Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock's body.

Director:

Leonard Nimoy

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (television series Star Trek), Harve Bennett

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Shatner	...	Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Capt. Spock / Elevator Voice (as Frank Force)
DeForest Kelley	...	McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scotty
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Robin Curtis	...	Saavik
Merritt Butrick	...	David
Phil Morris	...	Trainee Foster
Scott McGinnis	...	Mr. Adventure
Robert Hooks	...	Admiral Morrow
Carl Steven	...	Spock...Age 9
Vadia Potenza	...	Spock...Age 13
Stephen Manley	...	Spock...Age 17

Storyline

Following Kirk's encounter with Khan that left the Enterprise severely damaged and Mr. Spock dead, they return to Starfleet so that Enterprise could be repaired. Kirk's hoping to go back to the newly created Genesis planet where he laid Mr. Spock to rest. But upon arriving he is told that the Enterprise will not be repaired and that Genesis has become a delicate matter and until it's resolved, no one is allowed to go there or talk about it. McCoy is also acting strangely. Later when he starts talking about Genesis he is detained. Kirk is visited by Spock's father Sarek, who tells him that he betrayed Spock because being placed on Genesis was not what he would have wanted. He tells Kirk he's supposed to bring Spock's body along with his soul or katra as the Vulcans call it which he passes onto someone, and bring it to Vulcan for the final rites. Sarek assumes Kirk would have it but he doesn't. Kirk then thinks that Spock may have passed it someone else and realizes McCoy is the one who...

---

Plot Keywords:

klingon | planet | admiral | commander | vulcan | 

---

Taglines:

Kirk must battle the Klingons to protect the Genesis Planet and save a friend's life

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

StarTrek.com [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Klingon Russian

Release Date:

1 June 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Star Trek 3

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$76,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Cinema Group Ventures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although not mentioned on-screen, the novelization establishes that Saavik was half-Vulcan and half-Romulan. A scene cut from the previous film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (where Saavik was played by Kirstie Alley) also established this but can not be considered canon. Leonard Nimoy seemed to have directed Robin Curtis to portray Saavik as a full Vulcan.

---

Goofs

In the opening sequence when the Enterprise fires Spock's casket at the Genesis Planet, several stars from the background can be seen through the translucent Genesis Planet image. The planet moves slowly to the right as the shot progresses, and yet the stars bleeding through the image from the background remain stationary.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
[Spock's dying words, repeated from the previous film]
Captain Spock: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk: ...the needs of the few.
Captain Spock: Or the one. I have been and always shall be your friend. Live long and prosper.

---

Crazy Credits

Leonard Nimoy is credited as director in the opening credits, but is not included in the cast list. There is a long gap between the name of William Shatner and DeForest Kelley, which lasts for the length of time Nimoy's name would have been displayed.

---

Connections

Followed by Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

---

Soundtracks

"That Old Black Magic"
by Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen

User Reviews

A Good Search It Is

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

*** (out of 4)

After the events in the previous film, Kirk (William Shatner) risks his career by stealing the Enterprise to go to a restricted planet in hopes of finding Spock's body who they feel might be alive. Along the way they run into a Klingon leader (Christopher Lloyd) who wants to kill them all. STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH OF SPOCK probably shouldn't have worked since if you've seen the second film then you know what happens to Spock. In order for this "trick" to work the producers and writers really needed to come up with something good and thankfully they did that. I won't ruin what this trick is in "the search for Spock" but I thought it was a rather smart move and it helped make the film a lot more believable. Leonard Nimoy steps into the director's chair here and it's obvious he's very comfortable there as he delivers a good looking film with a good pace and of course the main people back in action. Once again we've got Shatner turning in a good performance as Spock and there's no question that he helps keep the film moving. I don't care what you want to say about the guy but there's no question that he owned this role and could play it in his sleep. Regulars like DeForrest Kelley, James Doohan and George Takei are also good in their roles. It seems a lot of people are split on Lloyd but I thought he was pretty good here. I liked seeing him under all the make-up and thought he did a good job even if the role itself wasn't the greatest. The special effects here are certainly a step up from the previous movie and I'd also say that battle sequences are much better directed. Overall this film doesn't quite reach the levels as the second but it's certainly a worthy sequel.