Once a month in Hollywood, California, the Hollywood Mortuary screens upcoming and classic films on the back of a large mausoleum that doubles for a screen. It’s the closest thing to a drive in theater experience as a communal feeling of the love of movies envelopes the patrons who bring blankets and picnic baskets filled with goodies.
Some celebrities that are buried here are Alfalfa Schweitzer from the Little Rascals, Hattie McDaniel from Gone With the Wind, Toto from the Wizard of OZ, Peter Loree, Valentino and the late, great Johnny Ramone.
Excited Star Trek fans entered the front gates in a well-behaved, orderly fashion (some dressed in uniform), for a rare treat to see William Shatner’s documentary on the Captains who also appeared introducing his film.
The Captains deals with Shatner’s journey of discovery as he candidly talks with the actors who played the leads in one of the most beloved series ever created.
Interviews with Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula and the new Captain Kirk, Chris Pine, open up and tell their stories about their early years, how they got chosen for their roles in Star Trek and what impact it had on their lives.
We also discover a little more about William Shatner and his beginnings on stage standing in for (then an unknown actor) Christopher Plummer when he was taken ill one night while performing Shakespeare.
It’s a fascinating (no pun intended!) behind-the-sceens look at the mythos of these characters and how they influenced the lives of millions of people.
Patrick Stewart is very reflective, while Kate Mulgrew is emotional with moments of humor. Avery Brooks, a jazz composer and teacher by trade, has a fun time with metaphors, Scott Bakula is analytical as he sings and Chris Pine is humble and respectful even when he’s arm wrestling with the Shat to see who the real captain of the Enterprise is.
Shatner has created an interesting look at the roles, even coming to grips with himself so that he is now content with being indentified as Captain Kirk (something he fought against for a long time). Perhaps it’s the fact that our hero is 80 years old (hard to believe it) and that in his winter years he now looks back with pathos, realizing how many people his character influenced all over the world to do great things with their lives.
That’s not a bad legacy to leave behind.
It’s a must have for any Star Trek fan.
The Captains will be available in the UK on Blu Ray and DVD later this year.
