Spotting The Motion Picture's Aliens

[JD]

I always see all this stuff about all these different aliens that showed up in The Motion Picture and the last couple times I've watched it, I've tried to spot them all, but so far all I've been able to spot is the Rhandarrite ensign on the bridge, who's been given several different names in different books and comics, and the Betlegeusian and Andorian in the crew breifing scene. So where are all of the other aliens that are listed on Memory Alpha and have shown up in the books and comics from time to time?

 

[CoveTom]

I always see all this stuff about all these different aliens that showed up in The Motion Picture and the last couple times I've watched it, I've tried to spot them all, but so far all I've been able to spot is the Rhandarrite ensign on the bridge, who's been given several different names in different books and comics, and the Betlegeusian and Andorian in the crew breifing scene. So where are all of the other aliens that are listed on Memory Alpha and have shown up in the books and comics from time to time?

Well, of course, TMP was our first introduction to a Deltan. And there were multiple Vulcans. And Klingons.

But, beyond that, there were several other alien species seen beyond those you mentioned. Most are just fleeting glimpses, such as at Starfleet Headquarters when Kirk's tram is arriving or during the rec dec briefing scene.

I found this article that gives some good looks at some of the aliens:

Forgotten Aliens of The Motion Picture — Forgotten Trek

Robert Fletcher named the movie's many new alien races and provided background for each one.

forgottentrek.com

 

[JD]

Yeah, I've seen most of them on Memory Alpha and I know what they are, but I've never been able to actually find them in the movie.

 

[Firebird]

In this screencap from the San Francisco tram sequence, I can spot a pair of Aaamazzarites, a Megarite, an Arcturian, a Rigellian (head almost cut off at the top of the frame), a pair of Zaranites, a trio of Betelgeusians, and a Rhaandarite (just peeking out from behind Sonak's left shoulder). They all sort of make a halo around Sonak from left-to-right:

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The only ones I can't see in this shot are the Kazarites, Saurian, or the Shamin Priest.

The Saurian makeup was used in the Rec Deck sequence, along with a couple Zaranites, a Betelgeusian, and a handful of Vulcans and Andorians. I only just spotted the Saurian - they're waaaaay in the back of the room in the wide shot. You can make out the two large yellow eyes even from this far away:

​

 

[Therin of Andor]

In this screencap from the San Francisco tram sequence, I can spot a pair of Aaamazzarites, a Megarite, an Arcturian, a Rigellian (head almost cut off at the top of the frame), a pair of Zaranites, a trio of Betelgeusians, and a Rhaandarite (just peeking out from behind Sonak's left shoulder). They all sort of make a halo around Sonak from left-to-right:

View attachment 55846​

Well done on finding the Rigellian in this image! Thank you! Also the Zaranite.

Someone once spotted the glimmer of the gold helmets of the Shamin Priests. A dark corner.

Watch the UFP seal on the floor. An Arcturian (seen behind Sonak in the still) stops to ask the two Rhaandarite Ambassadors for directions. One of the Rhaandarites is female, despite the chest hair. She has the round aluminium disk on her forehead to denote her gender.

The Andorian ambassadors (the male and one of the females) are visible between the Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador and Kirk in the labelled pic above. They are fun to watch as they meander through the crowds! One of the females breaks away from the trio and heads off in a different direction, only to circle back towards her colleagues.


Three Andorian Ambassadors by Ian McLean, on Flickr

The extras were all warned not to cross certain lines, as the scene is patched together from several shots, and they risked vanishing from the scene in mid stride. There are also figures that do not move at all. They are part of the matte paintings!

The Megarite passes the camera for an early but brief closeup.


Betelgeusian ambassadors by Ian McLean, on Flickr

This photo from "ST:TMP: Inside the Art and Visual Effects", Titan, 2020. Note the eagles and leopards featured in the very expensive fabric (real gold and silver thread) used in the Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador's robes (third in the row above, wearing the tall hat). Most expensive costume ever worn by a screen extra (as of 1979), from a bolt of fabric originally purchased by Cecil B. DeMille for "The Ten Commandments". The maximized the use of the fabric and put it on a very tall actor, and probably had him stand on a crate, which is why he doesn't move from his spot. The middle actor in this pic has removed his mask.

My old blog page identifies many faces in the crowd on the Rec Deck.

Faces in the crowd

I've wanted to do this for quite a while, as it's a frequently asked question: who in Star Trek fandom played the crew of the USS Enterprise...

therinofandor.blogspot.com

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Can you fill in the map here with those? https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Map:Enterprise_crew,_2270s

 

[SilvioDante]

In this screencap from the San Francisco tram sequence, I can spot a pair of Aaamazzarites, a Megarite, an Arcturian, a Rigellian (head almost cut off at the top of the frame), a pair of Zaranites, a trio of Betelgeusians, and a Rhaandarite (just peeking out from behind Sonak's left shoulder). They all sort of make a halo around Sonak from left-to-right:

View attachment 55846
​

The only ones I can't see in this shot are the Kazarites, Saurian, or the Shamin Priest.

The Saurian makeup was used in the Rec Deck sequence, along with a couple Zaranites, a Betelgeusian, and a handful of Vulcans and Andorians. I only just spotted the Saurian - they're waaaaay in the back of the room in the wide shot. You can make out the two large yellow eyes even from this far away:

View attachment 55845​

Now I know why my dad used to move pages back and forth and say “you’re in my light.”

 

[Procutus]

Even though I knew all these different aliens were supposed to be visible, I still had a difficult time spotting more than just a few, even on the big screen. More difficult now, even when watching TMP on the TV in blu-ray.

But the thing I remember most fondly was the insert that came with the soundtrack LP, that featured the images of the various aliens that had been created for the movie. Even though they were hard to spot, you knew they were in the movie.

(another fond 60th anniversary memory)

 

[Therin of Andor]

More difficult now, even when watching TMP on the TV in blu-ray.

At least we now have freeze-frame! When the first Beta and VHS versions of TMP came out, VCRs couldn't freeze-frame!

As I said, it is fun to focus on the big UFP symbol on the floor and -- ignoring Kirk and Sonak -- track various aliens strolling through the scene. Rewind and repeat, following a different group. The extras have no doubt created little storylines for themselves so that they look purposeful, not just meandering.


An Andorian, an Arcturian and a security guard by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Photo from "ST:TMP: Inside the Art and Visual Effects", Titan, 2020. I must thank Jeff Bond & Gene Kozicki for this. The Arcturian on the Paramount Studio telephone has been featured in previous books and articles (one resource gave the caption, "How are things on Arcturus?"), but Jeff and Gene found a wider shot of the image... and now we see that the Andorian ambassador is next in line to use the phone.


TMP aliens jigsaw puzzle by Ian McLean, on Flickr


My custom "Pop!" aliens from TMP by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Can you fill in the map here with those? https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Map:Enterprise_crew,_2270s

It has been years, but I think I added them all when I first created my blog page.

 

[Firebird]

MThe extras have no doubt created little storylines for themselves so that they look purposeful, not just meandering.

That’s usually the purview of the first or second assistant directors who handle direction and blocking of the background actors and other extras.

 

[JD]

Thanks everyone. But one I haven't seen anyone mention yet is the Chelonian, and that's one of the ones I've been most curious to find since the Chelonian ambassador, who's name I'm forgetting right now, was one of my favorite characters in the Vanguard books.

 

[Firebird]

Thanks everyone. But one I haven't seen anyone mention yet is the Chelonian, and that's one of the ones I've been most curious to find since the Chelonian ambassador, who's name I'm forgetting right now, was one of my favorite characters in the Vanguard books.

I've never heard of that species. They're not in Robert Fletcher's notes from the movie.

 

[Christopher]

I've never heard of that species. They're not in Robert Fletcher's notes from the movie.

JD means the Rigellians, who are known as Chelons in the novels because of their chelonian (turtle-like) appearance. Chelonians are actually a turtle-like warrior race from the Doctor Who novels in the '90s.

 

[Firebird]

JD means the Rigellians, who are known as Chelons in the novels because of their chelonian (turtle-like) appearance. Chelonians are actually a turtle-like warrior race from the Doctor Who novels in the '90s.

In that case, I pointed one out in my markup above.

 

[JD]

I see it now thanks.

JD means the Rigellians, who are known as Chelons in the novels because of their chelonian (turtle-like) appearance. Chelonians are actually a turtle-like warrior race from the Doctor Who novels in the '90s.

Oh, I guess I got all mixed up there. Oops.

 

[drt]

My custom "Pop!" aliens from TMP by Ian McLean, on Flickr.

Ha, those are fun (and really well done).

 

[Riley]

Why the devil weren't these designs revisited in later shows, especially Enterprise?!

 

[Christopher]

Why the devil weren't these designs revisited in later shows, especially Enterprise?!

I guess because different productions used different makeup artists, and they preferred to create their own alien designs. Although it's probably a writing issue too, since all the shows from TNG through ENT had Michael Westmore doing the makeup, but they still kept inventing new aliens-of-the-week instead of revisiting previously established ones. Until the streaming era, Trek productions just didn't have much interest in reusing minor or background alien species.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

JD means the Rigellians, who are known as Chelons in the novels because of their chelonian (turtle-like) appearance. Chelonians are actually a turtle-like warrior race from the Doctor Who novels in the '90s.

And then there's also Chelonia Tuttle Spore, daughter of Rose Trellis and wife of Bud Spore, in Bill Holbrook's On the Fastrack. Which makes me think: with storylines and one-shot gags about Dethany and Fi (and their families) dominating the strip, we don't see a lot of Bud these days, and we see about as much of Chelonia as we do of Candy Moatmonster Melody Acapella, or Bob Shirt.

But enough off-topic rambling. I don't see a whole lot of differences between the Saurian from TMP, and the Saurians we've seen more recently.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Why the devil weren't these designs revisited in later shows, especially Enterprise?!

The Betelgeusians have popped up in "Discovery".


Betelgeusians of 1979 and 2020 by Ian McLean, on Flickr

The Rhaandarites and Arcturians in "Lower Decks".


Female Arcturian and male Rhaandarite by Ian McLean, on Flickr

The Saurians in "Lower Decks", "Discovery" and "Starfleet Academy".


Linus the Saurian in Star Trek Discovery by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Ha, those are fun (and really well done).

Thank you! I have added a Deltan and a Saurian since that earlier pic. Notice that Billy Van Zandt's Rhaandarite is holding Kirk's field jacket.


Custom Pop aliens from Star Trek The Motion Picture by Ian McLean, on Flickr