The 5th Saturn Awards were given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films for the best such films released in 1977. The ceremony was held on January 14, 1978, and taped for television broadcast under the title Science Fiction Film Awards 1978, which aired on January 21, 1978. Although these awards have been held since 1973, this may be the only time they were nationally televised. The program featured numerous categories among such films but not so many as to get long and boring like some awards shows.

I watched this back in 1978 and thought I would never see it again. To my delight, some far-sighted individual saved a tape made on Betamax as originally aired on Seattle/Tacoma, Washington's KSTW. The complete program is on YouTube including commercials. I watched every second of it. It is a delightful blast from the past.

Like some better known awards shows, it begins with a musical extravaganza set to the five-note theme of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, featuring a Disco Dracula and other fantastical creatures. The event goes on to introduce hosts Karen Black and William Shatner and various presenters including Mark Hamill.

It was great seeing this as both Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which I saw at a drive-in, and Star Wars, which I saw at a theater and a drive-in, were heavily featured, as well as other films such as Pete’s Dragon which I had seen or at least heard of.

The highlight for me was Ray Bradbury and his co-presenter, a giant robot. I had remembered this mostly wrong over the course of over 48 years. I remembered Bradbury cracking up at the robot, turning to say a few words to the audience, and then turning again to laugh at the robot. Bradbury did laugh and smile a lot but was not as overcome as I remembered.

For every highlight there must be a low light, and the low point here is pretty darn low. First, songwriter Bernie Taupin, who wrote the beautiful music for Elton John’s brilliant lyrics, came out to say he was very pleased that William Shatner would perform a cover of their song “Rocket Man.” He was obviously lying through his teeth and not taking great pains to conceal it. Then not one, but three versions of William Shatner, the first one puffing heavily on a cigarette, appeared to mangle and mutilate this wonderful song. Knowing the words by heart, it was agony hearing him drag them out and thrash them around like he was fighting the reptilian Gorn to the death. It can be said that the lyrics were more clearly spoken by him than in some places sung by Elton John, but that’s the only positive takeaway. May be best appreciated by those who enjoy train wrecks. To add insult to injury, no one even mentioned the song was inspired by Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Rocket Man”!

Regarding objectionable content, besides smoking some of the film clips may disturb certain viewers. Overall it was a fine and wonderfully entertaining event and I thank all those who made viewing it possible.

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