STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) MOVIE NEWS & REVIEW
star trek: the motion picture (1979) movieGenre | Science Fiction
Classification | G
Running time | 132 minutes
Released | 8 December 1979 castWilliam Shatner ... Kirk Leonard Nimoy ... Spock DeForest Kelley ... McCoy James Doohan ... Scotty Walter Koenig ... Chekov George Takei ... Sulu Nichelle Nichols ... Uhura Majel Barrett ... Dr. Chapel Persis Khambatta ... Ilia Stephen Collins ... Decker Grace Lee Whitney ... Janice Rand Mark Lenard ... Klingon Captain David Gautreaux ... Cmdr. Branch directorRobert Wise writerGene Roddenberry ... (based on "Star Trek" created by) Harold Livingston ... (screenplay) Alan Dean Foster ... (story) cinematographerRichard H. Kline ... director of photography musicJerry Goldsmith film editorTodd C. Ramsay ... (as Todd Ramsay) box office resultWorldwide $82,604,699
Australia $ not available
North America $82,604,699 movie minutiaeThe film is believed to take place four years after STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES: TURNABOUT INTRUDER (1969), the final episode of the original series. There is some speculation that the film is set after the crew's second five year mission and subsequent refit. The film was released a decade after the original series ended, so there is some basis to the belief the film actually takes place ten years after the final episode of the series.
For the Director's Cut, Robert Wise received permission, and a budget to complete the film as he had originally intended. Several visual effects scenes, that could not be finished in 1979, due to time and budget constraints, were redone, sometimes with the use of the original models. A completely original model of V'Ger as it appears when the surrounding clouds have dissipated (an elongated fuselage with six pointed projections in the middle) was created for the new shot where V'Ger approaches Earth. Its look was based on the cross-sectional reading of the ship that appears on-screen in the very next shot (looking like a six-pointed star). A computerized "model" of the Enterprise was created, using the original physical model as reference, to create new CGI shots. These new effects shots became problematic with the advent of Blu-Ray disc. Paramount had not produced the new effects in high-definition, and thus the "Director's Edition," as of 2017, has not seen release on Blu-Ray, despite repeated pleas from fans. The studio cites cost as a major factor, as all the effects shots would have to be reproduced from scratch for a high-def release. However, new evidence that has recently surfaced states that all of the CGI assets are still intact and ready to be rerendered in HD. Paramount, unfortunately has yet to give the effects artists the green light.
A clear front runner for the best original score Oscar of 1979, the reason for its failure to win is composer Jerry Goldsmith's very vocal dispute with the music branch over his other eligible score that year for ALIEN (1979). He had as good as disowned his score for Alien and let it be known that he is no way wanted his work to be considered for a nomination. The theory is that the Oscar voters "punished" Goldsmith for being so ungracious - and his signature score for Star Trek suffered by not winning. related movies |
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