1979 ST Motion Picture premiere
- Thread starter Trekfan12
- Start date
I wasn't anywhere near the premiere of ST-TMP, but I did see it on opening weekend.
In 1979, I, like most Trek fans eagerly awaited the big-screen premiere of STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE. We had waited long years between the original series, with a quick respite when the animated series ran, and then more long years through the 70s with just those 79 episodes playing over and over again. Trek conventions came and went to help us meet with other fans and to get closer to the show. Until the latter years of the '70s, there was no way to "own" an episode, unless you collected films, a dedicated and expensive hobby. Then we got the news that a motion picture had been made.
There wasn't an Internet then, so we had to rely on magazines and TV shows like ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT to give us news of the upcoming movie. There were only three big networks back then, with cable TV in its early, fledgling years. HBO showed only out-of-theater movies, and there wasn't much else.
I remember seeing a feature on ABC's 20/20 that interviewed Lee Cole as she gave us a tour of the new bridge monitors, and it was all SO intriguing.
But in December, opening night came on a Friday night and the crowds were out the door and around the corner at most local theaters. It made the nightly news as to how big the crowds were. I knew I'd see it eventually, but didn't attempt that Friday night nor the next day, Saturday.
But the brain worked overtime to determine that perhaps a Sunday matinee would be the right time and the local theater in King Of Prussia, PA would be the right place. And so I and the future wife trekked out to King Of Prussia, got into a not-too-unreasonable line outside and got into the next show, starting at around 1:30 PM.
The "Ilia Theme" music played as the lights dimmed, but I really didn't know it was part of the movie. It just sounded like the typical Muzak of the day. Then the lights dimmed further and the curtains opened and the film started, with huge cheers from everyone in attendance at each of the cast members' names as they appeared.
Dark...the film was very, very dark. We could barely make out the Klingons battling V'ger. It was so dark that the EXIT signs seemed like they were too bright! I'm not sure if the projection system was under-lit or what, but to this day, I prefer to watch STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE in a very dark viewing atmosphere to recreate that feeling of the first showing.
As the film was nearing its conclusion and Decker was merging with Ilia in the cosmic blow-dryer, the film broke. The audience got restless while the thing was fixed, and everyone was invited to stay for the next showing if they wanted to. We did - and got to see the film twice that day. It was all so unforgettable.
In contrast, yesterday I went to see STAR TREK BEYOND at an early matinee. I believe there were about 10 people in the theater.
In 1979, I, like most Trek fans eagerly awaited the big-screen premiere of STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE. We had waited long years between the original series, with a quick respite when the animated series ran, and then more long years through the 70s with just those 79 episodes playing over and over again. Trek conventions came and went to help us meet with other fans and to get closer to the show. Until the latter years of the '70s, there was no way to "own" an episode, unless you collected films, a dedicated and expensive hobby. Then we got the news that a motion picture had been made.
There wasn't an Internet then, so we had to rely on magazines and TV shows like ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT to give us news of the upcoming movie. There were only three big networks back then, with cable TV in its early, fledgling years. HBO showed only out-of-theater movies, and there wasn't much else.
I remember seeing a feature on ABC's 20/20 that interviewed Lee Cole as she gave us a tour of the new bridge monitors, and it was all SO intriguing.
But in December, opening night came on a Friday night and the crowds were out the door and around the corner at most local theaters. It made the nightly news as to how big the crowds were. I knew I'd see it eventually, but didn't attempt that Friday night nor the next day, Saturday.
But the brain worked overtime to determine that perhaps a Sunday matinee would be the right time and the local theater in King Of Prussia, PA would be the right place. And so I and the future wife trekked out to King Of Prussia, got into a not-too-unreasonable line outside and got into the next show, starting at around 1:30 PM.
The "Ilia Theme" music played as the lights dimmed, but I really didn't know it was part of the movie. It just sounded like the typical Muzak of the day. Then the lights dimmed further and the curtains opened and the film started, with huge cheers from everyone in attendance at each of the cast members' names as they appeared.
Dark...the film was very, very dark. We could barely make out the Klingons battling V'ger. It was so dark that the EXIT signs seemed like they were too bright! I'm not sure if the projection system was under-lit or what, but to this day, I prefer to watch STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE in a very dark viewing atmosphere to recreate that feeling of the first showing.
As the film was nearing its conclusion and Decker was merging with Ilia in the cosmic blow-dryer, the film broke. The audience got restless while the thing was fixed, and everyone was invited to stay for the next showing if they wanted to. We did - and got to see the film twice that day. It was all so unforgettable.
In contrast, yesterday I went to see STAR TREK BEYOND at an early matinee. I believe there were about 10 people in the theater.
I remember I saw TMP in a theater in Farmingdale NY with my brother. I can't remember how crowded the theater was. I DO remember when I saw TWOK with my friends. People rushed inside the theater to get a good seat, the place was packed to the gills. When the theater darkened and the opening credits started the place erupted in applause as each actor's name was shown. I have never had that experience before or since. It was definitely extra special.
I will be seeing Beyond on Mon (I am off work)
I will be seeing Beyond on Mon (I am off work)
I saw TMP at the Darlton theater (long gone now, sadly). I loved seeing the crew and the refit Enterprise back together, but my 13-year old self couldn't really appreciate the story. I have since gained a much greater appreciation for the film, and now place it in the top third of all the Trek films produced to date.
TMP didn't open in Bellingham, WA, where I was living at the time, so pretty much my entire college sci-fi club took a road trip to the nearest theater, about a hundred miles away, for a special opening-night showing that had been pretty much bought out by a regional fan organization. And, yes, standing ovations and riotous applause were the order of the day the first time Captain Kirk or one of the other regulars appeared. A great night.
Trying to remember if the theater was in Everett or Bellevue . ....
Trying to remember if the theater was in Everett or Bellevue . ....
I was 7. I went with my sister and a friend of hers. I remember nothing. I'm told I talked incessantly throughout the entire movie much to the audience's irritation. I have no idea why we weren't accompanied by an adult. It was a different era.
I wasn't even around for the premiere of TMP. The first time that I saw TMP was on a VHS tape that I had borrowed from the library in the mid-90's. As I recall it was the Special Edition and I remember as a young kid not being impressed by it when I had been watching TNG, and was comparing it to that.
I became a Star Trek fan(atic) in '72, when it was showing in syndication on the local UHF channel. It was must-see TV for me every day after coming home from elementary school.
By the time TMP came out, I was about to graduate High School, and voraciously hungry for any new Trek. Thus, I stood in line in front of the movie theater for about an hour and a half on the day of the premier in the city I lived in. And, like so many of you, I left that movie theater with very mixed emotions... I was happy that the movie was made, but I remember thinking, "is that the best story they could come up with in 10 years?" Mostly, I remember being.... bored.
Fast forward to '82, and that's when Star Trek was truly reborn for me. Thank God!
By the time TMP came out, I was about to graduate High School, and voraciously hungry for any new Trek. Thus, I stood in line in front of the movie theater for about an hour and a half on the day of the premier in the city I lived in. And, like so many of you, I left that movie theater with very mixed emotions... I was happy that the movie was made, but I remember thinking, "is that the best story they could come up with in 10 years?" Mostly, I remember being.... bored.
Fast forward to '82, and that's when Star Trek was truly reborn for me. Thank God!
Was a Trek fan from the age of 5 (Sept 66) through today.. TMP was a must see on opening night..saw it in Merced CA at a theater in the local mall ( I was staying with a friend near Castle AFB)..was wowed by the visuals but was underwhelmed by the dialog, these characters I grew up with simply weren't themselves through much of the picture.. WOK was much better as a film, still TMP was an event not to be missed.
On that Friday December 7th, as a boy, I still remember seeing it with family members at the local cinema. After years of enjoying both TOS reruns and TAS, finally TMP arrived. I was in awe of the 1701-Refit with the original cast on board and loved the film still to this day.
Your opinion, and your loss. IMHO, the film is one of the best in the STAR TREK canon. It's not a shoot-'em-up running and jumping movie like today's Trek's are. Instead, it's a thinking-person's movie, well more in line with the original TV series. I'll watch it anytime and in any iteration - the theatrical version, the TV version, or the director's cut.
*Note, I had to delete a quoted word due to the carefully delineated rules of the Forum. I wouldn't want to get in trouble, even though the word in question wasn't mine.
**Further disclaimer, it was my error that caused me to misunderstand the use of the term "F-word" in the posted rules. T'Bonz has amended that and I've apologized for my error in misinterpreting the rules.
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That was you, Jeff? I couldn't hear half the dialog.
You didn't miss much. 
Well, we're all entitled to our opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree with mine.
It was boring and Spock was not the Spock I loved. There was too much drifting through space and it became tedious. A little tighter editing and a Spock more like the Spock of the TV series would have saved it. Plus - it was too much like an expanded version of The Changeling.
As for my saying "fuck," the "f" word referred to in the rules was a typical one used against gays, not "fuck." Swearing is permitted here other than in thread titles and avs, and if you've been here since 2001, you certainly must be aware of that.
I have, however, changed the wording of the rules in case others are in doubt. It was obvious to me what the F slur was, but others may not have been clear on that. I really didn't want to write out those slurs, know what I mean?
* *
Um, er, next question please? [/incompetence]
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I saw it at the Century Theaters in San Jose, Ca with a group of friends. I was twenty. My best friend got the crazy idea to try and see it as many times as possible and maybe set a record. And as his usual partner in crime, I joined him. Not really a film you want to see in that fashion. 
Sorry to say, it doesn't hold up to continuous viewing. Better to watch it every couple of years. The plot is a bit flimsy. The writing is off as far as characterization goes. Kirk especially comes off badly. He's a bit of a jerk really. The visuals are nice, but never really serve the plot ( such as it is) A lot of ooh and ahhh, but no substance.
Sorry to say, it doesn't hold up to continuous viewing. Better to watch it every couple of years. The plot is a bit flimsy. The writing is off as far as characterization goes. Kirk especially comes off badly. He's a bit of a jerk really. The visuals are nice, but never really serve the plot ( such as it is) A lot of ooh and ahhh, but no substance.
I quite liked it but it didn't fit with the TV series at all! In fact the only film that could be logically from the series is The Undiscovered Country! The films have never been my cup of tea as the actors were trying too hard I've always felt where as in the show they were as natural as dawn! I loved the intro with The Klingon ships though and regularly replayed that music from the record in the days before VHS & DVDs!
JB
JB
See, I always felt that Spock had changed. It was the second set-piece in the film, where Spock had undergone Kohlinahr. Add that to his sense of V'ger, and he's a fundamentally changed character - part of the mystery of the film, rather than a lack of writer's knowledge of who and what Spock was.
And, if it's like "The Changeling", then it's like the TV show!
Agree to disagree.
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