Following the demise of
the original Star Trek series in
1969, writer-producer Gene Roddenberry spent the ’70s trying to launch a new TV
show, as well as moonlighting in features. None of his wilderness-years
projects clicked, so once Star Trek
was revived in 1979 with the first of myriad feature films (and, later spinoff
TV shows), Roddenberry resigned himself to being the godhead of a franchise.
Within this context, it’s interesting to look at this trifecta of TV movies,
each of which represents a fresh attempt at repurposing the same underlying
material. Given the similarity between the underlying material and the ethos of
Trek, these movies prove that certain
themes and tropes were ingrained into Roddenberry’s DNA.
The best of the
telefilms, though that’s not saying a whole lot, is the first one, Genesis
II (pictured above). At the beginning of the story, near-future
scientist Dylan Hunt (Alex Cord) is put into suspended animation as part of an
experiment. An earthquake buries the laboratory surrounding Dylan’s chamber, so
he’s revived more than a century later by citizens of PAX, a peaceful society living
underground in the postapocalyptic future. Things get dull quick, because Dylan
is smothered with exposition from PAX official Isaac (Percy Rodrigues) and from
Lyra-a (Mariette Hartley). Turns out Lyra-a is not from PAX; instead, she’s a
mutant from the country of Terrania. Before long, Dylan and Lyra-a flee PAX,
because the mutant has convinced the 20th-century man that PAX is secretly
warlike. Upon reaching Terrania, however, Dylan discovers that humans are used
by Terranians as slaves, so he leads a rebellion against Lyra-a’s people.
Repeating
mistakes from the worst Trek episodes,
Genesis II features ridiculous
costumes suitable for a cabaret show on Fire Island, overwrought discussions of
morality, and turgid storytelling devoid of humor. (Sample dialogue: “You will
find it profitless to lie to us, human! Will you repair our nuclear
generator?”) Cord is stalwart but stilted, while Hartley’s sexy in a soccer-mom
sort of way, but it’s fun to groove on the voices of Trek veterans Ted Cassidy (“Lurch” from the ’60s Addams Family series) and Rodrigues (who
later narrated the iconic Jaws
trailer). Genesis II contains
interesting concepts, but the presentation is far too clinical.
Predictably,
the next version of the material, Planet Earth, is lustier in every
sense of the word. Re-conceived by Roddenberry as an action show, instead of a
show about ideas, Planet Earth
replaces Cord with campy he-man actor John Saxon in the role of Dylan Hunt. The
story skips the set-up and gets right to Dylan leading a team of PAX
adventurers into a land ruled by cruel amazons, with the nominal goal of
rescuing a doctor who’s needed back at PAX for emergency surgery. The vibe of Planet Earth evokes Trek even more than the vibe of Genesis
II did. Hunt contrives elaborate strategies, employs flying tackles, and makes
out with two different women. (One is Janet Margolin, who would have been a
series regular, and the other is guest star Diana Muldaur.) Hunt even narrates the onscreen
action in voiceover via “log entries.” Still, the added testosterone means that
Planet Earth is significantly dumbed-down
from its predecessor, although Planet
Earth seems like the most viable launching pad for a series of any of these
three flicks.
The final—and most lavish—spin on this material, Strange
New World, was made without Roddenberry’s involvement. (That’s the cost
of selling a concept to a network.) Saxon returns, now playing the new role of
Anthony Vico, and this time the story involves three modern-day people thrust
into the future. The explanation this time is that a meteor shower hit the
Earth while the trio were in suspended animation aboard a space station. The
pacing of Strange New World is
painfully slow, even though two separate adventuress are crammed into 97
minutes. The first involves Anthony’s team encountering the people of Eterna,
who survive using clones and other medical miracles but need blood from normal
people. The second story dramatizes a clash between Anthony’s team and groups
of savages living in a forest and a zoo, respectively. In both narratives,
endless exposition and tiresome fight scenes ensue.
It’s all quite flat and
talky, but the photography is atmospheric, the outer-space shots look great,
and the supporting cast is colorful: Avuncular Keene Curtis and lovely Kathleen
Miller play the teammates of Saxon’s character, and guest stars include
Catherine Bach, Martine Beswick, Reb Brown, Richard Farnswoth, Gerrit Graham,
Bill McKinney, and James Olson. (Hardcore ’70s junkies will recognize all of
these names.) There’s also an amusing contribution to the annals of sci-fi
vehicles, because the characters tool around postapocalyptic Earth in the
space-age equivalent of a Winnebago.
Genesis II:
FUNKY
Planet Earth: FUNKY
Strange New World: FUNKY