POP ART: Episode 51, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan/Rio Grande

DADDY ISSUES: “Kobayashi Maru”. Fathers and sons. Husbands and wives. Wives and sons. Friends and lovers. Set against the background of the military. Sounds like it’s time for Episode 51 of Pop Art, the podcast where my guest will choose a movie from popular culture and I’ll select a film from the more art/classic/indie side of cinema with a connection to it. This time, I am happy to welcome back as my guest, screenwriter and blogger, Paul Zeidman. Paul has chosen the second entry in the Star Trek movie franchise Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, while I have chosen the John Ford classic, the last in his calvary trilogy, Rio Grande. Both films about fathers not only facing battle, but also coming to terms with an estranged son.

And in this episode we ponder such questions as: What is Captain Kirk’s address? Why did Ford make Rio Grande? What did Ricardo Montalban find frustrating in making The Wrath of Kahn? Why were the Sons of the Pioneers used in Rio Grande? What plotting error wasn’t realized until late in the filming of …Kahn? What is a Leo G. Carroll and would you want to be one? Why was Star Trek II more profitable than Star Trek I? What did John Wayne consider Rio Grande a parable of? Where did they get Kahn’s men for the movie? 

And be sure to check out Paul Zeidman’s blog MaximumZ at https://maximumz.blog/

Continue reading