Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Director:

William Shatner

Writers (WGA):

Gene Roddenberry (creator: based on "Star Trek")
William Shatner (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The Enterprise is back. This time, have they gone too far?

Plot:

Captain Kirk and his crew must deal with Mr. Spock's half brother who hijacks the Enterprise for an obsessive search for God.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Captain | Vulcan | Campfire | Klingon

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

William Shatner	...	Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scotty
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
George Takei	...	Sulu
David Warner	...	St. John Talbot
Laurence Luckinbill	...	Sybok
Charles Cooper	...	Korrd
Cynthia Gouw	...	Caithlin Dar
Todd Bryant	...	Captain Klaa
Spice Williams-Crosby	...	Vixis (as Spice Williams)
Rex Holman	...	J'onn
George Murdock	...	God
Jonathan Simpson	...	Young Sarek
Beverly Hart	...	High Priestess
Steve Susskind	...	Pitchman
Harve Bennett	...	Starfleet Chief of Staff
Cynthia Blaise	...	Amanda
Bill Quinn	...	McCoy's Father
Melanie Shatner	...	Yeoman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Berryman	...	Sybok Warrior (uncredited)
Gene Cross	...	Sybok Warrior (uncredited)
Carey Scott	...	Young Spock (uncredited)
Mike Smithson	...	Klingon Helmsman (uncredited)

Directed by
William Shatner

Writing credits (WGA)
Gene Roddenberry		(creator: based on "Star Trek")
William Shatner		(story) &
Harve Bennett		(story) &
David Loughery		(story)
David Loughery		(screenplay)

Produced by
Harve Bennett	....	producer
Brooke Breton	....	associate producer
Mel Efros	....	co-producer
Gene Roddenberry	....	executive producer
Ralph Winter	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Andrew Laszlo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter E. Berger		(as Peter Berger)

Casting by
Bill Shepard

Production Design by
Herman F. Zimmerman		(as Herman Zimmerman)

Art Direction by
Nilo Rodis-Jamero

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Costume Design by
Nilo Rodis-Jamero

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	special makeup artist (as Jan Alexander)
Ellis Burman Jr.	....	special makeup artist (as Ellis Burman)
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist
Jeff Dawn	....	makeup artist
Wes Dawn	....	makeup artist
Katalin Elek	....	special makeup artist
Donna Barrett Gilbert	....	hair stylist
Ben Gorman	....	Klingon and Vulcan prosthetics
Edouard F. Henriques	....	special makeup artist (as Edouard Henriques III)
Rolf John Keppler	....	special makeup artist
Michael Mills	....	special makeup artist
Kenny Myers	....	special makeup designer
Ron Pipes	....	Klingon and Vulcan prosthetics
Brian Wade	....	Klingon and Vulcan prosthetics
Allan A. Apone	....	special makeup designer (uncredited)
Bruce Barlow	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Roland Blancaflor	....	foam latex technician (uncredited)
Tina Hoffman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Erin Koplow	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mel Efros	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Burt Burnam	....	second assistant director (as Burt 'Skip' Burman)
George Fortmuller	....	second assistant director
Paul F. Schlichting	....	dga trainee
Douglas E. Wise	....	first assistant director
James Lansbury	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Richard J. Bayard	....	construction coordinator
James Betts	....	production painter (as James H. Betts)
Anthony Brockliss	....	assistant art director
Gary Clark	....	paint foreperson (as Gary A. Clark)
Antoinette J. Gordon	....	set designer (as Antoinette Gordon)
Don Hulett	....	property master
Kurt V. Hulett	....	property master
John Matheson	....	construction foreperson
Richard McKenzie	....	set designer (as Richard Frank McKenzie)
Andrew Neskoromny	....	set designer
Michael Okuda	....	scenic artist
Rick Sternbach	....	illustrator
Barton M. Susman	....	lead person
Cari Thomas	....	scenic artist
Sandy Veneziano	....	assistant art director (as Sandy L. Veneziano)
Ron Wilkinson	....	set designer (as Ronald R. Wilkinson)
Ed Miarecki	....	props (uncredited)
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	re-recording mixer
Wayne Allwine	....	sound effects editor
Scott Austin	....	recordist
Ron Bartlett	....	foley editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound effects editor
Destiny Borden	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer (as Gregory J. Curda)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (as Kenneth Dufva)
John Dunn	....	sound effects editor
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Fein)
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	sound effects editor
Doug Hemphill	....	re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Alan Howarth	....	special sound effects
Chris Jenkins	....	re-recording mixer
Ken J. Johnson	....	sound effects recordist (as Ken Johnson)
Angie Luckey	....	assistant sound editor
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound effects (as Mark Mangini)
Randy McDonald	....	utility sound technician (as Stewart D. McDonald Jr.)
Dave Moreno	....	sound effects recordist (as David Moreno)
Andrew Patterson	....	adr editor
Sonny Pettijohn	....	assistant sound editor
John Pospisil	....	special sound effects (as John P.)
David M. Ronne	....	sound mixer (as David Ronne)
John B. Schuyler	....	boom operator (as John Schuyler)
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	foley editor (as Solange Schwalbe Boisseau)
David Spence	....	sound effects editor
Bill Voigtlander	....	adr editor
J.D. Ward	....	recordist
David A. Whittaker	....	sound effects editor
Ezra Dweck	....	sound effects recording (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mike Edmonson	....	special effects assistant
Michael Wood	....	special effects supervisor (as Michael L. Wood)
John McLeod	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Mike Reedy	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Michael A. Tice	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Alagna	....	senior optical layout: optical unit
Myles Ambrose	....	electrical technician: live action effects unit (as Miles Ambrose)
Eric Angelson	....	visual effects coordinator: Associates & Ferren
Valerie Baiardi	....	effects animator: optical unit
Patricia Barry	....	assistant producer: Associates & Ferren
Nicholas Baum	....	computer engineering: live action effects unit (as Nick Baum)
Stewart Brown	....	precision printer: optical unit
David Bruce	....	animation stand camera operator: model unit
Don Canfield	....	motion control operator
Paul Clemente	....	coordinator: model unit (as Paul Michael Clemente)
Susan Coursey	....	assistant: Mr. Ferren
Phillip Cullem	....	mechanical fabrication: live action effects unit (as Phillip Cullum)
David Drapkin	....	animation stand camera operator: model unit
Rachel A. Drapkin	....	manager: model unit
Joe Dubs	....	computer animation and tactical display: Novocom, Inc. (as Joe Dubbs)
Syd Dutton	....	matte paintings: Illusion Arts
Kinnereth Ellentuck	....	film librarian: live action effects unit
Michael Faerman	....	production executive: model unit
Bran Ferren	....	visual effects
Robert C. Francis	....	electrical technician: live action effects unit (as Bob Francis)
John Frith	....	electrical technician: live action effects unit
John Gaeta	....	chief lighting technician: model unit
Jim Gerken	....	computer animation and tactical display: Novocom, Inc.
Mike Gerzevitz	....	chief lighting technician: model unit (as Michael Gerzevitz)
Louis Goold	....	optical layout: optical unit
Phil Gosiewski	....	camera operator: live action effects unit
Gregory Harker	....	senior animation stand photographer: optical unit
Chester Hartwell	....	equipment manager: live action effects unit
Clint Hope	....	special projects supervisor: live action effects unit
Barry Hyman	....	titles and opticals
Paul Jordan	....	electrical engineering: live action effects unit
Michael Kellough	....	set construction: model unit
Robert Kohut	....	mechanical fabrication: live action effects unit (as Bob Kohut)
Maria Konwicka	....	2D artist: model unit
Peter Kuran	....	additional optical effects: VCE
Susan Le Ber	....	purchasing agent: Associates & Ferren
Otto Leichliter	....	computer engineering: live action effects unit
Veronica E. Lesser	....	2D artist: model unit
Robert Lyons	....	motion control camera operator: model unit
Jeff McGrath	....	computer animation and tactical display: Novocom, Inc.
David V. Mei	....	senior model maker: model unit
Linda Miller	....	computer animation and tactical display: Novocom, Inc.
Eric Moore	....	props: model unit
Seth Nathanson	....	electrical engineering: live action effects unit
Daniel Nauke	....	fabricator: model unit
Don Nolan	....	optical layout: optical unit
Thomas Quinn	....	motion control support: model unit
Edward Lee Rapp	....	motion control and animation producer: model unit
Dick Rauh	....	effects animation supervisor: optical unit
Jack Riedel	....	senior motion control photographer: model unit
Robert Rowohlt	....	senior optical photographer: optical unit
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photographer: Illusion Arts
Noel Scheinberg	....	optical coordinator: model unit (as Noel Sheinberg)
Robert Schulze	....	optical photographer: optical unit
James Shelly	....	general manager: Associates & Ferren
Tom Snowden	....	optical layout: optical unit
Eddie Stewart	....	precision printer: optical unit
Eric Stich	....	electrical engineering: live action effects unit
Michael Sullivan	....	model photography design and lighting: model unit
Dick Swanek	....	optical supervisor: optical unit
Michael Tabacco	....	model maker: model unit
Peterson Tooke	....	motion control stage manager: model unit
Susan Tremblay	....	2D supervisor: model unit
Bruce Vaughn	....	assistant photographer: live action effects unit
Michael Ventresco	....	senior effects animator: optical unit
Valentine Vignes	....	assistant model wrangler: model unit
Peter Wallach	....	motion control and animation supervisor: model unit
Liz Wassel	....	2D artist: model unit
Alan D. Webb	....	process projection support: live action effects unit
Ron Webster	....	computer engineering: live action effects unit
Tom Weston	....	photographer: live action effects unit
Frost Wilkinson	....	photographer: live action effects unit
Mitch Wilson	....	senior optical timer: optical unit
Ken Wisner	....	mechanical engineering: live action effects unit
Tim Zach	....	decals and graphics: model unit
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE (uncredited)
Gregory Jein	....	model constructor (uncredited)
George Muhs	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Ken Walker	....	visual effects: model unit (uncredited)

Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunt double: Leonard Nimoy (as Greg Barnett)
Kenny Bates	....	high fall stunt (as Ken Bates)
David Burton	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (as David Richard Ellis)
Linda Fetters	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Thomas Huff)
Terry Jackson	....	stunts
John McLeod	....	stunt rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence (as John McCloud)
Joyce McNeal	....	stunts (as Joyce L. McNeal)
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunt rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Don Pulford	....	stunt double: William Shatner
Air Randall	....	stunts
Bruce Randall	....	stunts (as Bruce Wayne Randall)
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Tom Wetterman	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunt double: William Shatner (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Werner Braun	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Jim Bridwell	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator (as Phil Caplan)
Lex DuPont	....	assistant camera: Yosemite climbing sequence
Jon Falkengren	....	dolly grip (as Jon A. Falkengren)
Steven Haire	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Richard Hartley	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Carmon H. Howell	....	first company grip
Troy Johnson	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Bill Killey	....	camera operator: Yosemite climbing sequence
Burton Lindemoen	....	second company grip
Richard Craig Meinardus	....	first assistant camera (as Dick Meinardus)
Nadim Melkonian	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Dean Miller	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenneth Nishino)
Don Nygren	....	chief lighting technician (as Donald O. Nygren)
Keith Peterman	....	camera operator
Sean Plunkett	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Bill Russell	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Dennis Seawright	....	second assistant camera (as Dennis B. Seawright)
Walter Shipley	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Paul Sibley	....	climbing rigger: Yosemite climbing sequence
Bob Stradling	....	assistant camera: Yosemite climbing sequence
Rob Sweeney	....	first assistant climbing photographer: Yosemite climbing sequence
Jeffrey Thorin	....	second assistant camera (as Jeffrey S. Thorin)
Joseph F. Valentine	....	camera operator: Yosemite climbing sequence (as Joe Valentine)
Patric J. Abaravich	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Sunny Johnson	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Bronson	....	wardrobe: men (as John D. Bronson)
Joseph Markham	....	wardrobe: men (as Joseph R. Markham)
Sue Moore	....	wardrobe: women
Ray Phelps	....	wardrobe: men (as Raymond A. Phelps)
Dodie Shepard	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Christopher E. Bennett	....	apprentice film editor
John Haggar	....	assistant film editor (as John A. Haggar)
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)
George C. Villaseñor	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Bruce Botnick	....	music scoring mixer
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Alexander Courage	....	composer: additional music (from "Star Trek")
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Raymond A. McLaughlin	....	transportation coordinator
Gaston Veilleux	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Dale Bard	....	technical advisor: Yosemite climbing sequence
Charles Beichman	....	scientific advisor: infared processing and analysis center, Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena (as Dr. Charles A. Beichman)
Charlene Bergman	....	assistant: Mr. Bennett
Judy Biggs	....	production assistant
Kimberly Boyle	....	secretary: Mr. Bennett
Rebeca Brookshire	....	assistant: Mr. Winter
Deborah L. Campbell	....	production assistant
Robert Carmichael	....	director: Yosemite climbing sequence
James Collins	....	production assistant
Tony Criscione	....	assistant production auditor
Tom Dupont	....	paramedic: Yosemite climbing sequence
Marie Elder	....	assistant production auditor
Terry J. Erdmann	....	unit publicist (as Terry Erdmann)
Jim Evans	....	coordinator: Yosemite climbing sequence
Mary Jo Fernandez	....	assistant: Mr. Shatner
E.M. Fredric	....	assistant: Mr. Shatner (as Eva Marie Friedrick)
Bob Gaines	....	climbing double: William Shatner, Yosemite climbing sequence
Wendell Johnson	....	production assistant
Tom Jones	....	craft service (as Thomas B. Jones)
Valerie Mickaelian Kucera	....	production coordinator
Michael Mann	....	location manager
Lorenzo Marchessi	....	stand-in
Susan McCrae	....	production assistant: Yosemite climbing sequence
Marc Okrand	....	consultant: Klingon dialogue
Don Petrie	....	production auditor
Corky Randall	....	wrangler
Gene Roddenberry	....	executive consultant
Stephen J. Ross	....	producer: Yosemite climbing sequence
Susan Sackett	....	assistant: Mr. Roddenberry
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Michael Weis	....	technical advisor: Yosemite climbing sequence
Mitch Jones	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Greg Knapp	....	medic (uncredited)
Philip Weyland	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
James D. Bissell	....	special thanks (as Jim Bissell)
Tim Down	....	special thanks
Jack Morehead	....	special thanks: superintendent: Yosemite National Park Services
Robert Parker	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Video (1993) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV)
• Esselte Video (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
• Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Video (2009) (Canada) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• René Malo Vidéo-Malofilm Video (1992) (Canada) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Associates and Ferren (special visual effects produced by)
• Gregory Jein Inc. (new spacecraft models designed by)
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (additional optical effects)
• Illusion Arts (matte paintings)
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (stock optical recomposites)
• Makeup Effects Laboratories (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Richard Snell Make-Up Designs  Klingon and Vulcan prosthetics
• Novocom Inc.  computer animation and tactical display
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting
• Record Plant Scoring  music recorded at
• Denali Productions Inc.  Yosemite climbing sequence provided by
• Westheimer Company  titles and opticals
• Epic Records  original soundtrack album available on (as Epic Records, Cassettes and Compact Discs)
• Yosemite National Park Services  special thanks
• Bureau of Land Management  special thanks
• California Film Commission  special thanks
• State of California - State Lands Commissions  special thanks
• Madera County Film Commission  special thanks
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory  special thanks
• Reebok International Ltd.  special thanks
• Jack Daniels  special thanks
• Apple Computer  special thanks (as Apple Computers)
• Monster Cable  special thanks
• Revo  special thanks
• International Scientific Instruments  special thanks
• Denton Vacuum  special thanks
• Princeton Gamma-Tech  special thanks
• Carl Zeiss  electron microscopy and image processing equipment provided by
• deGraf / Wahrman  special thanks
• B.A.S.E. Gamma Electronics  special thanks (as BASE Gamma Electronic Systems)
• Kraft Foods Inc.  marshmallows and dispenser by
• Levi Strauss & Co.  denim and casual clothing provided by
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound by (as Todd A-O/Glen Glenn Studios)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Klingon

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 (1990) | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Italy:T | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Régie du Cinéma Québec) | Portugal:M/6

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Max von Sydow was favored to play Sybok.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Safety wires holding Kirk when caught by Spock.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sybok:I thought weapons were forbidden on this planet. Besides, I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes.
J'Onn:It's all I have.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Nostalgia Critic: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (#5.4)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

The Moon's A Window To Heaven

Poor Story Redeemed by Character Moments

Star Trek V ranks at or near the bottom of the Trek films for most fans and casual viewers. And upon viewing this on its special edition DVD, my opinion has not changed. This is a film that tries hard but ultimately fails due to poor plotting, sub-par special effects and poor character development. The movie opens with probably the best scene in the film, where you meet Sybok and learn a little about his quest. The visuals alone in the opening shots are very impressive. Then, slowly, scene by scene, the movie falls apart. Yes, there are a few peaks in there, which I will discuss later, but overall, the idea of a "God Like Being" in the center of our galaxy, it just so illogical.

The movie has a lot of embarrassing and just plan bad moments. The first of which is the meeting of three characters who represent the "Planet of Galactic Peace." However, their intro is rushed and these characters are not given any depth at all. Why introduce us to these "important" characters if they care not going to be used in any meaningful (maybe one of them at the end) plot point at all? The direction by William Shatner also seems very uneven. Take the scene with Scotty and Uhura on the bridge. There is a very awkward moment of silence after their main dialogue is over. And the mugging Shatner does when McCoy makes very awkward comments to Spock's story about Sybok is just out of place. And add to that a semi-naked Uhura and Scotty hitting his head for a "Three Stooges" laugh and you begin to sink in your chair. The Klingon plot seems tacked on just to add depth to the story. And by the time we see where the movie is going, we just feel very disappointed and underwhelmed.

That said, I can't help but enjoy the wealth of good character moments in the film. I for one liked the campfire scene and the attempts of deep philosophy about old age and death. I also liked exploring the "pain" of McCoy and Spock and Kirk's insistence that he "needs his pain." While most of the humor was forced and bad, the best had to be the "I could use a shower" scene, which is one of the biggest laughs in all of the Trek films. There were many moments of good direction by Shatner, especially in McCoy's "pain scene." I do sympathize with Shatner a little, when listening to the commentary track, about how this was cut and that was cut but I still think on a whole, this movie was doomed to fail.

The DVD's picture is sharp and the sound is excellent. The extras are quite good but I would have liked more insight as to what went wrong with the film besides tight schedule and budget. Shatner's commentary with his daughter is good but has too many quiet moments. Check out the hidden and brief "comic reel."

At this point in time, I do rank Star Trek V above Nemesis, mainly due to that movie's bad continuity issues but just barely. Still, it is Star Trek and if you like the characters, just sit back, don't expect much and enjoy the show.