Uhura in ST III

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

Harve Bennett tells a wonderful anecdote on this aspect of ST III.

When he sent Nichelle her script, she rang him immediately - too immediately - and expressed her disappointment. Harve said (paraphrasing), "So all you did was count your lines, didn't you?"

Nichelle admitted that she had done exactly that. "How did you know?"

Harve said, "Please do me a favour and go back and read them."

Nichelle was soon back on the phone, saying: "I see what you mean!"

It was a small part, but written in a way that he knew Nichelle could really shine. And she did. (Logically, someone had to stay behind to create interference. Nichelle also asked to have a skirt made to go with her uniform jacket.

The novelisation by Vonda McIntyre suggests that, had the film been longer, a scene with Uhura going to Sarek on the Vulcan embassy could have been possible, but there was a lot to get done elsewhere in the movie. Like raising Spock from the dead. Similarly, there was no time to add the complication of Amanda. She also has scenes in the novelization, which probably inspired Bennett to give her scenes in ST IV.

Harve Bennett tells a wonderful anecdote on this aspect of ST III.

When he sent Nichelle her script, she rang him immediately - too immediately - and expressed her disappointment. Harve said (paraphrasing), "So all you did was count your lines, didn't you?"

Nichelle admitted that she had done exactly that. "How did you know?"

Harve said, "Please do me a favour and go back and read them."

Nichelle was soon back on the phone, saying: "I see what you mean!"

It was a small part, but written in a way that he knew Nichelle could really shine. And she did. (Logically, someone had to stay behind to create interference. Nichelle also asked to have a skirt made to go with her uniform jacket.

The novelisation by Vonda McIntyre suggests that, had the film been longer, a scene with Uhura going to Sarek on the Vulcan embassy could have been possible, but there was a lot to get done elsewhere in the movie. Like raising Spock from the dead. Similarly, there was no time to add the complication of Amanda. She also has scenes in the novelization, which probably inspired Bennett to give her scenes in ST IV.

I remember reading the novelizations of ST II & III by Vonda McIntyre back when I was a child and enjoyed them a lot. Besides being a vivid, interesting sci-fi writer, she also fleshed out some of the minor characters. She expanded the movie's plot lines in her novels, which gave some of the minor characters a lot more depth than the movies gave them. Hugely more, actually.

 

[Antonovus]

I did not really appreciate Uhura's lack of use in three. I thought the "this is fantasy" line was a bit obvious a corny. Sorry. I would have liked to have seen her on the front lines with Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty.

 

[Jayson1]

I always wondered why she did that. Was she just pissed at him because he made that remark about her career "winding down"?

Seems a bit petty, when you think of it. Yeah, sure, he was being a dick when he said that, but why does he deserve to be stuffed into the closet?

He deserved it because it's funny! Joke beats being nice almost all the time.


Jason

 

[Pauln6]

I did not really appreciate Uhura's lack of use in three. I thought the "this is fantasy" line was a bit obvious a corny. Sorry. I would have liked to have seen her on the front lines with Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty.

I would have liked both. Although Uhura trying to slow down Starfleet's response and working with Sarek to minimise the political fall out would have been cool, I suppose it would have distracted from the action plot though.

 

[Workbee]

I’ve wondered if some of that might have been filmed. On the “stealing the Enterprise” track in soundtrack for TSFS, there is a few seconds of music between when Uhura beams Kirk, McCoy and Sulu away and when we cut to the Enterprise. It’s short but the frantic nature of the music makes me picture a bunch of security guards rushing into the transporter room just as Uhura beems herself away or something like that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

She doesn't want to ruin his career by implicating him in the escape.

I'm not following.

This. It cleared him from any suspicion of involvement.

How so?

 

[Pauln6]

I'm not following.



How so?

He confirmed in his dialogue that correct protocol had not been followed. Failing to check in with Starfleet could lead to disciplinary action .

 

[Pauln6]

I'm not following.



How so?

She could order him to let them through; she is his superior but would he have a career after that? He'd be the man who let them steal the Enterprise. Her way protects him.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Her way protects him.

I see. And if you were Starfleet, would you buy that?

 

[Pauln6]

I see. And if you were Starfleet, would you buy that?

Starfleet is pretty naive . And presumably Kirk's crew backed up that version . Probably netted him a sweet deal in the security detail on the Planet of Galactic Peace.

 

[DonIago]

That sounds more like a punishment than a reward...

Though having Mr. Adventure show up again in TFF (or ideally a better film), ideally as a more competent officer, less ideally as a total schlub, would have been a nifty callback.

 

[Pauln6]

That sounds more like a punishment than a reward...

Though having Mr. Adventure show up again in TFF (or ideally a better film), ideally as a more competent officer, less ideally as a total schlub, would have been a nifty callback.

Better posting than being Captain Styles' yeoman .

 

[FormerLurker]

Better posting than being Captain Styles' yeoman .

If I were Styles' yeoman, or his batman for that matter, I'd take that silly swagger stick away from him. It makes him look unprofessional.

 

[Pauln6]

If I were Styles' yeoman, or his batman for that matter, I'd take that silly swagger stick away from him. It makes him look unprofessional.

Unprofessional or just cooooool?

 

[FormerLurker]

Unprofessional or just cooooool?

Unprofessional, certainly. That stick it like Thor's hammer, forged too short.

 

[Pauln6]

Unprofessional, certainly. That stick it like Thor's hammer, forged too short.

It's so he can prod his yeoman when he wants more coffee.

 

[Tenacity]

Nichelle also asked to have a skirt made to go with her uniform jacket.

Going to pull that one out next time someone start whining about "female characters shouldn't wear skirts."

 

[Pauln6]

Going to pull that one out next time someone start whining about "female characters shouldn't wear skirts."

I think the key is that they shouldn't be forced to wear skirts but I suppose the sane holds true for the men and vice versa.

 

[Maurice]

I’ve wondered if some of that might have been filmed. On the “stealing the Enterprise” track in soundtrack for TSFS, there is a few seconds of music between when Uhura beams Kirk, McCoy and Sulu away and when we cut to the Enterprise. It’s short but the frantic nature of the music makes me picture a bunch of security guards rushing into the transporter room just as Uhura beems herself away or something like that.

Well, the shooting script has no such action described and the "Mr. Adventure" scene (108) ends as it does in the film and cuts directly to the Enterprise bridge lighting up (109), so I have no idea why Horner scored that transition.

 

[XCV330]

TSS is essentially a heist movie, and if it had been edited a bit better, faster, there could have been more room for to be working her own angle, doing things. If it were filmed today, I'd like to think that would have been the case, but then people would decry the frantic pace of these new goshdarned moving pictures. Anyway, i thought her scene with Mr Adventure was cool and it always stood out. Quality not Quantity.