undiscovered country tours

Experience a world beyond your expectations. Choose from our award-winning vacations on virtually every continent with local favorites and off-the-beaten-path experiences only Globus can share.

We know why you travel. You’d rather have an extra day exploring than a fancy chocolate on your pillow at night. Enjoy hand-selected inclusions and world-class experiences for value-minded travel lovers like you.

Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities.

Undiscovered North America Tours

Experience a world beyond your expectations. Choose from our award-winning vacations on virtually every continent with local favorites and off-the-beaten-path experiences only Globus can share.

Undiscovered North America Tours

The Scoop: What to Know About Cosmos

Globus-owned cosmos focuses on affordability and experiences around the world..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

Considering booking a tour with Cosmos? I’ve distilled everything you need to know before booking into one scannable page.
I’ve verified all the details to make sure the information I’m sharing is spot on and updated for 2024.

If you know the tour company Globus , you already have a baseline for understanding Cosmos , since it’s the budget-traveler-minded arm of Globus. Like its sister company, Cosmos has been around for decades: it’s been offering tours for 60 years. It has a wide range of tours around the world and a strong Europe focus.

In addition to its standard coach tours, Cosmos also has a bunch of other, more specialized tour formats, including small group, “undiscovered” (going off the beaten track in popular destinations), and special-event focused tours. New for 2024, Cosmos is launching So Low pricing that waives the single supplement for solo travelers on select tours.

TourScoop Takeaways

Here’s a quick overview of Cosmos:

Countries: 60 countries on 5 continents
Tour Size Average: 38 (classic tours), 20-24 (Small Group Discoveries)
Tour Type: Primarily coach

How to Book

To book, you can pretty easily go direct through Cosmos via its website. You can also look for deals and help using an online travel agent like Travelstride or TourRadar . Cosmos also has a t ravel agent locator tool on its website.

Credibility Check

Cosmos has solid credibility and satisfaction scores. As part of the Globus family of brands, it has BBB Accreditation and an A+ rating. On Trustpilot , its rating is 4.5 out of 5 (up from 4.3 last year), and its guest-review score on TourRadar is 4.2 out of 5.

Tour Destinations

View of zebras on a dirt road on safari in Ngorongoro

Cosmos has a wide reach, with tours in 60 countries on five continents. Among the most popular destinations on its more than 100 different itineraries are Britain and Ireland, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It also has a number of tours within the U.S.

Cosmos stands out for its affordability and variety of tour styles, even those who don’t necessarily see themselves as tour-type people. Here’s a rundown of tour types (but note that not every tour type is offered in every destination):

Small Group Discoveries : Small Group Discoveries tours are sized between 20 and 24 people (versus the average traditional tour group size of 38). There are small-group tour options for every tour in Europe and North America, and for some dates on South Pacific tours.
Undiscovered Tours : Both Cosmos and its sister-brand Globus offer these “Undiscovered Tours” designed to take guests off the beaten track and into lesser-known and traveled towns and villages with more time in destination. Born notes that these tours are great for “repeat travelers and for those looking for a more in-depth experience in their chosen destination.”
Special Event Tours: Cosmos Special Event vacations focus on large celebrations in North America (think Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta and the Calgary Stampede). These tours offer special benefits like better access, close-up views, and behind-the-scenes experiences.

INSIDER JAPAN: 10 Best Japan Tours for 2024

Faith-Based Tours : Cosmos also offers a range of Faith-Based Vacations that highlight centuries of religious history. These Christianity-focused tours include sacred locations in the Holy Land, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Cruise and Land Tours : The tour company mixes land and cruise experiences on these tours to destination pairs like the Canadian Rockies and Alaska, and Greece and the Aegean Islands.
National Parks Tours : Cosmos has about a dozen U.S. national park focused tours. Some mix train journeys or cruises into the tour itinerary.

You can also search tours that are particularly affordable by looking at its Dreams on a Budget section, which features tours under $1,600 per person. And of note for solo travelers is that the single supplement is waived on select departures each year.

Tour Guides

Cosmos tour guides receive extensive training that includes certification by the destination authority and proficiency in multiple languages. Most are from the country in which they lead tours, and all are selected for their passion for travel and their storytelling abilities. Cosmos tour directors average 20 years with the company.

ARRIVE PREPARED: 10 Things to Know Before Your First Group Tour

In addition to the tour directors, Cosmos has a strong network of local guides, many of whom have worked with the company for years.

Inclusions/Extras

Cosmos was an early pioneer in value touring vacation travel, and focuses on turning people’s travel dreams into reality, even when a budget is tight. Cosmos gets to the lower price point by preserving experiences and finding more affordable (but still conveniently located and of good quality) hotels.

Cosmos tours include experienced Tour Directors, pre-selected hotels, guided city sightseeing, transportation, and select meals, including breakfast each day.

Optional excursions can be purchased pre-trip. Cosmos can also add flights to and from the tour, with schedules coordinated with the tour. Flights include complimentary airport transfers to-and from the hotel. And airport transfers can also be added for land-only guests.

Typical Travelers

The average Cosmos traveler is in their early- to mid-50s. Guests come from a range of generally English-speaking countries, primarily U.S. but also Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Cosmos travelers are an even mix of seasoned travelers and first-timers. The majority are couples and families, but typically 20%+ are solo travelers.

Communication

The standard pre-trip communication is made up of five emails, including the all-important Travel Packet, with has the detailed itinerary, schedule and flight information (if flights booked through Cosmos), destination information, tips and guidelines on pre-trip requirements and preparation for the destination, and information about booking optional excursions 90 days or closer to the departure date. Vacation planners are available by phone, email and online chat six days a week.

Perfect Fit: How to Choose the Best European Tour for You

Cosmos also has the Cosmos GO app, which provides access to all tour components, including schedules, hotels, included features, destination information, optional excursions, interactive maps and more. This access is provided pre-trip, 30-40 days prior to departure.

Loyalty Program

The Globus family of brands (Cosmos, along with Globus and Avalon River Cruises) offers a Welcome Back Credit loyalty program. Each trip earns guests up to $250 credit to use on a future trip with any of the brands.

The per-person credit is based on the tour price:

$2,499 or Less = $100 credit
$2,500 – $3,499 = $150 credit
$3,500 – $4,499 = $200 credit
$4,500 & Over = $250 credit

Guests have two years to book/deposit a vacation using the credit.

Private Options

Any Cosmos Europe tour can be converted into a Private Tour for between one and 24 people. There’s an additional premium, based on the overall number of guests, which is charged for each traveler in addition to the published tour price. Private tour groups get a dedicated tour director, private transportation and driver, and personal, and professional local guides, plus all of the visits and entrances in the original published itinerary. Private tours offer flexibility in both pace and experiences for you and your travel companions. To pursue a private tour with Cosmos, choose your tour from the Cosmos Europe lineup and then contact the company.

Sustainability Efforts

Cosmos is part of the Globus family of brands. The company’s Lighthouse Project focuses on projects that benefit people, places, and the planet, with dozens of areas of focus within each category. Projects include support of The Ocean Cleanup, Trees4Travel, Landmine Design and dozens of other projects and initiatives worldwide.

Health and Safety Practices

Cosmos’ health and safety policy currently includes enhanced cleaning protocols on coaches, hotels, and ships. Cosmos also has a Travel Protection plan that includes a cancel for any reason benefit and covers expenses related to trip interruptions.

Family Companies

view of the Mekong and the setting sun from Avalon Saigon

Globus : Globus offers escorted tours to destinations around the world with a range of tour formats.
Avalon River Cruises : Luxury small-ship river cruises in Europe, South East Asia and other worldwide destinations.

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Destinations

Croatia: yachting the adriatic.

An Intimate Sail on the Dalmatian Coast

View our 2024 Digital Catalog

Launched in 2012, Country Travel Discoveries handcrafts unique, off-the-beaten-path vacation experiences across the U.S. and abroad. One of the best parts about CTD is the dedication we put into building tours. Unlike our competitors, we don’t plan our trips from behind a computer - we’re always either out traveling to a destination or speaking with local contacts on the ground. The CTD team is incredibly energetic and passionate about making sure every detail is taken care of before you ever step foot on a plane or motorcoach. All you need to do is book and enjoy!

What Our Travelers Are Saying

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About Undiscovered Destinations

We are an award-winning groundbreaking adventure travel company, offering truly authentic experiences in some of the world’s most exciting regions. We offer a unique range of travel destinations, travelling in small groups with a maximum of 12 people on each tour. Our focus is on in-depth cultural travel experiences, getting you off the beaten track to discover more, where only local drivers and guides are used. We are dedicated to providing unique tours which explore countries and areas not on the map of mass tourism. What’s more, there are no local payments to consider, airport transfers are always included on arrival and departure days, and we have highly experienced UK based sales advisors with firsthand knowledge of all of our tours. ....less

Reasons to tour with Undiscovered Destinations

Multiple award-winning tour operator

Expert advice and first-hand knowledge

No local payments and airport transfers included

Small Groups with a maximum of 12 people and an average of just 6

Specialists in Adventure Travel since 2004

Pioneers in travel to destinations such as Somaliland, Haiti, Bangladesh and more...

Since 2004, Undiscovered Destinations has been taking intrepid travellers on our small group tours and tailor-made holidays. Join us as we explore the culture, history and wildlife of some of the most off the beaten track countries and regions on the planet.

Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2014, 2016 and 2018 - Top Tour Operator British Travel Awards - Best escorted Adventure Travel Company - Silver 2014 and 2020

Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2014, 2016 and 2018 - Top Tour Operator British Travel Awards - Best escorted Adventure Travel Company - Silver 2014 and 2020 ....less

Sustainability

We limit the amount of departures for each of our itineraries. Unlike other operators who will try and sell as many groups as they can and then pull from operation after 12 months, at Undiscovered Destinations we feel a commitment to the places we visit. We understand the investment that is put in to facilities by the local business people. We know that the promotion of a destination can take years of hard work before it will to come to fruition. Our aim is to work in a sustainable way with local people. Undiscovered Destinations understand our groups visit areas where local culture can be quite fragile and easily influenced by outside factors. Our hope is to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come. ....less

What We Offer

An Undiscovered Destinations group tour is not a luxury style holiday. We class our style of travelling as small group adventure tours. We also offer this style of travel as tailor-made holidays, and if luxury is your thing, then consider one of our tailor-made holidays that we can upgrade for ....more

Accreditations and Associations

How we're working to make you feel COVID-safe on your trip

For an Undiscovered Destinations trip to be viable during the Covid-19 pandemic, we run a full assessment taken in conjunction with our local partners to ensure we can provide your trip in a safe and an enjoyable manner. Every country is implementing its own set of guidelines and regulations (such as standardised cleaning practices, face-mask requirements etc) to minimise risks associated with Covid-19. As a minimum we will follow and implement all such requirements. While we cannot offer a 100% guarantee that not a single client will contract Covid-19, we can assure you that we will take all reasonable steps as part of our duty of care to both you and our local team abroad. There are links on our website to the internal procedures and protocols that Undiscovered Destinations and our local suppliers will be following during the Covid-19 pandemic. These can be found here - https://www.undiscovered-destinations.com/covid-19-travel-information ....less

Undiscovered Destinations Reviews

Very many thanks to Mark Huggins at Undiscovered for helping us to arrange a private tour of the best of cape Town/ wine lands followed by an unforgettable safari in Greater Kruger Park. Having been on safari before we can say that this part of the holiday was really exceptional with regards to Marks knowledge of location whilst also very good value for money. We will certainly be back for our next big holiday!

Albania Explorer

We had a fantastic time touring the length and breadth of Albania. Despite Covid it actually felt like we were doing normal things for the first time in a long time! Amazing scenery, ancient towns and ruins, fabulous hotels and food and so cheap - we can't believe Albania isn't on more people's radar. This is the 2nd time we've travelled with Undiscovered Destinations and both times they've offered full flexibility in terms of changing dates. On this occasion we also switched to a different tour & country only a month beforehand - we were originally booked to go to Lebanon in 2020 and postponed to 2021, but we were offered full flexibility with our plans (go, postpone again, refund or book something else). Knowledgeable & helpful staff and great value for money. Highly recommend.

Oman - Desert to the Coast - Small Group Tour

7 days travelling around the north of Oman with a small group. Muscat, turtles, forts, beautiful whaddi's, dhows, deserts, souks, abandoned villages, a "Grand canyon", jaw dropping mosque, sunset cruises. I could go on - just a brilliant country if you fancy an adventurous, well organised trip - heartily recommend the country and the tour operator.

We had a fantastic tour of Madagascar with this company, really detailed itinirerary with lots of variety including animals, scenery and time to relax. The hotels they booked us into were not what we requested and all transfers private which was unnecessary. Other than that, great!

Had the most wonderful holiday in Madagascar with Undiscovered Destinations. Everything was planned very well, and to say it was stunning would be an understatement. I found it particularly relaxing knowing that all the details were taken care of. We had a detailed itinerary, with a mixture of animals, scenery, and history. Excellent and will definitely be organising another trip with this company.

Superb anthropology and ethnographic paradise found in Ivory Coast

Fantastic cultural tour with diverse experience of multiple tribes in Western Africa. Undiscovered Destinations offers a very nice package of tours to Africa and other countries

We did an Undiscovered Destinations tour to Burma and it was excellent. When looking into trips we found most of the tours offered by the larger companies to be very similar. We wanted something different. This was our 3rd trip with UD, and we're already looking at number 4!

Discovering Albania

Travelled to the lesser explored Albania. Destroyed and rebuilt be successive conquerors, Albania is a gem. Exquisitely fertile, with a long and varied history. A generous country with a comfortable pace to travel. Efficient, responding to queries quickly. Well organised.tour.

An immersive tailor made trip in lesser travelled parts of India staying in heritage hotels with superb wildlife experiences

With a car and driver we travelled through Rajasthan and Gujarat , staying at beautiful hotels and experiencing varied local life . We visited temples and with local guides explored udaipur, Mount Abu and the temples of palitana. We had a number of jeep safaris to spot leopards, lions and wild ass, each safari a magical experience. Undiscovered destinations, worked with us to tailor make our trip based on a group tour they run. We were keen not have only one night anywhere and ensure the travelling each day was restricted to half a day. We gave a budget we could afford and they came up with an amazing experience, with one driver and being joined by local guides where appropriate.

We booked through UD for our first family worldwide trip to Sri Lanka. We have always been keen travellers, and what an introduction for our 6 year old son, to the amazing world of travel. The destinations, the recommendations, the guide, the itinerary, the balance, all was faultless for a memorable trip. The sound knowledge given by the UD consultant was what made us book, and on returning from the trip, has given us the confidence to book again. WE as a family are back on the travelling circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a single traveller – will i feel out of place.

In a word, no. We get a good mix of single travellers and couples on our group tours.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to travel

We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to share with then a single supplement will be applicable.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

No, sorry this is not possible.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

We offer fully transferable group tour deposits (excluding any flight payments which are always non-refundable). You can change your group tour booking up to 10 weeks before departure and not lose your deposit – we will put your deposit towards any new group booking as long as you travel within 2 years of the original departure date.

Can I alter the tour?

On our scheduled departures this isn’t possible, simply due to the fact that you’ll be travelling with other people. However, if you like the look of one of our advertised trips but want to tweak it slightly, then we can offer tailor made itineraries just for you, to accommodate your specific requirements.

Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

There are no hard and fast rules about what type of people travel on Undiscovered Destinations’ group tours – we attract people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life. What you are likely to find though is that travellers share a similar outlook about travel. We tend to attract people with a curiosity about the lesser visited corners of our planet.

How long has the tour company been trading?

We have been going since 2004.

Book With Confidence

Free date changes.

Undiscovered Destinations allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

Transfer as credit to Future Tours

Undiscovered Destinations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform Undiscovered Destinations, 70 days before departure.

Low Deposit

Undiscovered Destinations requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your tour, tourhub doesn't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of Undiscovered Destinations charges.

Secure payments

All payments are deposited into an externally regulated Trust account.

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20 undiscovered destinations to visit before anyone else

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on March 12, 2019 |

We backpackers love discovering new places and experiences… but admit it, you love it even more when you’re the first out of your friends to experience a new place, right?! The thrilling sensation of reaching an unknown, undiscovered destination is addictive, and it only takes one look at the 20 photos below to see why.

Come with us on a journey to these 20 undiscovered holiday destinations before everyone else catches on!

1. Dominica Island

undiscovered holiday destinations - Dominica Island

If you’re a big fan of nature and the colour green, you’re bound to fall in love with this lush, mountainous island nation. Nicknamed the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’ thanks to its unspoilt beauty, it’s said that if Christopher Columbus sailed the Caribbean in 2019 the only island he’d recognise would be Dominica! Highlights include stunning tropical rainforests, the Morne Trois Piton National Park and its roaring Boiling Lake, the charming Emerald Pool waterfall and the Champagne Reef – named after its bubbling currents caused by an underwater volcano!

Sshh!... This is a secret

Discover the "next hot backpacker destination" this 2024.

Just so you know, we will be able to see if you open our emails to help us monitor the success of our marketing campaigns. You will find further details in our data protection notice.

2. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

undiscovered holiday destinations -Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

📷 Brandon Stovold

Known as ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island of Bazaruto feels like somewhere between heaven and earth. This amazing destination off the coast of Mozambique has stunning landscapes that have been eroded by the Limpopo River and the ocean to form a paradise of dunes, corals and hammocks suspended in the middle of the piercing blue sea!

Stay at Baobab Beach Backpackers , HOSCAR winner of the best hostel in Mozambique 2019 – it’s just a short boat ride from Bazaruto.

3. Meteora, Greece

undiscovered holiday destinations - Meteora, Greece

📷 Pixabay

Athens, Santorini and smashing plates might be the first things that spring to mind when you think of Greece. However, the UNESCO site of Meteora in Thessaly is a place that needs to be added to your bucket list IMMEDIATELY. Here you’ll find immense natural pillars with six Orthodox Christian monasteries proudly sitting on top. This unique wonder is reachable via train from Athens to Kalampaka within 5 hours.

Find your hostel in Kalampaka

4. Kamchatka, Russia

undiscovered holiday destinations - Kamchatka, Russia

Russia is a country with so much still undiscovered by backpackers. The immense nation of tsars and vodka is where you’ll find the volcanic Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the Far East. This scenically dramatic region offers stunning trekking routes bypassing beautiful national parks, as well as the largest active volcano in the northern hemisphere, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka. It’s an other-worldly environment that needs to be seen to be believed!

This tip is way ahead of the travel curve, so there are no hostels yet in Kamchatka! But head to the nearby cities of Khabarovsk or Vladivostok and book a tour from there.

5. Hidden Beach – Playa Del Amor, Mexico

undiscovered holiday destinations - Hidden Beach – Playa Del Amor, Mexico

📷 @TommyBene

There’s no doubt about it, Mexico has some of the best beaches in the world. We all know about Cancun and Baja California, but what about the Marietas Islands? This small archipelago is easily accessible from the coastal town of Puerto Vallarta. It’s home to an array of marine life, and with an ocean water depth of between 70 and 110 feet it makes for a prime diving spot. Here is where you’ll find Playa Del Amor, a hidden cove born from a huge crater in the heart of the island!

Okay, this might not be totally undiscovered… you may have already spotted it on your Instagram feed. But by Mexico standards tourist numbers are few, and it’s so cool we just had to include it.

Find your hostel in Puerto Vallarta

6. Isfahan, Iran

undiscovered holiday destinations - Isfahan, Iran

Khaju Bridge 📷 @Ninara

Salam doostam! Chetori? (Hello friend! How are you?) Backpackers have begun flocking to Iran to experience the hospitality of its people and the pure tranquillity and beauty of its towns and cities. Magnificent Isfahan is the cultural centre and former capital of Iran. Its boulevards, bazaars and crowded squares centre around the Mosque of the Imam, whose enormous blue dome dominates the city. Its unique colours and intricate details are sure to enchant every traveller!

Find your hostel in Isfahán

7. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

undiscovered holiday destinations - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

📷 Danielle Pereira

Brazil is the nation of carnaval, samba and surreal landscapes in the form of vast jungle and white sandy beaches. Brazil’s natural beauty is on display in every mile of the country, and the state of Maranhão is no exception. It’s here you’ll find the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, where during the rainy season (from January to August) lakes of emerald green emerge between the rolling sand dunes. This contrasting scenery will take your breath away.

Find your hostel in nearby Barreirinhas

8. Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan

undiscovered holiday destinations - Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan

📷 Mashrik Faiyaz

Legend has it that in the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a winged tiger more than 3000 metres up a mountain in the valley of Paro, Bhutan. Once there, he meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours, before beginning the construction of the seven temples that make up Taktshang, AKA Tiger’s Nest. Due its precarious location it takes around five hours to hike there and back, surrounded by untouched scenery. It’s undoubtedly one of the most exciting places to visit in Bhutan!

To visit Tiger’s Nest, you’ll need to stay in the town of Paro, which is where the country’s only international airport is located.

9. Jaffna, Sri Lanka

undiscovered holiday destinations - Jaffna, Sri Lanka

📷 Louise Burton

In 2009, the end of the Sri Lankan civil war resulted in the country opening its arms to tourism, firmly cementing Sri Lanka as a backpacker favourite. However, the north remains largely unexplored by travellers due to the post-conflict reconstruction of the area. It’s an area largely influenced by India, with crystalline blue waters, delicious food and colourful temples, and nowhere is this better explored than in the vibrant city of Jaffna.

Find your hostel in Jaffna

10. Roatán, Honduras

undiscovered holiday destinations - Roatán, Honduras

📷 Erin Simmons

In the Honduran Caribbean are three postcard-perfect gems known as the Bay Islands, with the most beautiful being Roatán. If you love diving and hiking then you MUST make it out to its dreamy beaches, corals reefs and mystical jungles. Honduras doesn’t yet draw in as many travellers as other Central American nations, but it’s set to become a backpacking hotspot of the future. Hurry up and explore Roatán’s pristine shores before everyone else finds out!

Find your hostel in Roatán

11. Fusterlandia – Havana, Cuba

undiscovered holiday destinations - Fusterlandia – Havana, Cuba

📷 Steve Rushing

Havana is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, so it’s no surprise that there are incredibly charming places to be found beyond the typical tourist circuits. One of them is located in the humble neighbourhood of Jaimanitas and is known as Fusterlandia. It’s characterised by the extensive public art installations of local artist Jose Fuster, AKA the ‘Picasso of the Caribbean’. Sculptures of magical beings intertwine through swimming pools and stairs, creating an unmissable, colourful sight to behold!

Find your hostel in Havana

12. Musandam Fjords, Oman

undiscovered holiday destinations - Musandam Fjords, Oman

📷 Robert Haandrikman

Oman is a country in the Persian Gulf, of which little is known to the average traveller. But hey, we’re no average travellers! Just recently this mysterious country has begun to attract international attention thanks to its monumental cities, vast deserts and its star attraction, the Musandam Fjords. Here you can kayak along turquoise waters surrounded by ochre mountains, and even snorkel and swim with wild dolphins!

Find your hostel in Oman

13. Caño Cristales, Colombia

undiscovered holiday destinations - Caño Cristales, Colombia

📷 Fotur Colombia

This river in the Colombian Serranía de la Macarena should be considered the eighth wonder of the world in our humble opinion! Walk along the river to discover beautiful waterfalls and quiet areas where rare local flora is left to bloom in its full glory. Between late July and early November, Caño Cristales takes on its iconic yellow, red, green and black hues as a result of the ‘macarenia clavigera’, an aquatic plant that transforms this magical river beyond our wildest rainbow-filled dreams.

Find your hostel in La Macarena

14. Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada

undiscovered holiday destinations - Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada

📷 Yves Ouellette

During summer the multicultural, bilingual, vibrant city of Montreal truly blossoms. If you liked the movie Edward Scissorhands, we bet you’ll be interested in the Montreal Botanical Garden, an urban jungle packed full of interesting topiary and colourful plants. Gaze in awe at the lanterns of its Chinese Garden or discover the rock creatures waiting in the Alpine Garden. It’s far too easy to lose a day just strolling around the grounds!

Find your hostel in Montreal

15. Derweze, Turkmenistán

undiscovered holiday destinations - Derweze, Turkmenistán

📷 Tormod Sandtorv

Some people say hell doesn’t exist, but we may have found a gateway to it. Welcome to Derweze, the fiery attraction of the lesser travelled Middle Eastern country, Turkmenistan! It’s an underground crater filled with an unusually high percentage of natural gas that’s been burning non-stop since an engineering accident in 1971. With many scary nicknames including ‘mouth to the underworld’ (yikes), it’s no wonder travellers are becoming intrigued to see this phenomenon for themselves.

Yet again, we even beat the hostels to this spot… but watch this space 😉. It is however possible to camp in the nearby desert!

16. Island Ishigaki – Okinawa, Japan

undiscovered holiday destinations - Island Ishigaki - Okinawa, Japan

📷 Hayato Shin

Beyond Kyoto’s temples and Tokyo’s futuristic neighbourhoods lies so much more to Japan. For starters, Okinawa’s wonderful islands are a paradise of green cliffs and turquoise blue beaches. Ishigaki’s perfect shores wouldn’t look out of place in The Caribbean, and sights like the stunning Kabira Bay are a backpacker’s delight!

Find your hostel in Okinawa

17. Boa Vista, Cape Verde

undiscovered holiday destinations - Boa Vista, Cape Verde

📷 Martin Widenka

Most travellers to the archipelago of Cape Verde, located off the west coast of Africa, venture no further than the island of Sal. While lovely, this more-touristy destination is a total contrast to Boa Vista, an island of sea turtles, dreamy beaches and colourful villages surrounded by the glistening Atlantic. This paradise is the perfect place to unwind for a few days and enjoy a totally chilled pace of life.

Find your hostel in Boa Vista

18. Belleville – Paris, France

undiscovered holiday destinations - Belleville – Paris, France

📷 Jeanne Menjoulet

As Thomas Jefferson said, “a walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.” True dat! Paris is one of the most visited and romanticised cities in the world, but there are more places to fall in love with than the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre. Slip under the radar and pay a visit to Belleville, a neighbourhood that’s becoming one one of the city’s most vibrant areas packed full of culture and charm. Stroll around admiring its street art and enjoy some tasty crepes at any of its hipster hang-outs. This is the other side to Paris that most tourists haven’t found out about yet!

Find your hostel in Paris

19. Matera, Italy

undiscovered holiday destinations - Matera, Italy

📷 Giulia Gasperini

Italy is full of must-see places: the awe-inspiring Rome, the artistic Florence or the latest Instagram sensation, Puglia. But we’re all about trend setting, not following, so we’re focused on the city of Matera in the ‘sole’ of the Italian boot. It’s home to the Sassi, a series of caves that are carved into the mountainsides and house museums, bars and restaurants. It’s a city quite unlike any other!

Find your hostel in Matera

20. Antarctica

undiscovered holiday destinations - Antarctica

📷 Christopher Michel

The snowy seventh continent remains an enigma to travellers. Most Antarctica adventures begin in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina’s most southern city, and continue through the land of vast whiteness, icebergs, glaciers and spectacular mountains. It’s not the easiest destination to visit, but the breathtaking views and total serenity that await at the end of the earth make this voyage worth the while. We bet not many of your mates have ticked this off their bucket lists yet?!

Have you ever been to one of these undiscovered holiday destinations? Do you know of any other incredible places yet to be touched by travellers? Let us know in the comments!

About the author

Alberto is a Spanish writer and storyteller always in search of new adventures. He loves to write about tropical, colourful and unusual places. You can find him on Instagram at @albertopiernas.

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Minsk city gate | Photo: Anna Kovaleva

Monument to Yakub Kolas | Photo: Anna Kovaliova

Stork - unofficial symbol of Belarus | Photo: Benny Reiter

Palace Ensemble Nyasvizh | Photo: Benny Reiter

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The dprk classic – new years eve special – 5 nights.

Join us in Pyongyang for the 2024/25 countdown on this extended tour of North Korea for New Year’s Eve and beyond! This special tour will see you on Kim Il Sung Square alongside thousands of locals for New Year festivities, which [...]

The DPRK Highlights – Party Foundation Day Special – 4 Nights

In this special 4-night tour of North Korea, join the festivities of Party Foundation Day on October 10 including a mass dance, and discover the highlights of this fascinating country! We’ll tour the major political sites in Pyongyang and take a [...]

Ski and Snowboard North Korea – Kim Jong Il Birthday Special – 7 Nights

This is your chance to ski the fresh-power slopes of North Korea! See the grand monuments of Pyongyang, visit the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), spend time at the Masikryong Ski Resort, and be in the capital for the major festivities [...]

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There is no add-on pricing. Our published package price is what you pay. Our tours are an all-inclusive experience of return flights between Pyongyang, DPRK visa, premium accommodations, vetted meals, air-conditioned transport and driver, English-speaking Korean guides, entrance fees and unparalleled service!

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Our group size cap is smaller than our competitors to maximize your engagement with our local guides. Unless otherwise stated, our group tours are capped at a maximum of just 12 while maintaining standard tour rates.

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Our tours are led by some of the best local guides in the country. They are native North Koreans with a passion for showing visitors the beauty of their nation. All guides speak fluent English. We can even arrange local guides that speak Chinese, Spanish, Russian, French and German!

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We offer some of the most unique tours available. We offer family visits, cycling, skiing, marathons, surfing, and golf, all designed to maximize interactions with locals. We want you to experience the culture, the people, the landscapes and the history of North Korea.

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Pyongyang is North Korea’s capital and largest city. An ideological stronghold of imposing architecture and grand monuments, Pyongyang is the beating heart of politics, economy, culture, and tourism in North Korea.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone separating the Korean Peninsula, acting as the de-facto border between North Korea and South Korea.

Mt. Myohyang

Mt. Myohyang is one of North Korea’s most beautiful nature reserves, weaved with rewarding hikes and dotted with ancient relics.

Kaesong, the ancient capital of the Koryo dynasty, is abundant with well-preserved UNESCO sites and cultural treasures. Situated near the South Korean border, Kaesong has played a crucial role in inter-Korean relations.

Wonsan is a charming seaside town on North Korea’s east coast famous for its immaculate yellow-sand beaches and fresh seafood.

Nampo is an industrial port city and key trade gateway to Pyongyang located at the estuary of the Taedong River on the west coast.

Pyongsong is a satellite city of Pyongyang and a developing hub of science and technology often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of North Korea.

Hayden Peters from Australia

One of the best customer experiences of my life, superb, safe and easy.

Coen Scott from Australia

To put it simply, my experience with Uri Tours was the best money I’ve ever spent on recreation. The larger part of every day was spent seeing new and unique locations, my personal favorite was the ‘Palace of the Sun’. (I mean, how many people outside of the DPRK can say they’ve seen Kim Jong Il’s mummy.. right!?) The hotel where we stayed was great! Friendly staff, clean facilities, good food and it also featured a multitude of shops and services, including but not limited to; a tailor, a bookstore, an art shop, a pool, a bar, a bowling alley and a masseuse!

Conner Brenner

My trip to North Korea was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life. I was fortunate enough to visit the country with my grandfather who was 78 at the time. Due to his age and his physical disabilities, there were a lot of potential issues that needed to be discussed prior to the trip taking place. The team at Uri Tours were incredibly helpful and courteous during this process. Every concern was addressed, and nearly every email I sent the company was responded to on the same day. I felt like I was being treated with the utmost professionalism.

Tara Mina Bayati

The trip was amazing and far exceeded my greatest expectations. I am sure all of the local guides are great, but I truly cannot imagine anyone better than the ones assigned to us. They could not have been more phenomenal and I felt genuinely sad saying goodbye to them at the airport. This was truly an experience of a lifetime which was made possible by Uri Tours. I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in visiting the DPRK!

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THE URI STORY

A pioneering Korean-American family set out to explore the other side of their roots. What they found were people similar to them with a unique culture, rich history and distinct way of living. We have been offering safe and premium tours and travel to North Korea for over 15 years for international travelers.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

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An interstellar cataclysm cripples the Klingon Empire's homeworld, leading to their Chancellor seeking peace with the Federation. But covert acts attempt to thwart the peace process with the assassination of the Klingon Chancellor. With Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy as the prime suspects, the Starships Enterprise -A and Excelsior must attempt to uncover the truth before the conspirators can plunge the Federation and Klingon Empire into fullscale war!

1.1 Prelude
1.2 Act I – The Mission and Catastrophe
1.3 Act II – The Trial and Spock's Investigation
1.4 Act III – The Rescue and Revelation
1.5 Act IV – Realizations and Confrontations
1.6 Epilogue
2 Log entries
3.1.1 Hamlet
3.1.2 Julius Caesar
3.1.3 King Henry IV, Part II
3.1.4 King Henry V
3.1.5 The Merchant of Venice
3.1.6 Richard II
3.1.7 Romeo and Juliet
3.1.8 The Tempest
3.2 General quotes
4.1 Landmarks
4.3 Story and production
4.4 Sets, props, and costumes
4.5 Miscellaneous
4.7.1 Concept art
4.7.2 Production gallery
4.8 Merchandise gallery
4.9 Production history
4.10 Different versions
4.11 Apocrypha
5 Awards and honors
6.1.1 Opening credits
6.1.2.1 Second Unit Photography
6.1.3.1 Library computer references
6.1.3.2 Unused Material
6.1.3.3 Unreferenced material
6.1.4 Timeline
6.2 External links

Summary [ ]

Prelude [ ].

" I cannot confirm the existence of Praxis. "

An explosion erupts, creating a massive subspace shock wave .

Aboard the USS Excelsior , Captain Hikaru Sulu takes a sip of tea , reads a report handed to him by his science officer Dimitri Valtane , and records his log :

Excelsior emerges from the shockwave

Suddenly, red alert klaxons sound on the bridge as the subspace shockwave reaches the Excelsior , throwing Sulu and his crew to the deck. Sulu orders helmsman Lojur to turn Excelsior into the wave and the ship clears the disturbance. At his post, Valtane locates the origin of the shockwave – Praxis , a Klingon moon , which Sulu notes is the Empire 's key energy production facility. Sulu orders communications officer Janice Rand to hail the moon and offer their assistance, then asks Valtane for more data. Valtane, perplexed, says that he can confirm Praxis's location... but not its existence. An image appears on the viewscreen: Praxis, or rather barely half of it, ripped in two by some catastrophe, to the disbelieving horror of Sulu and the rest of the bridge crew. Rand reports that she has intercepted a message from Praxis and puts it up: the viewscreen is filled with the grisly image of a Klingon officer , standing on a deck heaving beneath his feet and surrounded by flames, shouting desperately at the pickup. The message abruptly cuts off and is replaced by an official transmission from Klingon Brigadier General Kerla , speaking for the Klingon High Command . Kerla explains that there has been an "incident" on Praxis, but that everything is under control and Federation assistance is not required, warning the Excelsior to obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone .

Rand asks Sulu if they should notify Starfleet and Sulu simply replies: " Are you kidding?! "

Act I – The Mission and Catastrophe [ ]

" Ladies and gentlemen, the C-in-C. "

Two months later on Earth , the senior crew of the USS Enterprise -A assembles for a meeting at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco . The C-in-C of Starfleet opens the meeting, bluntly stating that the Klingon Empire has only fifty years of life left in it. Federation Special Envoy Spock announces that the destruction of Praxis has polluted the Klingon homeworld 's ozone so badly that the planet has only fifty years remaining without diverting resources from its significant military expenditures. At the behest of Vulcan ambassador Sarek , Spock has opened a dialogue with Klingon Chancellor Gorkon , who wishes to end all hostilities between the Empire and Starfleet, proposing the dismantling of all starbases in and around the Neutral Zone. The Military aide asked Bill that are they talking mothballing the Starfleet, but Bill said that their "exploration and scientific programs would be unaffected." Admiral Cartwright interrupts, vehemently objecting, saying the Klingons must not be offered safe haven in Federation space, suggesting Starfleet use military force in order to dictate terms from a superior position. Captain Kirk agrees that giving the Klingons free reign in Federation space is a "terrifying idea." However, Spock counters, arguing that they must act now to support the Gorkon initiative before conservative elements in the Klingon Empire can seize control and try to fight to the death.

Spock has volunteered the Enterprise and its crew to welcome Gorkon and his aides aboard and escort their ship to a peace meeting on Earth. Kirk protests that he is hardly the man for the job but is overruled and commanded to extend full diplomatic courtesy. Verbally sending the Enterprise on its way, the commander in chief thanks the assembled Starfleet officers and reminds them the meeting they've just had is classified, dismissing them too.

At this point, Kirk is left alone with Spock, who reminds him of an old Vulcan proverb that " only Nixon could go to China . " Kirk is angry that Spock would volunteer the Enterprise without consulting him. Spock states that his father requested he open the negotiations with the Klingons. Though Kirk knows that Spock's father is the Vulcan ambassador, Kirk is furious at Spock for forcing him to treat the Klingon "animals" like honored guests after what they did to his son ; Spock knows how he feels about the Klingons, but reminds Kirk they are dying. Kirk snaps, " Let them die! " Upon Spock's somewhat startled reaction, Kirk asks Spock if he has realized that the Enterprise crew is due to stand down in just three months time, saying that they have all done their "bit for king and country" and Kirk says that Spock should have trusted him. They stand in the conference hall in silence, looking at each other from opposite ends of the long conference table.

" Regulations specify thrusters only while in spacedock. "

Soon after, Captain Kirk and party are ferried to the Spacedock One aboard SD-103 and board the Enterprise . Upon arriving at the bridge, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy meet Lieutenant Valeris , a young Vulcan female and the first Vulcan to graduate at the top of her class at Starfleet Academy , who is volunteering as helmsman. " Let's get this over with. Departure stations, " Kirk announces to his crew. After an awkward moment when Kirk orders Valeris to depart Spacedock at one quarter impulse power despite regulations specifying thrusters only, the Enterprise departs Spacedock and the Sol system to rendezvous with Gorkon's battle cruiser , Kronos One .

A photo of Kirk's son David Marcus

Valeris then interrupts Kirk in his quarters. She informs him that the Enterprise is almost upon arrival at the rendezvous point. Valeris then tells Kirk how much of an honor it is to serve with him. Kirk tells her she piloted well out of Spacedock and Valeris tells him she has always wanted to try it.

" History is replete with turning points, lieutenant. You must have faith. "

Later, Valeris discusses logic and philosophy with Spock in his quarters in terms of their current mission. Spock says history is replete with turning points and she must have faith that the universe will ultimately unfold as it should. When Valeris begins to ask if that is logical, Spock points out a simple fact that has taken him a lifetime to learn; logic is only the beginning of wisdom and not the end. Spock is soon to retire, with this being his last voyage on the Enterprise as a member of the crew and he intends for Valeris to replace him. Valeris states that she could only succeed Spock. Upon this, an announcement is made through the ship's intercom that all hands are to report to duty stations as a Klingon battlecruiser has arrived off the Enterprise 's port bow.

Upon rendezvous with Gorkon, Captain Kirk reluctantly, but formally, invites the Chancellor and his staff to have dinner aboard the Enterprise at 1930 hours as guests of the Federation. Valeris then suggests opening up the supply of Romulan ale that is aboard, thinking it may help the evening progress more smoothly. Kirk compliments her thinking and leaves the bridge. " Guess who's coming to dinner? ", Commander Chekov quietly says.

Later, in the transporter room , Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott are on hand to greet Gorkon and his party. All behave cordially on the surface. Gorkon introduces his daughter, Azetbur , his military adviser, Brigadier General Kerla , and General Chang , his chief of staff . While Gorkon is dignified and gracious, offering Spock his sincere gratitude for his actions towards peace, Chang, who has an especially smug, obnoxious demeanor, tells Kirk that he has so wanted to meet the great Captain Kirk, " warrior to warrior " out of admiration. " Right, " Kirk coldly replies. He leads the Klingon delegation out of the room, thinking they might enjoy a brief tour of the vessel.

" I offer a toast – the undiscovered country – the future. "

Shortly afterward, both Kirk and Gorkon's staff dine together. Gorkon gives a toast to "the undiscovered country – the future". Spock recognizes the line from Hamlet , specifically from act III, scene I, and Gorkon tells Spock that one has never read Shakespeare properly until reading the text in "the original Klingon." McCoy diplomatically offers a toast to Gorkon, calling him " one of the architects of our future. " The dinner proceeds with surface pleasantries gradually melting to reveal angry hostility. In particular, Chekov says the Federation believes all worlds have the sovereign claim to inalienable Human rights and Azetbur points out that this statement is racist and that the Federation is little better than a homo sapiens only club, " present company excepted, of course, " Chang adds. Chang tells Kirk that they all need breathing room, which Kirk points out is the same thing Hitler said in 1938 , which offends Chang. Thinly masking his disappointment, Gorkon simply quips that they have a long way to go.

As the Klingons prepare to leave, Kirk sarcastically jokes that they must do this again sometime. Gorkon says he knows Kirk doesn't trust him, and offers that " if there is to be a brave, new world, our generation is going to have the hardest time living in it. " Chang walks up to Kirk before leaving, telling him " parting is such sweet sorrow, " and steps onto the transporter platform while Kirk shakes his head. Once the Klingons are safely beamed off the ship, the entire senior staff relaxes, observing that the Klingons exhibited poor manners; Spock notes that they were little better. " I'm going to sleep this off. Please let me know if there's some other way we can screw up tonight, " Kirk says before leaving. McCoy announces he is going to find a pot of black coffee . Spock raises his eyebrow.

" We're hit…! "

Lying down to sleep, and nursing a terrible hangover, Kirk is summoned to the bridge by Spock. Sensors are picking up an enormous amount of neutron radiation which appears to be emanating from Enterprise (which an equally hungover Chekov painfully jokes that it is only the size of his head). A photon torpedo shoots out and strikes Kronos One . The entire bridge crew immediately jumps into action, as a second photon torpedo knocks out the gravity. Kirk asks Scotty if Enterprise actually fired and Scotty denies it as according to the inventory the ship still has her entire complement of torpedoes.

As the Klingons begin floating helplessly about, a transporter beam engages and two men in Starfleet uniforms with closed helmets and gravity boots begin walking through the corridors, shooting every Klingon they come in contact with, including Gorkon.

" Why that cunning little Vulcan. "

When auxiliary gravity is restored on Kronos One , Gorkon is discovered, mortally wounded. A furious Chang accuses Kirk of defiling the peace they're striving to work for, and saying that he'll blow them out of the stars. Kirk denies that they fired, although the ship's data banks say they did according to Spock. Kirk orders that the Enterprise surrender, much to the surprise of the bridge crew. He prepares to board Kronos One leaving Spock in command – where he'll be able to get Kirk out of trouble. Spock subtly slaps a small black patch on Kirk's back. McCoy decides to go too in case they need a doctor. " Uhura, tell them we're coming and tell them we're unarmed! ", Kirk says.

When they materialize on Kronos One , Kerla asks if Kirk has "lost his mind." Kirk swears they genuinely do not know what has happened and that they only want to help. Kerla reluctantly allows them to follow him to Gorkon, who is badly wounded. Chang tells him about the torpedoes, the gravity, and the assassins. McCoy tries to save Gorkon but fails due to his lack of knowledge of Klingon anatomy. Before dying, Gorkon reaches up to Kirk, grasping the back of his head, and begs him not to let it end this way. General Chang has Kirk and McCoy arrested for murder under article 184 of Interstellar Law .

Act II – The Trial and Spock's Investigation [ ]

On the Enterprise Uhura relays the news of their arrest. Spock then formally assumes command of the ship and begins a full-scale investigation. When Chekov asks what will happen if they cannot piece together what transpired, Spock says then " in that case, Mr. Chekov, it resides in the purview of the diplomats. "

" This President is not above the law! "

On Earth, the Klingon Ambassador is speaking with the Federation President in his office in Paris , defending his government's decision to arrest Kirk and McCoy for the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon. The president has ordered a full-scale investigation too, but the Klingon ambassador says that by the articles of interstellar law Kirk and McCoy must stand trial in a Klingon court. Sarek and Romulan ambassador Nanclus concur. As the Klingon Ambassador leaves, the commander-in-chief, Admiral Cartwright, and Colonel West enter. They propose a plan they call Operation Retrieve , to rescue Kirk and McCoy, West states that they could go in and get Kirk and McCoy in less than 24 hours with acceptable losses in manpower and equipment. The president asks what would happen then if they precipitate a full scale war and West frankly states " Then Mr. President, we can clean their chronometers. " Nanclus tells the president that the Klingons are vulnerable and there would never be a better time to strike them. Cartwright says that the longer they wait, the less accessible the hostages become. The president then dismisses everyone saying he'll keep all this in mind. Everyone except for Sarek leaves the president alone. At the door, the C in C stops and reminds the president that Kirk and McCoy have literally saved the planet . The president knows this and tells the C in C that they are now going to save it again… by standing trial.

Uhura receives a message from Starfleet Command ordering them to return to Earth immediately. Both she and Chekov agree they cannot abandon the captain and Dr. McCoy. Valeris tells the both of them how 400 years ago on the planet Earth, when workers felt threatened by automation, they flung their wooden shoes called sabots into the machines to stop them, thus coining the word " sabotage ." Uhura comes up with a response that Enterprise 's backup systems are all inoperative. " Excellent. I-I-I mean, too bad, " Chekov says.

Azetbur, now Klingon Chancellor, communicates with the President. She says in one week she will attend a peace conference at a neutral, secret site on the condition that they will not extradite Kirk and McCoy and that the Federation will make no attempts at a military extraction. If they do so, the Klingons will consider it an act of war.

" War is… obsolete. As we are in danger of becoming. "

After ending the transmission to the Federation President, Azetbur's advisors (including Kerla) suggest attacking the Federation now while they still can, or else the Federation will take advantage of Praxis' destruction and enslave them. Azetbur stands up to them, saying that war is obsolete, as they are in danger of becoming. One of her advisors sneers, "better to die on our feet than live on our knees!" Azetbur firmly says that her father wanted peace, and Chang, standing aside in the corner, speaks for the first time, reminding her gently that her father's wishes got him killed. Azetbur stands her ground, saying the peace process will go forward, but adds, with resolve, that Kirk will pay for her father's death.

Spock's investigation is proceeding. The computer says that Enterprise fired and the torpedo inventory says they didn't, so they'll have to inspect each torpedo visually.

" If the gravitational field was not functioning, how could these men be walking? "

The trial begins, with Chang as prosecutor and Colonel Worf as Kirk and McCoy's defense attorney. In a Klingon trial on Qo'noS, the prosecution and defense question witnesses at the same time. The first witness says the murderers were wearing magnetic boots, a fact which, while viewing the trial back on the bridge of the Enterprise gets Spock to thinking. Chang then begins questioning McCoy, starting with McCoy's current medical status, to which McCoy jokes " other than a touch of arthritis, I'd say, pretty good! " Chang tries to impugn McCoy's medical competence and questions whether he really tried his best to save Gorkon. McCoy says he desperately tried to save Gorkon as he was the last best hope for peace. The judge then excuses him.

Chang then turns to Kirk and calls him "the architect of this tragic affair." Chang accuses Kirk of plotting to kill Gorkon as revenge for the death of his son, a charge Kirk denies. Worf objects, stating Kirk has not been identified as the assassin. Chang enters into the record an excerpt from Kirk's personal log:

Kirk admits that he did indeed say this. Chang uses a number of examples from Kirk's record to show that it's possible he arranged for Gorkon's murder, such as his demotion from admiral to captain for insubordination. Kirk is maneuvered into stating that of course he is responsible for the actions of every member of his crew. The judge finds both guilty as charged, which carries a death penalty. Worf argues that the bulk of the evidence against his clients is circumstantial and begs the court to consider this upon sentencing. The judge agrees then commutes their death sentences to life without parole on the penal asteroid of Rura Penthe , known throughout the galaxy as the aliens' graveyard .

On Excelsior , where Sulu and his crew have also been watching the trial, the captain directs that a message be sent to Enterprise , telling them that Sulu and the crew of Excelsior stand ready to assist them.

With the trial concluded, Spock asks Valeris to replay the footage of the torpedo launch. Scott insists that all the Enterprise torpedoes have been visually accounted for, and there is no way the ship could have fired. Spock repeats a maxim of one of his ancestors: " once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. " If Enterprise could not have fired, it must have come from a cloaked ship, probably a Bird-of-Prey , hiding underneath Enterprise . Scotty objects that a Bird-of-Prey cannot fire its weapons while cloaked, but Spock rejoins that apparently this one can. Unfortunately, they have no evidence, only a theory which happens to fit the facts available. Chekov argues that if there was a cloaked ship, the assassins must have beamed onto Gorkon's ship from there, not Enterprise , but Spock reminds him that someone was responsible for firing the torpedoes or making the false entry in the ship's data banks; either way, the person or persons responsible are aboard Enterprise . Spock puts Valeris in charge of a search for two pairs of gravity boots.

" … only a magnetic shield prevents beaming. "

Kirk and McCoy are taken from Qo'noS, along with a group of other prisoners, to the frozen wasteland of Rura Penthe, an appropriately harsh place protected only by a magnetic shield. On arrival at the prison, they are greeted by the warden, who warns them that escape is quite impossible, and that anyone who is disobedient or fails to work hard enough will be punished via exile from prison to the surface where nothing can survive; a fact which is graphically demonstrated when a naked prisoner is dragged out and thrown into the snowy wastes to rapidly freeze to death. Inside the prison, Kirk almost immediately has an altercation with a large alien, but is rescued by an exotic looking woman, Martia .

In the galley, Spock and Valeris observe the search going on. When Chekov asks Valeris why the assassins didn't simply vaporize the boots, she pulls a phaser out from a weapons locker and vaporizes a nearby pot. An alarm goes off and she deactivates it, explaining to Chekov that you cannot fire an unauthorized phaser set to vaporize aboard a starship. Scotty and Uhura come in wanting to know who triggered the alarm by firing the phaser. They continue to stall for time by claiming malfunctioning equipment. Uhura reminds Spock that they have lost all contact with Kirk and McCoy. Spock notes this but says that if he knows Kirk well, by this time he is deep into planning his escape.

" Not everyone keeps their genitals in the same place. "

Meanwhile, Kirk is engaged in hand-to-hand combat with another alien, and is surprised when he wins. Kirk informs McCoy and Martia that he was lucky the brute had knees. Martia tells Kirk that that was not his knee, noting that not all species have their genitals in the same place. Martia offers to help Kirk and McCoy escape. That night in their bunks, Kirk admits he'd gotten so used to hating Klingons and that it never even occurred to him to take Gorkon at his word. Martia comes in, gives Kirk a big kiss and tells him where to meet her to plan an escape.

Act III – The Rescue and Revelation [ ]

Aboard Excelsior , Sulu's officer tells him that Starfleet wants to know what has happened to the Enterprise . Sulu states that he nor the Excelsior personnel know anything about the Enterprise and dismisses the officer. Now Sulu is getting really worried.

" If the shoe fits, wear it! "

In the transporter room, Chekov finds some small dried remains on the transporter platform and takes a sample of it to Spock, who discovers that it is Klingon blood, which must have been floating through the Klingon ship and got tracked back to Enterprise by the assassins walking through it. Spock notes this as the first piece of evidence to corroborate their theory and therefore expands the search to include all uniforms aboard ship. Valeris eventually finds the magnetic boots; however, they are in the locker of a crewman whose feet are shaped differently from Humans'; the boots couldn't possibly be his much to Chekov's surprise.

Martia as the Brute: " They don't take girls. "

Martia, appearing as a small Human girl

Kirk and McCoy get into a lift for mining duty and discover that Martia is a shapeshifter. She changes bodies several times in the course of leading them out of the range of the magnetic shield. Uhura and Spock have noted Kirk's exit from the beaming shield as well. Spock orders the ship to Rura Penthe. It seems that what he put on Kirk's back was a viridium patch which enabled him to track the captain.

" We is condemning food… things and… supplies to Rura Penthe… over… "

The Enterprise passes into Klingon space and gets the attention of a Klingon listening post. If they respond while using the universal translator , the sentries would pick it up. In badly broken Klingon , Uhura identifies her ship as a freighter, IKS Ursva , headed to Rura Penthe to "condemn" food, supplies and "things." The Klingons at the listening post are fooled and end up making a Klingon joke, in which the Klingons and the Enterprise crew forcibly laugh at.

" Not me, you idiot, him!"

As Martia produces warm clothes and other supplies and lights a flare for heat, Kirk realizes that Martia is setting him and McCoy up to be killed. She's spoken previously of a huge reward to the person who gets them, and the flare is a dead giveaway. Martia changes into a duplicate Kirk and they fight, rolling all over the snow before being stopped by a jackal mastiff , Klingon guards, and the warden. Kirk and Martia (still appearing as Kirk) stand next to each other. Kirk convinces the warden to shoot Martia, since they don't want any witnesses. Kirk then asks who wanted them killed. Just before the warden can identify the culprit, Kirk and McCoy are beamed out of the cave – with Kirk swearing the whole way up.

Materializing on the transporter pad, Kirk asks Spock if he couldn't have waited just two more seconds, as the warden was about to explain the whole thing. When Chekov sheepishly asks if they want to go back, McCoy answers " Absolutely not! " Kirk adds, " It's cold. " Chang finds out about this from the commandant and prepares to intercept the Enterprise .

Sitting in the Enterprise 's officers' mess , Scott discovers two sets of uniforms with Klingon blood on them. Scott runs up to Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Chekov in a corridor and they subsequently find Yeomen Burke and Samno , both dead, killed by a phaser stun at close range. They were the ones on guard in the transporter room when Gorkon and party first beamed aboard the Enterprise . To lure out the assassin, an announcement is made over the ship's intercom ordering the court reporter to sickbay and that statements will be taken from Burke and Samno, as if they are merely injured. Someone walks into the darkened sickbay with phaser in hand – it is revealed to be Valeris. Valeris is stunned to see Kirk and her mentor Spock in the bio-beds instead of the dead crewmen. Hurt and angry over her betrayal, Spock challenges Valeris to shoot him (while Kirk prefers she doesn't), and violently slaps the phaser out of her hand. McCoy emerges from the shadows and informs her that the operation is over.

On the bridge, Valeris claims that as she did not fire the crew has no proof against her, but Kirk does. He reminds her that his personal log was used as evidence against him at the trial; she must have recorded him talking on his personal log that night when Valeris was standing outside his doorway. Valeris dodges the accusation by accusing Kirk and the entire ship of betraying Starfleet. When McCoy calls her on it and asks her what she thinks she's been doing, she says she's been working to save Starfleet. She doesn't believe Klingons can ever be trusted, and reminds Kirk that they killed his son and how he said to " let them die " rather than help, and Kirk can't help but feel ashamed that he made such a statement. She reveals that some Klingons conspired with Starfleet officers to kill their own Chancellor – how trustworthy can they be? McCoy ponders the concept of peace between the Klingons and Federation being so unacceptable to members of both sides that they worked together to prevent it (while implying the irony that the conspiracy actually proves that Humans and Klingons actually can coexist and work together). Kirk demands the names of her co-conspirators, and Valeris claims she does not remember. " A lie? ", Spock asks. " A choice, " she replies.

"Names , lieutenant! "

Spock slowly walks up to Valeris near the viewscreen and forces her into a mind meld , discovering that the conspirators include Admiral Cartwright, General Chang, and the Romulan Ambassador, Nanclus. Kirk asks where the peace conference will be held, so Spock looks further into her mind to the point it causes her physical pain, but Valeris ultimately does not know where the peace conference is. The Enterprise contacts the Excelsior and Sulu tells Kirk that the conference will be held at Camp Khitomer , beginning later that day.

Act IV – Realizations and Confrontations [ ]

Later, in Spock's quarters, Kirk admits that he couldn't get past the death of his son and that it took Gorkon's death to get him to realize how prejudiced he was. Spock admits he was prejudiced by Valeris's accomplishments as a Vulcan and speculates that he and Kirk – with their inflexible thinking – are obsolete.

The Khitomer conference begins, as Enterprise drops out of warp and races towards the planet at impulse. If Chang's ship is there, it's cloaked, and the only means of detecting it would be the same surge of neutron radiation that occurred when Gorkon's ship was fired upon. Tension mounts on board the ship as they get ever closer to transporter range. With just over 40 seconds to go, Chang contacts Kirk over subspace and asks him, " warrior to warrior ," to admit that Kirk prefers for the Federation and Klingons to remain enemies, and continue slaughtering each other in glorious combat: " Once more unto the breach, dear friends… "

Then, with another quote of "to be or not to be…" in Klingon, Chang signals his gunner, and the Bird-of-Prey opens fire with photon torpedoes . With the cloak in place, Enterprise's shields take a pounding, but they cannot return fire. Although Chang continues to taunt Kirk, Uhura tries but fails to locate the source of his transmissions.

Excelsior is hurtling to Khitomer at maximum warp. Aboard the bridge, which is trembling with the force of acceleration, helmsman Lojur warns, " She'll fly apart! " Sulu retorts, " Fly her apart then! "

On Khitomer, Azetbur's speech has begun and a Klingon stands up and walks out carrying a briefcase. Admiral Cartwright nervously watches, sweat dripping down his face.

" Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! "

In space, Enterprise continues to take heavy damage, and Scott warns their shields are collapsing. A minor explosion on the bridge prompts Kirk to order auxiliary power, but Spock reports that the auxiliary circuits have been destroyed. Watching Enterprise attempting to evade, Chang quotes The Merchant of Venice :

Spock realizes that even with her cloak in place, the Bird-of-Prey's impulse engines will still vent plasma exhaust ; Uhura suggests using the equipment they have on-board to catalog gaseous anomalies as a guidance system. Spock asks McCoy to help him "perform surgery" on a photon torpedo to enable it to do so. " Fascinating! ", the physician says. Kirk continues to order evasive maneuvers in an attempt to mitigate the torpedo impacts across the hull.

Enterprise continues to suffer heavy damage, but before she can be crippled, Sulu arrives with Excelsior , taking some of the pressure off Enterprise as Chang chooses to divide his attacks between opponents. However, Chang has merely been slowed down: with his ability to fire while cloaked, Chang is still running circles around both ships.

At Khitomer, the Klingon who left has found a vantage point on an upper level and is cutting a small hole in one of the glass panes to aim a weapon at the President.

Chang relentlessly fires Shakespeare quotations such as:

and continues firing torpedoes, weakening Enterprise 's shields to the point that it takes a direct hit on the ventral-port side of the saucer section that ruptures the hull. Spock and McCoy complete their modifications to the photon torpedo, and with a great deal of satisfaction, Kirk gives the order to fire. It homes in on the cloaked Bird-of-Prey and lands a direct hit, but not before Chang gives his last Shakespeare quote from Hamlet :

Enterprise and Excelsior then target the location of the explosion, unleashing a barrage of torpedoes that destroy Chang's now decloaked (and shield-less) ship.

" It's Colonel West! "

The Enterprise crew beams down just in time for Kirk to knock the president out of the way of the would-be assassin's phaser rifle blast. He identifies himself to the dazed president. Cartwright orders them arrested and Spock retorts "Arrest yourself!" displaying a handcuffed Valeris. McCoy says that they have a full confession just as the Klingon assassin is about to shoot Valeris. At that moment, Scott kicks in the door to the assassin's hiding place, and shoots him just before he can kill Valeris. He falls through the glass pane to the floor. The Commander In Chief and Colonel Worf rush to the body and find out that it's not a Klingon; it's Colonel West. Cartwright takes advantage of the ruckus and tries to flee but is thwarted when Sulu, armed and accompanied by two security guards, transports from Excelsior and holds him there.

The Khitomer Conference saved

A confused and angry Azetbur demands to know what is going on. Kirk tells her this is all about the future and that history has not ended quite yet. Thinking of Gorkon's reference to the future as "the undiscovered country," Kirk notes that people can be very frightened of change. Azetbur tells Kirk he's restored her father's faith and Kirk tells her she's restored his son's. At that moment, the room breaks out into applause as the remaining Enterprise officers (including Sulu) walk up and join Kirk on the platform.

Epilogue [ ]

As Enterprise and Excelsior rendezvous above Khitomer , Kirk and crew reenter the bridge and exchange pleasantries with Captain Sulu. " Nice to see you in action one more time, Captain Kirk. Take care, " Sulu says as Excelsior moves away from the Enterprise , departing Khitomer. " By God, that's a big ship, " McCoy says. " Not so big as her captain, I think, " Scott adds. Chekov muses, " So… this is good-bye. "

The last flight of the Enterprise

" I think it's about time we got underway ourselves, " Kirk mentions. Uhura then tells Kirk that they've received direct orders from Starfleet Command to return Enterprise to Spacedock for decommissioning. The crew looks around at each other, emotional that their time together as a crew is now coming to an end.

Spock contemplates that for a moment and then remarks, " If I were Human, I believe my response would be 'Go to Hell .' If I were Human. " When Chekov asks for a course heading, Kirk tells him " Second star to the right, and straight on 'til morning. "

Uhura steps over near Scott and everyone watches as Enterprise heads off toward the stars on one final voyage.

Log entries [ ]

Sulu: " Stardate 9521.6, Captain's log, USS Excelsior , Hikaru Sulu commanding. After three years , I have concluded my first assignment as master of this vessel, cataloging gaseous planetary anomalies in Beta Quadrant . We're heading home under full impulse power. I'm pleased to report that ship and crew have functioned well. "
Kirk: " Captain's log , stardate 9522.6. I've never trusted Klingons, and I never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to a peace summit is problematic at best. Spock says this could be an historic occasion, and I'd like to believe him, but how on Earth can history get past people like me? "
Kirk: " The Enterprise hosted Chancellor Gorkon and party to dinner last night; our manners weren't exactly Emily Post. Oh, note to the galley: Romulan ale no longer to be served at diplomatic functions. "
Kirk:" Captain's log, stardate 9529.1. This is the final cruise of the starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew ; to them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man – where no one – has gone before. "

Memorable quotes [ ]

Shakespeare [ ].

" I thought I would assume a pleasing shape. " (Act II, Scene II)

" The undiscovered country. " (Act III, Scene I)

" To be, or not to be. " (Act III, Scene I)

Julius Caesar [ ]

" Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war! " (Act III, Scene I)

" I am constant as the northern star. " (Act III, Scene I)

King Henry IV, Part II [ ]

" Have we not heard the chimes at midnight? " (Act III, Scene II)

King Henry V [ ]

" Once more unto the breach, dear friends. " (Act III, Scene I)

" The game's afoot. " (Act III, Scene I)

The Merchant of Venice [ ]

" Tickle us, do we not laugh? Prick us, do we not bleed? Wrong us, shall we not revenge? " (Act III, Scene I)

Richard II [ ]

" Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings. " (Act III, Scene II)

Romeo and Juliet [ ]

" Parting is such sweet sorrow. " (Act II, Scene II)

The Tempest [ ]

" Our revels now are ended. " (Act IV, Scene I)

General quotes [ ]

" Do we report this, sir? " " Are you kidding? "

" I must protest. To offer Klingons safe haven within Federation space is suicide. Klingons would become the alien trash of the galaxy. "

" I don't know whether to congratulate you or not, Jim. " " I wouldn't. "

" There is an old Vulcan proverb. Only Nixon could go to China. "

" Don't believe them! Don't trust them! " " They're dying. " " Let them die! "

" You must be very proud. " " I don't believe so, sir. " " She's a Vulcan all right. "

" I've never trusted Klingons and I never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy . "

" History is replete with turning points, Lieutenant. "

" Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end. "

" Guess who's coming to dinner? "

" I offer a toast. The undiscovered country … The future. "

" In space, all warriors are cold warriors. "

" Human rights. Why the very name is racist. The Federation is no more than a homo sapiens only club. "

" We need breathing room. " " Earth, Hitler, 1938. " " I beg your pardon. "

" If there is to be a brave new world, our generation is going to have the hardest time living in it. "

" Did you see the way they ate?! " " Terrible table manners! " " I doubt that our own behavior will distinguish us in the annals of diplomacy."

" Valeris, do you know anything about a radiation surge? " " Sir? " " Chekov? " " Only the size of my head. " " I know what you mean. "

" We come in peace and you BLATANTLY defile that peace! And for that, I shall blow you out of the stars! " " We haven't fired! " " Captain, according to our databanks we have. Twice. "

" Don't let it end this way, Captain. "

" This president is not above the law. "

" Then, quite frankly, Mister President, we can clean their chronometers. "

" Sir… Those men have literally saved this planet. " " Yes, Bill, I know that. And now they're going to save it again. By standing trial. "

" I'll bet that Klingon bitch killed her father! "

" Doctor McCoy, would you be so good as to tell me your current medical status? " " Aside from a touch of arthritis, I'd say pretty good! "

" James Tiberius Kirk… What would your favorite author say, Captain? Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings. Tell us your sad story Kirk, Tell us how you planned to take revenge for the death of your son. " " That's not true. " " Objection! Captain Kirk has not been identified as the assassin! " " Sustained. "

" Do you deny being demoted by these charges?! Don't wait for the translation!! Answer me now!! " " I cannot deny it. " " You were demoted? " " Yes. " " For insubordination? " " On occasion, I have disobeyed orders. "

" An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. "

" This is the gulag Rura Penthe. There is no stockade. No guard tower. No electronic frontier. Only a magnetic shield prevents beaming. Punishment means exile from prison to the surface. On the surface, nothing can survive. Work well, and you will be treated well. Work badly, and you will die. "

" If my surmise is correct, those boots will cling to the killers' necks like a pair of Tiberian bats. "

" I'm Martia. You're Kirk and McCoy, I presume. " " How did you know that? " " We don't get many presidential assassins. "

" I was lucky that thing had knees. " " That was not his knee. Not everybody keeps their genitals in the same place, Captain. "

" What is it with you, anyway? " " Still think we're finished? " " More than ever. "

" Perhaps you know Russian epic of Cinderella? If the shoe fits, wear it! "

" Mr. Scott, start your engines. " " Aye, aye sir. "

" Leave me. I'm finished. " " No! Bones, I'm wearing a viridium patch on my back. Spock slapped it there just before we went on Gorkon's ship. " " Why, that cunning little Vulcan. "

" An accident wasn't good enough. " " Good enough for one. Two would've looked suspicious. Killed while attempting escape … now that's convincing for both. "

" I can't believe I kissed you. " " Must have been your lifelong ambition. "

" Isn't it about time you became something else? " " I like it here. "

" Kill him! He's the one! " " Not me, you idiot! HIM! "

" Who? Who wanted us killed? " " Since you're all going to die, anyway, why not tell you? His name is…! "

" Couldn't you have waited just two more seconds!? " " Captain? " " He was just about to explain the whole thing! " " You want to go back!? " " Absolutely not!! " " It's cold! "

" First rule of assassination. Kill the assassins. "

" You have betrayed the Federation. All of you. " " And what have you been doing? " " Saving Starfleet! "

" Then we're dead. " " I've been dead before . "

" Thank you, Captain Sulu. " " Don't mention it, Captain Kirk. "

" You were right. It was arrogant presumption on my part that got us into this… situation. You and the Doctor might have been killed. " " The night is young. "

" You're a great one for logic. I'm a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread. "

" Is it possible that we two, you and I, have grown so old and so inflexible that we have outlived our usefulness? "

" Do you want to know something? Everybody's Human. " " I find that remark… insulting. "

" Let us redefine progress to mean that just because we can do a thing it does not necessarily follow that we must do that thing. "

" I can see you, Kirk. " " Chang. " " Can you see me? Oh, now be honest, Captain, warrior to warrior. You do prefer it this way, don't you, as it was meant to be? No peace in our time. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends. "

" Come on. Come on! " " She'll fly apart. " " Fly her apart, then! "

" Doctor, would you care to assist me in performing surgery on a torpedo? " " Fascinating! "

" I'd give real money if he'd shut up. "

" We've got a heartbeat! "

" Where's that damn torpedo? " " It's ready, Jim. Lock and load! "

" Some people think the future means the end of history. Well, we haven't run out of history quite yet. "

" You've restored my father's faith. " " And you've restored my son's. "

" Once again we've saved civilization as we know it. " " And the good news is, they're not going to prosecute. "

" Nice to see you in action one more time, Captain Kirk. Take care. "

" So… this is goodbye. "

" Captain, I have orders from Starfleet Command. We're to be put back into Spacedock immediately. To be decommissioned. " " If I were Human , I believe my response would be: Go to hell! If I were Human. "

" Course heading, Captain? " " Second star to the right. And straight on 'til morning. "

Background information [ ]

Landmarks [ ].

This is the second of two Star Trek productions (the other being Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ) between 1986 and 2005 to be produced without any involvement from Rick Berman .
Although this is the final Star Trek film to feature the entire Star Trek: The Original Series cast together, only Nichelle Nichols ( Uhura ) and DeForest Kelley ( McCoy ) make their final official Star Trek appearances in this film (Kelley's appearance as an admiral in TNG: "Encounter At Farpoint" the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation had occurred four years previously). James Doohan ( Scotty ) would appear in TNG : " Relics ", and then with William Shatner ( James T. Kirk ), and Walter Koenig ( Pavel Chekov ) in Star Trek Generations . George Takei ( Hikaru Sulu ) appeared in VOY : " Flashback " and Leonard Nimoy ( Spock ) appeared in TNG : " Unification I " , " Unification II ", Star Trek , and Star Trek Into Darkness .
Chronologically, McCoy, Spock and Scotty appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation long after the events of this film.
This movie is the first canon instance of Sulu's first name, Hikaru (Japanese for "shining"), being stated. Prior to the film, it was commonly used in the novels (and reportedly approved by Gene Roddenberry and George Takei ( citation needed • edit ) ), but had never been made official.
This is currently the only Star Trek movie shot in Super 35 format instead of anamorphic . ( citation needed • edit )
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards . It was nominated for "Makeup" and "Sound Effects Editing." It was also nominated for the Hugo Award for "Best Dramatic Presentation" and five Saturn Awards , winning for "Best Science Fiction Film."
Leonard Nimoy co-wrote the story for this final outing of the TOS cast. Likewise, the final outing of the TNG cast ( Star Trek Nemesis ) was co-written by one of its cast members, Brent Spiner .
The film confirms Kirk's middle name, which had previously been established in the animated series episode " Bem " as "Tiberius," for the first time in live action production.
Finally, just before the closing titles roll, the signatures of the seven main cast members from The Original Series are displayed one by one, writing themselves on the starfield.

Members of the film's cast with Nick Meyer

Rene Auberjonois ' role as Colonel West was cut from the theatrical release, as Gene Roddenberry was uncomfortable with ideas that were presented in his scenes. ( citation needed • edit ) The scenes were later restored for the VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD release, but the BluRay release contains the theatrical cut. Auberjonois later played Constable Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
Michael Dorn only found out he had a role in this film as Worf's grandfather when Nicholas Meyer and Herman Zimmerman were walking past the soundstages for Star Trek: The Next Generation and informed him about it. [1]
The only actors, aside from the original cast, to appear in both this film and in Star Trek: The Motion Picture are Grace Lee Whitney ( Janice Rand ) and Mark Lenard . In both films, Whitney appeared as Janice Rand, whereas Lenard appeared as Sarek in The Undiscovered Country and a Klingon captain in The Motion Picture . This was the penultimate appearance of Rand, who went on to appear in the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Flashback ". She is a lieutenant jg in this film, although "Flashback" incorrectly depicts her as a lieutenant commander at the time of the film's setting. Some of the comics set around the time of Sulu taking command of Excelsior not only support her lieutenant commander rank, but imply that she was also the Excelsior 's first officer.
Rand was supposed to be the character that wakes up Sulu to inform him that Starfleet was looking for the Enterprise instead of Christian Slater 's character. Slater was a huge fan of the show and his mother – Mary Jo Slater , the movie's casting director – petitioned heavily to get him a part. ( citation needed • edit )
Rene Auberjonois, Michael Dorn and Kurtwood Smith would later star together in the Deep Space Nine fifth season episode " Things Past ", where Auberjonois plays Odo, Dorn plays Worf and Smith plays Thrax .
This is Rene Auberjonois and John Schuck 's fourth film together. The first was MASH , followed by Brewster McCloud , and McCabe & Mrs. Miller .
Merritt Butrick appears posthumously as David Marcus , via a photo in Kirk's quarters.

Story and production [ ]

The Undiscovered Country was almost never made as a Star Trek film, not only due to the dismal box office receipts of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , but also for an unbroken string of, for Paramount Pictures , disappointing yet very expensive film releases as well, leaving the studio deeply in the red, only aggravated by a worldwide recession . However as seen on the Star Trek VI DVD set and also according to William Shatner 's Star Trek Movie Memories , Paramount, specifically its president Frank Mancuso, Sr. – who had been intimately involved with Star Trek ever since Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – , did not really want to end the Original Crew run on The Final Frontier low note, especially with the 25th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise coming up, and wanted one more film, but found himself seriously hampered by the strictest of budget limitation: under NO conceivable circumstance was a potential new film to exceed the budget of The Final Frontier , not even by one dollar. It was at this point that Harve Bennett proposed his Starfleet Academy prequel , featuring a brand new, and thus far cheaper, cast, and was green lighted by Mancuso to go into pre-production, and proceeded as such, until Gene Roddenberry vehemently objected, and with him the fanbase and the secondary cast. But it was only when the (at the time) head of Paramount Communications (formerly Gulf+Western, owner of Paramount Pictures), Martin Davis , found out about the Academy concept and furiously demanding an Original Crew film be made, that Bennett's project was scrapped on the spot. Because nobody had thought of informing the highest boss, nearly eighteen months of valuable pre-production time had been lost. Because he wanted to do the prequel, and Mancuso no longer dared to continue, Harve Bennett left Star Trek after a decade with the franchise. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 347-348; Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, pp. 24-30)
Earlier, a revised draft of Bennett's script featured a scene in which Kirk flashed back to his days at Starfleet Academy , allowing William Shatner and others to reprise their Original Crew roles as cameos – Bennett's effort to appease Roddenberry's ( et al. ) criticisms, before his project was scrapped altogether. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 343-345)
Thoroughly chastized by his boss Davis, Mancuso subsequently turned to Leonard Nimoy in May 1990 to get a completely new film, featuring the entire Original Crew , started. It was during this meeting that Nimoy suggested the contemporary real world Gorbachev / Perestroika / Glasnost events as an allegory for the Federation and the Klingon Empire as basic story line, which was enthusiastically embraced by Mancuso. Informed that Bennett had gone, Nimoy requested to return Nicholas Meyer into the fold as co-writer and director, which was also embraced by Mancuso. In the early summer Nimoy and Meyer had an extended meeting at his holiday address in Cape Cod where they essentially hammered out the details as eventually featured in the film, though they became seriously hampered by studio politics through trying to burden the pair with the woefully inadequate dilettante Konner / Rosenthal "writing" duo. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 349-363) As the upper studio echelons were at the time, for the aforementioned reasons, embroiled in a tumultuous and very messy power struggle, derisively called the "The Studio Shuffle" in the contemporary press, the executive sponsors, Sid Ganis and Teddy Zee , of the Konner/Rosenthal duo were a short time later kicked out, and so were they, without having made a single noteworthy contribution whatsoever – according to both Nimoy and Meyer, what little they did turn in, immediately and literally trashed by (other) executives upon reading, was blatant plagiarism of their own story outlines. Yet Nimoy and Meyer (their relationship having actually become strained because of executives playing the one against the other in this matter, as it only became later apparent to both men) were too premature in their relief of being rid of the interloping duo, as the latter, near the end of the production, started legal procedures against both men for writing credits, partially succeeding, and nearly stripping Nimoy of any and all creative credit. ( see below ) Incidentally, Paramount veteran of 31 years Mancuso was also gone less than a month after he had approached Nimoy, unceremoniously fired over the telephone by Davis. [2] (X)
When Nimoy was reaching out to Meyer, the latter was working in London, UK, working as writer/director on the MGM film Company Business (featuring Kurtwood Smith , he to subsequently play the President of the United Federation of Planets in The Undiscovered Country ), which ironically, had a similar glasnost theme. However, Meyer felt that the producers had "butchered" the film, and being vocal about it, it had at the time led in the industry grapevine to the rumor that it was this that led him to recycling the theme in The Undiscovered Country . For the remainder of the year Nimoy and Meyer, now reinforced by scriptwriter Denny Martin Flinn (he actually wanted, as it was Meyer who brought him in), communicated with each other by phone, fax and the early email, which however, made them susceptible to the studio politics as played by Ganis and Zee. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, pp. 28, 30; [3] ) Incidentally, before Nimoy even contacted Meyer at his holiday address, Meyer had already been informed by Davis and Mancuso, when the latter two were in London, that a "thirty million dollars" sixth Star Trek film was green-lighted. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 354-358, )
When the Klingons return to their ship after the dinner on the Enterprise , Chang speaks a Klingon phrase into his communicator (without English subtitles). Chang says "daHmacheH" which, in English, means "Ready to return now." During the dinner, Azetbur says a unsubtitled Klingon phrase that, when translated to English, means "Daddy" or "Father."
Originally, a prologue was planned for the film, in which it was established that, before they all got the call to reassemble: Kirk was in a revitalized relationship with Carol Marcus ; McCoy was making a nuisance of himself by showing up drunk at medical celebrity events (as he despises the hypocrisy of it all); Spock's status was "classified;" Uhura had become a radio show hostess; Scotty was working as an engineering professor; Chekov was competing as a not altogether successful chess grandmaster (losing to Betazoids – which was another attempt to tie in the Original Crew franchise with that of Star Trek: The Next Generation ); and Sulu was working as a taxi driver on some backwater alien colony . A fully worked-out prologue sequence, approved for shooting, had already been scripted by Co-Script Writer Flinn. Last-minute mandatory budget limitations, however, forced the creative production team, much against their grain, to scrap the entire prologue sequence, leaving only the introductory Original Crew scene at Starfleet Command instead. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 26; Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 376-378)

Element from a proposed scene from storyboard

An early storyboard draft featured HMS Bounty in spacedock being disassembled by Starfleet engineers, under the supervision of Professor of Engineering Scott, before he got the call to meet up with his fellow former crew-members. This actually was part of the above-mentioned planned prologue of the film.
It was originally intended for the Vulcan traitor to be Lt. Saavik , but the role was instead assigned to Lt. Valeris as a new character. According to William Shatner's Star Trek Movie Memories , this change was vehemently resisted by Gene Roddenberry , who felt that Saavik was too popular a character to be handled this way. Meyer (thoroughly fed up with the disruptive and incessant interlopings of Roddenberry, ever since he came aboard Star Trek , a decade earlier), could not care less what Roddenberry's thoughts on the matter were, rightfully claiming that the character was his creation, not Roddenberry's, and proceeded as planned. Yet, Meyer wanted only Kirstie Alley to reprise the role, but as she was at the peak of her popularity with Cheers at the time and her asking price was far too high. Only when Alley turned out to be unavailable, was it then decided to change the character, instead of casting yet another actress for the same part. Kim Cattrall initially refused the role as she was under the false impression that she had to portray Saavik, but jumped at the opportunity when she learned that that was not to be the case, as she considered Saavik "just a girl", whereas Valeris was a woman. Ironically, Cattrall had auditioned for the role of Saavik for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . To her big disappointment, Robin Curtis had never been considered to reprise the role of Saavik for this film. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 31; Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 374-375) Other stories say that Kirstie Alley refused Nicholas Meyer's requests that she reprise the role, as she was uncomfortable about her weight, and that she did not want to look overweight onscreen in the form-fitting uniforms. ( citation needed • edit )
Many of General Chang's quotes and the subtitle, "The Undiscovered Country," come from Hamlet's " To be or not to be " soliloquy, by William Shakespeare . Chang also quotes or paraphrases Richard II , Julius Caesar , The Merchant of Venice , Henry IV, Part II , Henry V , and The Tempest .
Chang's demand, " Don't wait for the translation! Answer me now! " is a reference to Adlai Stevenson 's similar demand of Soviet Union representative Valerian Zorin at the United Nations during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. ( Star Trek Encyclopedia )
Nichelle Nichols objected to the scene in which the crew desperately searches through old printed Klingonese translation dictionaries in order to speak the language without the standard universal translator being used. It seemed more logical to her that Uhura, being the ship's chief communications officer, would know the language of the Federation's main enemy, or at least have the appropriate information in the computer. However, director Meyer bluntly overruled her. Chekov can be heard explaining at the beginning of the scene that " a universal translator would be recognized ". ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) DVD -special feature, " text commentary ") In the alternate reality of Star Trek Into Darkness, Uhura — who may have had a different education from that of the Prime Uhura — does speak Klingonese (or as she and Captain Kirk refer to it, "Klingon").
Uhura originally had a line " Would you let your daughter marry one? " (that is, a Klingon), but the line had to be cut because Nichols absolutely refused to say it. Chekov's line " Guess who's coming to dinner? " was also originally Uhura's, but Nichols considered it also to be racist and declined to say it. The line was moved to Chekov. It was a reference to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner , the first major film to deal with interracial marriage, in which Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier starred. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 365-366; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) DVD-special feature, "text commentary")
On the Special Edition release of Star Trek VI , it was revealed that Brock Peters ' scene in the council chamber had to be shot in numerous takes, as he was very uncomfortable with the racial undertones in his lines that the Federation take the opportunity to "bring them to their knees", which was itself, a reference to another film in which that line was said about African Americans.
The perceived racism toward the Klingons was of great concern to Roddenberry as well, as he felt there was no place for it in his Star Trek universe, but his considerations were entirely ignored by both Meyer and Nimoy. Aghast, he then summoned a meeting, even though Roddenberry had no formal say in the film whatsoever. Complete with heavy legal representation, a very charged meeting followed between the two sides, which quickly turned into a shouting match as Meyer finally unleashed his years of pent up frustration with Roddenberry in full. In later years Meyer came to regret his behavior. " He was not well, and maybe there were more tactful ways of dealing with it, because at the end of the day, I was going to go out and make the movie. I didn't have to take him on. Not my finest hour. ", a rueful Meyer recounted in 2011. Roddenberry died a few months later. ( [4] (X) ; Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 366-367) Meyer remained regretful of his behavior as he reiterated the incident as recent as 2016 when he retold the story in Roger Lay, Jr. 's 50th anniversary documentary Star Trek: The Journey to the Silver Screen (Chapter 5: "End of an Era: Charting the Undiscovered Country") .
In December 1990 a finalized script draft was turned in to the studio, and this version was approved to go into production. Meyer, finished in London, relocates to Los Angels later that month. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 30)
However, less than a month later in early January 1991, the original, immovable studio budget restriction decree reared its ugly head in full force, as David Kirkpatrick , who had replaced Teddy Zee as the Paramount Motion Picture Group President in another round of "The Studio Shuffle", demanded a detailed budget breakdown for the script as submitted. Somewhat falsely reassured by the remarks Davis and Mancuso made to him in London the previous spring, Meyer came back with a total figure of US$40 million dollar. Kirkpatrick's reply was short and to the point; It would not do. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, pp. 33-35)
A desperate scramble among the creative staff ensued to trim as much as possible of the budget as possible; the entire prologue was (albeit painfully) scrapped, scenes were trimmed, all planned set construction for new starship interiors was abandoned (though a new Kronos One corridor set did get build ultimately), the planned live-action shoots in Alaska for the Rura Penthe scenes were scrapped as were plans for new studio models and other visual effects elements. Starship sets were to be entirely recycled from Star Trek: The Next Generation , which was concurrently in production, but was slated for its summer hiatus, when filming of The Undiscovered Country was planned to start, and only existing studio models were to be used. Major cast and crew even agreed to deferred payment of (part of) their wages. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, pp. 35-36)
Co-Producer Steven-Charles Jaffe , a former Trekkie , was so desperate to see the film come to fruition that he even went as far to suggest dropping Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as the visual effects vendor for the film, instead going for a cheaper company. However the Associates & Ferren visual effects debacle for the previous film was still very much fresh on the minds of his colleagues, and no one was willing to go that far. However, the planned 110 visual effects cuts were whittled down to just 51. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 35)
With an absolute, rock-bottom downward revised budget of US$30 million dollar Meyer returned to Kirkpatrick & co. and vigorously and emotionally made a case for it. Kirkpatrick strictly adhered to the US$25 million dollar the previous film had originally been budgeted at, but was willing to up the budget with US$2.5 million to the total that film had actually cost, but not a penny more. Moved to tears, Meyer knew that the film could not be made for that amount and continued to make a passionate plea for it. After Kirkpatrick had deliberated with his colleagues, the verdict came back: The film was canceled. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 368-371)
Yet, a few weeks later, with all activity on the film halted and production crews sent home, Meyer received a call from interim Paramount Pictures President Stanley R. Jaffe (not related to producer Jaffe), standing in for the released Mancuso, who had heard that the production was in trouble. Informed by Meyer that he could not make the film as he was shy of US$2.5 million dollars, Jaffe succinctly retorted, " Okay, you've got it, " effectively canceling Kirkpatrick's cancellation decision. Instead, it became Kirkpatrick who got "canceled" in April as a result of yet another round in "The Studio Shuffle". ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 371, 393)
One of the major reasons Meyer could not budge from his budget was that there was one of the most expensive sets that absolutely had to be built, and that there was no way around it: the refit- Enterprise bridge set . The original set had a few months earlier been temporarily stored on the outside studio parking lot, in order to make room for other sets. A freak weather event completely wrecked the set beyond salvation, save for some parts such as the two turbolifts . ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Special Edition) DVD-special feature, "text commentary") However, once rebuilt, the set had to do double duty as the USS Excelsior bridge as well by means of reshuffling the variable wall panels, as the original, more cavernous Excelsior bridge set had already been struck years earlier, shortly after its use in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Ironically, the Excelsior bridge scenes were shot first, before it became the Enterprise bridge. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) DVD-special feature, "text commentary") Aside from his intimate familiarity with The Next Generation sets (which he had helped design and built), it was one of the most overriding reasons why Production Designer Herman Zimmerman was brought in, as he was the one who had been responsible for the bridge redesign as featured in The Final Frontier . In the process, it has also explained why The Next Generation 's USS Enterprise -D received a new battle bridge , as it had been the (heavily re-dressed) original refit-bridge that had stood in for it in the early seasons of the series. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 35)
Trimming down the visual effects cuts to 51 turned out to be too ambitious, as 30 of the originally jettisoned effects sequences had to be produced by ILM and inserted after all, in order to make the film "cut" well. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 35)
While the studio had no budget from new studio models, one was actually constructed as something of a labor of love by ILM staffers John Goodson and Bill George , the SD-103-type . The script had a scene featured which both men felt needed embellishment, and so, of their own volition, they constructed the model. ( Cinefex , issue 49, p. 48) The model went on to later become the Sydney -class . It has made The Undiscovered Country the feature in which the fewest new Star Trek starship designs were featured. George incidentally turned out to be a stickler for detail; As he was aware that the Excelsior now a new and smaller bridge, he made the effort to replace the originally larger bridge module on the Excelsior -class filming model with a smaller one, in order to reflect the change. ( American Cinematographer , January 1992, pp. 58-59)
Reportedly, William Shatner was champing at the bit to assume the director's role for the film in order to redeem himself for The Final Frontier , but as writer Flinn had dryly noted, " It's amazing what three million dollars will accomplish. " As Shatner had, already since Star Trek: The Original Series days, entered into a mutual "favored-nation clause" covenant with Nimoy which stipulated that, simply put, what the one got so did the other, this meant that Nimoy was to receive the same remuneration for his portrayal of Spock alone – and thereby discounting his writer's fee. However, it was also the reason why Nimoy, already being two for one in director's chores, declined the original offer by Mancuso to direct the film himself, instead opting for Meyer. It is not only for Star Trek that star cast salaries had habitually inflated exponentially with each sequel, and it had been one of the overriding reasons why Bennett's "Academy"-project was green-lighted originally, but also one of the reasons why Meyer could not give in any further to the budget demands of Kirkpatrick. ( Star Trek Movie Memories , 1995, pp. 244, 350; Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 30)
Also on the DVD (and in his memoir Star Trek Movie Memories ), William Shatner stated that he was unhappy with the final cut of his interchange with Spock in the Council Chamber, as he felt that it made Kirk seem too cynical and bitter. He originally had done the scene in one take, adding a dismissive wave after his comment to " Let them die! " which was subsequently edited out of the final film despite Meyer promising Shatner that he wouldn't do that, according to Shatner.
The dinner scene in the officers' mess as scripted was originally longer, and filled with a bit more build up and escalating comments between the Federation and Klingon crews. The scene was originally to build almost to blows, when Gorkon says the line " It seems we have a long way to go. " [5] (X)
The first scene at Rura Penthe was heavily influenced by The Bridge On the River Kwai , where the commandant of the POW camp gives a similar speech to the new British prisoners.
According to Denny Martin Flinn in a 2003 audio commentary for The Undiscovered Country , Martia's alien language exclamation " Fendo pompsky " became a popular gag among the crew. Used in place of certain expletives, the line was even embroidered on the inside of the production crew jackets.
The romantic comedy Frankie and Johnny was filming at nearby soundstages on the Paramount Pictures lot during production. Director Garry Marshall arranged for William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , and DeForest Kelley to appear in full Star Trek costume and makeup, out of camera shot, behind a door in one scene, to elicit genuine surprise from star Al Pacino when he opened it. [6]
The poster artwork for the film was designed by John Alvin , who took over from previous Trek poster artist Bob Peak . Alvin was asked to design the poster in the style of Peak's.
Co-producer Ralph Winter provided the film with a remarkable coda. Though understandably proud of what he and the creative team had achieved, he had second thoughts on Bennett's abandoned "Academy"-project, reasoning in hindsight that it would have instituted a long-term studio strategy for a sustainable Star Trek live-action production line, as opposed to the somewhat chaotic, spur-of-the-moment planning as hitherto employed. " With a long term plan you could milk this forever, " Winter mused. ( Cinefantastique , Vol 22 #5, p. 35) As it so happened, Winter got his wish sooner than even he could have foreseen, as David Kirkpatrick's immediate studio successor turned out to be Brandon Tartikoff . Brought in at the tail-end of the production of The Undiscovered Country , Brandikoff was yet to leave his mark on Star Trek by exactly doing that, what Winter had imagined.

Sets, props, and costumes [ ]

General Chang's eyepatch had the Klingon crest painted on the heads of each rivet. The makeup artist painted them on for fun and they were never intended to be seen. ( citation needed • edit )
Kirk and Spock 's quarters (Data's quarters, which were originally Kirk's quarters from Star Trek: The Motion Picture )
Transporter room ( Enterprise -D transporter room)
Sickbay ( Enterprise -D sickbay)
Laboratory ( Beverly Crusher 's office)
Officers' mess hall (the dining room, redress of Enterprise -D observation lounge )
Engineering (clear redress of the Enterprise -D engineering; they simply replaced the display graphics and repainted some surfaces)
Corridors (retouched with more metallic appearance)
Galley (redress of Counsellor Troi's Office, later the USS Sutherland bridge)
Captain Kirk's quarters featured two different maps of the Milky Way galaxy created for early TNG episodes ( TNG : " Conspiracy ", " The Emissary ")
Captain Sulu's coffee table was a bit more than a cute addition to the Excelsior bridge. Beneath it was the support for an apparatus used to shake the whole bridge set during the Praxis explosion. As a side note, you may also notice the coffee cup that broke had no markings on it like the one Sulu was drinking from moments earlier. It was such a nice cup, the prop department didn't want it damaged. A similar table, likely for the same reason, can also be seen on the Enterprise bridge as well, between the captain's chair and the helm/nav console. ( citation needed • edit )
Pfaltzgraff made the china used in the film, and sold 3,000 sets of reproductions. The company logo can be seen at the bottom of the aforementioned broken cup. [7]

Federation President's office in Paris

The office of the Federation President is a redress of Ten Forward . A viewscreen is located in place of the art ornament behind the bar counter, and the walls are painted with some shade of brown. ( Star Trek Encyclopedia (2nd ed., p. 502)) The doors for the set accidentally retained the TNG style insignia during filming, and this can clearly be seen in the film.
One of the models of the original USS Enterprise in Kirk's quarters was built by writer Ronald D. Moore when he was eleven.
The book used by Uhura while frantically searching for a linguistic reference of the Klingon language while entering Klingon territory is actually the 1951 catalog for the "Alloy Steel Products Company, Inc.". ( citation needed • edit ) Interestingly, the title of the modified book states Introduction to Klingon Grammer , in which "grammer" should be spelled as "grammar".
Several props and costumes from this movie were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, including a Rura Penthe miner's mask [8] , a Vulcan Khitomer attendee's costume [9] , a Klingon court attendee lot [10] , a Klingon canteen [11] , and a Klingon uniform lot, partially worn by Scott Leva . [12] Also sold off was a desk lamp, which was featured during the Starfleet staff meeting. It was designed by F.A. Porsche and labeled as model "Jazz". [13]

Miscellaneous [ ]

Gene Roddenberry saw the movie two days before he died . According to William Shatner 's Star Trek Movie Memories (1995, p. 394), Roddenberry, after seeing the film, gave thumbs up all around, and then went back and phoned his lawyer, Leonard Maizlish , angrily demanding a full quarter-hour of the film's more militaristic moments be removed from the film, but Gene died before his lawyer could present his demands to the studio.
Originally, director Nicholas Meyer wanted to bring back composer James Horner , whom he worked with on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to score The Undiscovered Country . However, Horner turned the offer down, saying his "career had moved past Star Trek ." Meyer then offered the film to composer Jerry Goldsmith , but he turned it down, citing the poor results of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , which he had also worked on. The film eventually went to composer Cliff Eidelman . According to the liner notes for the soundtrack album, Meyer's original concept for the score was to adapt Gustav Holst's The Planets , but getting the rights to the music proved too expensive. (Eidelman's score therefore pays homage to Holst, most notably in the opening credits where the score bears a close resemblance to "Mars," the first movement from The Planets .) An excerpt from The Planets was used a few years later in the trailer for Star Trek Generations . Eidelman was picked because of his extensive knowledge of Holst's "The Planets", having written his master's thesis on the complete suite.
This movie and Star Trek: The Motion Picture are the only Star Trek films released before the alternate reality films not to use the opening fanfare from the " Theme from Star Trek " in the main title music.
According to William Shatner's Star Trek Movie Memories , the original story credits for the film were to be " Story by Leonard Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer, Screenplay by Denny Martin Flynn " as nothing from the original submission by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal were used in the final film. According to Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, Konner and Rosenthal went to the Writers Guild of America for arbitration as they felt they should deserve story credit. The WGA spoke to Nimoy and he showed them his notes where he had initially come up with the story idea for the film and they initially sided with Nimoy. However Konner and Rosenthal appealed again and eventually the WGA changed the credits to " Story by Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal , screenplay by Nicholas Meyer and Denny Martin Flynn, " leaving Nimoy out of the credits. An incensed Nimoy contacted his lawyer and said if this weren't resolved by the end of the upcoming weekend, he would immediately sue Paramount and the WGA over the matter. Nimoy's lawyer reportedly worked non-stop over the weekend, working with Meyer's attorney, with Konner and Rosenthal's attorney, until finally coming up with a credit which was acceptable to all: " Story by Leonard Nimoy and Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal, Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer & Denny Martin Flynn. "
The galley scene was quickly written into the movie just to demonstrate that you can't fire a phaser (set to kill) on board the ship without triggering an alarm. (This raises the question as to why a phaser locker is in the galley. The answer could be found as early as " The Corbomite Maneuver ". While the Enterprise is being towed by Balok 's ship, Yeoman Janice Rand brings hot coffee to the bridge. Dr. McCoy asks her how she made coffee when the "power was out" in the galley. Her pragmatic answer was, " I used a hand phaser and zap – hot coffee. ")

Is this worth $240?

The blue food at the dinner scene was so disgusting that actors had to be bribed to eat it. Each actor was offered twenty dollars for every bite. Shatner did it, and won $240, before throwing up. (According to Leonard Nimoy, it was chunks of squid treated with blue food coloring.) Reportedly, Shatner was the only member of the cast able to swallow any of it, and the first time Shatner ate the colored squid, he turned and looked right at Nick Meyer and said, " Where's my twenty? " Meyer called " cut! " and pulled out the twenty and gave it to Shatner. ( William Shatner's Star Trek Movie Memories )
Spock attributes the quote " If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth " to an ancestor. This quote (and numerous variations) derives from the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . Fans, noting the similarities between the characters of Spock and Holmes, have long speculated that Spock might be a descendant (on the side of his Human mother, Amanda Grayson ) either of the fictional Holmes or the historical Doyle; the first such speculation is found in a Ruth Berman article in Spockanalia in 1966. ( citation needed • edit ) Writer/director Nicholas Meyer, a Holmes fan, wrote the well-received Sherlock Holmes novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution and adapted it into an Academy Award-nominated screenplay.
During the search of all uniforms on board the Enterprise , a crewman takes off the cover of a power conduit. When he moves to put the cover down, you can see production markings on the back.
At the dining room, you can see paintings of many dignitaries, including Surak, founder of Vulcan philosophy and American President Abraham Lincoln . The Enterprise crew met recreations of both of them in TOS : " The Savage Curtain ". Another painting is of an unnamed Andorian dignitary.
After the first day of shooting, someone noticed that Valeris 's jacket was trimmed in Sciences division gray, not cadet and trainee red, to match her cadet red turtleneck undergarment. Since re-filming would have been too expensive, it was quickly decided to just let it pass. ( citation needed • edit )
Valeris also wears the incorrect rank insignia of lieutenant commander , although exclusively being referred to in both dialogue and credits as a lieutenant .
During the Battle at Khitomer, Uhura mentions that the Enterprise is carrying equipment to study gaseous anomalies. In the beginning of the film, Sulu states that the Excelsior is also on a mission to study gaseous anomalies. It is not clear whether this is done intentionally, as the Enterprise 's mission is strictly escort duty for the Chancellor's ship.
The sets for the Excelsior and Enterprise- A bridges were redresses of the same set, which were made up of modules to be rearranged, as needed.
In the final shot of the Enterprise bridge crew, the helmsman's chair is left empty, symbolizing that Sulu is not present.
In the credits at the end of the movie, Uhura is misspelled " Uhuru ."
The final scene also has the characters standing in a staged lineup. The producers wanted it known that it was the last movie.
The final captain's log was actually shot on the bridge of the Enterprise . This, however, was the last scene shot. Instead of using a dubbed log, they recorded it live. ( citation needed • edit )
The Khitomer hall was represented by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute , located in southern California.
The footage of the Enterprise -A in spacedock is actually modified footage from Star Trek IV (budgetary constraints, as well as the disappearance of the spacedock interior miniature from ILM's archives, dictated its use). This marks the second time that footage shot for a previous film was re-used for a second time (the other being the Genesis sequence from Star Trek II , which also appeared in Star Trek III and Star Trek IV ).
The Bird-of-Prey explosion from this film was later used in Star Trek Generations .
For some unknown reason, the art on the label for the special features disc of some editions of the Special Collector's Edition features an upside-down close-up image of the Enterprise -B while still in drydock from the film Star Trek Generations ; Paramount Home Entertainment later corrected this problem by reissuing it as a silver labeled DVD. A similar error occurs on the HD and Blu-ray editions of the film, with the Enterprise -B on the back cover.
During the dinner scene, Kirk says that having Romulan ale is " One of the advantages of being a thousand light years from Federation Headquarters . " Given that 78 years later, a faster and more advanced USS Voyager would expect to take seventy years to travel seventy thousand light years, one may infer that it would take far longer than a year for the Enterprise to reach the rendezvous point with Kronos One . It is more likely that Kirk was speaking metaphorically and not quoting an exact figure.
A scene in the script and novelization took place on Excelsior just after Sulu's conversation with Kirk, where Valtane was to have told Sulu, " Do you realize you've just committed treason, sir? " Sulu was supposed to reply something along the lines of " I always hoped that if I ever had to choose between betraying my country or betraying my friend, I'd have the courage to betray my country. " This exchange remained in the novelization.
The events of this film were later revisited in VOY : " Flashback ", in which it is established that Tuvok served as an ensign aboard the Excelsior . External footage of the Excelsior and the Praxis explosion wave were reused directly from the film, but all other scenes were specially re-shot, partly to include Kate Mulgrew and Tim Russ, who had not appeared in the film originally, but also because the movie's actors had aged significantly since the film was shot, meaning new footage of the actors filmed for the episode would not have matched any of the reused movie footage.
As with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , this film shows Spock having full command of the Enterprise . In fact, this is the only film in which Spock actually gives Kirk orders.
Spock references the events of this film during TNG : " Unification II ", citing his guilt over committing Kirk to be a negotiator in the Klingon peace talks and the consequences that followed.
After TOS : " Whom Gods Destroy " and TAS : " The Survivor ", this marks the third time that a shapeshifter has assumed the form of Captain Kirk.
A similarly extended, establishing prologue was later envisioned for the subsequent movie, Star Trek Generations , but it too, though partially filmed, was scrapped for budgetary reasons, as well as for running-time considerations.
NBC, Star Trek' s former network, fittingly premiered Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country on November 6, 1994, a good 12 days in advance of Star Trek Generations 's nationwide release. It was the first time any kind of Star Trek was seen on The Peacock Network since Star Trek: The Animated Series in 1973.

In Star Trek VI , during his trial, Bones says that he has been the ship's surgeon for 27 years. He took the post from Mark Piper at some point in 2265 , after " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", or in early 2266 , before " The Corbomite Maneuver ". This statement establishes a time frame for the film from 2292 to 2293 .

The film ends with the last voyage of the ship and crew. The prologue of Star Trek Generations is set more precisely in 2293, or 78 years before 2371 . In the prologue, a news reporter and Scotty talk with Kirk about how he has settled down into his retirement, suggesting that the retirement from the previous film is still a very recent thing for him.

StarTrek.com , Star Trek Chronology , and Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 691) use the year 2293. Memory Alpha uses this year as well.

Behind the scenes [ ]

Concept art [ ].

Production gallery [ ]

Merchandise gallery [ ]

Production history [ ]

5th draft script: 28 December 1990
Start of principal photography: 11 April 1991
End of principal photography: 2 July 1991
Screening for Gene Roddenberry (2 days before his death): 22 October 1991
Hollywood, California premiere: 3 December 1991
US theatrical premiere: 6 December 1991
CD soundtrack : 10 December 1991
Comic adaptation : 1991
Australia theatrical premiere: 1 January 1992
Novelization : 1992
UK theatrical premiere: 14 February 1992
Japan theatrical premiere: 28 February 1992
Germany theatrical premiere: 5 March 1992
Hungary theatrical premiere: 1 May 1992
Netherlands theatrical premiere: 5 June 1992
Spain theatrical premiere: 19 June 1992
US LaserDisc: 25 June 1992
France theatrical premiere: 22 July 1992
Japan LaserDisc: 10 February 1993
VHS: 25 August 1993
UK network television premiere: 7 January 1995 on BBC1
UK LaserDisc: 1996
France LaserDisc: 1996
Widescreen VHS: 2 April 1997
Region 1 DVD: 26 January 1999
Special Edition Region 1 DVD: 27 January 2004
Special Edition Region 2 DVD: 1 March 2004
iTunes Store: 2006
Blu-Ray: September 2009

Different versions [ ]

Aspect ratios. The film was originally filmed and edited in Super 35 (4-perf). It was composed for multiple aspect ratios (meaning that all the important action had to be centered in a fairly small part of the frame). Every release is a reduction (croppings) from the original, never-released full frame using so-called "soft mattes". For theatrical release, the master was reduced to the usual 2.39:1 aspect ratio used for anamorphic 35mm projection (all the other Trek movies were filmed in this ratio, using anamorphic lenses instead of Super 35). A 2.20:1 version was also prepared for 70mm release (the same was done with all the previous Trek films). The film has never been commercially available in either theatrical aspect ratio, until the Blu-ray release. The non-widescreen television broadcasts and VHS releases were reduced to the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, thus easing up the matte on the top and bottom, but cropping some of the sides. Early widescreen VHS and laserdisc transfers and the first DVD release were opened up to yet another ratio, 2.00:1, and then centered high on the screen with space at the bottom for subtitles, but was non-anamorphic. The Special Edition DVD release was opened up to the same 2.00:1 ratio, but was anamorphicly enhanced for widescreen TVs. Which portion of the full frame is used varies from shot to shot, rather than being a purely mechanical reduction – and the choices are made differently in each release, including the two 2.00:1 releases. Apparently the 2.00:1 is the director's preferred aspect ratio. However, for the May 2009 Blu-ray release, the film was made available in its original theatrical ratio of 2.39:1 for the first time.
Extra scenes and edits. Until 2009 , the theatrical cut had never been released commercially in English (however has aired on TV a few times before then). The original 1992 home video release added back in the "Operation Retrieve" scenes (originally, the scene in the president's office ended with the line " This president is not above the law "), the scene between Spock, Scotty and Valeris directly before the trial, and the unmasking of Colonel West on Khitomer (just a few shots are added: Colonel Worf touching West's blood and saying " This is not Klingon blood " between Cartwright trying to escape and Sulu stopping him, the actual unmasking and the C-in-C and Worf looking at each other directly after). These scenes remained in all subsequent commercial releases until 2009 . The 2003 Special Edition DVD release re-edited the scene when Scotty is drinking coffee from a mug and drawing on a blueprint (using alternate shots) and added in flash frames of Cartwright, Chang, and Nanclus during Spock and Valeris' mind meld and slight alternate takes during her interrogation on the bridge. The original cut, albeit with the 2.00:1 aspect ratio, was present on the 1993 dubbed German VHS release. It was also released on iTunes, cut at 2.00:1 (640x320). The various releases of the movie on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in 2009 featured the original theatrical cut in its original aspect ratio.
The end credits had a different format for the theatrical version. It featured the Starfleet Insignia at the top and the screen split between a white background and dark lettering and the other side with a dark background with white lettering.

Apocrypha [ ]

Star Trek VI was adapted into novelization by Jeanne M. Dillard .
A comics adaptation was written by Peter David and drawn by Gordon Purcell and Arne Starr .
A novel and comic sequel to the events of this film, The Ashes of Eden , written by William Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens , depicts a plot created by a Klingon-Romulan alliance, staged in Chal, a homeworld populated by a race of genetically-engineered Klingon-Romulans. Kirk is called there by a native of the planet, Teilani, to help her people with this crisis.
The conference at Khitomer was explored again in the non-canon Star Trek novel Assignment: Eternity .
The novel Provenance of Shadows established that McCoy started doing research at Starfleet Medical and other novels have had McCoy as Chief of Starfleet Medical as well. " Encounter at Farpoint " clearly establishes that McCoy was an admiral at that point in time .
According to the novel The Star to Every Wandering , at the time of Star Trek Generations , Chekov was working a ground assignment on Earth waiting for an executive officer position to open up. It's likely he was assigned to Excelsior as executive officer shortly thereafter (according to the non-canon novel The Sundered , he took the post of executive officer on the Excelsior ), eventually commanding two starships on his own before becoming an admiral.
In the movie, Uhura said she was supposed to be chairing a seminar at the Academy, and The Lost Era novels established that she was going to do that very thing when she was recruited for Starfleet Intelligence and eventually rising to become an admiral and head of Intelligence by 2360 at the latest.
The Starfleet Corps of Engineers novels have established that Montgomery Scott eventually became the head of the Corps of Engineers and other books established Scott as having helped to design and work on building the USS Enterprise -E . In fact, the novel Ship of the Line , which dealt with the actual launch of the Enterprise -E, established that Scott was acting chief engineer for the ship's shakedown cruise with Geordi La Forge as his first assistant chief.

Awards and honors [ ]

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country received the following awards and honors.

Links and references [ ]

Credits [ ], opening credits [ ].

William Shatner
Leonard Nimoy
DeForest Kelley
James Doohan
Walter Koenig
Nichelle Nichols
George Takei
Mark Lenard
David Warner
Kim Cattrall
Rosana DeSoto
Christopher Plummer
Kurtwood Smith
Brock Peters
Paul Rossilli
John Schuck
Leon Russom
Michael Dorn
Mary Jo Slater , CSA
Cliff Eidelman
Marty Hornstein
Brooke Breton
Ronald Roose
Herman Zimmerman
Hiro Narita
Gene Roddenberry
Leonard Nimoy and Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal
Nicholas Meyer & Denny Martin Flinn
Ralph Winter and Steven-Charles Jaffe
Nicholas Meyer

Closing credits [ ]

Kirk – William Shatner
Spock – Leonard Nimoy
McCoy – DeForest Kelley
Scotty – James Doohan
Chekov – Walter Koenig
Uhuru [sic] – Nichelle Nichols
Sulu – George Takei
Lt. Valeris – Kim Cattrall
Sarek – Mark Lenard
Excelsior Communications Officer – Grace Lee Whitney
Admiral Cartwright – Brock Peters
Chief in Command – Leon Russom
Federation President – Kurtwood Smith
Chang – Christopher Plummer
Azetbur – Rosana DeSoto
Chancellor Gorkon – David Warner
Klingon Ambassador – John Schuck
Klingon Defense Attorney – Michael Dorn
Kerla – Paul Rossilli
Klingon Judge – Robert Easton
Klingon Officer – Clifford Shegog
Klingon Commander – W. Morgan Sheppard
General Stex – Brett Porter
Excelsior Officer – Jeremy Roberts
Excelsior Engineer – Michael Bofshever
Excelsior Navigator – Angelo Tiffe
Helmsman Lojur – Boris Lee Krutonog
Excelsior Communications Officer – Christian Slater
Martia – Iman
The Brute – Tom Morga
Klingon Translator – Todd Bryant
Behemoth Alien – John Bloom
First Klingon General – Jim Boeke
Munitions Man – Carlos Cestero
Young Crewman – Edward Clements
Martia as a child – Katie Jane Johnston
Prisoner at Rura Penthe – Douglas Engalla
Second Klingon General – Matthias Hues
Nanclus – Darryl Henriques
Sleepy Klingon – David Orange
Military Aide – Judy Levitt
ADC – Shakti
Crewman Dax – Michael Snyder
Donald R. Pike
Ed Anders (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
Jeff Bornstein (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
Eddie Braun (as Excelsior bridge crewman )
Charlie Brewer (as stunt double for Brett Porter )
Gary Baxley
Brett Davidson (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
B.J. Davis (as Burke )
Dorothy Ching-Davis (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
Maria Doest (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
Joe Farago (as Excelsior bridge crewman )
Sandy Free (as Excelsior bridge crewman )
Joy Hooper (as Excelsior crewman in sleep wear )
Jeff Imada (as Stunt double for George Takei )
Jeffrey S. Jensen
Robert King
Scott Leva (as Excelsior bridge crewman / Klingon transporter officer )
Alan Marcus (as Samno )
Cole McKay (as Excelsior bridge alien crewman )
Eric Norris
Noon Orsatti (as Excelsior bridge crewman )
Deeana Pampena (as Stunt double for Grace Lee Whitney )
Gary T. Pike (as Gorkon's soldier / Klingon officer )
Donald B. Pulford (as Stunt double for William Shatner )
Joycelyn Robinson (as Excelsior bridge crewman / Stunt double for Iman )
Danny Rogers
Don Ruffin (as Excelsior bridge crewman / Chang's assistant / Klingon officer )
Spike Silver
Erik Stabenau (as Excelsior bridge crewman / Stunt double for Rene Auberjonois )
Douglas E. Wise
Katy E. Garretson
Nilo Rodis-Jamero
Dodie Shepard
Steven-Charles Jaffe
William Hoy
Scott Farrar
Michael J. Mills
Thomas R. Bryant
Mickey S. Michaels
Eugene C. Nollman
Alan S. Kaye
Louise Nielsen
Ron Wilkerson
Kirstin R. Glover
Robert Morey
Richard M. Stevens
Gregory Schwartz
John Beyers
Charles Lang
Keith Barber
John Cybulski
Ian Christenberry
Jeff Durling
Thom Embree
Michael Katz
Daniel Cook
Dennis Flanderka
Arnaud Peiny
Gene S. Cantamessa
Steve G. Cantamessa
Mark R. Jennings
Terry D. Frazee
Donald E. Myers
Donald Frazee
Logan Frazee
Eugene Crum
Scott Lingard
Joseph C. Sasgen
Brian McManus
Gilbert A. Mosko
Gerald Quist
Ron Walters
Edward French
Richard Snell Designs, Inc. ( Richard Snell )
Greg Cannom
Janice R. Alexander
Carol A. O'Connell
Don L. Hulett
Jamie Buckley
Richard Beck
Edward G. Fitzgerald
Elaine Maser
Christine Heinz
Joseph R. Markham
Robert M. Moore
Adrienne Childers
Daniel Candib
Scott Caldwell
Michael Hofacre
Richard Sellmer
George Watters II
F. Hudson Miller
R. J. Palmer
Frank Howard
Bruce E. Bell
Suhail F. Kafity
Thomas Fucci
Fred Stafford
Bobbi Banks
Victoria Martin
Matthew Harrison
Marva Fucci
Maggie Ostroff
Greg Thompson
Marcy Stoeven Gibbens
Jonathan Phillips
Alan Howarth
John Paul Fasal
David Lee Fein
Bunny Andrews
Robin K. Eidelman
Barbara Harris
Jeffery J. Haboush
Michael Herbick
Greg P. Russell , CAS
James Cavarretta
Gary Ritchie
Mark McKenzie
William Kidd
Carl Fortina
Bob Bornstein
Twentieth Century Fox
Armin Steiner
Rhonda Baer
David Trotti
Sheila Barnes
Laurie Gauger
Richard J. Bayard
Cliff Bergman
Mike Apperson
Gary A. Clark
Henry S. Coia
Jan Glaser , CSA
Wendy Engalla
Chuck Maytum
Michael McCusker
Rebeca R. Brookshire
Mary Beth Gentle
Deborah L. Krainin
Mary Jo Fernandez
Brent Lon Hershman
Brian Wensel
Mindy Sheldon
Debbie Tieman
Scott Russell
Michael H. Okuda
Bob Hoffman
Scott Benton
Roland Armstorff
R. Harrison Gibbs
Russell Alan Steele
Buffee Friedlich
Aaron M. Albucher
John Downer
Gerald L. "Jerry" Sater
Marc Okrand
Brian Wallace

Second Unit Photography [ ]

John V. Fante
Christopher T. Gerrity
Andrea Walzer
Frank Del Boccio
Frank Parrish
Bob Crockett
Clinton O. Johnson
Cinema Research Corporation

Negative Cutting

Theresa Repola Mohammed
David Oliver Pfeil
Industrial Light and Magic , a Division of LucasArts Entertainment Company Marin County, California
Peter Takeuchi
William George
Bradley Kuehn
Jil-Sheree Bergin
Michael McGovern
Peter Daulton
Patrick Sweeny
David Hanks
Katie O'Neill
Patrick Turner
Robert Hill
Scott Anderson
Eric Armstrong
John Berton
Richard Cohen
Joe Letteri
Jim Mitchell
Joe Pasquale
Alex Seiden
Gail Currey
Jon Alexander
Donald Clark
Jeffrey Doran
Selwyn Eddy III
Keith Johnson
Patrick Repola
Kenneth Smith
David Karpman
Jennifer Lee
Thomas Rosseter
John D. Whisnant
Debra Wolff
Michael Ellis
Robert Fernley
Nelson Hall
Lisa Vaughn
Bruce Walters
Charlie Clavadetscher
John Graves
Steven Reding
Eric Swenson
Thomas Bertino
Kathleen Beeler
Rebecca Petrulli-Heskes
Sandy Houston
Terry Molatore
Jack Monogovan
Ellen Mueller
Carolyn Rendu
Wes Ford Takahashi
Gordon Baker
Christopher Green
Peter Crosman
Shari Malyn
Joshua Pines
Randall K. Bean
George Gambetta
Timothy Greenwood
Preston Richards
Lawrence Tan
Jon Foreman
Brian Gernand
Jon Goodson, Jr.
Richard Miller
Alan Peterson
Eben Stromquist
Paul Theren
Wim Van Thillo
Charles Wiley
Richard Demolski
Robert Finley, Jr.
Ross Lorente
Craig Mohagen
David Morton
Charles Ray
Carol Lee Griswald
Alia Almeida Agha
Nancy Luckoff
Tina Matthies
Matte World – Marin County, California
Craig Barron
Michael Pangrazio
Krystyna Demkowicz
Paul Oehlke
Joel Hladecek
Wade Childress
Peter Kuran
Al Magliochetti
Kevin Kutchaver
Linda Henry
Tim Segulin
Rick Hannigan
David Tucker
Jacqueline Zietlow
Pacific Data Images
Les Dittert

Production Support

Karen Logan
Barbara Cimity
Cliff Boule
Nina Salerno
Randy Weeks
Craig Newman
Katie O'Hara
Pete Martinez
Monte Swann
Jeffrey Harstedt
WildFire, LA
Foam Tec, Inc.

Rear Screen Projection Compositing by

MCA Compact Discs and Cassettes
Music by Alexander Courage
Technicolor ®
Panavision ®
Alaska Film Commission
Alaska Helicopter Company
Dave Archer Studios
Pfaltzgraff
Durand International
David Keith Anderson as Enterprise -A crewmember
Rene Auberjonois as Colonel West
Lena Banks as Federation president's assistant
Terrence Beasor as Klingon voices
Robert Bruce as Klingon officer
Faith Burton as Starfleet flag officer
Eddie Caldwell as Romulan
Max Cervantes as Daz
Barron Christian as Klingon assistant to Commandant
Dragon Dronet as Klingon spectator
Andre Dukes as Klingon Rura Penthe guard
Douglas Dunning as Alien delegate
Joe Durrenberger as Klingon officer
Farrel as Klingon General
Mark Gonzaga as Vulcan delegate
Trent Christopher Ganino as Klingon judge
Clay Hodges as Klingon officer
Klingon officer
Klingon helmsman
Bruce Koski as Alien delegate
Tony Lawson as Klingon
Susan Lewis as Enterprise -A officer
Beau Lotterman as Romulan delegate
Daryl F. Mallett as Rura Penthe prisoner
James Mapes as Zelonite official
Marin as Enterprise -A crewman
Patrick Michael as Enterprise -A crewman
Claude Nemeth as Klingon Rura Penthe guard
Dennis Ott as Knee Jerk Alien
Jim Portnoy as Starfleet flag officer
Khitomer flag bearer
Klingon spectator
Evans Ricciardi as Starfleet flag officer
Denise Lynne Roberts as Enterprise -A crewmember
Richard Sarstedt as Romulan delegate
Eric A. Stillwell as Klingon spectator
Geraldine Sylvester-Bush as Vulcan delegate
Kevin G. Tracey as presidential adviser
Roma Lee Tracy as silver tube amazette alien dignitary
Guy Vardaman as Klingon officer
J.D. Walters as Klingon
Clint Zehner as Rura Penthe prisoner
Five Klingon Kronos One crewmen
Four presidential advisers
Three Klingon Rura Penthe guards
Klingon judge
Romulan delegate
Tellarite delegate
Zelonite ambassador
Zelonite official
Female USS Excelsior security officer
Male USS Excelsior security officer
Greg Gault as stunt double for David Warner
Dennis Madalone as a Klingon officer
Stunt double for Christopher Plummer
Patrick Michael as stand-in for Leonard Nimoy
Joycelyn Robinson as stand-in for Iman
Lita Stevens
Kenny Studer
Jim Thompson
Martin Valinsky
Philip Weyland as stand-in for William Shatner
David Abbott – Special Makeup Effects Artist
Aaron Albucher – Assistant Production Accountant
Dave Archer – Artwork Provider: Paintings
Margaret Bessara – Prosthetic Makeup Artist: David Warner , Kurtwood Smith , and Robert Easton
Tom Boyd – Musician: Oboe
Barney Burman – Special Makeup Effects Artist
Rob Burman – Special Makeup Effects Artist
Mary Burton – Makeup Artist: Iman
Cogswell Video Services, Inc. – Visual Effects Unit Video Assist Company
Danna Edwards – Costumer
Robert Fletcher – Costumes Design
Christopher Gilman and Dilligent Dwarves Effects Lab – Prop and Wardrobe Creator and Provider
Kristin R. Glover – Camera Operator
Nancy J. Hvasta Leonardi – Assistant Makeup Artist
Jeff Kleeman – Development and Production Executive for Paramount Pictures
Norman Ludwin – Musician: Bass
Iain McCaig – ILM Storyboard Artist
Mike McCarty (for Dilligent Dwarves Effects Lab ) – FX artist: Ran parts for Klingon costumes
Steve Neill – Special Makeup Effects Artist
Scott Schneider – Model Maker
Marlene Stoller – Hair Artist
Rick Stratton – Makeup Artist
Todd Tucker – Special Make-Up Effects Artist
Danny Valencia – Hair Stylist
Karen Westerfield – Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Philip Weyland – Dialogue Coach

References [ ]

19th century ; 1938 ; 2223 ; 2266 ; 2290 ; 2343 ; 24-hour clock ; Aamaarazan ; abduction ; accident ; act ; act of war ; Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise ; address ; admiral ; admiration ; advocate ; aft ; agenda ; aide-de-camp ; alarm ; alien ; Alpha Quadrant ; ambassador ; ambition ; amount ; anatomy ; ancestor ; annals ; answer ; architect ; arrest ; arthritis ; article ; artificial gravity ; ash ; assassin ; assassination ; automation ; attack ; author ; auxiliary circuit ; auxiliary gravity ; auxiliary power ; back ; back-up system ; battle cruiser, Klingon ; battle stations ; beaming ; beaming shield ; bearing ; behavior ; Beta Quadrant ; Beta Quadrant sector ; black ; blood ; " bloody "; boat ; boatswain's whistle ; " Bones "; bow ; bridge ; brigadier ; Brotherhood of Aliens ; bug ; Burke ; Camp Khitomer ; capital ; cardiac arrest ; career ; chairing ; chameloid ; chain of command ; Chancellor of the Klingon High Council ; Chang's Bird-of-Prey ; charge ; chief of staff ; chimes ; China ; choice ; Christ, Jesus ; chronometer ; Cinderella ; circuit A ; circumstantial evidence ; citizen ; citizenship ; civilization ; client ; cloaking device, Klingon ; close range ; club ; coat ; Code blue ; coffee ; cold warrior ; colleague ; colonel ; commander in chief ; commandant ; communications station ; commutation ; computer ; comrade ; Concise History of the Klingon Empire, A ; condolences ; conference ; confession ; confiscation ; conspiracy ; Constitution -class ; Constitution II -class ; control tower ; conversation ; Coon, G.L. ; coordinates ; course ; court ; court reporter ; creature ; crew quarters ; crewman ; cruise ; crime ; damage report ; data ; data banks ; daughter ; Davis ; day ; death ; death sentence ; decommissioning ; deflector shield ; degree ; demotion ; departure stations ; depiction ; dialogue ; dilithium ; dinner ; diplomacy ; diplomat ; diplomatic corps ; diplomatic function ; dockmaster ; doctor ; Earth ; Earth Cold War ; Earth year ; echo bar ; economy ; Efrosian ; electronic frontier ; energy production facility ; engine room ; Enterprise -A, USS ; epic ; error ; evening ; evidence ; Excelsior -class ; Excelsior , USS ; excerpt ; exile ; existence ; exoneration ; exploration ; exploration program ; explosion ; extradition ; extremist ; eyepatch ; fact ; faith ; father ; Federation ; Federation headquarters ; Federation members ; Federation President ; Federation-Klingon Cold War ; Federation space ; feeling ; feet ; first officer ; flag of truce ; flare ; flatbed shuttle ; forgery ; " for king and country "; France ; free will ; freighter ; friend ; fuel ; full ambassador ; future ; galley ; gang ; Garden of Eden ; gas ; gavel ; general ; generation ; genitals ; " give real money "; graveyard ; gravitational field ; gravity ; gravity boot ; ground ; guard tower ; guest ; guilt ; gulag ; hailing frequency ; Hamlet ; hand ; handcuffs ; head ; hearing ; heart ; heartbeat ; helm ; helmsman ; Henry IV, Part I ; Henry IV, Part II ; Hitler, Adolf ; Holmes, Sherlock ; hostage ; hostility ; hour ; Human ( homo sapiens ); Human rights ; idea ; idealism / idealist ; idiot ; "If you eliminate the impossible..." ; ignorance ; impulse power ; information ; insubordination ; intercept course ; interstellar law ; Introduction to Klingon Grammer ; jackal mastiff ; joke ; judgment ; Julius Caesar ; K't'inga -class ; key ; kiss ; Khitomer ; Khitomer Accords ; Khitomer Conference ; Khitomer conspiracy ; kill setting ; king ; Klingon Bird-of-Prey ; Klingon Empire ; Klingons ; Klingon High Command ; Klingon frontier ; Klingon history ; Klingon Neutral Zone ; Klingon Defense Force uniforms ; Klingon space ; Klingonese ; knee ; Kobayashi Maru scenario ; Kronos One ; laughter ; level ; Lincoln, Abraham ; " linguistic legerdemain "; light ; light year ; listening post ; listing ; livelihood ; location ; logic ; lunatic ; lying ( lie ); machine ; madam ; magnetic boots ( gravity boots ); Marcus, David ; master ; medical status ; medical tricorder ; meeting ; Megazoid ; Merchant of Venice, The ; meteor shower ; midnight ; Milky Way Galaxy ; military advisor ; military budget ( budget ); military operation ; mine ; mission ; mission of peace ; model ; money ; month ; moon ; mooring ; morning ; Morska ; mothballing ; motive ; multiple choice ; murderer ; mythology ; name ; NAR ; neck ; negotiation ; neutral zone ; neutron radiation ; news ; night ; Nixon, Richard M. ; Northern Star ; obedience ; objection ; officers' mess ; Okrand ; Okrand's Unabridged Klingon Dictionary ; olive branch ; Operation Retrieve ; opportunist ; order ; oxygen ; ozone ; pair ; pardon ; Paris ; parole ; patricide ; peace ; peace conference ; peace summit ; peace talks ; peace treaty ; penal asteroid ; penal colony ; permission ; personal log ; Pfaltzgraff ; phaser ; photon torpedo ; physics ; piano ; place ; plasma ( ionized gas ); plasma exhaust ; plate ; pollution ; port (facility); port (side of ship); port gate ; Post, Emily ; pot ; Praxis ; prejudice ; president ; prison ; prisoner ; progress ; problem ; prototype ; proverb ; pulse ; punishment ; Qo'noS ; question ; quarters ; rank ; reality ; refuse ; rendezvous ; report ; reprieve ; resource ; result ; retirement ; revenge ; reward ; risk ; Romulan ; Romulan ale ; Romulan government ; Romulan border ; rose ; rudder ; Rura Penthe ; Russian ; sabot ; sabotage ; Saboteurs ; safe haven ; safety precaution ; Salak ; Samno ; San Francisco ; saucer ; scene ; science station ; scientific program ; Scots language ; screaming ; SD-103 ; SD-103 type ; second ; secret ; sector ; Sector 70 ; seminar ; sensor ; sentence ; service record ; Shakespeare, William ; ship's bell ; ship's surgeon ; shoe ; shouting ; show trial ; sickbay ; silent running ; size ; slave ; smell ; smoking ; sniper rifle ; son ; sorrow ; space station ; Spacedock One ; special envoy ; species ; speculation ; Spoken Languages of the Klingon Empire ; sponsor ; starbase ; starboard ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet Command Intelligence Database ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Starfleet regulations ; state dinner ; statement ; stern ; stockade ; story ; stun setting ; subspace ; subspace channel ; subspace message ; subspace transmission ; subspace shock wave ; suicide ; surface ; surgeon ; surgery ; surrender ; table ; table manners ; tail pipe ; targ ; tear ; tear duct ; Tempest, The ; terrorism ; territory ; theory ; thing ; thousand ; three-year mission ; thruster ; Tiberian bat ; tickling ; toast ; torpedo bay ; torpedo launcher ; torpedo room ; touch ; tour ; translation ; transporter pad ; transporter range ; transporter room ; trash ; trial ; truth ; universal translator ; universe ; Ursva ; value ; vessel ; viridium patch ; volunteer ; Vulcan ; mind meld ; walking ; warp drive ; warrior ; weapons locker ; web ; week ; wisdom ; Wise, D. ; witness ; wood ; word ; worker ; wound ; year ; Z-axis ; Zelonite

Library computer references [ ]

Starship Mission Assignments : Ahwahnee , USS ; Challenger , USS ; Constellation , USS ; Eagle , USS ; Emden , USS ; Endeavour , USS ; Helin , USS ; John Muir , USS ; Kongo , USS ; Korolev , USS ; Lantree , USS ; Oberth , USS ; Potemkin , USS ; Republic , USS ; Scovill , USS ; Sector 21185 ; Sector 21186 ; Sector 21290 ; Sector 21399 ; Sector 21803 ; Sector 21835 ; Sector 21836 ; Sector 21837 ; Sector 22849 ; Sector 22858 ; Sector 22956 ; Sector 22958 ; Sector 23094 ; Springfield , USS ; Starbase 24 ; Starship Mission Assignments ; Whorfin , USS
Operation Retrieve star chart : Alpha Bayard ; Alpha Beaird ; Alpha Cooper ; Alpha Crum ; Alpha Glover ; Alpha Johnson ; Alpha McCusker ; Alpha Meyers ; Alpha Saunders ; Alpha Suhr ; Apperson's Asteroid ; Arnold's Planet ; Baber Nebula ; Barnes Nebula ; Barnett's Star ; Bergman's Planet ; Beta Christenberry ; Beta Cook ; Beta Flinn ; Beta Friedlich ; Beta Garretson ; Beta Gonzales ; Beta Lingard ; Beta Michaels ; Beta Penthe ; Beta Penthe I ; Beta Penthe II ; Beta Penthe III ; Beta Penthe IV ; Beta Penthe V ; Beta Penthe VII ; Beta Penthe system ; Beta Schwartz ; Beta Sternbach ; Breton's Planet ; Brookshire's Planet ; Buckley's Planet ; Cantamessa's Star ; Cole's Star ; Constitution II -class; Cybulski's Planet ; Delta Hart ; Downer's Star ; Excelsior -class ; Farrar's World ; Foster Nebula ; Frazee's Nova ; Friedlich Nebula ; Gamma Fitzgerald ; Gauger Star ; Gullory Nebula ; Harstedt's Planet ; Hershman's Star ; Hodges Nebula ; Jaffeworld ; Latonaworld ; Meyer's Star ; Molly's Star ; Moreyworld ; Narita's Planet ; Nimoy's Star ; Nollman's Planet ; Nuzzo Station ; Operation Retrieve star chart locations ; Okrand Colony ; Rao-Beyers ; Rooseworld ; Sasgen's Star ; Sector 21166 ; Sigma Trotti ; Stevens Nebula ; Theta Gentle ; Theta Hulett ; Wenselworld ; Winter's Nova ; Wise Nebula ; Zimmerman's Star
Federation star chart ("The Explored Galaxy") : Aldebaran ; Alfa 177 ; Alpha Carinae ; Alpha Centauri ; Alpha Majoris ; Altair VI ; Andor ; Ariannus ; Arret ; Babel ; Benecia ; Berengaria VII ; Beta Aurigae ; Beta Geminorum ; Beta Lyrae ; Beta Niobe ; Beta Portolan ; Camus II ; Canopus III ; Capella ; Daran V ; Delta Vega ; Deneb ; Eminiar ; Fabrini ; First Federation ; Gamma Canaris N ; Gamma Trianguli ; Holberg 917G ; Ingraham B ; Janus VI ; Kling ; Kzin ; Lactra VII ; Makus III ; Marcos XII ; Manark IV ; Memory Alpha ; Mudd ; Omega IV ; Omega Cygni ; Organia ; Orion ; Pallas 14 ; Phylos ; Pollux IV ; Psi 2000 ; Pyris VII ; Regulus ; Remus ; Rigel ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Romulus ; Sarpeid ; Sirius ; Talos ; Tau Ceti ; Theta III ; Tholian Assembly ; Vulcan

Unused Material [ ]

democracy ; economics ; employment ; gunboat diplomacy ; prerogative

Unreferenced material [ ]

Arc ; Bayard, D. ; Brookshire, R. ; Cantemessa, G. ; Downer, J. ; Flinn, D.M. ; Garretson, K. ; Glover, K. ; Hulett, D. ; Jaffe, S.C. ; Michaels, M. ; Morey, R. ; Narita, H. ; Rodis, N. ; Sector 21185 ; Sector 21290 ; Sector 21399 ; Sector 21803 ; Sector 21835 ; Sector 21837 ; Sector 22849 ; Sector 22956 ; Sector 23006 ; Tathwell, D. ; Thomas, C. ; Wise, D. ; Zimmerman, H.

Timeline [ ]

External links [ ].

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country at StarTrek.com
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country at Wikipedia
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country at the Internet Movie Database
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country script at Star Trek Minutiae
" Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
2 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)
3 Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

1991, Sci-fi, 1h 49m

What to know

Critics Consensus

The Undiscovered Country is a strong cinematic send-off for the original Trek crew, featuring some remarkable visuals and an intriguing, character-driven mystery plot. Read critic reviews

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Capt. James Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise are carrying Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner) to Earth to negotiate a peace treaty with the United Federation of Planets. The ship appears to fire on a Klingon vessel, and Gorkon is killed in the subsequent confusion. Kirk and the ship's doctor, Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), are arrested for murder, leaving Spock (Leonard Nimoy) to figure out who is behind the attack and save the negotiations.

Genre: Sci-fi

Original Language: English

Director: Nicholas Meyer

Producer: Steven-Charles Jaffe , Ralph Winter

Writer: Leonard Nimoy , Lawrence Konner , Mark Rosenthal , Nicholas Meyer , Denny Martin Flinn

Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 1991 wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2009

Box Office (Gross USA): $71.7M

Runtime: 1h 49m

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Production Co: Paramount Pictures

Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR

Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

View the collection: Star Trek

Cast & Crew

William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk

Leonard Nimoy

Captain Spock

DeForest Kelley

Commander Leonard H. McCoy, M.D.

James Doohan

Captain Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott

Walter Koenig

Commander Pavel Andreievich Chekov

Nichelle Nichols

Commander Nyota Uhura

George Takei

Captain Hikaru Sulu

Kim Cattrall

Lieutenant Valeris

David Warner

Chancellor Gorkon

Christopher Plummer

General Chang

Mark Lenard

Vulcan Ambassador Sarek

Grace Lee Whitney

Commander Janice Rand

Brock Peters

Admiral Cartwright

Leon Russom

Chief in Command

Kurtwood Smith

Federation President

Rosanna DeSoto

Chancellor Azetbur

John Schuck

Klingon Ambassador

Michael Dorn

Colonel Worf

Paul Rossilli

Brigadier Kerla

Christian Slater

Excelsior Communications Officer

Nicholas Meyer

Lawrence Konner

Mark Rosenthal

Screenwriter

Denny Martin Flinn

Brooke Breton

Associate Producer

Marty Hornstein

Co-Producer

Steven-Charles Jaffe

Executive Producer

Ralph Winter

Alexander Courage

Additional Music

Cliff Eidelman

Original Music

Narita Hiro

Cinematographer

Ronald Roose

Film Editing

Mary Jo Slater

Herman F. Zimmerman

Production Design

Nilo Rodis-Jamero

Art Director

Mickey S. Michaels

Set Decoration

Dodie Shepard

Costume Design

News & Interviews for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

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Critic Reviews for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Audience reviews for star trek vi: the undiscovered country.

Star Trek's attempt at a murder mystery/political thriller. Story was the idea of Leonard Nimoy's and the entire movie seems pretty flat until the end when the crew of the Enterprise has to race to stop an assassination. Guess the entire original cast needed one big send off before the Next Generation cast took the torch.

The Star Trek series has had its fair share of ups and downs with the previous 5 films, but luckily 'The Undiscovered Country' rights some of the wrongs of past entries all while presenting a fitting finale to the original crew's story. The film sees the return of the entire original Enterprise crew for one last ride. Much like the previous 5 films, it developed its own distinct story. Instead of saving wales, the crew were thrust into a mystery surrounding the death of the Klingon leader. The mystery behind why Kirk and Bones were charged with his murder is really what I appreciated most about the film. Instead of a largely comedic take or a space bound CGI fest, it was grounded with real mystery leaving the enterprise crew with one last epic task. Now the mystery doesn't necessarily last all that long if you realize how the film set up the story, but that also doesn't take away from the execution. As cheesy as the last 15 minutes are, it's hard not to feel a rush of emotion and a great sense of finality. I also appreciated how they took the Klingon side of things and brought it full circle as Kirk's regret and anger towards his son's death definitely plays a role. Even amongst the heavy mystery, we do get some great space action with improved visuals the 3rd act. As much as I think there have been much better entries in the series, The Undiscovered Country is about as fitting of a send-off for Shatner and crew as any Trek fan could have asked for. With an added intelligent script with important themes explored within the context of an epic conclusion, there's more than enough good material for fans and non-fans alike. +Satisfying conclusion +Mystery centric +Involvement of the Klingons -Cheesy -Some clumsy elements 7.2/10

After the somewhat lacking The Final Frontier, The Undiscovered Country manages to retain a new found vigor in storytelling in the franchise. I found this film to be the best since the Wrath of Kahn and it was a well crafted Science Fiction film that had a vibe that this one had something to prove. Although I didn't mind the previous film in the franchise, I felt that there was something missing. With this entry, the filmmakers manage to deliver a picture that adds what was missing, and it's an exciting, thrilling feature that has a good story, effective performances and memorable thrills. The Undiscovered Country is a much more refined sequel, one that is a return to form of the first few films, and in doing so, the filmmakers also add much needed depth to the story, which makes for a truly interesting film. This is a highly engaging film, one that is sure to delight fans of the franchise as well as genre fans. Considering that this is a sixth entry, the film manages to work well to entertain viewers and offer everything you'd expect from a Star Trek film. I think that this is one of the strongest efforts in the franchise, and not since the second film, has a film in this series been this good. The film may not be perfect, but it's nonetheless worthwhile entertainment for viewers that want an effective and memorable Science Fiction film to watch. There are plenty of good moments to be had here, and The Undiscovered Country is a strong entry in the franchise, and like I've said, one of the best since The Wrath of Kahn. With great effects, good performances, a well developed script, this film is a highly entertaining film going experience, one that is sure to entertain you from start to finish.

When Praxis, the Klingon moon and site of their energy production facility, explodes, the Klingons decide they must come to a peaceful agreement with the United Federation of Planets in order to survive. Much to his chagrin, Kirk (Shatner) is ordered to take the Enterprise to meet with Gorkon (Warner), the Klingon High Chancellor, and escort him to Earth to begin negotiating peace. After sharing a meal with the Klingons, someone on the Enterprise fires torpedoes at Gorkon's battlecruiser, disabling the anti-gravity mechanism. Two assassins in Starfleet suits, equipped with gravity boots, beam aboard and kill Gorkon. When Kirk and McCoy (Kelley) beam aboard to explain they weren't responsible, the Klingons refuse to listen, placing the pair on trial for Gorkon's murder. The original series of 'Star Trek' was known for tackling the contemporary issues of the day through a science fiction filter. While 'The Voyage Home' had addressed environmental issues, it did so in a blatant manner rather than an allegorical one. For the sixth film, Leonard Nimoy suggested a plot-line which would mirror the ending of the cold war, as the Berlin wall had just come down in 1989. The relationship between the Federation and the Klingons had always been a thinly veiled allegory of that of the U.S and U.S.S.R so it made sense to now bring the onscreen cold war to an end. With the preceding three movies directed by Nimoy and Shatner, the director of the series' best installment, 'Wrath of Khan', Nicholas Meyer, was brought back. As a result, this movie has a level of class that had been absent from Nimoy and Shatner's work. Despite working with the same level of budget, Meyer's film looks like a much larger scale movie, utilizing the relatively modest sets (many of which were borrowed from 'The Next Generation') to great effect. It's a shame Meyer never went on to bigger things as few of today's Hollywood directors have either his talent or integrity. Should you ever get the chance to listen to one of his DVD commentaries, I thoroughly recommend it, as he provides some great insights into the story-telling process. This was the final film to feature the original crew in its entirety and, although he would return in a reduced role in the next installment, Shatner really milks his screen time here, putting in a tour de force like only he can. Kirk had fought himself in the original series and does so again here, thanks to the shape-shifting alien played by Iman. The dialogue here references the actor's notorious ego as Kirk exclaims "I can't believe I kissed you", only for his adversary to reply "Must have been your life's ambition!". The legendary Plummer is fantastic as the Klingon, Chang, replete with an eyepatch nailed into his skull. Cattrall, relatively unknown at this point, is perfectly cast as a deceitful Vulcan. Youthful composer, Cliff Eidelman, took over soundtrack duties, providing one of the series' best. The opening credits theme is a rousing riff on Gustav Holst's 'The Planets', at Meyer's suggestion. There's little reference to previous Trek themes as Meyer wanted the score to feel like a "fresh start". This is the sort of Hollywood movie that's all too rare now, fun without being dumb, involving without being convoluted. It's a shame the cast found themselves at an age too advanced to be taken seriously any longer as, under Meyer's guidance, this film feels like a new beginning, with Trek just hitting its stride as a big-screen franchise. Although 'Generations' ends the story-line of Kirk, it's 'The Undiscovered Country' which really acts as a farewell to the original crew. A fitting farewell.

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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

On the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at ... Read all On the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the last best hope for peace. On the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the last best hope for peace.

Nicholas Meyer
Gene Roddenberry
Leonard Nimoy
Lawrence Konner
William Shatner
DeForest Kelley
248 User reviews
86 Critic reviews
65 Metascore
2 wins & 9 nominations total

Lt. Valeris

Excelsior Communications Officer

Admiral Cartwright

Chief in Command

Federation President

(as Rosana DeSoto)

Chancellor Gorkon

Klingon Ambassador

Klingon Defense Attorney
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Trivia Michael Dorn plays Colonel Worf, the grandfather of his regular character Lieutenant Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) .
Goofs Uhura's lack of knowledge of the Klingon language is at odds with her being Communications officer, since she should at least have some working knowledge of the language of the Federation's greatest rival. She once spent three months effortlessly handling the communications station on board the captured Klingon Bird of Prey in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) , where all the controls were written in Klingon. (The filmmakers argued about this: see trivia.)

[last lines]

[Kirk's final Captain's Log]

Captain James T. Kirk : Captain's Log, stardate 9529.1. This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun, and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man... where no *one* has gone before.

Crazy credits At the beginning of the end credits, the signature of each of the principal cast members is written one by one as a final send-off for their characters.
Alternate versions The Blu-ray release from 2009 is the first home media release to include the 110 minute theatrical version instead of the 113 minute special edition seen on all previous DVD, laserdisc, and VHS releases. The Blu-ray is also the first release to present the movie in its proper 2.40:1 aspect ratio instead of the opened up 2.00:1 ratio seen on previous releases.
Connections Edited into Star Trek: Generations (1994)
Soundtracks Theme From Star Trek TV Series Music by Alexander Courage

User reviews 248

Feb 26, 2012
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Who returns from previous "Star Trek" movies?
In what year does this film take place?
December 6, 1991 (United States)
United States
Startrek.com
Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country
Knik Glacier, Chugach State Park, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Paramount Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$30,000,000 (estimated)
$74,888,996
$18,162,837
Dec 8, 1991
$96,888,996

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 50 minutes
Dolby Stereo
Dolby Surround 7.1

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20 undiscovered destinations to visit before anyone else

1. Dominica Island

Sshh!... This is a secret

2. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

3. Meteora, Greece

4. Kamchatka, Russia

5. Hidden Beach – Playa Del Amor, Mexico

6. Isfahan, Iran

7. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

8. Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan

9. Jaffna, Sri Lanka

10. Roatán, Honduras

11. Fusterlandia – Havana, Cuba

12. Musandam Fjords, Oman

13. Caño Cristales, Colombia

14. Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada

15. Derweze, Turkmenistán

16. Island Ishigaki – Okinawa, Japan

17. Boa Vista, Cape Verde

18. Belleville – Paris, France

19. Matera, Italy

20. Antarctica

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