While back on Earth, standing trial for their hijacking of the starship Enterprise (see STAR TREK III), Kirk and his crew are thrust into a new adventure. A space probe threatens to destroy the planet if it is not allowed to continue its longstanding communications with a certain species of Earth mammal -- humpback whales. Unfortunately, there is an obstacle to their simple demand; the whales are extinct in the 23rd Century. So Kirk, Spock and the gang travel back in time to San Fransisco, circa 1986, where they battle culture shock, as well as the clock, while trying to corral a few friendly whales to bring back to the future. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score.

A contemporary Marine biologist becomes involved with Kirk and crew as they undertake a vital mission into Earth's past to save a species whose extinction poses a threat to the very existence of the planet. The Directors' Series version includes outtakes and commentary by director Leonard Nimoy.

Issued on laserdisc as part of the "Director's Series". This version features narration by director Leonard Nimoy, revealing background information about the making of the film, discussion of its special effects sequences, and selected outtakes -- all followed by the presentation of the full-length film.

Estimated budget: $22 million.

Color by Technicolor. Some release prints were blown up to 70mm. Released in the Dolby Spectral Sound process.

Locations included: San Francisco, CA; Will Rogers State Park (in Los Angeles, CA); Monterey Bay Aquarium (in Monterey, CA); and the North Island Naval Base (in San Diego, CA)

Re-released on video in the United States in 1991 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the first "Star Trek" episode.

Additional credits include: Gene Roddenberry (Executive Consultant); Dan Curry and Harry Moreau (Title Design); Walt Conti (Whale Design/Whale Project Supervisor); Mike Gleason (Visual Effects Editor); Chris Evans (Matte Painting Supervisor); Ellen Lichtwardt (Animation Supervisor); Craig Barron (Matte Photography Supervisor); New York Zoological Society and Humpback Whale Fund (Humpback Whale Sounds); Department of the Navy, United States Coast Guard, and Rear Admiral Charles Reynolds McGrail (Production Assistance)

Rated BBFC PG by the British Board of Film Censors.

Shot in Panavision.

Excerpt: "Back in the '60s he was part of the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley -- I think he did a little too much LDS" [sic] -- Kirk (William Shatner) making excuses for Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) odd behavior.

"I may have carried your soul, but I sure couldn't fill your shoes." -- Dr. "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) to Spock (Leonard Nimoy).

"To hunt a race to extinction is not logical." -- Spock (Leonard Nimoy)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
2-Disc Set
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digtial 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital 2.0 - French
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Leonard Nimoy - Director, Star, William Shatner - Star
Trailer - 1. Theatrical
Text Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Co-Authors of THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA
Featurettes - 1. TIME TRAVEL: ART OF THE POSSIBLE
2. THE LANGUAGE OF WHALES
3. A VULCAN PRIMER
4. KIRK'S WOMEN
5. FUTURE'S PAST: A LOOK BACK
6 . ON LOCATION
7. DAILIES DECONSTRUCTION
8. BELOW-THE-LINEL SOUND DESIGN
9. FROM OUTER SPACE TO THE OCEAN
10. THE BIRD OF PREY
11. RODDENBERRY SCRAPBOOK
12. FEATURED ARTIST: MARK LENARD
Interviews - 1. William Shatner
2. Leonard Nimoy
3. DeForest Kelley
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
Storyboards
Production Gallery

William Shatner: Canadian Author/Actor, STAR TREK
Leonard Nimoy: American Actor/Director, STAR TREK
DeForest Kelley: Television actor, STAR TREK (1966)
Catherine Hicks: American Actress
James Doohan: Television actor; STAR TREK (1966)
George Takei: Actor, STAR TREK
Walter Koenig: Ensign Pavel Chekov of "Star Trek"
Nichelle Nichols: American Actress

Leonard Nimoy: American Actor/Director, STAR TREK

"...Relevant, funny and touching....A stirring adventure..."
"...There's something rather touching about the sight of that same old Enterprise crew on the streets of San Francisco....[Nimoy's] sincerity is unmistakable, and it counts for a lot..."
"...[This] excursion is warmer, wittier, more socially relevant and truer to its tv origins than prior odysseys....[The] technical credits are terrific..."
"...It has an irresistibly sure touch, an easy command of its audience. It hits the right buttons, strikes the right chords, plays with our expectations with the right blend of savvy, guile and imagination..."
"...THE VOYAGE HOME eschews the previous films' heavy themes and puts light laughs centre stage..."