Shakespeare in StarTrek

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
See also
Shakespeare in Red Dwarf
- • Shakespeare in Red Dwarf
Shakespeare in Black Adder
- • Shakespeare in Black A...

[@livelife4Y0u]

Plummer played Chang brilliantly, easily the best Klingon protagonist I have ever seen with his grace, charm and sophistication. You knew from this scene alone he was a time served battle experienced general. One of the worlds finest ever actors. You will be missed Christopher. God speed and RIP.

[@angeleyes564]

Yes

[@easygrin1127]

I liked Kruge better

[@robyeone7976]

@@easygrin1127 Christopher Lloyd was brilliant as Kruge.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Probably my favorite of all the Trek movies. Do they ever explain why he looks so different from other Klingons?

[@williamleewolverine]

You mean antagonist right?

[@ctg6734]

These Klingons are the best representation IMHO. They're intelligent, cultured, yet still retain that warrior element. you can believe that they come from a civilization that is sophisticated enough to be warp capable. The ones from TNG and later often come across as so brutish as to make one wonder how they could have developed space flight when all they seem to care about is fighting.

[@truthinbottle99]

Of course they just had to portray the Top Brass Klingons as English speaking/sounding. I've always harbored a sneaking suspicion that the creator of Klingons was silently correlating them to "Black" Americans.

[@AckzaTV]

@@truthinbottle99 yes klingons are blacks and ferrengis are jews! Lol

[@oliverreno4734]

@@AckzaTV LOL

[@chuckknight8257]

@@truthinbottle99 Actually, in the original series, they were the analog to the Soviets. Versus the decidedly American-ish Starfleet.

[@logicplague]

@@truthinbottle99 If you look at a Klingon and see a black person, you're the one with an issue. Gene would NEVER have allowed something like that.

[@dannytheman1313]

"You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon" I like what they did there. The Klingon's respected the works of Shakespear but couldn't credit him as human so they made him Klingon.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

It's also a ribbing to Soviet Russia who were famous for actually saying such things.

[@tetravega567]

"I am as constant as the North Star!" If Quonos doesn't have axial precession, this PROVES Shakespeare was Klingon! Even ancient peoples knew the Earth's North Star changes/cycles because the Earth wobbles.

[@fjccommish]

Shakespeare is Klingon, petaQ!

[@throwback19841]

I like the reading of this as meaning Shakespeare's writings were actually supplied by a Klingon. As there has been debate over the years as to whether Shakespeare actually wrote those plays and speculation over who did, it's fun to imagine they were actually written by mischievous Klingons just fucking with Tudor era humans. Even funnier if you consider Klingons don't have a prime directive or even particularly effective chains of command/heirarchy so I could totally imagine some rogue Klingon pirate traded writings with early humans possibly in return for rare commodities they just couldn't get elsewhere, like uranium ore or scotch whisky or cognac or beef or blue cheese or something.

[@dannytheman1313]

@@throwback19841 I don't know about being one but I like the idea of Shakespeare meeting a Klingon. This would explain some of his more fantastical works like the Tempest he probably got super drunk with them and thought the whole thing was a dream. To mess with their new human friend they stole a copy of Hamlet and just never brought it back

[@PuppetierMaster]

Half these actors in this scene alone performed Shakespeare plays at one time or another. The caliber of acting these people have could punch a hole in the wall.

[@veneziablau]

The genius of this scene, with these actors and in Star Trek cannot be overstated. RIP. Christopher Plummer. Thank you for sharing your gift.

[@theAEDan]

Sharing? What do you think he was paid to play pretend?

[@fallinginthed33p]

RIP to David Warner too. The interplay between Chang and Gorkan made their Klingons the best depiction of that species in all the Trek movies.

[@pwareham61]

You could tell Christopher Plummer was having a ball as General Chang. I really miss him, a fine fine actor whose presence could enlighten any production he appeared in. R I P

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Given what we know about his personal life, not so sure he was acting.

[@benjaminbierley2074]

The best part is if play/watch Klingon Academy you see that Chang was being 100% sincere in his admiration for Kirk.

[@TroyConvers5000]

God, I love that game. And we get the story of Chang's eye!

[@logicplague]

Kirk was their unicorn. Many had tried to best him, all had failed. The respect was certainly sincere.

[@johnrobia5460]

No one going to say anything about Leonard Nimoy performance here? They're all falling apart and he is just still so stoic.

[@juggernaught79]

So here we are... visiting a 3yr obscure video to say “Good bye” to a screen legend. Travel well Christopher Plummer and thank you. Thank you the upload.

[@bazazatron]

I just found out and that is exactly why I'm here.

[@cdilandro67]

Same here guys...great actor. He will be missed.

[@DerScheisse]

Stares into his dead eyes and proclaims to the sky - *_Beware! A Klingon Warrior is about to arrive!_*

[@vanessavaz833]

Brought here because of his passing...”we need breathing room..”

[@fallinginthed33p]

And goodbye to David Warner too.

[@joshuaspinney3208]

Fun fact: Gorkon was modeled after Abraham Lincoln, and you can actually see a photo of Lincoln on the wall during the dinner scene. He was meant to be a “savior in a time of annihilation” and they wanted people to subliminally connect the two in order to make him seem a more friendly Klingon.

[@williamleewolverine]

Would that also mean that Gorkon’s assassination was modeled after Lincoln’s?

[@tetravega567]

@@williamleewolverine Well, he did die during an evening of "theatre"

[@williamleewolverine]

@@tetravega567 That he did

[@miroslavtomic7038]

The name Gorkon is actually amalgam of both Mikhail Gorbachev and Abraham Lincoln, who were both inspirations for the character of Gorkon.

[@jorbur3604]

I love Kirk's face at 4:51 after Gorkon tells him "If there is to be a brave new world, our generation is going to have the hardest time living in it." because Kirk knows he's right but doesn't want to accept it yet

[@joeswanson733]

kirk spent his entire career fighting klingons. it's like with edison from star trek beyond. im a soldier. it's wha i was born into. or what apollo said in rocky 3 if there are no more wars to fght what use is there for warriors.

[@BigNoseDog]

Not only does Kirk know he’s right, it’s something Kirk himself admitted privately just a few scenes before this. “How on Earth can history get past people like me?”

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

Sir Christopher Plummer, Rest in Peace. Thank you for your gifts to Theatre and Screen.

[@captainjoshuagleiberman2778]

Christopher Plummer was never knighted.

[@ministryoflies1344]

It makes me so sad that we'll probably never see this level of acting and writing in the Star Trek universe ever again...

[@SpencerLemay]

TV shows can't go on forever as they were. It is the nature of things to die. Star Trek had a good run, we can always watch reruns, it will be remembered for what it was.

[@RavenLotz]

His daughter did a really good job in season 3 of picard

[@yourstruly4817]

R.I.P. Star Trek 1967 - 2005

[@BerserkMoogle]

nah@@RavenLotz

[@rjstine1247]

TNG and DS9 really fleshed out the nature of the alliance formed here

[@LordBloodraven]

Two humans complaining about the smell of Klingons in front of a Vulcan officer who is not complaining about the smell of humans. There's an irony here.

[@pikehunter23750]

LOL! Brilliant! T'Pol would agree.

[@Not-Ap]

This happens in real life far more often when different ethnic groups come together. Bias comes out awkwardly and bluntly. I once heard the CEO of my old company say to a Iranian collegue that Iran was mostly just Bedouins and Camel Caravans. That was both outrageously untrue and ignorant. Both of us were too stunned to respond to the comment.

[@FMK03]

Aren't female Vulcans the only ones to have a heightened sense of smell as per ST: Enterprise?

[@SiXiam]

@@FMK03 Well it wasn't a thing until Enterprise.

[@FMK03]

@@SiXiam It is part of the canon, though. One that's at the end of the original timeline of Star Trek, too.

[@bad74maverick1]

Chang: "To be or not to be. That is the question that preoccupies our people. WE NEED BREATHING ROOM!". Kirk: "Earth, Hitler 1938....." One of my favorite lines in the movie series.

[@Shane661]

Yes, I like that it also displays a bit of Kirk's character that we would not suspect...that he is well-read on history.

[@bad74maverick1]

@@Shane661 yes. he's an antique collector and I assume historian who is well read. We can assume this in the beginning of Wrath of Khan with how his home is decorated with antiques and the birthday gifts he receives.

[@Shane661]

​@@bad74maverick1 good point. Did you notice, around 4:59 forward, the sound of chimes in the background? While Chang is speaking of the "chimes at midnight" (a reference to their wild past adventures of youth), there are actually chimes in the background. I never noticed this small detail until now.

[@bad74maverick1]

@@Shane661 Yes, it was the ships bells actually chiming at midnight.

[@Shane661]

@@bad74maverick1 it is so perfect.

[@fredfungalspore]

One of the best scenes bar none Three of finest voices in one scene Christopher Plummer David Warner Leonard Nimoy Sadly All Now Past Away.. 🙏...🙏....🙏

[@brookeking8559]

I’ve read that Plummer and Shatner performed Shakespeare together in Canada in their younger days. This was a wonderful clip of a great sequence of performances by several legendary performers.

[@fredfungalspore]

@@brookeking8559 Yes very refreshing to hear clear beautiful diction without every second word being profanity..... 🙏😆

[@nialloconnor9686]

Underrated movie. Top cast!

[@Nosix88]

RIP Christopher Plummer.

[@Strangedays612]

The acting is so natural and impeccable. Plummer is simultanouesly charismatic, and admiration and respect of Kirk, yet also testing to see where is mettle is and to learn more about his future adversary. He's looking forward to his future battle with him and wants to enjoy time with what he considers his equal. He's having fun all the while. When the midnight bell rings he's in glee; he thought his parting line would be the "Such sweet Sorrow" line but he was given yet another opportunity to throw down one more bit of Shakespeare: "Have we not heard the chimes at midnight?" For Chang, this was the pre-game show before the main event. And he loved every second of it.

[@IRP01]

Plummer tears up the scenes in Undiscovered Country

[@nsmith2825]

I mean considering the Klingon love of opera, I can imagine Shakespeare translating pretty well.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

I can picture Klingons enjoying stories like Macbeth and Coriolanus. 😆

[@Ooilei]

The Klingons here and the Klingons in TNG seem to be completely different. Much more aristocratic and ornate, to the point that some of them even have English accents

[@ministryoflies1344]

These were old school diplomats....not the new Gen Z tiktok Klingon types like Gowron 😆

[@peterburke3944]

imagine if chang kept quoting lyrics from the sound of music that would really mccoy and drive him to say "i'd give real money if he'd shut up lol

[@williamleewolverine]

I love at the end when Spock’s standing there like, “Seriously guys?”

[@ryancoulter4797]

When Chang says “I am as constant as the northern star” part of me likes to think he’s not quoting Shakespeare but Joni Mitchell

[@promnightdumpsterbaby9553]

General chang remains my favorite klingon of all time.

[@zephyr8072]

One thing I love about the dinner scene is that the Klingons aren’t all “BAH PUNY HUMAN CUSTOMS ARE WEAK AND THE FOOD ISN’T OUR GOOD FOOD” like Klingons and aliens in general behave in Trek all too often. Instead while clearly unused to and uncomfortable with it, they adapt and behave appropriately as guests.. Not entirely successfully. They dob’t always succeed but they _try._ Another reason why ST6 Klingons are the best Klingons.

[@paulzy5192]

Minor detail: The Klingons have no idea what to do with the napkins upon sitting down.😁🤣

[@WisamSafi1978]

2:21 when I first saw this scene, there was no subtitles, but it is such a iconic say by Shakespeare you don’t really need subtitles when u hear it in a different (made up) language

[@brs2379]

Shakespeare is best in its original Klingon

[@tetravega567]

"I am as constant as the North Star!" If Quonos doesn't have axial precession, this PROVES Shakespeare was Klingon! Even ancient peoples knew the Earth's North Star changes/cycles because the Earth wobbles.

[@angeleyes564]

Plummer was brillant

[@Wixom2200]

General Chang is a Superstar! The dude is doing it. Super ad outfit, with bald head look " Warrior to Warrior" Bang!!

[@EarthenDam]

Christopher Plumber used to be in the same theater as William Shatner and Shatner's big break was when Plumber got sick and Shatner filled in for him for I think Hamlet or some other Shakespeare play.

[@jean-marcandjoshua-petsjournal]

You could have cut the air with a knife. If you were Klingon, a Batleth.

[@w3vjp568]

JJ Abrams would have re-written this segment with a fight or two, and at least 3 explosions.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

The role of Gorkon was originally offered to Jack Palance, but was eventually given to David Warner, who already had extensive experience with Star Trek. Most notably he played Romulan ambassador in the previous movie The Final Frontier. He also appeared in one episode of TNG, called Chain of Command, in which he played the role of Cardassian interrogator. He is officially the only actor in history who played a Cardassian, a Romulan and a Klingon characters, therefore playing at least one character of all three major enemies of Federation.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Palance declined the offer so he could appear in City Slickers. This turned out to be a wise decision, as Palance won Academy Award for Best Supporting Role for that movie.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Also, Warner is the only actor who appeared in two consecutive Star Trek movies playing two unrelated characters.

[@Informatic1]

Didn't he play a human character in The Final Frontier? He might have played a Romulan at another time, but I'm pretty sure he was a Federation ambassador in Star Trek 5. Other than that, the information here is really cool, he's a great actor!

[@charlessmith7867]

"For that,I will blast you out of the stars!!!"...CRY HAVOC!!!...Brilliant!!!

[@raygamino6687]

Shatner’s face expressions are classic in this scene. Especially the “right.” He knew Chang would love to match wits with the Captain who’s been kicking their ass for years.

[@viborgvee8399]

I love the face he makes when Spock answers for him when Chang asks him a question- *gulps Romulan ale* “there’s a voice in the room but my mouths not moving” 🍷😐

[@satinsaid]

"We get it, You like Shakespeare"

[@rayzrsharp]

Super underrated movie in the series. I rank this one after Wrath of Kahn.

[@scottbennie8299]

I love Chang.

[@michaelnolan6054]

"Conscience of the King" and "By any Other Name" T.O.S.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

The name Gorkon is actual an amalgam of names Mikhail Gorbachev and Abraham Lincoln, both of who served as an inspiration for the character.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Shakespeare is quoted quite a few times in this scene and movie as whole. Three of the actors appearing in this scene - William Shatner, Christopher Plummer and David Warner - have all played Hamlet on stage in the past.

[@Ronald_Custard]

RIP David Warner

[@Carson_Cole_Family]

Undoubtedly the penultimate portrayal of Klingon culture, dress, mannerism, justice and their true physical presence at a time when their empire is going to be most vulnerable. Kudos to the costume & cosmetics teams, script writers, sound engineers and set designers.

[@thomasaquinas2600]

I loved the Shakespearean effects that snuck into STNG as well as Star Trek VI. However, this is not universal and many younger people find nothing thrilling in referring to the great English bard.

[@Angry.General1461]

General Chang has to be a human and Klingon hybrid. He looks more human than the other Klingons.

[@iwannaseenow1]

Some of the greatest ST scenes of all time, IMO.

[@jonathanpusar5931]

Says a lot about the state of the world and our leaders that the parable this movie presented in this scene is STILL a huge centerpiece of our issues geopolitically.

[@jimmyyu2184]

Christopher P. acted with such grace, suave, and class, Richardo M. acted with such anger, vengeance, and hatred for Kirk, I am not sure which one to place as #1 and #2 as far as 'bad guys' go in the Star Trek Universe....

[@ziffy88]

Why is this acting so good and the chemistry so great

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I didn't realize it was Christopher Plummer. Thank God for the Internet and IMDB! I mean when the movie came out

[@JoseGomez-vr6lh]

General Chang is chomping at the bit to battle Kirk but Kirk deep down wants that too.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Although this was their first movie together, this movie reunited William Shatner and Christopher Plummer. Many years before, while he was unknown actor in Montreal, Shatner was taken under his wing and was mentored by Plummer during their theater days. To this day, Shatner claims that, while he was mostly unhappy with this movie and his role in it, being able to work with Plummer again meant alot to him and considers it an honor.

[@afriend9428]

*Chang.... .. I heard you and your family escape from the Nazis to the Austrian Alps?!?* 😂

[@douglasthompson8927]

This is interesting..having watched the original series when it was current and in production I`ve never really liked any of the sequels..however I`ve always thought of the original show as little morality plays...there`s always a point to them...there weren`t too many of them...some are comedy some are tragedy...and they will probably stand the test of time...just like Shakespeare.

[@humanform5354]

One of the greatest, if not, THE GREATEST Star Trek scene of all time!...

[@ultramaximusreviews]

The last good Klingon Chancellor until Martok.

[@mygaffer]

Denny Crane sure looks different

[@jaystannard]

Captain Kirk vs Captain Von Trapp.

[@diapergirl666]

Christopher plummer is such a good actor like excellent love his Shakespeare Chang can only ever be plummer

[@andrewguajardo70]

Now THAT is some good arse writing!

[@Guardias]

When you first see his face Kerla has one of the most jovial faces I've ever seen on a Klingon.

[@exposingproxystalkingorgan4164]

From now on, Romulan Ale 🍺 will no longer be served at diplomatic functions. This is an order!

[@TheReaverOfDarkness]

Chancellor Gorkon was so amazing, I was so sad when he got murdered! General Chang is so insane but he's really fun at parties!

[@cobblerwillorange]

I appreciate you uploading this but I am still waiting for all these quotes spoken in the original Klingon, thx. 😆

[@FreakyTeeth]

That "undiscovered country", was meant to be interpreted as death.

[@TheSocialDistorter]

Coffee doesn't make one sober, Bones. You should know that!

[@deniseeulert2503]

David Warner played several different characters in Star Trek films and series.

[@wesmantooth5908]

Andrea Mitchell of NBC News would remind you that that’s Faulkner, not Shakespeare

[@fenlandhobbit2307]

Cracking film 😁👍🇬🇧

[@CzarAlexis]

A few things I noticed. 4:31 When Gorkon walked up to Kirk, Kirk didn’t move and seemed to have a hard time looking at him for very long. When Chang walked up to Kirk, Kirk stepped forward too and stared straight at him. They both kept eye contact as adversaries do. Kirk felt and understood Chang’s antagonism and verbally spared with him as he had with many Klingons throughout his career.

[@MrJoowoneeno]

I have been at dinners like that. Where you need a chainsaw to cut the tension in the air.

[@izidorsuc]

Plenty of Shakespeare is also in the space Battle of Khitomer in the same movie.

[@AckzaTV]

The sound of their leather costumes squeeking together lol it's so 80s...so 20th century ... I can smell the cigarette smoke

[@johndoe-bq1xt]

yaaaaaaa general chang!! 🔥⚔🔥

[@whochick07]

I could have sworn that the dinner scene was longer with Chang actually saying "To be or not to be" in English after saying it in Klingon....

[@florinivan6907]

'all warriors are cold warriors.' in case you missed the subtext this movie is about the end of the Cold War.

[@michaelshields7777]

The Klingon dude's daughter's name is Acid Boil? hehehe!!

[@marlonlo9661]

Blue drink in the 23rd century.

[@johntracy72]

Star Trek VI was a good movie.

[@paulwoida8249]

The Klingons think that Hamlet was a comedy of errors.

[@aiosquadron]

"'human' rights." Now that's a good point...

[@robhileman8890]

Klingons are a humanoid species what’s the problem?

[@emizerri]

@@robhileman8890 Because human rights were not conceived to mean humanoid rights but human in our universe and Chekov didn't evaluate how it came across when he said it because he just thought of the common phrase. There is also an argument that could be easily made about the word humanoid being human centric.

[@robhileman8890]

@@emizerri it’s the same old adage. Whatever you let offend you. Klingons are supposed to have thick skin. If someone wishes me a happy Hanukkah I don’t get pissed off because I’m not Jewish. But we will live in a world where everything is offensive and the planet is pretty much a vagina.

[@rickor86]

Earth. Hitler. 1938. Jesus Kirk was savage when he used to be angry

[@jakeizlove]

Got my wife Shakespeare in Klingon as a gift when we started dating. :)

[@captainjoshuagleiberman2778]

William Shatner was Christopher Plummer's understudy at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Patrick Stewart studied at the National Shakespeare Company in England. Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks are both classically trained actors. None of the current crop of so called Star Trek people can boast this background. You do the math.

[@IqarP15]

Thank God!

[@thomasoaxaca3379]

Didn't General Chang have that side business dealing with the manufacturer and distribution of Chinese food products such as egg rolls and chow mein? The dinners were actually quite good. What made me think about it was that the cooking instructions are in Klingon.

[@wakajundouga]

見るからに和平交渉などの気微塵もなしのチャン将軍ww

[@mitchbarredo3990]

How did traditional enemies of the Federation get their hands on The Works of Shakespeare in the first place?

[@oldtwinsna8347]

It's not top secret material. The Federation would make its libraries available to anyone through the galactic version of the Internet.

[@PHANTOMZ0NE]

Vavoy means Cheers?

[@samr8603]

One thing I have now noticed after watching for the 1st time in 30 years is how bad Starfleet actually treats the Klingons. They are guests yet their eating practises are not respected, the entire set up is to ensure the Klingons fail and their hostility all the way through it. Love that this was clear Starfleet hated Klingons.

[@outerrealm]

Why the crappy resolution at 480p? That’s worse than a color tv from the 60s. Did you copy this from a VHS tape?

[@DanielBrown-sn9op]

I wish more ST good guys/gals would quote quotable writers too. Shake, Jesus, Sun Tsu, Lincoln, Maya Angelou, MLK, etc.

[@rocknrollcannibals]

That looks like some great blue Koolaid they used for the Romulan ale... or is that Gatorade?

[@christianealshut1123]

That stuff should be illegal...

[@FuzzyElf]

Was there Gatorade in that color back in the old days?

[@rocknrollcannibals]

@@FuzzyElf yeah, I think Gatorade Frost came out in the 90's.

[@robhileman8890]

That’s 100% real Romulan Ale. I bought some at DS9. It turns your poo blue.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Probably just food coloring. I'd bet they had to do several color tests to get the best imagery for the camera. Easier to do with food coloring.

[@Shane661]

Spock gets it.

[@NoahSpurrier]

Please let me know if there is some other way we can screw up tonight.

[@maozedong1260]

4:03 -> 4:15 was savage