Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Directed by: Robert Wise | 131 minutes | action, adventure, science fiction | Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Persis Khambatta, Stephen Collins

Fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the first feature film, based on the television series “Star Trek”. The original series, often abbreviated TOS – The Original Series to distinguish it from all spinoffs – aired for only three years, between 1966-1969, but then repeated endlessly. Although the studio bosses found the ratings of the series disappointing at the time, they actually turned out to have exactly the right demographic proportions. “Star Trek” gained cult status and extremely loyal fans (Trekkies), hoping for the return of the beloved characters. In the early 1970s, a short-lived animated series followed, in which the actors from the series (minus Walter Koenig as Chekov) lent their voices to their drawn characters. The creator of the Star Trek universe, Gene Roddenberry, did not consider the animated series part of the official canon. Meanwhile, preparations were made for film, but the Paramount studio initially saw more potential in a new TV series, which should be called “Star Trek: Phase II”. That idea went overboard with the success of ‘Star Wars’ (1977) and from storylines for the new TV series eventually emerged ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’. The director was recruited by Robert Wise, who previously won Oscars for ‘West Side Story’ and ‘The Sound of Music’. The return of the full original cast generated a lot of media attention. At that time, science fiction was in the spotlight, with the release of the already mentioned ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and even James Bond went into space with ‘Moonraker’. However, ‘Star Trek’ has always been more of the “science”, in the midst of the “fiction”. Also in the film it is mainly about big ideas, questions about morality and the relationship between the main characters. The Kirk-Spock-Bones triangle is central to this.

It is completely justified that the film was not so well received and did not fully live up to expectations. The interaction between Kirk (Shatner, who went on a crash diet to look good in his uniform), Spock (the ever-reliable Nimoy) and Bones (Kelley, who comes back on board with a full beard) really kicks in late corridor, putting one of the most important pillars of the success of ‘Star Trek’ under pressure. The story, about a looming cloud over which a certain V’ger is in command and wants to destroy the Earth, is not really original and interesting enough to hold the attention completely. Director Wise also makes the mistake of overindulging in beautiful filmmaking. There are many long shots showing the majestic beauty of space, the Enterprise and the inside of the looming cloud where V’ger resides, but there are far too many and it all takes way too long. The reintroduction of Kirk with “his” Enterprise is technically clever and the special effects are – certainly for the time – fine, but by stretching that moment endlessly, all of its impact is lost.

The main new supporting roles from actors who were not in the original series are Persis Khambatta as Deltan Lieutenant Ilia and Stephen Collins as Captain Willard Decker. The elaboration of their storyline is not well illustrated, which also applies to their acting. Khambatta (an Indian actress who died much too young of a heart condition) only needs to be beautiful and recite lyrics. Collins, in turn, is Kirk’s successor in the captain’s seat of the Enterprise, but is briefly brushed aside by Kirk when the latter takes command of the starship again. Collins acts stiffly and reacts without much conviction to his demotion to first officer. The biggest shortcoming of the film, however, is that it never really comes to life, but continues to ripple and the action is far too thin to lift the film over several dead moments. Fans also call this first part of the film series: “Star Trek: the Motionless Picture”, because of the lack of action. A description such as “The Slow Motion Picture” is also appropriate.

The DVD release of ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ brought with it a “director’s edition” with new digital effects and a polish to the picture and sound. The film saw a revival of the ‘Star Trek’ film series, but will always remain in the shadow of its superior successor, ‘Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan’.