20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Part 1 

😂 Oh man! How’d you get that footage of Captain Foley!?!?

Fun fact: I was named after Ilia, thanks to my mum being a huge Trekkie

Men: Bald women are NOT hot! Persis Khambatta: Hold my hair.

0:41 Little did she know that she'd look absolutely amazing without her hair...and that's really an understatement. Gone way too soon.

I feel like The Motion Picture was trying way too hard to be 2001: A Space Odyssey.

I could never understand the dislike of the first movie... it is the most "Star Trek" of the TOS film releases. No, it might not be like the other big summer action film hits, but it nor Star Trek ever was meant to be.

I've always thought the original movie (considering the level of technology when it was made) is lush and epic. I still enjoy watching it.

I loved it! It's not dull, it's cerebral. It's both big and small, and it lets you ease into each moment. Whether it's a massive energy cloud, a rock in the ship's path, or the subtleties of various relationships, you get to immerse yourself in it all and connect with how one may experience the moment. It's contemplative and full of wonder.

I don’t give a shit how bad critics say it was I love the movie and watch it often.

Well, I'm surprised to hear an "assessment" like THAT from Harlan Elison. I mean, sure, I can understand such a review from your typical modern-day American moviegoer who's accustomed to more action-oriented type movies saying THAT about this movie and some professional critics too, .. . but ELLISON? . . an AUTHOR whose own work isn't exactly known for its racing "high-octane" action!

Far and away my favorite Star Trek film. Much more cerebral than the action movies. Sure it's slow, much like 2001. And like 2001 a rare sci fi film that made a successful reach for the profound.

Um, the first pilot was not called "The Menagerie", it was called "The Cage".

I'm truly sorry for anyone who thinks TMP is boring. I love it! This one and Khan are my favorite two!

Love the motion picture I feel it is very underrated compared to the others I thought It had a great story. When I was a kid and a teenager I felt it was so boring but watching it now as an adult I can really appreciate it

It's an AWESOME Movie. You are too dull to recognize it.

Damn groupies are always bothering me! How’d you get that footage?

'Where Nomad Has Gone Before!' Ha Ha! Very Clever! I remember thinking at the time 'This is 'The Changeling' with a bigger budget!'!

"Booring"? .. . depends WHAT you consider EXCITING in the first place. Now personally I happen to find ohhhh guns, stunts, car chases, crashes, and explosions pretty dull myself, so I don't miss THAT shit one bit when watching THIS film.

This movie is a masterpiece.

I love it when a channel thinks it can out-nerd a star trek nerd. Yes, yes I did know about these things. Yes, I am a dork for knowing them. Move along, now, nothing to see here....

Motion Picture is actually one of my favourite Trek movies.

JJ Abrams also was a former TV director and I wouldn't consider him an A-List director. Spielberg is A-List.

People don’t realize that it was Trek going to the big screen that ensured the success of Trek spinoffs. The glimpses we get of a new Star Trek TV series really were bad. The movies forced Paramount to bring their A Game for all future TV Trek productions.

I was 8 when this debuted in the theaters. Naturally I was blown away by the story and, later when it was on TV, when I was 12, I really appreciated Ilia.

I love this movie.

My oath of promiscuity is on record, captain.

I’m not a Trekkie, but I liked this film. The existential angle was intriguing.

Interesting stuff. Never thought that James Doohan created the Klingon Language.

The original pilot was "The Cage." "The Menagerie" was the 11th & 12th episodes of the first season making it the only two parter of the original series. The events of "The Cage" were shown when Spock was put on trial for stealing the Enterprise and setting up the autopilot to take the Enterprise to Talos IV.

"Booring"? .. . depends WHAT you consider EXCITING in the first place. Now personally I happen to find ohhhh guns, stunts, car chases, crashes, and explosions pretty dull myself, so I don't miss THAT shit one bit when watching THIS film.

I watched for the 3rd time earlier this year with my 7 year old son. At 39 years old myself, I finally liked it. It was a pretty decent movie, even if a bit ...oldish in style vs the later movies. It has its great moments like the opening Klingon attack, which my 7 year old drew on paper, days after haha

If you are interested in learning more about the evolution of this movie from a filmmaking/acting perspective, "Chekov's Enterprise" by Walter Koenig is a collection of his experiences from pre-production through production. It's a great book filled with a lot of detail.

I am enjoying this list! Sean Ferrick is doing a terrific job with this material! I have a sense of joy in the presentation of these insightful nuggets of information.

I love _The Motion Picture_ and occasionally watch it whenever I want a good, classic sci-fi experience.

Ohhhh baby nooooo, the first Trek pilot is "The Cage"! The Menagerie is the two-parter of TOS where they reuse footage from The Cage.

This movie is my favourite of all of them.

"The Menagerie" wasn't the pilot. The pilot was titled "The Cage." Bits of that episode were chopped up and later incorporated into "The Menagerie."

Over time TMP has become my favorite Star Trek film. Sure, slow, but much sci-fi is as well. Great film primarily about relationships.

As a Trek fan from the days when TOS wasn't called TOS, and have followed virtually all Trek productions in the intervening 40 years, I have to say that this is a pretty fair treatment of the troubled history behind TMP. One tidbit (that, in fairness, might be addressed in Part II) not mentioned is that there was some discussion that new Trek adventures would be released as periodic "special feature" television events rather than a conventional weekly TV series or movie. Michael Eisner floated this concept at one point, I think. Also, the idea to change or rebuild the sets for the transition from Phase II to TMP was largely Robert Wise's decision. When he was brought in to helm the movie, he came into the sets - all built for a TV caliber production - the story is he said they'd all have to be scrapped because they weren't suitable for movie filming. The cost for the original sets, which was part of the Phase II production budget, was rolled into TMP's production cost - which hit close to $50 million; an astronomical figure for a 1970s film. One other tidbit: While I'm sure its entirely coincidental, the production values and set design in TMP bear a striking resemblance to another Robert Wise sci-fi adventure: "The Andromeda Strain." The latter movie is a sci-fi tale written by Michael Crichton (sp) about a supposedly top-secret germ warfare lab called "Wildfire" deep in the Nevada desert. But the interiors of "Wildfire" bore a *striking* resemblance to the interiors of the Enterprise; circular decks, flashing corridor lights, sliding doors, lots of blinky things in the walls, even the same somewhat somnambulent direction where people are caught staring into the camera in amazement at, well, *something*. Compare the two and you'll be struck by the similarities. I know I was. I look at all these retrospectives and always end up wondering..."What might have been..." What if "Wrath of Khan" had been the *first* movie produced? It would have been an even bigger blockbuster than it was, and the Trek movie franchise might have moved in an entirely different direction.

Also the Vulcan science officer Kirk wanted on the Enterprise, who got caught in the transporter accident, was basically a stand-in for “Xon” from Phase II. (Of course having the original actor for Xon being digitized by V’Ger basically was a way of killing “Xon” off twice.)

honestly and I'm sure I'm not the only one that has thought but isn't vger *voyager* technically called the beginnings of the borg? Before Star Trek brought the borg to life in TNG show?

I'm not a Trekkie by any means but I've always enjoyed the series and the movies. But there is something about the first motion picture that makes it my favorite(with Wrath of Khan a very close second), I've just never been able to put my finger on it. "Flawed masterpiece" is a PERFECT description of this movie. I absolutely love it.

Another fun fact; I was pregnant with my daughter when I watched this movie again and the initial name I was going to give her changed to Ilia. I changed the spelling to help people recognise it when they saw it but, my daughter owes her name to this movie

Liked the movie but hated the uniforms

The vast majority of people under 60 years old did not experience Star Trek: The Motion Picture in theaters at its release. It was an event. Like many movies at the time, it was completely intended to be watched on a giant screen in a silent, dark theater with no distractions. Nowadays, movies are made with the expectation they will be viewed on a small screen in a living room where you have full access to your phone and kitchen, etc. STTMP is most definitely a theater movie, and watching it outside of that environment will certainly result in a more boring, less entertaining experience.

Well, I actually LIKED the film. So there! xx

I love TMP especially the Directors Cut but it’s more 2001 than the original series.

Not sure why you included the shot of the actress crying while getting her head shaved but good call. At first I laughed, then I felt sorry for her. Guilty that I laughed and finally found a new respect for the sacrifice people make in order to make films like this happen. Ran through more emotions than I did watching STTMP.

The Director's cut is the best version of the film, which is great. Definitely and securely in my top 4 list of ALL Trek Films

The Directors Edition DVD really is the BETTER movie overall in pasting and editing. And i say that as someone who grew up watching "Star Trep TMP" as a kid countless times and the Nostalgia should have blinded me completely. The only thing i don't like are the changed shots on Vulcan and the Federation headquarter scenes where Kirk arrives with his shuttle-bus. The Vulcan changes however make sense since now there's an actual Sun blinding Spock which is why he holds it up to cast a shade on his face. Something that didn't exist in the original move. BUT..... i still find the original planet view shot in the film so much nicer and moody with the 2 moons passing by at the sky. We never got another such an impressive landscape shot again in any other Star Trek film.

The costumes from 'The Cage' has very similar attributes to the new ones for TMP.

I believe that all the men being attracted to Ilia was not scripted, just a natural reaction to the lovely, lovely Persis Khambata.

I liked the motion picture.. to me it reminded me of many aspects of the tv series i/e relating to our current times .. probably many of those condemning it were just expecting a star wars type scenario..

The pilot was titled The Cage.......

Whatever you think of it, this movie did well commercially and paved the way for the continuation of the franchise.

I loved this movie. It was and is a great movie.

My favorite of the films.

My favourite Star Trek movie

2:00 The first Star Trek pilot was The Cage

The first Pilot is The Cage. Not The Menagerie.

Wow no wonder the motion picture seems so scattered plot wise. So many story lines being crammed into one movie.

Comic Book Guy: Worst Star Trek Ever!

Mix the best of TMP with bezt of TWOK. You get recipe for making great Trek film.

I mean this in the nicest way possible, I genuinely love this movie, but I use this to sleep when I have insomnia. It’s just interesting enough to hold my attention so my brain stops racing with whatever was keeping me awake. At the same time it’s pacing, music, imagery, everything is just so beautiful and deliberate that it isn’t overly exciting & stimulating but instead deeply relaxing. In the end I usually drift off to a peaceful sleep somewhere around the big rec deck crew briefing scene.

I absolutely hate the uniforms in this movie. Always have. Still do. Likely always will.

Worst costuming of any movie or television program ever made; however, if you gave this film to a good editor, you'd end up with a very good movie.

I always referred to it as, ‘Star Trek’s 2001’.

The only way that this and a lot of other movies will get the respect they are due is easy. You have to change the box office numbers from total earned to total tickets sold. Lets face it if we go by total earned then we are just as stupid as the Hollywood people we think are good as the dollar numbers ignore inflation for the reason of trying to justify the shitty actors and movies we have today. Look at ticket sales over inflated dollars and you will see what I mean.

I like Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Your videos are always so professional made and realy informative! I thank you so much!! Best wishes from Germany! :)

Thanks for the inclusion of a person of color... I'm not being facetious... it really did make me feel better represented. Live long and Prosper.

Or... It's a cerebral film and it certainly divides the fan base.

I want to know what the heck is happening in the Laurentian System? Everytime there is a problem, the whole FLEET is there!

I want to state for the record that the directors cut was a hundred thousand times better. Not just because the original cut dragged on and on and on, but because the original sound mix was HORRENDOUS. Terrible. Awful. The classic red alert sound was like a nuclear submarine sound instead and the ship automatically went to red alert every time anything happened! Anything! By itself, not from Kirk ordering it. I was luckily introduced to the directors cut first. I only saw the original cut many years later. If I had been in the theater, I’d probably have just gotten up and left halfway through.

I thought they just mean a ship big enough to handle whatever is coming?

Why's everyone gotta make themselves captain? Why doesn't anyone go for admiral? Or commander? Or even those cool field commission badges they used in Voyager?

14:22 That young Vulcan looks like Richard Hatch in spock ears.

I liked it. The ending was beautiful. Yah, sterilize, sterilize you know the thing.

It’s been a long time since I learned anything new about Star Trek. Thanks. Well done Shaun. The Motion Picture was a good stand alone film. Unfortunately we fans thought of the Changeling episode which I think detracted from its success as far as lacking originality after a 10 year hiatus. But the other stories worked on at the time are all great ideas. It makes sense why the movie is a little flat. Those are 4-5 movies crammed into TMP. No time to flesh anything out from all those stories including Spocks journey. Trying to take the best elements from each of the story lines floating around. That’s why felt clunky to me and all makes sense. Thanks! It always irked me! PS this could have been lengthened to a trilogy like Star Wars to develop all the side stories. Thank God it wasn’t! If I had gotten to third movie with a Changeling ending I would have been pissed lol! It really was a wonderful cinematic film with cutting edge tech at the time. Thought the set w Vger at the end very TV Trek like. Maybe a homage or probably just cost decision. Still enjoy watching it. Good vid. Subscribed

Kirk's middle name originally started with R ("Where No Man Has Gone Before"), but it was never revealed. It was changed to Tiberius later in the first season.

At 13:35, the video misses one of Roddenberry's recycled names. The name Dylan Hunt was used in both 1973's "Genesis II" and its re-imagined 2nd pilot "Planet Earth." The same name was used for the protagonist in the TV series Andromeda.

I liked it, I didn't know what the hate it was getting was.

Personally I think it’s the best of all the star trek movies, but its not an action movie in the typical model of movie block busters and requires some proactive thinking. The closely equivalent is 2001 a space odyssey.

9:20 probably my biggest pet peeve of the entire franchise. 'We are in orbit of the capital world of the Federation but we're the only ship in range.' Ridiculous. Imagine a movie set at the White House and it gets attacked but there is only one secret service agent in range! Lol

I ABSOLUTELY love this film. I saw this in theatres in 1979 and was blown away! I will love it until the day I die. This movie is NOT science- action or snippets of humor mixed in like the Abrahms/Kurtzman garbage. It's PURE science-fiction. A lot of people complain about it's pacing. Whatever. There's a lot cinematic scenes to drink in along with the mystery of encountering a incomprehensible force from beyond that challenges the mind. It's not for everybody. For those that don't like it; oh well. They can watch flotsam and jetsam cartoons like Lower Decks while they eat a bowl of fruity pebbles holding the spoon improperly while sitting one foot away from the TV screen. Enjoy! By the way; thank you for posting. You have a new subscriber. 🤣

My favorite ST movie

TMP is my favorite Trek movie. 👍

I legitimately like this movie.

Great episode. There are indeed many little golden Nugget moments in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and it is worth revisiting if you have not seen it in years!

Also, in the 1995 Book, "The Art of Star Trek", the Design for the Enterprise became the USS Discovery, and the Klingons designs there become the Discovery Klingons. These were the rejected designs....

LoveTMP!

Wow, I had never seen some of those behind the scenes shots before and seeing Persis Khambatta looking like she was choking up when they're shaving her head kinda hurt.

TMP may be a boring mess, but it still 100X more watchable than that 2009 garbage.

I do love TMP. Even though it is my least-favourite of the movies.

Star Trek was not that much of a hit, it out grossed Alien, and unknown film, by ew million, but cost more than double. Kramer vs Kramer was the highest grossing picture of the year, while Star trek came in at number 5. So I find it hard to believe that one of every 4 tickets went to Star trek. Jeffrey Hunter's wife got him caned from the second pilot, he did decide not to return. Too much misinformation to continue watching.

I like TMP for the most part, but I'm not blind to its flaws. The only really long effects shot I will defend to the end is the long, slow reveal of the Enterprise as Kirk and Scotty are moving along it in a shuttle. It's where Kirk really falls in love again with the ship, and it really does help to explain some of his dumber pissing contest moments with Decker later.

WAIT WAIT WAIT ... @3:17 .... The Vietnemese army used Sauron's emblem as their own?!

Wasn't there a character called Pavel somewhere too? Edit, Chekovs' first name was Pavel, coincidence?

I'm approaching 50yo, so I grew up on the occasional watch of the original series on reruns, and some animated series, then got properly hooked on all things Trek since 1987 and the arrival of TNG. From there it had pretty much been everything Trek except for later series of Discovery. Picard series was perfection. What I found quite offensive about Lower Decks is how they've turned the entire TNG aesthetic into a teen-appealing bouncy hyperactive American-youngster thing, not fit for appearance on any channel other than Nickelodeon - I can't fathom how anybody who loved TNG back in the 80s & 90s would EVER be able to appreciate it, and yet they've used all the TNG designs and uniforms, etc. Just baffling.

I c nothing wrong with TMP whatsoever. Ofcourse though, most of the fandom can't help but whinge and whine, as they did with Generation's and Nemesis. The result of all this, we get lovely bullshit in the form of Discovery, Stupid New Crap and cartoons. Yay! Heh, u reap what u sow.