MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Discussion > Why the "pajamas" are superior to the Ho...

Why the "pajamas" are superior to the Horatio-Hornblower-in-space uniforms


The loose simplicity of the “pajamas” make more sense for a healthy and productive crew in the far-flung future than the tight, cumbersome Horatio-Hornblower-in-space uniforms Nicholas Meyer introduced in TWOK, especially when you factor-in the stress of living/working in space on a spaceship.

I know I'd personally function much better in the loose pajama uniforms.

reply

[deleted]

The original series uniforms were the best, especially the miniskirts and go-go boots on Uhura and the other female crew members.

reply

I agree. They got it right the first time.

reply

You make a very good point. The welfare of staff would be a very strong point (if our present ideas for a work environment are anything to go by) and seems at odds to have such a cumbersome and complicated uniform. But I do recall from commentary that they were designed to give everything more of a visual naval-military fleet feel and for the movies I think it worked very well.

reply

I never liked those obviously uncomfortable uniforms introduced in TWOK but, at the same time, I can watch those movies without minding those too tight/heavy uniforms. IMHO the creators should've stayed with the TOS uniforms, maybe modified a bit. In other words, they got it right the first time and this explains why they went back to 'em with the 2009 film. They're simple, but effective. (Yes, I realize it could be argued that they went back to them because it was a prequel to TOS, but we all know filmmakers could care less about rigidly sticking to specs from decades earlier).

reply

"Our present ideas for a work environment" consist mainly of forcing men to wear suits, ties, and leather dress shoes, and women to wear horrid office dresses and pants suits. Employers couldn't care less that these mandatory cubicle fashions are hot, restricting, and generally uncomfortable. Maybe things will be different in a few hundred years.

reply

The Hornblower outfits allowed the crew to become old and fat gracefully. It kept their more bloated portions tastefully hidden. Can you imagine old-Scotty’s gut in the original uniform?

reply

practically if we thinking 'real world' then maybe the loose fitting TMP uniforms (probably light coolant/sweat resistant material) would work best on a temperature controlled starships. But aesthetically the cumbersome Hornblower inspired TWOK uniforms looked awesome and yes as mentioned above came in handy for helping hide ballooning physiques (often wonder why they went with red/crimson considering that was for engineering/security in TOS but I guess it just looked best. and that carried forward into TNG with red now replacing yellow/gold as the main 'command' uniform colour)

Regarding TOS candy coloured uniforms I remember reading years ago some guy involved in making the films maybe even Roddenberry or Meyer saying they were great for the recent colour TVs in the 60s but they'd have looked ridiculous on the big screen..(which is why they went with an advanced NASA looking uniform for TMP like if Trek really was taking place 200years in the future taking note of NASA flight suits/space suits etc..almost like this is what Trek shouldve looked like and does look like when its got money) but they went with them for 2009 and they worked ok as by then/now they and TOS have a sort of retro futurism (although the cast were all really young so maybe that helped)

reply


That makes some sense. Color TV, even although available from the mid 50s, *really* took off about 1965. I can actually see them using multi-color uniforms for just that reason.

reply

But aesthetically the cumbersome 'Hornblower' TWOK uniforms looked awesome


Not to me. They were always too tight and uncomfortable-looking, plus they all had the same colors. I might've liked 'em better if they had some color scheme that identified them according to command, science and service, like the Original Series.

But I agree that the red jacket & black pants with the Horatio-Hornblower-in-space design hid their growing girth.

On a practical level, though, the comfortable pajamas make the most sense. For instance, in my work I always wear the most comfortable apparel possible, which I'm sure has a positive effect on the quality of my output. I'd go crazy if I had to function in those grossly cumbersome uniforms for 8-12 hours a day.

but they went with them for 2009 and they worked ok (although the cast were all really young so maybe that helped)


Which shows that they got it right the first time around, not to mention those basic uniforms became iconic. But I know what you mean: They wouldn't have worked so well for the members who were struggling with their weight as they aged, but that could've been easily resolved by a girdle.

reply

You seem to be ignorant of the very foundation of Star Trek.

reply

The "very foundation of Star Trek" in regards to Starfleet uniforms can be observed in the Original Series -- simple, comfortable apparel. This was also conveyed in the first movie. The cumbersome Horatio Hornblower-like uniforms in the next movie -- Nicholas Meyer's TWOK -- contradict this foundation.

reply

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Horatio_Hornblower

reply

Applying the notion of Hornblower in space to the actual uniforms or technology (Remember TWOK had guys pulling up floor grates with hooks to load torpedoes) is simply taking the concept to the stage of silliness.

reply

Rodenberry actually hated a lot of the "Navy stuff" that Meyer added in.

reply

Don't believe that late 1980s revisionist spin. TOS was written and performed by WWII veterans and was completely navy in any way. The starships served the same function as aircraft carriers during the war. The starfleet officers and men comported themselves as navy crews.

reply

He hated the whistles and all that crap, none of which was featured on his TOS

reply

wha? The ship's whistle is often heard in TOS.

reply

i am talking about THE ACTUAL FUCKING WHISTLE

reply

So your issue (sorry: FUCKING issue) is how the sound of the boatswain's whistle is produced?
How about the bell they used at Khan's hearing? Was that too naval for you?

reply

It's a relevant link, thanks, but it doesn't change the fact that the simple, comfortable Roddenberry-approved Starfleet uniforms are established in the Original Series and the Animated Series. Robert Wise took the same route with the Roddenberry-approved first movie (which, incidentally, made way more money at the box office compared to TWOK, although staunch fans of TWOK have tried to revision history).

Meyers' vision of tight, heavy, cumbersome uniforms for Starfleet officers didn't surface until 17 years after the Original Series debuted (keeping in mind "The Cage" was shot in 1964). I can live with Meyers' different outfits, I'm just saying that the comfortable original uniforms (and the 'pajamas' in TMP) are more realistic and I would prefer them if I worked out in space in the future.

reply

Wise had no idea what to make of Star Trek. He was a terrific director, but didn't know what to do with this property.
The TMP costumes, sets and style were inspired by, part of, and came at the tail end of the hi-concept sci-fi conceit of the late 70s that everything in space was going to be soft edges and bland colors. You see it in Space 1999, 2001 a Space Odyssey, the Black Hole, and TMP. It was a very 1970s aesthetic that died a timely death. I like a nice leisure suit as much as the next guy, but its time has passed.

reply

You are crazy. Who the fuck wants to wear pajamas all day long?. Work clothing needs to be functional with pockets and different climate zones to be taken into account.

reply

The average person prefers simple, comfortable clothing, especially if it concerns 8-12 hours every day. How much more so if we're talking about the duties of Starfleet officers in the stressful environment of space travel and their missions? The Starfleet uniforms featured in the Original Series, Animated Series and the first movie had a means to easily attach phasers & the like (a future version of Velcro) and they no doubt had hidden pockets for small necessities. They also used small shoulder bags for extra equipment, like the tricorder. Personally, I don't like a lot of stuff in my pockets and travel as lightly as possible every day. I assume Starfleet officers in the fictional world of Star Trek feel the same way, which is why they're illustrated this way. In other words, the creators thought out these details.

Who the fuck


Wow, you can cuss for no ostensible reason. We're all impressed. What are you, 13?

reply

If you are offended by that word? Too bad. If not stfu...😂

reply