El Cosmico here, this time with words from our pal Ambassador Sonak, who has some less-than-gentle words for the upcoming Star Trek: The Motion Picture DVD. Take it away, hombre...
CENSORSHIP!
A documentary about the making of this film, including candid commentary from the flimmakers and others, is currently being reviewed and re-edited by Paramount. It seems the comments of various former executives "reveal too much internal information" about Paramount's film operations, but the truth is it reveals extensively all the ineptitude of many higher ups at the studio back then, as well as all the money and time lost on special effects and the fact that this movie barely made its release date. If it hadn't, Paramount would have been most likely sunk.
Both William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy declined to be part of this behind the scenes look, but people like Jeffrey Katzenberg offered much more fascinating insights on the troubled, rocky legacy of this movie. The current powers that be at Paramount aren't comfortable with that, and are using their scissors to cut out what's the most interesting stuff.
Also, there's a great deal of "Roddenberry-bashing" both "on the record" and "implied," and that is also being given some trimming. (While I'm not sure, Majel Barrett may have something to do with this.)
To add injury to this insult: There will be no theatrical trailer on this DVD, since Paramount, the studio which can't do anything right, apparently doesn't own the rights to all the elements. While I'm not sure whether this pertains to the music, or perhaps Orson Wells' narration, it doesn't matter. How can you put out a "definitive" new DVD version of this film without a trailer. (Apparently, Paramount doesn't even have the trailer in their archives, but does have some of the TV spots which they will be able to use.)
I wondered if Rick Berman had anything to do with this underhanded dealings, but it seems purely Paramount's doing. After all, anything that trashes the original "Star Trek" as well as Gene Roddenberry is something the ol' no talent Rickster would wholeheartedly support.
