Authors John Tenuto and Maria Jose Tenuto have followed up their book Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film, which I stated in my review “was sure to satisfy the needs of the many fans,” with the next installment of the franchise, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: The Making of the Classic Film.
Buy Star Trek III: The Search for Spock The Making of the Classic FilmAfter a rave review for the book in the Foreword by Robin Curtis, who took over the role of Saavik because Kirstie Alley had too high a price to return, the Tenutos explore how Star Trek III had more expectations upon it than just box-office returns. It “was to be a test of sustainability: was Star Trek a viable film franchise?” Looking back over 40 years later, the answer a resounding “yes,” but “for writer and producer Herve Bennett and his team…, there would be many tests to meet if any further adventures were to take place.”
Shortly after the historical opening-weekend success of Star Trek II, Bennett received “the fastest greenlight on any project [he’d] ever had.” Given 18 months and $16 million, he got right to work on the script, which was influenced by a poem he read in a fanzine. The film “was to be about…sacrifice and the responsibilities of friendship.” With TWOK director Nicholas Meyer having no interest in returning (though he offered notes about Bennett’s outline), Leonard Nimoy (Spock) got the job, his first time directing a feature film.
Readers get to see early outlines ideas, such as the involvement of Romulans before Nimoy suggested Klingons, crew members having visions of Spock, and a romance between Kirk and Saavik, as well as deleted scenes. The book has chapters that focus on George Lucas’ special effects house ILM, the costume and makeup departments, the camera department, the stunt team, both the stealing and destruction of the Enterprise, the death of David Marcus, and the fire at Paramount Studios, which saw William Shatner help out before the firefighters arrived.
There are profiles of various cast members such as Curtis; the other actors who played Spock; Dame Judith Anderson, who played the Vulcan matriarch T’Lar; Mark Lenard returning as Spock’s father Sarek; Christopher Lloyd, who played the villain Kruge; and other actors who played Klingons, including Nimoy’s wife. However, the original Enterprise crew doesn’t get much attention.
Under the heading “Flight Recorder Visual,” brief bios are presented about Bennett; Nimoy; Teresa E. Victor, Nimoy’s personal assistant for almost 20 years; Visual Effects Supervisor Kenneth Ralston; Costume Desinger Robert Fletcher; The Burman Studio, Inc., which did the makeup; Cinematographer Charles Correll Jr.; ILM Matte Camera Supervisor Craig Barron; ILM Visual Effects Art Director David Carson; Actor Allan Miller; Stuntman Thomas Morga; Stand-In Philip Weyland; and Composer James Horner. The book concludes with memories from different screenings.
For fans in search of a great book about the making of Star Trek III, the Tenutos absolutely deliver the goods. They dig deep in their coverage of numerous aspects and participants from the different stages of production to paint a picture of this motion picture. Their writing makes all the subjects engaging. Here’s hoping they are already at work on their next making-of book no matter if they stay the course and write about Star Trek IV or leave the franchise.
