To borrow a phrase, when it came to Star Trek circa 1980-1981, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
On the one hand, the arrival of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 had proven that audiences would show up for the big screen adaptation of a cult TV series that had gone off the air a decade earlier. The millions of fans who had never even seen the show in its original 1966-1969 run on NBC, but had caught it in syndication, were clearly hungry for more adventures with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
On the other hand, the negative critical response to that film and the incredible expense incurred in bringing it to the screen — its $44 million budget was the highest for a film made in the U.S. up to that time — had franchise owner Paramount Pictures rethinking its approach.
On the one hand, the arrival of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 had proven that audiences would show up for the big screen adaptation of a cult TV series that had gone off the air a decade earlier. The millions of fans who had never even seen the show in its original 1966-1969 run on NBC, but had caught it in syndication, were clearly hungry for more adventures with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
On the other hand, the negative critical response to that film and the incredible expense incurred in bringing it to the screen — its $44 million budget was the highest for a film made in the U.S. up to that time — had franchise owner Paramount Pictures rethinking its approach.
- 7/17/2020
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Joseph Baxter Dec 3, 2019
Star Trek writer D.C. Fontana has passed away, leaving behind a trailblazing legacy that opened doors for female writers.
Dorothy Catherine Fontana, the legendary television writer better known by her gender-hiding nom de plume, D.C. Fontana, has passed away on December 2 at the age of 80, following a short illness, announces the official Star Trek site.
Even to casual fans of 1966-1969’s original Star Trek series who might be oblivious to the show’s behind-the-scenes stories, the name D.C. Fontana should ring a bell, since it was prominently and frequently affixed in the credits. While the story of her emergence in the monolithically male-dominated television industry of the 1960s is one that – especially now – seems destined for dramatization, Fontana’s contributions to the canon of the still-thriving bellwether sci-fi franchise also happened to be crucial.
Further Reading: Star Trek's D.C. Fontana Talks the Origin of Spock's Family
Fontana,...
Star Trek writer D.C. Fontana has passed away, leaving behind a trailblazing legacy that opened doors for female writers.
Dorothy Catherine Fontana, the legendary television writer better known by her gender-hiding nom de plume, D.C. Fontana, has passed away on December 2 at the age of 80, following a short illness, announces the official Star Trek site.
Even to casual fans of 1966-1969’s original Star Trek series who might be oblivious to the show’s behind-the-scenes stories, the name D.C. Fontana should ring a bell, since it was prominently and frequently affixed in the credits. While the story of her emergence in the monolithically male-dominated television industry of the 1960s is one that – especially now – seems destined for dramatization, Fontana’s contributions to the canon of the still-thriving bellwether sci-fi franchise also happened to be crucial.
Further Reading: Star Trek's D.C. Fontana Talks the Origin of Spock's Family
Fontana,...
- 12/3/2019
- Den of Geek
Star Trek, “The Cage”
Written by Gene Roddenberry
Directed by Robert Butler
Produced in 1964-65, Aired October 15th, 1988 in syndication
“Where No Man Has Gone Before”
Written by Samuel A. Peeples
Directed by James Goldstone
Aired September 22nd, 1966 on NBC
“The Man Trap”
Written by George Clayton Johnson
Directed by Marc Daniels
Aired September 8th, 1966 on NBC
Star Trek is a beloved series and, thanks to its longevity in syndication and on DVD, its sequels, and its recent big-screen reboot, it remains as pop-culturally present now as it’s perhaps ever been. The USS Enterprise and her crew have become iconic but as with most shows, Star Trek faced a difficult development process. The series shot two very different pilots, “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, neither of which were actually used to premiere the show to audiences. That privilege went to “The Man Trap”, and while...
Written by Gene Roddenberry
Directed by Robert Butler
Produced in 1964-65, Aired October 15th, 1988 in syndication
“Where No Man Has Gone Before”
Written by Samuel A. Peeples
Directed by James Goldstone
Aired September 22nd, 1966 on NBC
“The Man Trap”
Written by George Clayton Johnson
Directed by Marc Daniels
Aired September 8th, 1966 on NBC
Star Trek is a beloved series and, thanks to its longevity in syndication and on DVD, its sequels, and its recent big-screen reboot, it remains as pop-culturally present now as it’s perhaps ever been. The USS Enterprise and her crew have become iconic but as with most shows, Star Trek faced a difficult development process. The series shot two very different pilots, “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, neither of which were actually used to premiere the show to audiences. That privilege went to “The Man Trap”, and while...
- 6/24/2013
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
"He’s awesome, he’s a great addition, and I think his 'Gary Mitchell' is going to be exemplary," said actor Karl Urban aka "Star Trek Into Darkness" character 'Bones', about fellow cast member, actor Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock"), who plays villain 'John Harrison' in the upcoming film, that many believe is not based on 'Khan', the genetically engineered superhuman from North India, but the classic "Star Trek" TV series character 'Gary Mitchell'.
Director J.J. Abrams who cast his first "Star Trek" movie reboot with young look-alikes from the first "Star Trek" TV series, would never cast a guy with cosmic-blue eyes like Cumberbatch as 'Khan', with the classic "Star Trek" TV/movie performances from Mexican actor Ricardo Montalbán as 'Khan', indelibly etched in the minds of fans.
But Abrams would cast a guy like Cumberbatch as his villain who looks like a younger version of actor Gary Lockwood,...
Director J.J. Abrams who cast his first "Star Trek" movie reboot with young look-alikes from the first "Star Trek" TV series, would never cast a guy with cosmic-blue eyes like Cumberbatch as 'Khan', with the classic "Star Trek" TV/movie performances from Mexican actor Ricardo Montalbán as 'Khan', indelibly etched in the minds of fans.
But Abrams would cast a guy like Cumberbatch as his villain who looks like a younger version of actor Gary Lockwood,...
- 3/12/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
The Walking Tall Trilogy (DVD) Directed by: Phil Karlson / Earl Bellamy / Jack Starrett Starring: Joe Don Baker / Bo Svenson Advertised as the “original revenge film,” Walking Tall is a '70s classic that I’m not sure would appeal to today’s audience even though there seems to be a resurgence in the popularity of heroes in revenge films with films like Taken. The movie was popular enough to spawn two sequels in the '70s, a television movie, a television series (albeit short-lived) and eventually a remake with its own two direct-to-dvd sequels. This review covers the '70s theatrical films that have been released as a trilogy in a single package. When Walking Tall was originally released in 1973, I was only eleven years old, but for some reason, I have a strong memory of this film’s impact. The movie was R-rated, so neither I nor any of...
- 6/22/2012
- by Reed
- FilmJunk
While "Star Trek" is now a huge, beloved franchise, recently reinvigorated by J.J. Abrams' reboot (and, fingers crossed, next year's sequel to that film), it wasn't always like that. The original 1960s series had low ratings, and only lasted three seasons, and while success in syndication let to a film version being greenlit in the aftermath of "Star Wars," that film, 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," proved hugely expensive, and less profitable than Paramount had hoped.
Instead, it was the second film, 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan," that really cemented its place in pop culture. Made for a quarter of the budget of the original, it won rave reviews, thanks to a faster pace and less reverent approach from non-Trekker director Nicholas Meyer, and earned the all-time biggest opening weekend up to that point, and is still held up as a high watermark for the franchise.
Instead, it was the second film, 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan," that really cemented its place in pop culture. Made for a quarter of the budget of the original, it won rave reviews, thanks to a faster pace and less reverent approach from non-Trekker director Nicholas Meyer, and earned the all-time biggest opening weekend up to that point, and is still held up as a high watermark for the franchise.
- 6/4/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
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