45 Years Ago, William Shatner Was Sure ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ Would Fail
Star Trek definitely lived long and prospered. Though the original series’ late ’60s run only lasted three seasons and was cancelled due to low ratings, reruns went into syndication around the world, earning the show legions of fans who clamored for more — and on December 7, 1979, they got Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which celebrates its 45th anniversary today.
The film marked the first of several big-screen adventures for Captain Kirk, Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise. And despite a number of problems — including a script that was not completed until production was already well underway, and mixed critical reviews when the film was released — it helped reinvigorate the franchise, leading to multiple sequels and spin-offs that have become a cultural phenomenon.
What else don’t you know about Star Trek: the Motion Picture? Read on to find out!
1 The Fan Who Kept the Show Alive Has a Cameo
Paramount/Everett Collection
When Captain Kirk addresses the crew before launching the Enterprise, a sea of faces can be seen in the background. Among these extras were some very familiar names in the Star Trek fandom. Bjo Trimble, co-organizer of the letter-writing campaign that helped save the original Star Trek series from cancellation, can be spotted among the crowd. Trimble’s campaign in the late 1960s played a pivotal role in securing the show’s third season, and her presence in the movie was an amazing nod to the fans’ influence in keeping the franchise alive.
2 William Shatner Thought It Would Fail
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
When William Shatner attended the world premiere of the film, he was not exactly optimistic about its success. Seeing the completed movie for the first time, Shatner was struck by its slow pace and thought it marked the end of the Star Trek journey. He famously remarked, “Well, that’s it. We gave it our best shot, it wasn’t good, and it will never happen again.” He recalled his initial reaction 15 years later and added, “Shows you what I know.”
3 The Cast Had Concerns About Aging
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
After a decade-long hiatus, cast members were understandably worried that fans might feel strange about their favorite characters looking older on the big screen. To help hide the passage of time, special lighting and camera tricks were employed to make the actors appear younger. Shatner even went on an extreme diet to prepare for the role. However, the filmmakers decided to embrace the aging process in the following films (surely to the relief of everyone on the Enterprise).
4 Uhura’s Earpieces Were the Only Original TV Props Used
Paramount/Everett Collection
While many of the props from the original series were recreated for the film, only one iconic prop used on the original show was also used in the film: Uhura’s communications earpieces. The prop department had apparently forgotten to make new earpieces for the movie, so they had to dig out the original pair from storage.
5 Vulcan Dialogue Was Written to Match the Actors’ Lip Movements
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
In one of the film’s most memorable sequences, Spock undergoes the Kolinahr ritual, an intense Vulcan meditation. Initially filmed in English, the dialogue was later re-recorded in Vulcan to add authenticity to the scene. Linguist Hartmut Scharfe of UCLA was brought in to create the Vulcan language. He carefully crafted the lines to fit the existing lip movements of the actors, and some of the subtitles were rearranged to make the translation less obvious.
You can stream Star Trek: the Motion Picture on Amazon Prime.
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