Movie Flashback: Star Wars

Star Wars was released in the summer of 1977.

We had just returned from living in West Germany and had never heard of the movie.

My cousin told us that there was a new science-fiction action movie that was out that was “totally awesome” and that we needed to see it asap. The movie was drawing huge crowds and had people lined up around the block waiting to see it despite a cast of virtual unknowns.

Just what I was looking forward to…..waiting in a long line to see a movie I had never heard of……happy happy joy joy…..

I was never really into science fiction myself. I had watched Star Trek as a kid but then again, every boy my age watched Star Trek as a kid…..

My parents took my brother and I to see Star Wars in Spokane, Washington.

I went in a skeptic, and came out a lifelong Star Wars fan. This is easily one of the All-Time great movies!

I was 12yrs old when I first saw it and within weeks my room was cluttered with Star Wars figures, Star Wars toys, Star Wars trading cards, and anything else I could get my hands on. My modern-day regret is that I did not keep all those items as they are now EXTREMELY valuable to say the least. If I still had all that crap, my wife and I could easily afford to retire right now.

The film was produced on a budget of only $11 Million dollars, which was a large amount for 1977, but a figure that would barely cover Harrison Fords current salary for each new film he makes.

The film debuted in only 32 theaters nationwide, but they soon were packed, and the studio gave the film a wide release. It became one of the first major Blockbuster hits in Hollywood History.

It went on to earn nearly $800 Million worldwide which made it into the highest grossing film in Movie History at the time, passing previous record-holder “Jaws“.

(Trailer for the re-release in 2008)

Other than highly successful English actor Alec Guiness, the movie featured a young cast of virtual unknowns.

Of the three featured actors, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, it was Ford that has gone on to have, by far, the most successful career in Hollywood of all the Star Wars actors.

Harrison Ford had a very small role in the George Lucas film “American Graffiti” and was brought in to read with other actors that were auditioning for roles in Star Wars. Ford did so well in reading the part of Han Solo that he was cast even though Lucas preferred a better-known actor to play the part. Ford was selected for the part over the likes of Kurt Russell, Nick Nolte, Sylvester Stallone, and Christopher Walken.

George Lucas and filmaker-buddy Brian De Palma were casting for Star Wars and De Palma’s “Carrie” on the same stage. Carrie Fisher and Sissy Spacek each auditioned for the roles of Princess Leia and Carrie, and we can see who won which role.

Another young lady who auditioned for the role of Princess Leia was Cindy Williams, who was busy on “Laverne and Shirley” at the time, and who also had worked with George Lucas on “American Graffiti”.

The scenes on the desert planet of Tatooine were filmed in Tunisia.

The majority of the film was shot on soundstages in London.

The Special Effects were created by a fledgling company in California called Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). They are now the premier special effects company in moviemaking today.

Mark Hamill was involved in a serious car accident near the end of filming, which resulted in severe scarring to his face, which is clearly visible in the two later sequels to Star Wars.

With the addition of the eventual sequels and prequels, the film is now often referred to as “Star Wars IV: A New Hope“, though to me…it will always just be STAR WARS.

James Earl Jones provided the voice for Darth Vader and I still can picture Vader whenever I turn on CNN and hear Jones’ voice booming out “This…is CNN!”

The film received 10 Academy Award nominations and ended up winning 7 Awards. It lost the Best Picture Oscar to “Annie Hall“.

Still one of the greatest!

As you know, it spawned a series of sequels and prequels which I will go into in other posts.

Star Wars starred:

Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker
Alec Guiness – Obi Wan Kenobi
Harrison Ford – Han Solo
Carrie Fisher – Princess Leia
Anthony Daniels – C-3PO
Kenny Baker – R2D2
Peter Mayhew – Chewbacca
David Prowse – Darth Vader
James Earl Jones – Darth Vader Voice