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Tag: Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner

Nichelle Nichols Star Trek Legend Dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols died on July 30th at the age of 89. As Star Trek’s communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, Nichols became one of the first African American women to be featured in a non-menial role on television.

Nichols played Uhura on the original “Star Trek” series (1966-68), voiced her on Filmation’s Saturday morning animated show (1973-74), and reprised the role in six “Star Trek” movies (1979-91). In “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” she was promoted to lieutenant commander, and in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” she was simply commander. She was also a crack translator, who could sing and play the Vulcan lyre.

In real life, Nichols was a singer and dancer who worked with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton, a longtime supporter of NASA, and the first African American woman to have her handprints immortalized in cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

We’ll pay tribute to Nichols tomorrow night on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Viewers are invited to join us in sharing their memories and observations. Hailing frequencies will be open, both in the comments section and on-camera, when we livestream on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:30 EDT.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

August 11, 2022
Jason and the Argonauts Hydration Tips

Remember: in the summer, it’s important to stay “hydrated.”

On the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, we’re enlisting a crew of hirsute, out-of-shape fighting men (including a 39 year-old Hercules, who looks, at best, to be in his late 50s) for a journey to the far-side of the world in our quest for the Golden Fleece and a discussion of “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963).

Everything that you loved about this movie as a kid still holds up: the vindictive, fruit-loving harpies, an oversized bronze automaton in serious need of WD-40, destruction by crumbling cliff-faces narrowly averted by tuna-tailed Triton, and sinister skeleton warriors sprung nonsensically from hydra’s teeth. Also, Nancy Kovack (a.k.a. Mrs. Zubin Mehta) and Honor Blackman!

Roy and I will do our best to emulate the perfect alchemy of Ray Harryhausen and Bernard Herrmann this week, when we talk about “Jason and the Argonauts.” Are we stop-motion animation, or is it just Roy’s internet connection? Pour yourself a tall glass of water and join the conversation in the comments section. We livestream on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:30 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

July 28, 2022
Shatner’s Secret Trilogy People Spiders Rain?

Is “The People” (1972) actually the first part of an unofficial trilogy of William Shatner movies that also encompasses “Kingdom of the Spiders” and “The Devil’s Rain?” Just a theory of mine.

Plenty of ruminative digressions during last night’s discussion of “The People,” the Francis Ford Coppola-produced TV movie that aired just two months before “The Godfather” cemented his reputation as one of the leading filmmakers of the 1970s. A strange progression, to be sure.

Here Shatner somehow winds up playing second banana to Kim Darby. The circumstances were reversed when they worked together on a “Star Trek” episode, “Miri,” only a few years earlier. Darby would soon be lending trauma to our childhoods with the TV movie “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.” That’s the one where she’s attacked in the shower by little carrot goblins. Note to self for this Halloween!

Of course, you’ll be able to hear our reflections on all this and more in our chat about “The People,” now archived here:

Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner may be on hiatus next week, but that all hinges on whether or not somebody can find his passport. I’m guessing we’ll be back to livestream on Facebook next Friday evening at 7:00 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

July 16, 2022
The People Obscure 70s TV Movie Review

In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola gave us “The Godfather,” widely regarded as one of the greatest American movies ever made. The same year, he produced this television movie, starring Kim Darby and William Shatner. Join us in our incredulity, as we discuss “The People.”

Darby plays a young teacher, looking to sort out her life, who’s been summoned to an isolated farming community to instruct the strange children of severe elders. Shatner is the local doctor, who spends most of his time treating animals. Interestingly, the film, introduced as an ABC Movie of the Week, was a reunion of sorts for the two leads, who appeared together in the “Star Trek” original series episode “Miri.”

If you thought “Witness” was wacky, wait until you get a load of this. We’ll do our best to look plain, on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. The comments will all be simple when we livestream on Facebook. It will be time for milking, this Friday evening at 7:30 EDT.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

July 14, 2022
Lathe of Heaven 1980 Sci-Fi Gem Review
We have our “Viewer’s Choice” selection for the next “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner.” Thanks to Jack Dailey for his suggestion of “The Lathe of Heaven” (1980).

Ursula K. Le Guin personally oversaw this no-budget TV adaptation of her mind-bending 1971 novel that somehow succeeds in being one of the most absorbing sci-fi films you will ever see. What’s even more astonishing is that it was remastered from the only available source: a two-inch Quadruplex videotape copy. So this really is an example of some rather flimsy technology conveying some very weighty ideas. Hollywood, take note: it really is all about the story, dammit. The film made a huge impression when it first aired, becoming the second most requested program in PBS history.

“The Lathe of Heaven” supports Shakespeare’s observation that we are such stuff as dreams are made on. Also, we should be careful what we wish for.

Watch it at the link (because the copy on YouTube stinks and I can’t find it streaming legally anywhere else), and for the love of Mike, avoid the James Caan remake!*

https://archive.org/details/the-lathe-of-heaven-1980

Then tune in tomorrow, as we discuss just how weird Portland can get. Bring your hacky sacks to the comments section, for the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. We’ll risk destruction on “The Lathe of Heaven,” when we livestream on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:30 EDT!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner
- PLEASE NOTE: I posted this this morning, before I learned of Caan’s death. No disrespect intended. He was a fine actor, who will be remembered for his work during one of the greatest eras in American film. R.I.P.
July 7, 2022

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