TMP@30: The Merchandise of Star Trek The Motion Picture December 8, 2009
by John Tenuto , Filed under: Feature Films (TMP-NEM), Merchandise , trackback
Today we continue our celebration of the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, by taking a look at extended universe of of the merchandise of The Motion Picture. Not until 2009, has a Star Trek movie inspired so much stuff. TrekMovie’s merchandise editor John Tenuto dedicates a special "Collective’ column to TMP.
The Collective: The Merchandise of Star Trek The Motion Picture
by John Tenuto
When Star Wars was released May 25, 1977, the irony was that there was very little merchandise available because most companies initially showed little interest in the bizarre science fiction film. By Christmas 1977, even toy giant Kenner which had been smart enough to realize the potential of Star Wars only had a few puzzles, games, miscellaneous items, and the infamous "empty box" Early Bird Certificate Kit (which parents purchased and gave with the promise of action figures being sent sometime during 1978!).
While Star Trek: The Motion Picture owes a debt of gratitude to the success of Star Wars for its existence, Paramount did not allow for the same mistake as what happened with Star Wars (although, honestly, Star Wars merchandise has done pretty well for itself despite the time lapse of availability!). TMP was in 1979 one of the most merchandised films of all time and a truly multimedia collecting experience.
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of TMP, the Collective takes its own bold journey to the past to discuss the best of TMP collectibles.
ADAPTATIONS AND OTHER TEXTS
The film was adapted in various formats, most famously in a novel written by Gene Roddenberry. Other filmmakers such as George Lucas had their names on the novelization of their films back then, however most were written by ghost authors (in one of many Star Wars-Star Trek connections, Alan Dean Foster who created the story for TMP was the author of the Star Wars novelization). All indications are that Gene Roddenberry was indeed the real author of the novelization of the film (which is very recommended and an excellent adaptation). Pocketbooks also did a photo novel adaptation.
TMP Photstory
Marvel Comics also had an adaptation, which began a brief run of comics based on the feature film. There was a book-on-tape (record) adaptation that told the narrative in about 15 minutes! And of course, the main trading card company of the era, Topps, provided fans with an 88 card set and 22 stickers. Pocket Books had a 1980 calendar based on TMP. As could be gleaned by looking just at this list, the licensees for TMP were often big and impressive companies such as Marvel Comics.
Marvel comic
TMP trading cards
Of course, the 1970s was about two decades before the era of DVD commentaries and behind the scene featurettes. To learn about how the film was made, fans were treated to a "Making Of" book and blueprints. For fans who were inspired by the film to engage their own creativity, there was activity and costume making texts. AMT, the model company whose products were sometimes utilized on the original 1960s television show, offered model kits. Most of these items were available before the film was out in theaters, unlike Star Wars.
Making of Book…the DVD Extra before there were DVDs
TOYS
TMP may have well as been spelled TOY because there certainly were plenty available. MEGO, a pioneering toy company which had a popular line of toys based on the original television show during the mid 1970s, was the logical licensee for action figures and playsets. MEGO offered 18 action figures (12 small sized and 6 large sized figures) along with an Enterprise playset that is today a true collector’s item often selling for hundreds of dollars at auction. Toy ship versions of the Enterprise, Klingon cruiser, and Vulcan shuttle and a role playing wrist communicator were also available (Dinky Toys made smaller ship versions).
The Mego TMP figures
Ilia figure
Bridge playset
Costume Kit…how awesome is that?
Milton Bradley had a board game for TMP. And the movie also had a video game from MB for their Microvision computer game system (one of the first licensed home video games).
MTP Microvision game, one of the first
FOOD
Star Trek The Motion Picture also lent new ideas to mainstream movie promotions, especially with food merchandising. The first movie themed McDonalds Happy Meal ever was for TMP. Starting weeks before the theater showings, fans could enjoy six differing Happy Meal designs with movie-themed toys. McDonald’s advertised the meals on TV providing more promotion for the film. Interestingly, because Happy Meals themselves were new, McDonald’s utilized the Klingon in the television ad to also help explain what a Happy Meal was! General Mills also had special TMP cards in select cereals and Coca-Cola offered a set of special TMP themed collector glasses. Deka made some very colorful plastic plates and cups and perhaps the most unusual Star Trek item ever is the Mr. Spock decanter with Ceilo liquor from Grenadier.
TMP Happy Meal commercial
SOUNDTRACK
Jerry Goldsmith’s incredible soundtrack would eventually be one of a few musical compositions that would represent the franchise. Fans could get the soundtrack on LP and cassette formats.
TMP REDUX
Perhaps it is the unique uniforms, or TMP’s role as the first Star Trek feature film, but new items based on TMP have been released as recently as this month. Diamond Select Toys has a new version of the TMP toy phaser available, and it is shipping the first week of December to fans (purchase at Entertainment Earth). Also available this autumn, Hallmark has two TMP themed ornaments both excellent in quality and design. There is the Ilia (Probe version) ornament, and the Klingon battlecruiser.
Hallmark battlecruiser
Also this year, Junk Food introduced a new t-shirt featuring art from the cover of the first TMP Marvel comic book. During their two shows this May, home shopping network QVC offered some classic TMP merchandise, including a signed copy of the 1979 Marvel Comic book and a complete set of 1979 Rainbo bread Star Trek cards that were included one per package at the time of the film’s premiere. Diamond Select Toys released two different two-action figure packs based on TMP in early 2009. Admiral Kirk (in his two tone gray and white uniform) and Commander Spock were available at many retailers, while an exclusive edition of the two-pack featuring Kirk in his one tone gray uniform was available only at Toys R Us stores. A 2005 novel by Christopher L. Bennett named "Ex Machina" was set almost the day after the events of TMP. Jerry Goldsmith’s soundtrack was released on a special edition CD in 1999. In 1997, Playmates Toys released new versions of 4" TMP action figures. Even back in the
early 1980s, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was revisited when the Vectrex gaming system to be one of its most important games. Indeed, despite its reputation as The Motionless Picture, TMP obviously occupies a special place in the hearts of companies and collectors.
New Junk Food TMP shirt
TMP Collector’s edition Soundtrack
Happy Birthday Star Trek: The Motion Picture! And happy birthday to your collectibles, too!
The human adventure began in 1979
SPECIAL THANKS for photo references to Memory Alpha, Mego Museum, and Intergalactic Trading Company () and New Force Comics
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Comments»
These look really cool, all of em, thanks for the trip.
good old memories….
old school toys are the best
I hated this movie and though the stuff looks cool to remember and celebrate, I just can’t bring myself to enjoy anything remotely close to the sheer crappiness of The Motion Picture. Excuse me while I go vommit now…
Where did JJ get that white, shiny TMP jacket from the ST09 blooper reel?
Now THAT’s a collectible.
Great overview, John. Of course we know that Lucas took a major stake in the then non-existent merch business for Star Wars. Not a bad bit of forward thinking…
Although I have visited this site every day for the past 4 years, this is my first post and its in defence of ST-TMP.
Sure, not much happened, but the atmosphere and ambition of the movie made it the best possible start to the revival of the franchise.
I’m very fond of it, perhaps more-so because of its imperfections. I still watch it at least a few times a year and I do get a lump in my throat when I think of Deforrest and Jimmy.
Now all we need is the complete Star Trek: The Motion Picture score released on CD with all of Goldsmith’s alternate takes. Now that Paramount is licensing their vintage scores and given FSM’s success with the Star Trek II album, fingers crossed!
I have the spock action figure from 30 years ago! A good use of my paper route money, for sure!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7666060@N02/3747030917/
Man, I had a few of those McDonald’s happy-meal things back in the day. I’m pretty sure I’ve still got a couple of the pounds I gained from ‘em :)
Still have my Photostory, too! That I’m happier about; it’s all the fun of the movie and even easier to flip through the dull parts.
I had alot of this stuff as a wee lad; always wanted the bridge playset but never got it! I also have fond memories of those McDonald’s Happy Meals…
#6- I agree. We need a definitive version of that score.
I’ll always have great memories of TMP, despite the film’s flaws.
Despite the flaws, it’s always been in my top 3 trek flicks.
Now that Enterprise is a beauty.
I like TMP as well. To me it felt like the most ambitious of all the Star Trek movies. Well, up until 2009! I liked the sense of mystery and the unknown. I hope when JJ Abrahams brings about the 2012 Star Trek sequel he will go for more of this type of show, instead of a vengeful protagonist. I don’t want to see a reimagined Khan just yet! I hope that maybe something like Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001 mysterious aliens can be captured in a Star Trek film. I wouldn’t mind seeing maybe a few Klingons getting in the way of solving such a mystery, however!
Happy meals are without honor.
If you do an internet search, you can find Goldsmith’s alternate tracks from the TMP score. I did a number of years ago.
I loved JJ’s Trek movie, but I gotta give it to the big E in TMP, she is the best looking of them all!
I already picked up the TWOK version of the phaser. Do I really need the TMP version?
Must not… click… “Add To Cart”… button!
This is so funny, just last weekend I bought an old Star Trek TMP McDonald’s toy online, and I didn’t even know the anniversary was coming up! :)
Ah, memories…Although I was only 14 when TMP came out, I had just started my first afterschool job and remember plunking down my meager pay on many of the above items. I remember buying the fotonovel, the comics, a couple of whole boxes of the Topps cards, the soundtrack LP and the shorter Mego figures (incidentally, the large 12 inch ones were made of such poor quality plastic that Kirk and Spock’s faces are now green on most of the remaining ones. Check ‘em out on eBay. It’s pretty weird).
Wow… I had most of these – I still have the Spock decanter and the liquor’s still in it!!
That’s gross.
The score for Star Trek The Motion Picture is one of my top favorite albums. The reissue by Columbia / Sony was a wonderful release.
I just recently re read The making of Star Trek The Motion Picture book as well. Highly recommended.
Still have the Photostory book too. It’s surprisingly sophisticated for the time, and it’s a shame they didn’t do it for the other movies.
24-
They did one for TWOK, although it wasn’t anywhere near as nice.
The big E looked gorgeous and is in my opinion still the best version of the ship. I wish we had gotten a slightly tweaked version of it in the new film instead of what we got, which is a jumble of different styles that don’t blend together.
Great article, I always really dig these. Merchandise is as big a part of Star Trek as the movies or shows to me.The Ilia figure pictured is from the later 90s Playmates run and not from the original 70s line though. Don’t know if this was intentional.
You guys forgot the cool effing Star Trek electronic Enterprise that came out after the movie. It had lights and sounds and it was great.
Probably the most terrible McDonalds commercial I have ever seen.
I remember getting one of those happy meals, mine had a translucent blue “wrist communicator” Lost it at the skating rink right after I got it! Still feel pretty bad about that!
Man, seeing that McDonalds commercial reminds me of the tastes of those meals, they were so much better then!!!!!!
That’s a picture of the Vectrex TMP game cartridge. The game, and the Vectrex itself got used as a tactical display in the low budget SF film “Android”.
The Microvision game was pretty awful though. LCD graphics had a long way to go in 1979!
Wow, I had most of those items, including half the action figures, some of the trading cards,and a bridge set made from a cardboard. IIRC, I think you could swap out the viewscreen to show a Klingon cruiser, the wormhole, or spacedock. I probably still have the iron-ons from the McDonald’s happy meal, too.
Oh God! Those Star Trek Happy Meals . . . .
Had the Vectrex game and the Happy Meal- both totally rocked.
I,too, love Star Trek:The Motion Picture and think it a great movie because it was a reunion movie reintroducing our beloved characters after a 10 year absence! It was great seeing them again, and yes I know that there wasn’t alot of action, but I enjoyed the mystery & suspense of the film and loved the new additions: Ilia,Decker, the Bumpy-headed Klingons and all the various alien Enterprise crewmembers. I loved the wormhole scenes! I liked the new set designs,the costumes, the refit Enterprise, the Vulcan scenes, and lots more! I think it also had some great character moments for the big 3 as well as some lesser characters like Rand & Chapel’s promotions! It was big in scale and felt epic, mind you Trek 2009 was epic & grand but with lots of action too… I think we need a balance of action with thought-provoking ideas @ the core of the story. I always enjoy rewatching the Motion Picture!
God I love how inaccurate the bridge playset is. Hey, lets put a station right in front of the main view screen, not like anybody needs to actually see that. And also lets put a random hatch next to it, that would lead to, I dont know, outer space. Just remember, if someone opens it, just hold your breath and grab hold of something.
That cover for the TMP Photostory sums up the entire movie – dull.
I fondly remember my mother taking me to see TMP when it first came out, even though I was only 7 at the time. Even though I couldn’t grasp the story, I can still remember being in awe of the visuals. Obviously for most, this film you either love or hate. It is a bit slow in parts, but in many ways I think it’s the most sophisticated ST movie ever made. The look of the film def. holds up today. The ship, as everyone has said, looks amazing, as well as the thought put into the sets and technology. They had the right ideas with the uniforms (several variations), there’s just too much 70’s version of the future in them, especially how tight they fit. I love how the engineers had the radiation suits and the security officers had armor and helmets (too bad this idea was discarded so quickly).
I have most of the items in a couple of trunks in my storeroom. I bought them a few months after the film when the prices were vastly reduced.
There was also a daily and Sunday comic strip syndicated in newspapers that was pretty good. Much better than the Marvel comics. I clipped them out and saved in an envelope. I guess they’re in one of the trunks.
I also have a copy of the script with a vastly different ending than the final version.
ooooo…I’m digging the new t-shirt. There’s a Christmas gift for my wife….to get for me.
#4: “I hated this movie and though the stuff looks cool to remember and celebrate, I just can’t bring myself to enjoy anything remotely close to the sheer crappiness of The Motion Picture. Excuse me while I go vommit now…”
LOL! you must be a theatre major as you’ve a good grasp for drama…. maybe even a bit of over acting.
I seem to recall that the photonovel was not in color, but in black & white (that is so wrong in so many ways!).
I could go look through my collection…. but I am just being lazy!
There were also a ton of very nice posters out, like the cutaway of the new E. It was very nice!
:-D
In the UK at least, there were also souvenir programmes which could be bought at cinemas. I still have mine. :-)
Don’t forget the 1979 Jazz / Disco / Funk version of Star Trek the Motion Picture theme by Bob James. I have the MP3 shuffled somewhere in my I-pod!
@ 40 – you’re slightly mis-remembering. The TMP photonovel is in full color. The TWOK photonovel is in black and white.
40. The TMP photonovel was in color. but the TWOK one is in black and white. I have both of them.
I must say–watching the fly around of the re-fit Enterprise still gives me goosebumps.
I had the 12″ Admiral Kirk “doll”, one of my treasures along with a Gil Gerard/Buck Rogers “doll”. The Kirk doll later developed a bizarre greenish coloring on the head. Around 1987-9 or so my big brother and I stumbled on to a mint unopened box of Star Trek: The Motion Picture Trading Cards, so with the foresight that it would appreciate in value we opened every pack, I single handedly ate all of the then 10 year old gum, it turned to powder in my mouth but I didnt care I was eating candy from the final frontier! Shortly after that we found two unopened 6″ Kirk and Spock TMP figures, we got both of them for about 7 bucks each, now those I did take care of and saved them unopened. One of the things I loved about TMP was the ease at which one could “dress” like a starfleet captain. A pair of grey slacks and a White polo shirt add a hand drawn starfleet emblem and cardboard bio reading belt buckle and I was set. TMP rocked, finest Enterprise ever, the proof is in the Enterprise 2009, an acceptable facsimilie of it.
i dont dislike tmp but for those suggesting otherwise, jj needs to steer clear of 80percent of what this film had going on. it works more as a novel or a 2part television episode but i never felt it totally worked as a film that was supposed to give fans what they had been begging to get since the series was taken off tv. yes the score was great, there were some great character moments, and it was an interesting film, but u need more if you’re aiming for a highly successful/highly entertaining, thought provoking cinema experience. i still say trek II & VI were the best of the bunch. Nimoy even mentions tmp as not being what it should have been. (all that being said, im not a basher, just voicing my oppinion.)
After having no new Star Trek merchandise for along time, the period right around TMP was marvellous! The comics, the new novel line, the model kits, etc. It was a great time.
I love this Star Trek film it’s one of my favorite movies.
I’ve actually got a lot of the merchandise talked about here, mostly from ebay.
I wasn’t born yet when The Motion Picture came out. My first time watching the movie was at age 12. The movie, in my opinion, had an ambition that exceeded it’s grasp. The idea of encountering an unknown lifeform was an interesting idea, but the pacing was too slow. The film had great character moments. The matte paintings are too obvious and some of the visual effects don’t hold up, but that’s okay. The flyby around the refit Enterprise while still in spacedock was easily the best scene in the movie and one of the best in the franchise overall.
I missed out on the merchandise from The Motion Picture. However, I picked up the DS/AA Kirk/Spock action figure two-pack. Those figures are great, especially the two-grey suit Kirk wore. Seeing the variation worn by Captain Pike in the new film was an awesome nod to TMP. I would suggest to anyone who collects action figures to pick these up. As well as the refit DS/AA Enterprise. That ship is one of the best ship designs ever and DS/AA did a great job producing the replica. The panels. The Aztec detailing. The nacelles. The deflector dish. The name and number typeface. What more could you want?
I have that Marvel comic and as I scroll down…..that soundtrack too.
I still have the trading cards and action figures.
Want the tshirt.
Love that last poster. I like the prominence they give the Enterprise. If you’d like a poster of all the Star Trek ships, there’s a free downloadable one here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jibbyimages/527295231/
Click on “All Sizes” above the photo for a large version.
#43: Thanks Bill! I have both as well. I just couldn’t remember (the mind goes first :-D ).
where was all the cool toys this year? All i got was 2 collectors cups from BK
I have a 12″ Admiral Kirk figure, with phaser accessory.
However, one year I was bored and got out my model paints and stripped Kirk bare.
After which I painted him as Superman. To my surprise it came out really well. Even made a cape and all.
Then the uniform was put back on and voilà! Superman had an instant secret identity of Admiral Kirk.
Did I mention I was bored?
Still have the figure and the phaser. Do you think it is worth anything? :-)
I have the comic signed by the lead artist and the writer. Quite proud of that! :)
And the complete card set! :P
I didn’t have much merchandise from TMP, but did send off token to a cereal company in the UK to get a set of TMP posters. They were mostly publicity shots – the only ones I can recall were Spocks shuttle, the publicity shot of Decker and Ilia in an Enterprise corridor… and I think there were the studio shots of Spock and Kirk as well. They were pinned to my wall for several years. Goodness knows what happened to them. I still have the Marvel comic adaption of the movie collected into a UK hardcover ‘annual’ as they were known in those days. Today it would be called a ‘graphic novel’!
I’ve grown to love this film. I think because it feels a bit deeper than the action oriented later movies. I liked ST09 but really miss the ‘classical music’ element of Star Trek that BobOrci talk about. To me, thats what makes Trek Trek and so few of the later movies and series seem to get that. TNG got it with things like ‘The Inner Light’… theres room for both, but I want to feel wonder at the mystery of space again….
I’ve been collecting Star Trek memorabilia since the year dot. I have maybe 100 STar Trek mugs of various descriptions, some with scenes from the movie. Keeps my mind alive!
What about “Chekov’s Enterprise”? That was a fun and informative read.
There was also the “Star Trek – The Motion Picture Peel-Off Graphics Book”. My wardrobe became the main transporter room…..
Looking at the latter alone, you can see how much thought went into depicting the running of a fictional starship, way back in the mid Seventies.
Also there were the ST-TMP official blueprints and pop-up book
I used the Enterprise blueprints to paint an entire wall of my bedroom with an isometric drawing of the Enterprise in a space scene with a Klingon cruiser, nearby to an Earth like planet.
This wall was about 7′ x 11′ and it took me months to draw and paint.
Amazing how much free time we have in our youth.
Wow, you can almost smell the chewing gum off those trading cards.
Those were the days, *sigh*, when movie trading cards all smelt of synthetic strawberry…
Along with a lot of the other items, I have the soundtrack album on CD (the 20th anniversary edition, which is terrific — and you don’t want to miss Inside Star Trek on the second disc), cassette, 8-track (don’t even have a player for that one anymore) and LP…
At my wife’s suggestion, we watched the Director’s Cut of TMP on Monday evening. At the end of the closing credits I must have let out a big sigh, because my wife just looked at me and smiled. She may not be as passionate a fan as I have always been, but after nearly 30 years of marriage at least she understands!
despite what people says or thinks, TMP is one of my favorite film ever !
@Digginjim: I agree with you, I liked ST2009 to, but I really miss the Jerry Goldsmith’s themes. Joel Goldsmith (The son of Jerry) would have been a better choice as composer to my opinion.
Never seen that bridge playset before. Looks very good, especially for the time back then when cheesy-looking Trek toys prevailed.
Koolness! I had the photonovel too except mine fell apart as i turned the pages–i also got n built the tmp model–it even lit up at the saucer section windows n u turned it on by twisting the deflector dish–i did a near perfect job painting it n it hung up on fishing line in my room for years-ahhhh those were the days-
Is there any way to get a larger version of that last photo (the one with the Enterprise and the crew)? I’m thinking that might become my desktop.
God, I had the photonovel; the ’70s answer to those who couldn’t afford (then) expensive VCRs (in most cases, $1000 a pop; and tapes were around $80 each). With my allowance at that age?? Forget it.
They also had about 10 TOS Trek episodes in the photonovel format as well. Sometimes, I’d sync them up to audio tape recordings I’d made off of the TV speaker (primitive, but it worked) and ‘watch’ the episode in real time (more or less). Could explain why my generation is so fascinated by the idea of DVDs!
People born after 1985 have NO IDEA how easy they have it today! ( ;
As much as TMP is a cure for insomnia, it does have a very cool range of collectibles. I must agree with some of the other posters: That is how you re-design the Enterprise. Not that abortion from Abrams’ colossal train-wreck.
The “Rainbow” poster featuring Kirk, Spock and Ilia, drawn by the master of the movie poster, Bob Peak, was (and is) one of the best Trek items I have ever found, folds and all. Every time I look at it in the frame, I am back in 1979 and here the “Dom, Da Da Dom, Da Da Dom” of the excellent Jerry Goldsmith score (I also yearn for an official full film score release)
The look of the poster was tweaked a bit for the Directors Edition DVD, and I yearn for a full size poster of that as well. Has anybody seen them anywhere?
i collected the cards,
omg i feel so old
#61
It keeps your mind alive but probably drives all the women away from your place too!
John, Thanks for the great article, brings back a lot of happy memories collecting with my brother Ben. We would often refer to that McDonald’s commercial, exclaiming “D’wa ‘a McDonalds” for no apparent reason!
Agree with #62.
Checkov’s Enterprise is a great book if you want a good ‘making of’ account of the movie from Walter Koenig’s point of view.
The original Battlestar Galactica premiered while TMP was filming and Koenig writes about the feelings on the set while that was all going down.
Very interesting stuff.
Regarding the Roddenberry novelization, didn’t it begin with Kirk doing a suboribtal skydive just for fun? Its been 30 years since I’ve read it so I can’t remember for sure.
Anyway, if it did its interesting that the concept was first used in the TNG novel. Take that ST09!!! ;)
Thought the orbital skydive scene was the book version of Generations?
Any pictures of the instore promotional material from McDonald’s for the happy meals? they did have cardboard enterprises as well.
I still have my STTMP lunch box.
Where are the pictures of the Star Trek Arcade Game- the combat simulator.
Did that come out after Star Trek TMP or before TWOK?
Whether you love or hate TMP, this film had a purpose and we have everything that followed thanks to the success of this film. If TMP was total crap, it would have ended right there. But it wasn’t crap. In fact, there were many wonderful moments in this film, especially introducing the characters, the Enterprise, the Klingons, and of course the amazing score. I enjoyed this movie the first time I saw it on VHS, and I enjoy the many special moments of the film when I watch it again from time to time. It’s not my favorite of the films, but I’m not going to brush it aside because I know how special the film is to so many fans who were there for the opening, and I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed the films and spin-offs that followed if this film hadn’t been made. This is a film that has its slow moments when you watch it on the small screen, but it has so many great moments and served as a nice bridge between the series and the films that followed. I can only imagine what it was like to be there for the opening. I can understand why it’s still a favorite for so many fans. I also love the TMP Enterprise. I love the ship in the new Trek film for different reasons. I think each Enterprise has been perfect for its story and its time… with the exception of 1701-E. I’m not feelin that one. But I digress.
I was a Swing Mgr at Mcdonald’s in 1979, so I got to take the translights( the promotional pictures over the menu boards), the standees, and a happy meal container.
sadly, they did not dtand up to the test of time and the got savaged during a move back in the late 1980’s.
funny thing about all the McD’s stuff is that you never saw a full frontal of kirk or spock.
guess they did not want to pay Shatner and Nimoy
LOL!!!
@#62 Mark Lynch: You must be my long lost twin … I had the blueprints all over my walls, and I loved “Chekov’s Enterprise” (the spray-on skin to heal the burn was salad oil!). I ALMOST picked up the sticker book … my grade school did those cheesy book fairs where you could order such things but I had already blown my allowance on other ST memorabilia, and I figured I’d just catch it at the next one … which never came, sadly.
One other tidbit: My copy of the TMP LP had a beautiful full-color print of The Big E (suitable for framing!), plus the album sleeve had pictures of the aliens that were apparently also available as toys — aliens, that I recall, only actually appeared in (maybe) Kirk’s shuttle landing scene, and in the background when he’s talking to Sonak there.
ST, by the way, as a movie franchise, isn’t doing a very good job of selling the idea of transporters as safe travel. TMP: Sonak and companion (in the novel, it’s Kirk’s GF Admiral Ciani) die in a freak transporter accident. 09: Amanda dies when the transporter loses its lock on her (really?). (This despite all the other magical things the transporter could do in the 09 timeline.)
I got about everything there was that came out in association with ST:TMP. It was such a huge event in my life at the time!
I’ve posted much of what I collected on my own blog, like the magazine and newspapper articles, as well as the McD’s boxes, at
http://mystartrekscrapbook.blogspot.com/search/label/ST%3ATMP
but there is still a lot to go. I’m glad to see some love for this movie!
I thought it was neat that they used one of the graphics from TMP in the new movie… when Chekov announces that the transporter is back online, the graphic symbol for the Transporter Room was seen on his board. This was also in the Peel-Off Graphics book an earlier commenter mentioned.
Also I can’t tell you how many times I listened to Mecos’ disco version of the score on cassette. It was awesome!
Whoa! I have most of the above stuff!
@27 Are you kidding? That was 1979, 30 spocking years ago! For a McDonald’s commercial, that was unbelievably both funny, and different. They were using Grimace and the Hamburgler and Mayor McCheese at the point, essentially H R Pufnstuf looking costumed mascots…
Burger King, of course did the definitive derivation with its Burger Kingons this year…. but it’s 2009.
I’d just love to find a transcription of the “Klingon” from that 1979 McDonald’s ad, considering that Okrand didn’t come into play until Star Trek III: TSFS. Any Klingon (and what the McD actor spoke sounded very Okrandian) spoken… was it written by the original creator of Klingon, one Jimmy Doohan? Who has more info on that??? Anthony, can your sources tell us more about the ad agency and actor etc.???
I don’t understand why we never got any more bald charactors who had taken the vow of celibacy. Oh wait, Picard….Silly Me……
The MECO Star Trek theme was cool, they even used the klingon theme from the movie as well.
TMP has gotten slammed pretty hard over 30 years but it is still better than the TNG movie which were extended episodes. TMP was the only movie out of the originals that felt like a movie. Was it perfect, no. The one thing I really liked about the movie was that it gave you a chance to see the Star Trek universe for the first time on a grand scale. The first shots of the Enterprise in drydock, etc. It gave a grand scale to Enterprise.
I’ve never seen those Mego alien figures before (Rigellian, Klingon, etc.) Were they ever produced? It’s surprising to see what might have been a completely different direction for Klingons.
TMP was cinematically designed and awe inspiring on the big screen. I’m surprised the movie industry hasn’t come up with a way to keep “films that should be seen on the big screen” in rotation at actual theaters.
#90. …come up with a way to keep “films that should be seen on the big screen” in rotation at actual theaters.
I agree!!!
I would love to see a nice print of TMP on the big screen again.
Also, does anybody else remember getting a TMP plastic drink cup and the full color program at the theater? That was the big start of my collecting phase. I had some of the old Mego dolls then, and the big, ugly Black phaser pistol…but this film ramped it up to 11!
I had the exact same poster shown in the article in my dorm room at college. I think I purchased it and an original Battlestar Galactica poster from Spencer Gifts at the same time. I brought the novelization and the other “making of” books as well. My brother gave me a Star Trek The Motion Picture Calendar for Christmas the following year. I don’t remember the McDonald’s Happy Meal at all.
Time to open my Foot locker to see what I still have in there…from way back
Silly collectibles for a silly movie.
I’ve still got my movie theater cup and program from TMP.
The Enterprise model (first release) really kinda sucked. Lesney had bought AMT, and produced the kit in cheap oily plastic. It didn’t take paint without a good detergent washing first. When I say cheap plastic, think of the feel of those stackable shelves with the tubes you pop in between each level. The decals were rub-on transfers, and if you messed up alignment, you were had. And, OMG, the nacelle pylons were doomed from the get-go. One flop on the shelf, and you had a junker for the firecracker brigade.
That being said, it went together pretty well, and had the smooth hull (not the later random lame cross-hatching of later releases), and did have those craptastic lights– Paul Newitt’s upgrade guide was a Godsend — and the kit could take fiber optics and LEDs readily. Nowadays, the original kit will run you about $125 if you can find it…although I’d recommend the Polar Lights/Round2 36″ version instead. More accurate detail and excellent decals…and it’s 3 FEET LONG! :-D
The Klingon K’Ting’a kit was a nice easy bit of hell to paint, but really looked good when finished. Same for the Vulcan Shuttle-you could go simple on it, or actually paint it like the studio model. Did anyone else find the Spock kit (retooled into his new movie uniform)? I finally scored one off of an estate sale on eBay, for $10 unbuilt.
TMP was the only time I ever skipped class in high school, on opening day. I enjoyed it then, and I still do. Love the soundtrack!!
Ah the memories…I remember them well..one of my favorite things was the cutaway E poster..showed everydeck from the bridge to the antimatter pods..and the E model with spacetape decals for the nacelles…but the all time favorite was the original movie poster…it is still my favorite..though McCoy is absent..never understood that one..I recently found the laser disks for TMP. at a flea market..those were cool….didn’t get into the action figures…wish I could find that bridge set though..really neat!
remember staying up reading the Foster novelization in one night..gaev some interesting insight not found in the movie…and the original pre directors cut, I believe is better in some ways, worse in others, newer sfx are better I guess, nothing to write home about, they took the klaxon and computer voice out( didn’t like that)…did love the Vulcan reshoots!!!
And now we are full circle with TREK again..The Human Adventure Begins Again!
It’s funny. I remember going to Macdonald’s and eating a happy meal and getting a couple of the Toys about 2 weeks before the Movie came out. Tmp may not have been the best but with out it there would be no Treks 2 through 11. I seen Tmp many times but have not realy enjoyed it till Robert Wise came out with the Directors Edition. I watch every now and then and I love the way they put the Star Field in for the Opening Theme. I loved how they changes the Red alert Klaxen and got rid of that annoying computer voice. I always tell my frends when you watch the Directors edition it is like watching a new movie inside of an old movie.
The Soundtrack for this Movie is the best of all the Trek Scores. I know that the Tng Movies used it some and of course Tng series. But the Motion picture sounds is still the best. The Human Adventure is just beginning.
Hey Anthony. You should do a poll on which Trek Movie sound track is the best.
I have happy meal boxes and a standup display packed away somewhere!
Have the special edition score, the Photostory, the Making Of, the novelization, (which I read before seeing the movie- a mistake- because the book was MUCH better and made the film seem pale by comparison.)
also the special edition LP with the “magazine.”
BTW, I highly recommend the DST/AA phaser- I have the TWOK one and its really cool!
@95: you fail at life.
The one thing I miss on the director’s cut, was the computer voice. I wish they left it in. “a travel pod is now available…”, and “malfunction…”. also in engineering you could hear it give a status checklist which was pretty cool. That dialog is repeated in Star Trek 2 on the bridge right before launch.
I have the TMP AA/DST phaser. They white lights on the TWOK phaser are now in color to set the power level of the phaser, and the piston is a slightly different color.
Got it, had it, had it, got it, got it, missed that one, got it, had it…..
Man this brings back the memories.
I have my TMP collectible cards from Weetabix cereal which was available in the UK. They had cardboard cut outs of the Enterprise and the Klingon ship as well — alas, I did not keep those!
I also have a TMP cup and breakfast bowl which a friend gave me! My prized possession, however, is an actual piece of the VGER model which was issued through williamshatner.com 5 years ago to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of TMP.
I love this film, even with its faults….
105. I Am Morg Not Eymorg – December 9, 2009
Got it, had it, had it, got it, got it, missed that one, got it, had it…..
Man this brings back the memories.
Ok. What ever Dr Mccoy gave you let me know.
Best Movie soundtrack of all time (no small feat!)
Still Best effects of all time except for three shots (starfleet skytram station which is really more of a glaring matte painting problem, Kirk and Scotty from behind in the shuttlepod with rear projected Enterprise saucer in front of them looked rear projected then looks worse now, and at the end another matte painting when they are standing on the enterprise saucer profile shot they must each be 30ft tall, again a really cringe induinge matte painting)
Aside form those three shots still the most spectacular effects ever produced, the greatest soundtrack of all time and still my fav Trek movie
I have the cutaway poster of the movie Enterprise and it’s great! I had many of the items in the article and have been selling them on ebay. I’m very much hoping that the new effects edition will be released on blu-ray with the original version.
Haven’t got any of the movies on blu yet, holding for the directors editions…
Great memories! I was 13 years old when the movie came out. I had the Enterprise, the novel, photonovel, comic, desk calender and Phaser (laser tag type) set. I loved that Phaser set. Proud to say I still have it to this day :-)
Never liked the movie. Always loved the merchandise. Made me envy the old Star Trek heyday. Seeing STXI get the same treatment was… amazing.
Has an model-based effects team like that ever come around again?
John Dykstra and Doug Trumbull working together on a film…wow!
Remember: “crop it, flop it or drop it!”
As a 13 yr old kid, this definitely brings back many fond memories. Who knew that 30 years later, we would still be awed and fascinated by this legacy!!!!
I was in the theater with a bunch of dressed up odd-balls for the opening of TMP. Much excitement and anticipation was rewarded with Star Trek: The Motionless Picture. I wanted so dearly to LOVE it and couldn’t. It was just too damn dull.
Over time I have learned to love it. But good lord what a disappointment it was at the time.
#90
By the time the aliens hit the market, the movie line was considered a failure by Mego, and they could only be bought through the J.C. Penney catalog or were dumped into bargain aisles in Canada. Go figure.
I still remember Pic N Save having tons of the 12 inchers in the early ’80s, for three bucks each! I could kick myself for not buying them back then. ;)
37. lostrod –
“There was also a daily and Sunday comic strip syndicated in newspapers that was pretty good. Much better than the Marvel comics. I clipped them out and saved in an envelope. I guess they’re in one of the trunks.”
Wow, I’d totally forgotten about the syndicated comics. Those were pretty cool. I now recall clipping & saving them too.
A friend gave me TMP Happy Meal box collection that was discovered in an attic. The entire series is intact and immaculate -minus sadly, most of the toys that came with the boxes.
The more I watch STMP the more I like it. On the other hand the more I watch Abrams ST the more I dislike it. It could have been so much better in the hands of a skilled director
I remember reading that the TMP score was recorded by the largest orchestra ever assembled for a film score up until then.
That would account for the huge sound, compared to all the other instances the theme was used.
#103 cbspock- Yes! They changed the computer voice in TDE! I was so pissed!
Star Trek – The Motion Picture is the BEST Trek film ever made – and always WILL BE !!!
Oh yeah — seeing the bubble gum cards reminded me I have a load of them. I got the one of Decker signed by Stephen Collins at the stage door when he was doing “Spamalot” on Broadway in 2008! What a nice guy! He was amazed when he saw the bubble gum card (I think he has it in his photo gallery on his web site).
I recently found my original die cast metal Enterprise from the original movie era in a box in the attic. The nacelle section had to be reglued but went back together nicely. I then decided to hit it with some white acrylic paint for a touch up and I’ve found some scratch on lettering at the hobby store that’s just the right size for the “NCC-1701″ decaling. Talk about going down memory lane. She looks almost as good as new.
You know I have never been a ’stuff’ guy, but i find the whole world of merchandise fascinating. Thanks for the history John
So you don’t collect stuff Anthony? Wow, I figured you’d have a few things.
I hope you at least buy the DS/AA figures, ships and props. And I wonder if John might put up a video featuring stuff he’s collected?
Attention Carbon Units what would you do, if you had to save the earth from something attacking you, youd find the best man u had, duwad duwad duwad, judging from his work that would be captain james kirk, but whats that u say, the mans an admiral today, to give him back his enterprise should come as no surprise…ncc-1701 those are the magic numbers to get the job done, with bones and Chekov, scotty and sulu too and with those star trekkers thered be no fear attacking you……
From the Meco STAR TREK TMP Album…hehehe….the other side was The black hole disco music….these words done today as rap would work fine….Wheres Slim Shady?
Anybody remember their Star wars album. NUG NUG disco ewoks heeh
I saw ST:TMP when I was 3. I actually remember going to the theater. The only thing I had was a ST:TMP t-shirt. My mom has a picture of me wearing it. My brother and I were and still are Star Trek fans but we had far more Star Wars merchandise as kids.
I have a couple of the McDonalds happy meal items, the Marvel comics adaptation, the above picture with the crew looking up at the Enterprise as a poster, and a gigantic movie-house one sheet for the film that I have framed and up in my dining room. :)
The interesting thing about Roddenberry’s TMP adaptation is that the story is framed as Kirk telling Roddenberry “what really happened” during the encounter with “Vejur” (as Roddenberry spelled it through most of the book) because certain elements from other tellings of the story may have been exaggerated. I’ve never seen this actually addressed by any reputable sources, but I’ve always assumed this very slightly different version of events came about because Roddenberry constantly fought with Harold Livingston over rewrites (causing him to quit the production at least twice) and other facets of the story, and the novel was the perfect opportunity to put out his version of the story with no interference from anyone. (This kind behavior is exactly what got him removed from any sort of active role in the making of TWOK.)
But yes, the novel is brilliant in it’s own weird sort of way. It sort of sets up exactly why Decker made the choice he did at the end of the story through an examination of his backstory…And then on the other end spends about a paragraph on Kirk staring at Ilia’s nipples, and his thoughts on a homosexual relationship with Spock. “I would hate to be thought of as so foolish as to select a partner that only comes into heat every seven years”, Roddenberry writes as Kirk.
Yeah. Just straight weird.
I remember the Star Trek Happy Meals quite well. I had more than one! :)
I still have some of my Star Trek – The Motion Picture memorbilia in storage. Be it the books, comics, toys, and other collectibles, I have them stored away safely. After three decades, they are still in very good condition.
Even though Star Trek VI – The Undiscovered Country is my favorite TOS film out of the first six, I will always have fond memories of Star Trek – The Motion Picture.
Despite what some fans have said, it is still an excellent Star Trek film and a cinematic experience to be remembered.
I had the “secret ring” from the Happy Meal for TMP. Wish I knew where it was? I also had two “cards” from the back of a Cheerios box. Kirk in his white space suit from the cut scene and Uhura at her post on the bridge.
Had those Marvel comics too. But over the years have sold them off.
TMP for those of my generation, was a way to connect in a different way and took our love of a tv show and put it out there for more people who would never have turned on the show. Personally, I liked TMP and love what has been done to “fix” the visuals and make the movie fit with the other films. Now if only we could fix ST:V and have the vision that was originally planned for the end of the movie.
Hi,I have a Very RARE GOLD SPOCK Decanter.It lists for $2-3,000. I am willing to sell it..Does anyone know who would be interested in this Rare piece?Please e-mail me if you or anyone you know might be interested in this Rare piece.It was made by Paramount Pictures in 1979.It is new & never opened.I can e-mail pics. of it.They were never released.It belonged to a man who had an inside connection with Paramount & bought the entire mintage of them.He never sold any.If you look under Grenadier Decanters.They have a picture of it in thier site.It just says RARE.The guy who purchased them all just passed away 2 weeks ago.I have access to more from his wife.This is the Gold Spock that everyone is missing from their collection.Feel free to e-mail me about it.
On the last post on the Rare Gold Spock,my e-mail is jimbeam11@verizon.net If anyone has any interest feel free to e-mail me about it,Thanks,Steve.It looks like an Oscar Award. It is a beautiful piece.
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