The legacy of Star Trek films is as sophisticated as it’s numerous, however even then, there appears to be an amazing lack of affection for 1979’s Star Trek: The Movement Image. Most followers would imagine that this franchise’s cinematic life begins with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, as that first movie is likely one of the most closely criticized entries within the full lineup. Possibly that’s as a result of, within the opinion of co-writer Harold Livingston, Gene Roddenberry was “a bastard.”
These aren’t my phrases, as that story comes from my interview with documentarian and Trek fan Brian Volk-Weiss. Whereas selling his collection Icons Unearthed for its present season on the tales behind the James Bond films, we fell right into a little bit of a rabbit gap involving Starfleet’s juiciest secrets and techniques. Sure, this was the identical dialog the place William Shatner’s supposed anti-Kirstie Alley antics had been mentioned as effectively.
When talking with me on behalf of CinemaBlend, Volk-Weiss additionally shared a very fascinating story involving the legacy of the collection’ storied creator. In case you aren’t a very enormous fan of Star Trek: The Movement Image, some mild bulbs may begin go off as you learn the next:
[Harold] Livingston is the man who wrote Star Trek: The Movement Image with Gene Roddenberry. My entire life, I’ve recognized that. I’ve seen him do interviews, you understand, on the finish of the DVD and, you understand, I’ve seen panels and all the things. I’ve by no means seen him be all excited, and say beautiful issues about Gene Roddenberry, and perhaps we simply obtained him on a foul day, however my God, did this man hate Gene Roddenberry. And never solely did he hate him as a human being, he hated his writing expertise. … You sit down typically pondering you are gonna have a perfunctory interview. Like, ‘What was it like working with Gene Roddenberry? Oh, I beloved him. He was the best man on the earth.’ And [Ron Livingston] was like, ‘That man’s a bastard.’
For somebody who’s an enormous Star Trek fan, Brian Volk-Weiss discovered himself dishing the filth on Starfleet’s best. It was all a results of placing collectively The Middle Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek for the Historical past Channel, a mission that, very similar to Icons Unearthed, noticed the director/govt producer nabbing tales which can be extra prone to be informed on the conference flooring.
It’s only a disgrace that, because the Behind the Attraction mastermind informed me throughout our chat, those self same tales are very prone to land on the slicing room flooring of any official documentaries. However what does this hatred of Gene “Bastard” Roddenberry must do with how Star Trek: The Movement Image turned out?
That query may be answered by Volk-Weiss as effectively, as his recollections of Harold Livingston’s blunt emotions additionally included the next:
Harold was very analytical about it. So he was like, ‘Let me provide you with some examples. You realize, within the film how this occurs?’, and I am like, ‘Yeah,’ and he’ll be like, ‘Properly, that is what Gene needed.’ And a few of it was like, all proper … they’re each cool, however a few of them had been fairly dangerous concepts. In order that all the time made me snort.
Whereas not noting the concepts that Gene needed to spoil the enjoyable, that story tracks with simply how treasured Roddenberry might be along with his legacy creation. That kind of management led Star Trek: The Movement Image arguably being be a bit over-indulgent and reverential of its supply, which greater than seemingly led to followers testing after the fourth or fifth magnificence shot in a row of Kirk’s USS Enterprise.
Even after the entire chaos and fireplace that individuals like author Harold Livingston supposedly suffered throughout its manufacturing, the primary Star Trek image nonetheless has its supporters. Future cuts and revisitations to the fabric have impressed of us like producer David Fein to comment why The Movement Image remains to be value watching, which solely retains the mission alive within the profile of Trek followers new and outdated.
That, and let’s face it, there are a handful of individuals that also aren’t over the vital/horrific transporter scene from the Director’s Version. So having a second like that connected to your image’s legacy actually does not damage.
Does Star Trek: The Movement Image actually not work, or is it one other unfairly maligned film that’s ready for the “good, truly” remedy? Personally, I don’t suppose it really works, however I’ll admit it’s been years since I’ve seen the “Particular, Longer Model” on VHS. Possibly in digging by the re-edits which have arrived within the many years since its launch, I’ll discover some new ideas.
Or, like Harold Livingston, I would simply see by the seams and be capable of level out the place Gene Roddenberry’s alleged bastardry actually shines by. I am open to taking that journey once more, simply as I will all the time be excited to listen to extra tales on how Star Trek was much less like its utopian future at a very powerful and catastrophic occasions.
Followers of Brian Volk-Weiss’ documentary work are actually spoiled for what to observe. Not solely does he have Icons Unearthed: James Bond operating each Wednesday on Vice, however Season 2 of Disney+’s Past The Attraction is ready to debut for Disney Parks followers on November 1st. Nonetheless, in case you’re hungry for extra Star Trek filth than you may shake a bat’leth at, The Middle Seat is at the moment streaming for these with entry to both a Peacock subscription, or Pluto TV.
