Would we have seen a Star Trek film in 1979 without Star Wars in '77?

[Frazod]

Actually both answers are correct. Star Wars certainly fueled the overall interest in science fiction, but Star Trek was popular and already had a core of rabid fans. Fan interest had already led to the creation of an animated series in the early 70's, and would directly lead to the first Star Trek movie (originally, a second TV series with the original cast was envisioned). Even without Star Wars, Star Trek would have come back, in one form or another.

And personally, I was a big fan of Star Trek long before there was a Star Wars.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by frazod

Even without Star Wars, Star Trek would have come back, in one form or another.

But at the same time? I think Star Trek would have resurfaced around the late 80s, but it's clear they popped out a movie in '79 just to cash in on the craze.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

But at the same time? I think Star Trek would have resurfaced around the late 80s, but it's clear they popped out a movie in '79 just to cash in on the craze.

It was already in the works. Star Trek didn't go from nothing to a completed movie in the space of two years.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by frazod

It was already in the works. Star Trek didn't go from nothing to a completed movie in the space of two years.

Obviously, but they weren't putting anything out in '79 without Star Wars.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by frazod

It was already in the works. Star Trek didn't go from nothing to a completed movie in the space of two years.

It didn't.

To bad.

That would have at least have explained why it was so disappointing.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

But at the same time? I think Star Trek would have resurfaced around the late 80s, but it's clear they popped out a movie in '79 just to cash in on the craze.

That's capitalism dude, you have to strike while the iron is hot.

[Hammock Parties]

in the wake of Star Trek's popularity in the early 1970s as a result of newborn Trek fandom and syndication, there were several failed attempts to produce a Trek feature film, starting in 1974.

Instead, in 1977, attention was turned away from a film and toward a second television series, to be entitled Star Trek: Phase II, as part of a fourth television network to be created by Paramount.

In the midst of preparation for shooting, Michael Eisner, then-head of Paramount, called a landmark studio meeting. Eisner was said to declare regarding the pilot, "we've been looking for a Star Trek motion picture for five years and this is it!" Despite already-existent casting, costuming, set production, and 12 written scripts, the new series, along with the new Paramount network, were both abandoned.

Work commenced on rewriting the Phase II pilot episode In Thy Image as Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

All this couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. By the end of 1977, Star Wars had become a huge box-office success, and Paramount put The Motion Picture into pre-production.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

in the wake of Star Trek's popularity in the early 1970s as a result of newborn Trek fandom and syndication, there were several failed attempts to produce a Trek feature film, starting in 1974.

Instead, in 1977, attention was turned away from a film and toward a second television series, to be entitled Star Trek: Phase II, as part of a fourth television network to be created by Paramount.

In the midst of preparation for shooting, Michael Eisner, then-head of Paramount, called a landmark studio meeting. Eisner was said to declare regarding the pilot, "we've been looking for a Star Trek motion picture for five years and this is it!" Despite already-existent casting, costuming, set production, and 12 written scripts, the new series, along with the new Paramount network, were both abandoned.

Work commenced on rewriting the Phase II pilot episode In Thy Image as Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

All this couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. By the end of 1977, Star Wars had become a huge box-office success, and Paramount put The Motion Picture into pre-production.

And you have no way of knowing whether or not things would have been revived differently/elsewhere had there been no Star Wars.

What is the point of this crap, anyway?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by frazod

And you have no way of knowing whether or not things would have been revived differently/elsewhere had there been no Star Wars.

I'm confident there wouldn't have been a Star Trek film in 1979.

Maybe a TV series. But a movie? No way. It took a groundbreaking, once-in-a-century epic masterpiece like Star Wars to clear the way for Star Trek to rise from the grave.

STAR TREK I: GEORGE DID OUR SPECIAL EFFECTS!

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I'm confident there wouldn't have been a Star Trek film in 1979.

Maybe a TV series. But a movie? No way. It took a groundbreaking, once-in-a-century epic masterpiece like Star Wars to clear the way for Star Trek to rise from the grave.

STAR TREK I: GEORGE DID OUR SPECIAL EFFECTS!

I guess you missed 2001.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by frazod

I guess you missed 2001.

2001 didn't spawn anything. It came out in 1968. It was the exception to the rule - Hollywood wasn't making science fiction for the better part of a decade.

Then Star Wars came along and science fiction returned - thanks to the Messiah.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by frazod

I guess you missed 2001.

I just loved that scene where the Monkey picked up the bone, studied for a little while, banged it on some other bones, saw that it was destructive, THEN GOT AN IDEA!!!111.

Then they went out and PILLAGED the other baboons, took their water hole and FEASTED on some MEAT> aaalahhaa.

[DaWolf]

Close Encounters of the Third Kind also came out in '77 and was another Sci Fi pic that did well and is mentioned by Shatner as another influence in pushing for a film vs TV version. And Hollywood is just full of people who try to put forth something if it proves to be hot.

But Star Trek was coming back one way or another, and there would have eventually been a motion picture. But no doubt the success of sci fi movies in the late 70's helped the studio jack up the budget to get the film version made...

[|Zach|]

I fear that even clicking on this thread will mean a girl won't touch my penis for a month.