Friday, December 7, 2012

STAR TREK - THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) Coca-Cola Premium Poster

It only just occurred to me that it was 33 years ago today that the only new, live-action Star Trek of the 1970s premiered in U.S. cinemas. A glorious, big screen reunion of the original television crew in a then-unprecedented, big-budgeted theatrical feature film.

My own opinion of The Motion Picture has evolved over the years - from my initial awestruck experience 33 years ago, to my vague dissatisfaction with it during the 80s and pan & scan TV/VHS home viewings, to a more positive re-evaluation as both I and the film grew older. I still think The Wrath Of Khan is the best of the Trek films, but I really love this first widescreen adventure as well, and appreciate it much more now than I used to.

I honestly don't know much about this poster; I don't know the artist, nor exactly where/how it was available. I only know that it was some sort of premium offered by the Coca-Cola company. I'd welcome any information about its provenance - if you know something about it, post in the comments below.

ADDENDUM: According to a commenter below, this poster was actually an in-theater concession stand premium that you could acquire with the appropriate purchase of a Coca-Cola soft drink. Cool! Thanks!

Happy Anniversary, ST-TMP!

5 comments:

  1. A couple of Ebay auctions list the artist as Jerome Tarpley.

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  2. It was offered as an in-theatre premium if you bought an extra large Coca-Cola. At 14 y.o., I had never had to pee so badly in my life by the time the movie was over. I remember my bladder hurt for hours afterwards.

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  3. Doesn't the poster kind of give away the ending? : )

    Thanks for finding this!

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  4. I love this poster! It was tacked to my bedroom wall for literally decades, facing opposite those great Boris Star Wars posters.

    Thanks for this post.

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  5. LOVE ST:TMP, I too went through a weird phase of like, dissatisfaction and now loving it. It's the only Trek movie tha is true science-fiction and that score is so damn glorious! As close to perfect as a film score gets. Had the film been released as the Directors cut, all the extra footage, but a good editor in between, the film would be better remembered. Anyone who says they hate this one are to be avoided and mocked...

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