Price, Poe and The Pit and the Pendulum

Vincent Price was a talented, versatile actor who worked in movies, television and on stage throughout his long career. He appeared in numerous movies, including film noirs, comedies, romantic dramas, and westerns. Beloved by his legion of fans, he’s probably best remembered for his contributions to the horror genre. Price starred in seven of the films in Roger Corman’s “Poe” cycle, the celebrated producer-director’s cinematic adaptations of the work of Edgar Allan Poe. The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) is the second film in the series, following House of Usher (1960). The story is set in Spain, where Francis Bernard (played by John Kerr) visits the castle of Nicholas Medina (portrayed by Price), who was married to his sister Elizabeth. It turns out Elizabeth died under mysterious circumstances, and Francis wants to learn the truth regarding her death. Nicholas and his sister Catherine initially tell him that his sister died of a rare blood disease. Later, the family physician, Dr. Leon, offers a different explanation for Elizabeth’s passing. Francis vows to stay at the castle until he discovers the truth. Dr. Leon warns him that Nicholas is in a frail mental state, and prodding him about the nature of Elizabeth’s death might send him over the edge. The doctor tells Francis about some traumatic events from Nicholas’ childhood, which have haunted him ever since.

Anthony Carbone & Vincent Price

Strange things and eerie events occur; Elizabeth's room is trashed. Eerie voices and loud noises are heard by Nicholas. He becomes convinced that Elizabeth has returned from the grave to haunt him. As the climax of the story nears, it becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems. There will be madness, murder, betrayal and death as the story builds to a crescendo of terror. The cast is excellent, with Price taking top honors, expertly walking a tightrope between calm, manic and completely off the rails throughout the film. Price was often accused of hamminess and over-acting, but I believe that he knew exactly what he was doing, perfectly pitching his performances to match the material. Price is at the peak of his powers here, and I think it's some of his best work in the Poe cycle, along with his performances in the later Masque of the Red Death and Tomb of Ligeia.

The rest of the cast, including Corman regulars Luana Anders (as Catherine) and Anthony Carbone (as Dr. Leon) are quite good, but it's Barbara Steele (in her first role since her iconic turn in Mario Bava's Black Sunday) who makes a truly lasting impression. She is excellent as Elizabeth, who turns out to have some very deadly secrets. Despite the fact that her dialogue was dubbed, Steele's physical performance is terrific. Shes’s ethereal, frightening, and alluring all at once. Her calm, cool and controlled Elizabeth is a perfect counterpoint to Price's emotional, rattled Nicholas. At least, that is, until the film's eerie finale, where the truth is finally revealed, and things take a twist toward the macabre. Richard Matheson's excellent screenplay combines a dash of Poe (the original story is only used in the last section of the film), with tales of ghosts and hauntings, and also tosses in a noir-esque murder plot for good measure. Price made suggestions about changes to Nicholas' dialogue, which he felt improved it's tone. Corman and Matheson incorporated some of his ideas.

The film is florid, haunting and dazzling. The combination of Corman’s assured direction with the excellent camera work by Floyd Crosby, art direction by Daniel Haller and the music of Lex Baxter create an atmosphere of dread that permeates every frame. Corman and his crew were like kids in a candy store while working on these films, making all kinds of interesting stylistic choices, such as the use of odd colors and off-kilter images in the flashback sequences. It's no surprise that the film is often cited as an influence on the Italian giallo genre of horror films, or that it's a favorite of Stephen King, Tim Burton and Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas. What Horror of Dracula is to the Hammer films oeuvre, The Pit and the Pendulum is to the horror output of American International Pictures. The movie set the tone for a large percentage of their genre offerings for years to come.

The movie draws you in, and bears up well on repeat viewings. This is in no small part to the stellar contributions of Vincent Price, who anchors the film with his assured performance. As a long-time fan, it's hard for me to pick a favorite Price role; his stellar work as Mark Cardigan in His Kind of Woman is a favorite of mine, but there are so many others to choose from. This is definitely one of his most memorable roles in the horror genre. If you're going to pick one movie to watch that defines what the Poe series is all about, this is the one to check out. The Pit and the Pendulum is available on DVD and Blu-ray, and is often screened on various cable movie networks. Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xzdrffJ91E. This post is part of The Vincent Price Blogathon, hosted by my fellow bloggers over at Reelweegiemidget Reviews & Cinematic Catharsis. I'd like to thank them for letting me participate! Please follow this link to check out the rest of the entries: https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/blogathons/blogathons-2020/vincent-price-blogathon/.

Dan Curtis: The Master of Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows, the supernaturally-themed daytime series that ran from 1966-71 on ABC, was a true phenomenon. The show's combination of traditional soap opera elements with horror and (later) science-fiction themed storylines caught the attention of young viewers and the series became a major hit. The show was brainchild of writer-producer-director Dan Curtis, who was also involved in the production of several classic made for television horror films, including the The Night Stalker, The Night Strangler, Trilogy of Terror, as well as the big-screen terror tale, Burnt Offerings, which featured Oliver Reed and Bette Davis. Curtis later went on to produce and direct the mini-series The Winds of War, as well as its sequel, War and Remembrance.

Master of Dark Shadows (2019), an absorbing documentary, traces the life and career of Dan Curtis through in-depth interviews with the cast and crew of Dark Shadows, as well as Curtis himself. Dark Shadows (which was based in part on a dream that Curtis had) started out as more of a Gothic romance, with storylines inspired by classic novels like Jane Eyre. When the low-rated series was in danger of cancellation, Curtis and his writers introduced more overt supernatural elements into the show, including the character of a vampire, Barnabas Collins, portrayed by Jonathan Frid. Ratings went up, and the series became a substantial hit. The series ran in a late afternoon time slot, so it was the perfect time for kids who were just getting home from school to tune in and watch the show. They turned out to be some of the series biggest fans.

Dark Shadows spawned books, board games, and soundtrack albums. Barnabas, the reluctant vampire, became a fan favorite, and the central character featured in the series ongoing storylines. The actors, including Frid, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott, were treated like rock stars by their fans. The series spawned two spinoff theatrical films, House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, both directed by Curtis. The series ended its run in 1971, and Curtis thought that would be the end of it. But Dark Shadows proved to have an enduring legacy, especially in the age of home video, when the series was released on VHS and DVD, and re-run on television. Fans discovered the show all over again. To this day, Dark Shadows retains a devoted fan base, who attend conventions featuring the cast and crew.

The interviews with Curtis and cast members including David Selby, John Karlen and Lara Parker are fascinating and engrossing. You get a real sense of what it was like to work on a show that was filmed as quickly and efficiently as possible in those long ago days of television in the 1960s and 1970s. There's also vintage interview footage with Frid (who passed away in 2012) and new comments by Dark Shadows superfan Whoopi Goldberg. The film briefly covers Curtis' work on The Night Stalker, and his adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which starred Jack Palance, as well as some of his other tales of television terror. The last portion of the movie covers Curtis' work on the epic mini-series The Winds of War, and its sequel, War and Remembrance. These productions were a massive undertaking, and Curtis was particularly proud of their success, as they afforded him the opportunity to work outside of the horror genre for a change.

The movie briefly covers the short-lived 1991 prime-time version of Dark Shadows, which featured Ben Cross as Barnabas, Barbara Steele, Roy Thinnes, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Both Cross and co-star Barbara Steele are interviewed in the film. It's particularly fun to see horror icon Steele discuss her time working with Curtis, both as an actor on the Dark Shadows revival and a co-producer on The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Master of Dark Shadows (2019) is a captivating documentary that paints a three-dimensional portrait of Dan Curtis, a talented man who was truly passionate about his work. Sadly, Curtis passed away in 2006, but this compelling film is a fitting tribute to him. If you're a fan of Dark Shadows or any of his other projects, this is a must watch. Master of Dark Shadows (2019) is available for viewing on Amazon Prime, and is also available on DVD and Blu-ray from MPI Home Video. Here's a link to the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kevjwzLxU4.

Retro Apocalypse: Panic In Year Zero!

The Baldwin family faces a Panic In Year Zero!

The Baldwin family is heading out for a vacation when they see some flashes of bright light in the distant sky, followed by a mushroom cloud rising over Los Angeles. It seems there has been a nuclear attack, and World War III has finally arrived! Harry Baldwin, the father, decides the group should head into the mountains, where they had been planning to go camping. He wants the group to settle in while they figure out what to do next. That’s just the beginning of 1962’s Panic in Year Zero!, an “end of the world” thriller, which stars (and is directed by) veteran actor Ray Milland. The film was released by well-known genre specialists American International Pictures, who specialized in horror, science-fiction and teen-oriented films, including the “Beach Party” series which featured one of this movie’s co-stars, Frankie Avalon. As the story continues, we follow the family’s journey into darkness as society begins to break down in the aftermath of the devastating nuclear exchange with “the enemy.” 

On the way to their destination, the family interacts with panic-stricken people, armed survivalists, and a not very helpful storeowner. Sporadic radio broadcasts hint at the state of the world, but don’t provide many details. Harry is determined to keep his family safe, and isn’t afraid to use force to do so, especially when they’re threatened by three young men who are clearly looking for trouble. The trio of hoodlums not only attack Harry’s daughter Karen, but Harry and his son Rick later discover the men are holding another young woman captive. They manage to rescue the girl, and bring her back to their settlement. Harry and his family must figure out how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where everyone’s looking out for himself or herself first.

Panic in Year Zero! is a powerful tale that avoids the over the top, flamboyant tone of many other apocalyptic thrillers. The film is moody and intense, illustrating the downward spiral of society after a nuclear attack. Harry finds himself doing things he never thought he would in these dangerous circumstances, committing brutal acts of violence in order to protect his family. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing the dark side of a society in freefall. There are solid performances from Milland in the lead role of Harry, as well as the supporting cast, which includes Jean Hagen as his wife Ann, Mary Mitchell as his daughter Karen, and pop star Avalon as his son Rick. Also appearing are genre veterans O.Z. Whitehead, Byron Morrow, Joan Freeman and Richard Bakalyan as the leader of the villainous young men.

Milland had helmed several other movies at this point in his career, and he keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. The excellent score is by AIP veteran Les Baxter. The screenplay for the film, by John Morton and Jay Simms, provides no easy conclusions or pat answers. There’s no trace of the hopeful tone expressed in some post-apocalyptic stories. There is an indication that society will move on, albeit in a more stringently controlled, militaristic style. Panic in Year Zero! is a taut, stark movie that will appeal to genre fans, especially if you’re looking for a different type of “end of the world” tale. The film is available on Blu-ray, and for digital streaming on various sites. The movie is also frequently screened on various cable movie channels. Here’s a link to the (somewhat hyperbolic) trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOccKTbUznk.

The Staple Singers: Soulful Stax Grooves

The Staple Singers are known for such immortal classics as “I’ll Take You There” and “Respect Yourself.” They’re one of the most legendary groups in the history of soul music. Led by Roebuck “Pops” Staples, and featuring his children Cleotha, Mavis, Pervis, and Yvonne, the group established itself as one of the leading lights in both the gospel and soul genres, as well as a torch-bearer for the civil rights movement. During the 1950s and 60s, the Chicago-based group recorded for several labels, including Vee-Jay, Riverside, and Epic Records. In 1968, The Staple Singers signed with Stax Records, the home of artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T & The MGs.

Photo: Courtesy of  Stax Archives

Their first album for Stax, Soul Folk in Action, was produced by guitarist Steve Cropper, who had risen to fame as part of the label’s house band. Cropper also co-wrote several hits for the label, including Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour.” Soul Folk in Action includes the group’s stellar cover of Redding’s “(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay” and a knockout version of The Band’s “The Weight.” While that album and its follow-up, We’ll Get Over, (also produced by Cropper) featuring the memorable song “When Will We Be Paid,” and a cover of Joe South’s “Games People Play,” garnered good reviews, neither record made a significant dent on the charts. In stepped Stax producer Al Bell, who steered the group in a more deeply funk-fueled direction.

Bell produced 1971’s The Staple Swingers, bringing the group together with the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, resulting in a soulful collection that contained the group’s first big hit, “Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom).” The group’s next album, Be Attitude: Respect Yourself featured the breakout smashes “Respect Yourself’ and “I’ll Take You There.” From there on, the smooth lead vocals of “Pops” Staples and the emotional, powerful growl of Mavis Staples led the group through a string of hits, live shows and television appearances, including a show-stopping appearance in The Band’s concert film, The Last Waltz. After parting ways with Bell and Stax in 1975, The Staple Singers also worked with producer-artist Curtis Mayfield on the soundtrack to the Sidney Poitier film Let’s Do It Again, solidifying their status as soul music icons.

Earlier this year, Craft Recordings issued a spectacular box set of the group’s Stax output from the years 1968-74, Come Go With Me: The Stax Collection. Spanning 7 discs, the set includes a selection of live tracks from the group’s stellar performance at the 1972 Wattstax music festival, as well as other rarities. The set also showcases a selection of amazing archival photos in its accompanying booklet, as well as comprehensive liner notes from Levon Williams (formerly of the Stax Museum) and folklorist and writer Dr. Langston Wilkins. If you’re a fan of classic soul and gospel, this is essential listening, and a must have for your collection. Come Go With Me: The Stax Collection is available in both vinyl and digital formats. Craft Recordings is one of the leaders in releasing carefully curated and lovingly crafted re-issues of essential music like this, which will appeal to both fans and newcomers alike. Follow this link for more information on this indispensable release: https://craftrecordings.com/staplessingers-comegowithme/, as well as this link to a trailer for the box set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFkc0VxZzTc.

The Undersea "Voyages" of Irwin Allen

The Seaview 

Many movie fans know producer-director Irwin Allen as the “Master of Disaster” through his work on big-screen films like The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and The Swarm. However, Allen had a thriving career long before those films were released. He wrote, produced and directed movies such as The Lost World and Five Weeks In A Balloon, as well as spearheading the television series Lost In Space, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Voyage was one of Allen’s most successful projects. It began life as a feature film released in 1961. The movie tells the story of the nuclear powered submarine Seaview. While the sub is on its maiden voyage, the crew becomes involved in a race against time to stop a cataclysmic event that could cause…(what else?)...the end of the world!

The state of the art submarine Seaview, designed by Admiral Harriman Nelson (Walter Pidgeon of Forbidden Planet), is on a test run in the Arctic. Suddenly, things go haywire: icebergs are melting, the seas are churning and the sky is literally on fire. Temperatures are rising to dangerous levels everywhere. It turns out the Van Allen radiation belt has been affected by a meteor shower, causing it to catch on fire. After rescuing a stranded scientist, Miguel Alvarez, from an ice floe, Nelson and his colleague Commodore Emery (Peter Lorre of M, Casablanca, many others) head to New York and attend an emergency briefing at the United Nations, where they speak with a gathering of fellow scientists and world leaders.

Nelson and Emery share their theory that if the heat build-up from the Van Allen belt isn’t stopped, our planet is doomed in a matter of weeks. Nelson believes a nuclear missile fired from the Seaview into the heart of the Van Allen belt will disperse the flames, and things will return to normal. The UN council rejects the idea. Some of the other scientists argue that the problem is only temporary, and the fire will burn itself out. A resolute Nelson returns to the Seaview, where he decides to implement his plan. Along with Captain Lee Crane (Robert Sterling) and the rest of the crew, Nelson races against time to avert disaster. But the presence of an apparent saboteur aboard the sub may derail Nelson’s plan. Can the crew discover the saboteur’s identity, and save the world?

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an enjoyable, Saturday matinee style sci-fi thriller, produced and directed by the man himself, Irwin Allen. The story for the film is by Allen and veteran screenwriter Charles Bennett. The science of the film’s plot is a little wonky by modern standards, but the ten-year old movie fan inside you should let that slide, and just enjoy the movie on its own terms. It’s clear the film was at least partially inspired by the success of Disney’s hit version of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Voyage not only shares a cast member with that Disney film (Peter Lorre), but the Seaview also does battle with a giant squid during course of the movie. One of the film’s main strengths is the Seaview itself, a very cool submarine, featuring the then novel idea of observation windows on the front of the craft. The special effects for the film are by L.B. Abbott, who also worked on Fantastic Voyage and Logan’s Run.

The excellent cast, in addition to Pidgeon and Lorre, also includes veteran stars Joan Fontaine, Henry Daniell, and Regis Toomey. Barbara Eden and Michael Ansara (who were married in real-life at the time) appear as Lt. Cathy Connors and Miguel Alvarez, respectively. As was the case with many films of the 1950s and 1960s, there’s a pop star along for the ride, and this time it’s Frankie Avalon, who plays Lt. Danny Romano, and also gets to sing the title song. Yes, there is a title song for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea! Here's a link to it, so you may enjoy it in all its 1960s pop tune glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esNgKybTSZQ.

David Hedison and Richard Basehart

Voyage proved to be a success at the box-office, and Irwin Allen showed some remarkable foresight. He had the models and sets from the film placed into storage, in case the opportunity for a sequel or TV series materialized. That’s exactly what happened in 1964, when a weekly version of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea premiered on ABC. The cast included Richard Basehart as Admiral Nelson, and David Hedison as Captain Crane. Hedison had been offered the role of Crane for the feature film, but turned it down after his experiences working with Allen on the 1960 film The Lost World. Hedison accepted the part on the TV series in order to work with Basehart, an actor whose work he admired. 

The televised voyages of the Seaview started out primarily as Cold War themed espionage stories, along with tales of undersea action and occasional forays into science fiction. When the show switched from black and white to color in its second season, the plots became wilder and wackier, featuring mummies, werewolves, ghosts and a host of alien creatures threatening the crew. As with Allen’s other series, Lost In Space, as Voyage progressed, it became more fantasy-oriented. One welcome addition during the series second year was the Flying Sub, a smaller craft that could be launched from the Seaview and was able to operate underwater and take to the skies as well.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea remained popular, running for four seasons, becoming Allen’s longest running series. The show earned itself a legendary Mad magazine parody, “Voyage To See What’s On The Bottom,” during its original run. The series lived on in syndication, inspiring a generation of kids to assemble their Seaview model kits and play with them alongside their plastic versions of the USS Enterprise. While Voyage has never been rebooted or remade, Irwin Allen did release another undersea science-fiction adventure, the 1971 made for TV movie City Beneath The Sea, a story about the undersea colony of Pacifica. The film not only featured a repurposed Flying Sub, but also cast Voyage star Richard Basehart in a small role. Allen produced one final televised underwater adventure, the 1978 mini-series The Return of Captain Nemo, starring Jose Ferrer.

Thanks to their colorful stories and talented casts, both the film and television versions of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea have remained fan favorites throughout the years. I especially like seeing stars like Vincent Price, Robert Duvall and June Lockhart, among many others, appear in guest roles on the series. Watching the episodes brings back a lot of fond memories for me, and it’s always fun to see Richard Basehart, David Hedison and the rest of the cast remain unflappable (and keep a straight face) while dealing with ever more improbable menaces. The 1961 film has been released on both DVD and Blu-ray, and all four seasons of the TV series are available on DVD. Here’s a link to the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrpM4_fPIT4, and a trailer for the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZXQEtqqtzk.

This post is part of the Out To Sea Blogathon, hosted by my fellow blogger Debbie over at Moon In Gemini. I want to thank her for bringing me on board for all of the seagoing fun! You can get more info, and check out the other entries here: https://debravega.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/the-out-to-sea-blogathon-is-here/.

The Future of Star Wars and Star Trek

Two new science-fiction series are thrilling and exciting the fans of their respective franchises. Star Trek: Picard, which returns Sir Patrick Stewart to his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, is now streaming on CBS All Access, while Star Wars: The Mandalorian, a spinoff set in the Star Wars universe, recently wrapped up its first season on the Disney+ service. Both series have received praise and acclaim from critics and fans, and each show embraces elements of fan service, while also attempting to forge new ground in their respective fictional worlds. Of the two series, Picard is probably taking the deeper dive into familiar territory during its first run of episodes. The show is set twenty years after Star Trek: Nemesis, the last film to feature the Next Generation crew, and the plot line embraces some elements introduced in the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek film from 2009. A devastating supernova has wreaked destruction on the Romulan home world, and much of their race is spread throughout the galaxy as refugees. Jean Luc-Picard had campaigned for the Federation to assist the Romulans when the supernova originally occurred, but a devastating attack by synthetic beings on Mars derailed the Federation’s response. In the aftermath of the troubling events on Mars, all synthetic beings across the Federation were outlawed and de-activated. A distraught Picard resigns from Starfleet, and retreats to his family vineyard in France.

Patrick Stewart and Isa Briones

The series charts Picard’s involvement in the search for a synthetic being with ties to his old friend Commander Data. After a young woman who visits him and asks for his help is assassinated, Picard discovers she’s a unique kind of android. He’s determined to solve the mystery of her origin, while locating the synthetic being’s twin, who is still alive. Familiar faces from the Star Trek universe pop up, including Brent Spiner as Data, and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, and stories from previous Trek adventures are referenced as well. Stewart, as usual, is terrific in the role of Picard, who’s now older and wearier than when we last saw him. Stewart is clearly relishing his return to the role, and his interaction with the cast is superb. The supporting cast features Isa Briones, Alison Pill, Santiago Cabrera and Michelle Hurd, who are all excellent as well. It may take non-fans a little while to get up to speed, but the well-crafted, intriguing story is worth your time. The series was created by veteran Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Kirsten Beyer, and bestselling author Michael Chabon. Jonathan Frakes, who co-starred as Commander Riker in the Next Generation TV show and films, and has gone on to direct episodes of several Trek series, helmed two episodes of Picard, and is slated to appear onscreen in the series as Will Riker. 

Carl Weathers, Gina Carano and Pedro Pascal

As for The Mandalorian, it’s a standalone adventure set in the world of Star Wars. The show follows the story of a bounty hunter Din Djarin, who ends up becoming the guardian to a child that's from the same species as Yoda. The story is set sometime after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, but you only need a basic familiarity with the Star Wars films to enjoy this thrilling series, which is a combination of the western, science-fiction and action adventure genres. The show does offer some easter eggs and for fans, but focuses on telling a great story that stands on its own terms. The cast includes Pedro Pascal in the title role, and Gina Carano as Cara Dune, a fellow mercenary who ends up helping the Mandalorian protect the mysterious child. Carl Weathers, Nick Nolte, Werner Herzog and Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito are also featured in the series. As you’d expect from a Star Wars production, the series is well-produced and visually stunning, and there are some nice visual references to previous Star Wars adventures.

Star Trek: Picard and Star Wars: The Mandalorian are worth viewing. The writers, directors and producers of shows like these always face a difficult challenge, as they try to please longtime fans while also attempting to bring in new viewers, and crafting a compelling narrative which will appeal to both groups. It’s a very delicate balance, but these shows have managed to successfully walk that tightrope thus far. In some ways, Picard is a more reflective and character driven series than that other CBS All Access show, the sometimes uneven Star Trek: Discovery. The Mandalorian provides the action, humor and excitement of a great Star Wars tale without being weighed down by the history of the franchise. I’ve enjoyed both series, and it'snice to see these long-running franchises try something a bit different that still pays homage to their history. If the future of Star Wars and Star Trek is with terrific series like these, then I say lets have more of them. Here are links to the trailers for both Star Trek: Picard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbXy0f0aCN0, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOC8E8z_ifw.

Returning to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

When Star Trek: Discovery premiered two seasons ago, fans were divided in their opinions regarding the show’s darker interpretation of Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic vision of the future. But Discovery wasn’t the first attempt by the franchise to present a different vision of the Trek universe. When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered in 1994, some long-time Trek fans initially didn’t know what to make of the show. Star Trek (at least up to that time) had been about starship crews going out into the universe and exploring new worlds, often coming into conflict with enemies like the Romulans and the Borg. Deep Space Nine was set on a space station, located near a stable wormhole, rather than aboard a starship. The cast was diverse, and the storylines were less about straightforward heroics, often sketching characters and situations with various shades of grey. In its later seasons, an ongoing storyline detailed the Federation’s war with a new threat called The Dominion, and showed how that conflict affected the show's characters. While some fans were slow to embrace Deep Space Nine, there was no denying the show contained some of the strongest acting, writing and direction of any iteration of Star Trek up to that point. The series has become a favorite among fans and critics, many of whom now consider it one of the best of the Trek spinoffs.

Ira Steven Behr, who was a writer, producer and  showrunner for the series, spearheaded the production of a crowd-funded documentary about the legacy and impact of the show. What We Left Behind: Looking Back At Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2019), premiered in theaters last summer with a series of special screenings, and is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. The documentary is a comprehensive look at the history of Deep Space Nine, and features in-depth interviews with the cast and crew of the series. The cast share their honest feelings about how the show was initially perceived as the also-ran of the franchise. It wasn’t until home video and streaming releases of the series allowed viewers to binge- watch the episodes in larger batches, that a wider audience began to appreciate the show’s well-crafted storytelling. The interviews are compelling and insightful. The comments seen in the film are refreshingly honest, a far cry from the pleasant chatter usually seen in studio produced documentaries. Terry Farrell, who played Lieutenant Dax, and left the show after Season 6, is particularly frank about her acrimonious exit from the series. What becomes crystal clear from watching the film is these actors still have great affection for one another, and are proud of what they accomplished during their time on the series.

The history of the show’s conception and production is covered in detail by Behr and the writers, including Ronald Moore (who went on to create the re-booted version of Battlestar Galactica) and Rene Echevarria. The concept of serialized storytelling in a genre series was relatively new at that time, and Deep Space Nine was pioneering in that regard. Classic episodes like “In The Pale Moonlight” and “Far Beyond The Stars” are discussed, as well as the reaction to the addition of Michael Dorn as Worf, a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, who joined the cast in the fourth season of the series. Behr is also honest about his assessment of where the show succeeded in exploring controversial social, political and religious issues, and where it could have done more in that regard. There’s also a tantalizing look (using animation) at the writers ideas of what might have been explored story wise had the series gone on to an eighth season. It’s like being invited to a writers roundtable discussion. Also included is a look at a clip from the show remastered in high-definition, which Behr hopes will spark a true HD release of the series.

What We Left Behind is clearly a labor of love for everyone involved, and this talented group of actors are still quite passionate in their feelings about the series. Sadly, both Rene Auberjonois (who played Odo) and Aron Eisenberg, (who played Nog), have passed away since the documentary was produced, though they both have touching moments in the film. Like some of the other Star Trek spinoffs, Deep Space Nine had a bit of a rocky start, but once it settled into its groove, it spun a rich tapestry that I think holds up well to this day. It’s my personal favorite of the modern Star Trek series. This is a heartfelt, well-produced tribute to a groundbreaking entry in the Trek canon.  Co-directed by Ira Steven Behr with David Zappone (who also worked on the well-received The Captains documentaries), What We Left Behind is one of the best Trek centered retrospectives released thus far. If you’re a Trek fan, or even a casual viewer of the series, this enthralling and perceptive documentary is worth a look. What We Left Behind is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Shout Factory home video at www.shoutfactory.com. Here’s a link to the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4LPDX6uqSM.