Superman The Movie - Episode 103

Superman The Movie - Episode 103

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto September 28, 2018 Duration: 1:22:25

In 1978, a movie hit theaters that showed just how far special effects had come. Superman The Movie Wowed audiences and set the bar really high when it came to special effects.

The tagline in the marketing campaign for Superman The Movie was, "You'll believe a man can fly."  That tagline was something of a message to the creators of the new Star Trek movie. By December 1978, principle photography was wrapped and it had moved into post-production.

But you could say that with Superman's impressive special effects and story, Star Trek needed to ensure that audiences, "would believe space travel is real."

And pressure was already mounting internally on the production as it ran over schedule and budget. Visual effects were going poorly, as well, as the company in charge of producing them fired not long after.

Then, there was Superman The Movie, a huge blockbuster hit in the same genre. That had to add the pressure to the production team. 

But Superman did something else for The Motion Picture. It got audiences ready. It's safe to say that the two franchises probably share fans. So Superman just got that fan base jazzed up and excited. 

After the dust settled from Superman and we were well into 1979, fans most likely began looking to December for the premiere of Star Trek The Motion Picture.


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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