the budget of a ‘Trek’ film would allow for a composer of his skill.

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) USEFUL LINKS

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock - Wikipedia
​Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) - IMDb
​Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (1984) - Rotten Tomatoes​

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