KOOL TV REVIEW: 'THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE - MEMORIES OF STAR TREK AND A LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD', BY NICHOLAS MEYER

To Boldly Go. Nicholas Meyer recalls his continuing work and life related to STAR TREK and Hollywood in THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. Images: PARAMOUNT.

THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE: MEMORIES OF STAR TREK AND A LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD


By Nicholas Meyer

Published by PLUME books

Reviewed by Scott Weller


The last person you'd expect to save the STAR TREK movie franchise from extinction back in the early eighties would be a film director with only one previous and middling successful film behind him, possessing very little interest in the science fiction genre or even STAR TREK, but ex-publicist, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author and passionate film-maker Nicholas Meyer would ultimately be that man, not only saving it but also creating an enduring and populist Box Office legacy that continues to sustain itself to this day-his writing/directorial work on STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, still unsurpassed in my book, guaranteeing him his deserved place in both sci-fi and movie history. Going on from his Horatio Hornblower inspired re-vamp of the format to co-write the ever popular family favourite time-travel epic featuring those beloved whales George and Gracie: STAR TREK IV : THE VOYAGE HOME (then the most successful movie of the franchise in 1986 and whose popularity would see in the TV launch of a new TREK series: THE NEXT GENERATION), and co-conceiving, writing and directing the final adventure for the original classic starship Enterprise team led by Captain James T. Kirk and Mister Spock: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, giving the ageing but no less inspiring cast the triumphant adventure/lump in the throat goodbye send-off they deserved, Meyer's enthusiasm, dedication, all-round talent and ingenuity have firmly left their mark alongside the name of the series original creator, Gene Roddenberry, and four time movie producer Harve Bennett.

Writer/director Nicholas Meyer. Image: ULIKE.

Recalling the best of times, and also the occasional worst of times within his career, both TREK and outside of it, Meyer recently penned a charming, intelligent and very amusing look back at his life and work in the ever-changing fortunes of war that is the movie industry. THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE is a lovely look back at a Hollywood that sadly no longer exists, as Meyer, a talented visualist from childhood and a long time lover, nay absorber, of movies and literature, makes his first naive but successful steps as a movie publicist, then bringing his love of Sherlock Holmes to literary life with two best selling original adventures in the early to mid-seventies-The Seven Per Cent Solution (made a year or so later into a film with Nicol Williamson and Robert Duvall) and The West End Horror-both excellent books I heartily recommend-then finally making the big gamble, leaping in to film-making, with the critically acclaimed and highly enjoyable cult H.G. Wells in modern days thriller: TIME AFTER TIME, a  movie directing spring board which, by luck (which Meyer would fortunately be blessed with a lot over the years (as well as knowing the right people at the right time)) led him to the famed gates of PARAMOUNT STUDIOS and onto the bridge of the equally legendary starship Enterprise. Along the way, Meyer fondly recalls the trials and tribulations, privileges and sacrifices large and small that he has made in his life and career path-the good friends he would establish a long-time bond with and the worldwide destinations he has visited, loved and occasionally loathed in both his work and reality.

Meyer directing William Shatner in STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN.

With a make-up disfigured Ricardo Montalban on the STAR TREK II set.

Conferring with Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner on STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY.

Refreshingly not a bitching piece, Meyer's prose is funny, warm-hearted and nostalgic, yet also combined with a realist and practical sensibility about life in the movie industry-a place not for the feint-hearted, but a career avenue which can, occasionally- when the rights chemicals combine, produce emotionally satisfying artistic endeavours and monetary reward. Containing the occasional surprise, this film autobiography is highly informative and a page turner that you won't be disappointed with. Backed up with a lovely section of B/W career and occasional life/family photos, including lots of nice behind the scenes images from his three STAR TREK movies, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE is a solid and entertaining book I heartily recommend, and one that TREK fans in particular will find an essential purchase.


KOOL TV RATING: 4 out of 5


Meyer talks about his work here: FORA.tv - Nicholas Meyer: Memories of a Life in Hollywood


Check out the book: View from the Bridge, The: Amazon.co.uk: Nicholas Meyer: Books

Great Fan Trailer for Meyer's STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN: The Wrath of Khan HD Blu-Ray Trailer - YouTube