if starlost was remade now it would be awesome!i mean with the latest techno stuff and computer imagination.fresh new stories an actors.a more gothic looking ark on a vast grand scale
Why... the heck... did they use... the ships... and the music... from Silent Running?
Man, that's cheesy! I guess the makers of this turkey and Battlestar Galactica both assumed that most people had never seen Silent Running, but now it's a classic, and recycling its footage makes these folks look like chumps. Why did Trumbull permit it? Why did Ellison?
Stanley Kubrick had the right idea, destroying the sets and models he used in 2001 so they wouldn't end up being recycled in cheese.
If I recall correctly... Ellison had issues with the "suits" on this project (imagine that!) and instructed his name be taken from the credits (which was his right) and replaced with "Cordwainer Bird". The series was not shown much around here it was big in Canada and the New England states. Ellison wasnt established as well as he is today but fought for his writing. CORDWAINER BIRD FOREVER!!!!!!!
@racookster When this promo was put together the series wasn't yet in full production. They didn't have anything definitive done to edit into the promo. Trumbull, as executive producer for The Starlost, arranged to press clips from Silent Running into service as a way to illustrate the planned scope of the finished product. This promo was never going to be seen by the general public, so it was a safe way to sell the idea of the series to TV markets.
@qed100: Makes sense I guess. If it wasn't going to be seen by the general public then that's not quite so bad. Even so, to me it was like they pooped on a classic.
As I recall, the Magicam system used motion-controlled cameras that allowed the actors to be keyed into miniature sets while the camera moved around naturally instead of shooting from a fixed angle. In the end I don't think "The Starlost " ever used it, but I remember seeing it in a TV commercial at the time.
@theromulanwarhawk I'm not sure/don't think so. I'm pretty sure those ships, this series uses some footage from the 1972 movie "Silent Running". The movie has a slightly similar plot, but only that Earth was overcrowded, & some domed ship was carrying the last remaining trees from Earth. Good movie BTW. I've just recently discovered The Starlost. The low budget sets remind me of original Dr. Who. This series had a good plot, but poor writing, acting, effects & obviously a minuscule budget.
I remember watching the Starlost as a boy in the 1970s. I recall it having some very intelligent writing and exploring some pertinent subject matter. What bothered me about the series was the amateurish special effects and the cheap production values, which seemed the hallmark of Glen Warren Productions ("Circus", "Trouble with Tracy", "Bizarre", "Check It Out", etc.). They just didn't fit in with the attention to detail lavished on the writing and character development on the show.
Lewschoen, this is an even rarer treat than being able to view all of the episodes posted on YouTube! Thank-you. I was a junior in High School when this program first aired in 1973, and I always tuned in. ( Even with the sometimes claustrophobic sets! ) After 35 years, it's fun to see Kier Dullea sporting the sheepdog hair-do's that we all wore back then. ( Quite a departure from his look in the film "2001." ) I also had a mad crush on the other guy on the show....
"The Starlost" had an interesting premise, inspired in no small part by Robert Heinlein's 1941 novella "Universe." But the show was sunk by cheap production values (it was shot on videotape) and rapidly deteriorating script quality.
This was probably a piece designed to get individual TV stations to schedule the show, or for sponsors to advertise on it. Not only was the footage from "Silent Running", but the music for that movie was composed by Peter Schickele, better known as the "discoverer" of P.D.Q. Bach.
Among the many diappointments, apparently Ellison had been told that many of the effects were going to be achieved using a new technology called "Magicam" which improved on chroma-key greatly, making performers appear a little more part of the model sets than the chroma-key process. I don't know much about it; it was ultimately used for some of the effects in Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" in 1980. I don't know...some of the design concepts look pretty good, though cheap. Glad there's a following!
Cordwainer Bird being a pseudonym for Harlan Ellison who used the name to show his disgust with what the production team had done to his original concept.
Very good! This must exist some place. I'd love to see it cleaned up and added as a feature on a complete series DVD. Good old Keir Dullea, I think he succeeded in making a quality show, despite Ellison's bitter walk-out. Ellison perhaps failed to see that the series succeeded and succeeded the best way it could, in that it was good TV and still retained the clever ideas of top SF writers.
Was this video 'captured' from a TV Tape archive? tape runners have
access to archived material. Image appears to be 16mm telecine
transfer. Historic Sci-Fic material in this promotional recording
FidelCastro128 10 months ago
This clip desperately NEEDS colour correction. The original film has lost some of its original colour dye.
jaworskij 11 months ago
if starlost was remade now it would be awesome!i mean with the latest techno stuff and computer imagination.fresh new stories an actors.a more gothic looking ark on a vast grand scale
MegaALF1986 1 year ago
I likeed the show when I was a kid.
Blake953 1 year ago
now thats HD!
kipper905 1 year ago
Why... the heck... did they use... the ships... and the music... from Silent Running?
Man, that's cheesy! I guess the makers of this turkey and Battlestar Galactica both assumed that most people had never seen Silent Running, but now it's a classic, and recycling its footage makes these folks look like chumps. Why did Trumbull permit it? Why did Ellison?
Stanley Kubrick had the right idea, destroying the sets and models he used in 2001 so they wouldn't end up being recycled in cheese.
racookster 1 year ago
@racookster
If I recall correctly... Ellison had issues with the "suits" on this project (imagine that!) and instructed his name be taken from the credits (which was his right) and replaced with "Cordwainer Bird". The series was not shown much around here it was big in Canada and the New England states. Ellison wasnt established as well as he is today but fought for his writing. CORDWAINER BIRD FOREVER!!!!!!!
maitrejim 9 months ago
@racookster When this promo was put together the series wasn't yet in full production. They didn't have anything definitive done to edit into the promo. Trumbull, as executive producer for The Starlost, arranged to press clips from Silent Running into service as a way to illustrate the planned scope of the finished product. This promo was never going to be seen by the general public, so it was a safe way to sell the idea of the series to TV markets.
qed100 8 months ago
@qed100: Makes sense I guess. If it wasn't going to be seen by the general public then that's not quite so bad. Even so, to me it was like they pooped on a classic.
racookster 8 months ago
As I recall, the Magicam system used motion-controlled cameras that allowed the actors to be keyed into miniature sets while the camera moved around naturally instead of shooting from a fixed angle. In the end I don't think "The Starlost " ever used it, but I remember seeing it in a TV commercial at the time.
UtilityRecording1 1 year ago
This promo used music and video from SILENT RUNNING since Douglas Trumball created both. I also believe the same models were used or similar on BSG.
enginedave 1 year ago
Biodome ships sure were a popular choice in the 1970s... :-P ;-)
ZemplinTemplar 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Why so serious?
Spartacus217 1 year ago
Those ships! Aren't they the same ones used in the original Galactica as Agroships?
theromulanwarhawk 1 year ago
@theromulanwarhawk I'm not sure/don't think so. I'm pretty sure those ships, this series uses some footage from the 1972 movie "Silent Running". The movie has a slightly similar plot, but only that Earth was overcrowded, & some domed ship was carrying the last remaining trees from Earth. Good movie BTW. I've just recently discovered The Starlost. The low budget sets remind me of original Dr. Who. This series had a good plot, but poor writing, acting, effects & obviously a minuscule budget.
gjc82071 1 year ago
heres an idea that should be redone...this time with a budget.
ronjcharity 1 year ago
good show!
adric137 1 year ago
"The Starlost" is now available on DVD.
Tiberiusduck 2 years ago
Sigh, & they tried so hard...
borgduck 2 years ago
When i was a kid i used to think the starlost girl was a cutie. i was right she was hottttt.
belltocher 2 years ago
I remember watching the Starlost as a boy in the 1970s. I recall it having some very intelligent writing and exploring some pertinent subject matter. What bothered me about the series was the amateurish special effects and the cheap production values, which seemed the hallmark of Glen Warren Productions ("Circus", "Trouble with Tracy", "Bizarre", "Check It Out", etc.). They just didn't fit in with the attention to detail lavished on the writing and character development on the show.
toonguy85 3 years ago
Lewschoen, this is an even rarer treat than being able to view all of the episodes posted on YouTube! Thank-you. I was a junior in High School when this program first aired in 1973, and I always tuned in. ( Even with the sometimes claustrophobic sets! ) After 35 years, it's fun to see Kier Dullea sporting the sheepdog hair-do's that we all wore back then. ( Quite a departure from his look in the film "2001." ) I also had a mad crush on the other guy on the show....
jammings123 3 years ago
"The Starlost" had an interesting premise, inspired in no small part by Robert Heinlein's 1941 novella "Universe." But the show was sunk by cheap production values (it was shot on videotape) and rapidly deteriorating script quality.
scotpens 3 years ago
I'm frankly amazed you found this. Excellent job! I saw this and the Starlost series when I was a kid.
CrazyIvanova 3 years ago
This was probably a piece designed to get individual TV stations to schedule the show, or for sponsors to advertise on it. Not only was the footage from "Silent Running", but the music for that movie was composed by Peter Schickele, better known as the "discoverer" of P.D.Q. Bach.
RickWolff 3 years ago
I grew up watching this show weekly.
It had an original concept, & I am surprised that that it hasn't been revived yet?
ShellTrek 3 years ago
They're using music and scenes from 'Silent Running.'
azdalin2000 4 years ago 2
I noticed that!
borgduck 2 years ago
Among the many diappointments, apparently Ellison had been told that many of the effects were going to be achieved using a new technology called "Magicam" which improved on chroma-key greatly, making performers appear a little more part of the model sets than the chroma-key process. I don't know much about it; it was ultimately used for some of the effects in Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" in 1980. I don't know...some of the design concepts look pretty good, though cheap. Glad there's a following!
IngaMarr 4 years ago
Cordwainer Bird being a pseudonym for Harlan Ellison who used the name to show his disgust with what the production team had done to his original concept.
Mandrake42 4 years ago
Hmmm wow its amazing this still exists :) Written by Cordwainer Bird i beleive :)
bluemooone 4 years ago
Very good! This must exist some place. I'd love to see it cleaned up and added as a feature on a complete series DVD. Good old Keir Dullea, I think he succeeded in making a quality show, despite Ellison's bitter walk-out. Ellison perhaps failed to see that the series succeeded and succeeded the best way it could, in that it was good TV and still retained the clever ideas of top SF writers.
straker2 4 years ago
Where did you find this? Some serious video archaeology at work here. Respect.
keytoothed 4 years ago
You rock...I could only find a very damaged version of this (posted to Youtube last month) but this one is so clear.
Assignment1138 4 years ago