MARCH 2026

Biblically Themed Films for Great Lent

Spotlight on "Valley of the Kings"

Precursor to Indiana Jones

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Great Lent is an inspiring time of year in which there can be great fun in viewing Biblically themed films that are a fusion of adventure, romance and the search for archaeological evidence that have direct connection with major events described in The Holy Bible.  Among the most popular films of this genre are from the 1980s featuring Harrison Ford as our favorite swashbuckling archaeologist Indiana Jones - notably "Raiders of the Lost Ark"(1981) and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) - that respectively, involve a search for the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail.  If you are a fan of these particular Indiana Jones adventure films or this genre, we have an old favorite that we recommend you add to your watch list: "Valley of the Kings."

This 1954 classic features Robert Taylor as archaeologist Mark Brandon searching the ancient Egyptian tombs to prove the Biblical Joseph's presence in Egypt.  Brandon is enlisted by Ann Mercedes (played by Eleanor Parker) to find this evidence to validate her late father's goal of making this historic connection between Ancient Egypt and the Holy Bible.  This intriguing archaeological search forms the same template we would later see in the Indiana Jones epics.  It turns out that Brandon's interest in archaeology was inspired by Ann's late father and this becomes intertwined with adventure and romance as our hero and heroine must confront intrigue, murder, betrayal and continuous danger in their travels.  Sharp eyed movie fans will note that this particular mix (including the relationship and connection between the main characters) shown in "Valley of the Kings" would create the template or formula repeated successfully in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (released 27 years later) thus making the viewing experience all the more interesting.

"Valley of the Kings" was largely filmed on location in Egypt making the thrilling natural scenes equally important in the enjoyment of this nicely paced 86-minute film: the Great Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, Temple of Luxor, St Catherine's Greek Orthodox Monastery plus sailing along the Nile River and across the Red Sea!  The film also shows the Abu Simbel temples as they existed for 3,000 years, before they were relocated for construction of the Aswan High Dam.  Robert Taylor excels in all aspects of his role whether it is swordplay, exploring the ancient tombs or singing in Arabic!  Like the Indiana Jones films that would follow decades later, the ending is most satisfactory as the distant past is shown to not only be valid and truthful, but also a beacon of hope looking into the future.

For many Baby Boomers, "Valley of the Kings" is like a Lowell Thomas travelogue and to more recent generations an early version of "Expedition Unknown" with Josh Gates.  Half the fun is the journey itself and the adventure along the way.  The mix of history, local customs and culture amidst exotic locales is enough to stimulate interest in wanting to learn more.  In this regard, we are interested if any of you in our GNN audience have any favorite Biblically themed films that you found inspiring, intriguing or just plain fun?  What similarities are you able to find when comparing "Valley of the Kings" to the Biblically inspired Indiana Jones films?   Please share your thoughts and memories by either contacting us directly via email or posting directly to the Galaxy Facebook page.  

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.

 

FEBRUARY 2026

Celebrating 60 Years of "Star Trek"

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry's landmark TV science fiction series "Star Trek," which is set in the 23rd century.  With so many variants of this historic franchise released in the decades since its 1966 debut on the NBC network -- multiple television series, motion pictures, animated programs as well as books in both print and audio -- there are lots of opportunities to enjoy celebrating the staying power of this truly transformative franchise and its optimistic view of the future.  One such opportunity is to watch the 1986 motion picture titled "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."  It features the cast from the original series that aired from 1966-69 and uses a storyline that not only appeals to a general audience but it actually stands on its own, so anyone, including a first time viewer, can enjoy this film without being a Star Trek fan.

Even if you never watched "Star Trek" there are lots of reasons to celebrate this historic franchise, and this particular film makes it more accessible if not enjoyable for a general audience.

> "Star Trek" inspired generations to support manned space exploration.  This led NASA to naming its first Space Shuttle "Enterprise" after the series most famous flagship with its original cast in attendance at the ceremony.  Appropriately, "The Voyage Home" begins with a poignant dedication to the Space Shuttle "Challenger" which was tragically destroyed with all its crew in 1986 - the same year the film was released! 

> The core of the film is built around the deep friendship and camaraderie of the "Enterprise" bridge crew over their many decades of serving together.  The storyline is replete with lots of humor and each cast member is a significant contributor with ample screen time.  One such example is actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Uhura, the communications officer throughout the original series during its airing in the late 1960s.  Her role in the original series inspired the Rev Dr Martin Luther King to personally reach out to Ms Nichols and affirm the importance of her portrayal of Uhura in helping transform the social and cultural landscape of the day, and thereby help engender change that would advance the future.  By the mid-to-late 1980s, twenty years after its debut, "Star Trek" was more than just a science fiction series, it was a cultural touchstone.  Uhura plays a critical role in the storyline as she is assigned the task of secretly gathering nuclear materials to help regenerate the fuel supply for their spaceship so they can return to the 23rd century.  Her interaction with fellow bridge officer Chekov (played by Walter Koenig) is superb as they locate an unlikely source to acquire nuclear fuel -- the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise!  In sum, the contributions of Ms Nichols and her fellow "Star Trek" castmates both on and off screen have been more appreciated with the passage of time.  

> The use of time travel is central to the plot as our heroes journey back to late 20th century Earth (specifically to San Francisco) to find humpback whales and return to the 23rd century (where these creatures are extinct) as the song of humpback whales are the only means by which to respond to an alien probe, whose contact signals are creating havoc with Earth's atmosphere.  The fusion of time travel and the importance of conservation of nature (especially noteworthy animals such as whales) makes for a compelling social message.  Longtime fans will observe that some of the very best "Star Trek" episodes and films involve time travel, and "The Voyage Home" fits this niche very nicely.

> The "fish out of water" comedy arising from 23rd century time travelers attempting to blend in with late 20th century pop culture keeps the film from being pretentious while still adhering to the importance of repopulating future Earth with humpback whales to preserve the planet.  It is truly a fine line, but the likeability, warmth and caring shown by the characters enable them to connect with the audience while delivering a powerful, and ultimately transformative message.

There is much more, but hopefully this summary of highlights will engender interest in seeing this film again, or perhaps viewing it for the first time.  "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" has an enduring legacy 40 years after its release as it not only helped raise worldwide awareness on the importance of preserving the species of humpback whales -- thereby leading to a resurgence in its population -- but also helped to inspire later generations to make manned space travel an important driver for human development.  Worldwide whale watching expeditions for the general public have become commonplace, a reflection of heightened awareness about ecological stewardship and a deeper appreciation of the animal kingdom.  Manned space travel, with the creation of SpaceX and Blue Origin space exploration companies, have helped bring "Star Trek" to life!  Watching this fun film is a great way to celebrate the enduring legacy of this franchise regardless of whether or not you are a fan of "Star Trek."  To close this month's Blog in celebration of the 60th anniversary of "Star Trek," here is the text of the aforementioned opening dedication of the film.

" The cast and crew of Star Trek wish to dedicate this film to the men and women of the spaceship Challenger whose courageous spirit shall live to the 23rd century and beyond..."

May all of you, our wonderful GNN audience, have that same spirit in going for your dreams!  And may your journey be blessed with the friendship and camaraderie shown by our fictional "Star Trek" heroes.

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.

 

JANUARY 2026

The Fabulous Fifties

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

The decade of the 1950s has been immortalized if not embedded into our nation's collective consciousness in Nostalgia TV (e.g., "Happy Days"), Pop Culture (e.g., posters of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe) and Politics (e.g., 34th US President Dwight Eisenhower).  As wintertime is a good opportunity for pleasure reading, this month's blog is a recommendation to either read or reread David Halberstam's 1986 New York Times bestseller The Fifties.   Baby Boomers will appreciate Halberstam's sweeping review of the cultural, social, political and economic history of this era while younger readers will find this to be an informative, insightful but entertaining discourse on how major institutions, iconic public figures and mass market consumer offerings became an integral part of the American experience.

Halberstam's reader-friendly, conversational writing style makes history an appealing, fun read instead of a boring, condescending academic treatise.  It is easy to see why Halberstam was a Pulitzer Prize winning author as this same style is evident in all of his books on various topics.  What makes reading The Fifties a compelling experience is that Halberstam eschews the oft-used (some might say "over used") linear narrative style typically associated with history books.  In this instance, Halberstam separately profiles the various trends, notable events and people from the 1950s thereby making the subject all the more memorable if not meaningful.  The reader comes to understand that is not mere nostalgia, but a carefully crafted exposition on a period that not only provided the foundation for the events that occurred in the ensuing decades but still resonate today!

Here are few examples of what Halberstam covers:

> The towering presence on the global stage of US President Dwight Eisenhower who in the prior decade had commanded the Allied Forces in the European Theater to victory in World War II;

> The introduction of "fast food" and mass marketing via the rise of McDonald's and the Holiday Inn hotel chain;

> The creation of Rock and Roll music via the rise of Elvis Presley;

> The emergence of the personal brand and counterculture with James Dean and Marilyn Monroe;

> The beginnings of the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement;

> The importance of the car culture in everyday American life via the prism of General Motors and innovative designs by Harley Earl.

There is, of course, a lot more.  But it is clear that much of what we now take for granted, including the rise of computers, space exploration, sophisticated advertising & marketing and so forth, all had their beginnings in the 1950s.  The conclusion of the book is also written in a way to stimulate further interest by offering a tantalizing account of the televised debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon as a segue into the 1960s and the role of Madison Avenue advertising (think "Mad Men" - the 2007-2015 TV series) in all aspects of American life.

Although published 40 years ago, David Halberstam's The Fifties remains a refreshing if not perennially relevant account of a decade that regrettably has become caricatured instead of respected for the long shadow it continues to cast.  Start the New Year and break up your wintertime by checking out this wonderful book!

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.