Moonraker - Episode 140

Moonraker - Episode 140

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto August 9, 2019 Duration: 50:54

It started as a 1955 spy novel by Ian Fleming. But it took over 24 years for the book to be made into a movie. And other than the name, the film barely resembled the book.

But the producers of the James Bond movies deliberately chose this story because of what was happening in the 1970s.

We chose to do this movie as a 70s Trek episode because one of our loyal listeners has been asking us to do an episode about Moonraker for some time. To be honest, we weren't sure there was a connection with Star Trek in the 1970s.

Then Calvin Bowles made a point that we couldn't ignore. The next movie scheduled after "The Spy Who Loved Me" that Bond producer, Cubby Broccoli, intended to make was "For Your Eyes Only".

In fact, at the end of the credits for "The Spy Who Loved Me," audiences read that James Bond would return in his next adventure, "For Your Eyes Only."

But then a funny thing happened on the way to the production office. A little movie called Star Wars changed Hollywood forever in 1977!

So producers chose to make Moonraker instead and put James Bond in space.

So Moonraker is very much a product of the Star Wars phenomenon and it helped to get audiences ready for another space adventure, "Star Trek The Motion Picture."

So thanks Calvin for your messages and you great information.

 


Dive into the fascinating decade when Star Trek lived on without a single new episode airing on television. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto guide 70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s through a detailed exploration of how a cancelled series refused to fade away. This podcast digs into the people who kept the flame burning-the original cast finding new voices in animation and convention halls, the writers and artists expanding the universe in novels and comics, and the passionate fans who created a blueprint for modern fandom. Each discussion connects the dots between the show's internal creative shifts and the wider cultural currents of the seventies that it both reflected and influenced. You'll hear about the specific efforts, from fan-led letter campaigns to Paramount's strategic decisions, that slowly built the momentum leading to a theatrical rebirth. It's a story of resilience and reinvention, examining not just what happened but how it felt to be part of that enduring phenomenon during those years. For anyone curious about the hidden history between the original series and "The Motion Picture," this podcast offers a rich, conversational deep dive into the community and commerce that made a comeback inevitable. Join Turner and Casto as they unpack the legacy of a show that was technically off the air, yet somehow more alive than ever.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s
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