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Star Wars (1977): Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. Written and Directed by George Lucas.
Get the film at Amazon: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

It was mid-June 1977 by the time the new sci-fi fantasy movie, “Star Wars” rolled into the small town where I grew up. I’d seen the TV ads (see video at the bottom of this post) and some Ralph McQuarrie pre-production art in Starlog magazine (bunch of stormtroopers standing around in a hallway). A horror and sci-fi fan from an early age, in 1977 what you had was Saturday morning TV, periodic “Planet of the Apes” marathons at the drive-in, schlock like “The Frogs” and “Empire of the Ants” and mainstream science fiction movies like “Silent Running” and “Future World”. I didn’t know what to expect from this “Star Wars”. More of the same, I suppose.

I was late to the matinee. My mom insisted that I take my sister with me, and she wasn’t ready in time. So, by the time I got her popcorn and got settled back in my seat, C-3P0 was saying “This is madness!” What is madness? Did I miss something? Despite being completely lost, only minutes into the film, I enjoyed it as much as any kid growing up in the seventies did. That summer, I expect I saw “Star Wars” at least 30 more times, and then another 10 the next time it rolled through town. I’d not considered it before, but maybe this was why my parents were unable to pay may way through film school.

“Star Wars” changed filmmaking. We all know that. The summer blockbuster was born, and thanks to the studios and George and his friend Steven, we’d have more to look forward to every summer. Now, the big summer movie is a staple, like it or not. Best intentions, I’m sure, from Mr. Lucas, who just wanted to make the kind of movie he wanted to see. But now, over 30 years later, I wonder if he realizes the pressure that’s been placed on every other filmmaker in the world to make big bucks?

Yes, the days when you could make a little movie about a lovable loser, starring a promising acting talent and a well-written script have gone for good (although, for a brief glimmer of an instant, “Juno” seemed to prove otherwise). It’s all about high concept now — not that Lucas had anything more than “Saturday matinee space movie” in mind — if you don’t got that, don’t even get started.

My take on “Star Wars” has changed over the years. I love the film, and I’ve seen all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and read books covering the troubled production. I’ve also seen the new prequels, and I’ve carefully noted that Lucas did not direct the two sequels that followed his original film, though his reasons for that are unclear.

I am certain, probably contrary to your average “Star Wars” fan-boy, that Lucas did set out to make “A New Hope” (the redux title for the first “Star Wars” film) very much like his heavily controlled prequels, but he just couldn’t do it. He was ahead of his own time. It’s common knowledge that the effects for the film weren’t ready until the last possible second and were the best they could do given the time they had. It’s also widely known that Lucas had problems directing his actors and crew and suffered numerous breakdowns during the UK shoot.

So, I think what happened is everyone (George’s friends included) all pitched in to make the best of the situation, Hamill, Fisher and Ford adding humor where they could (something that is sorely absent from the prequel films), Marcia Lucas stepping in to try and shape what footage George had, Steven and Francis (Coppola) offering their own two cents worth. Basically, in the absence of a strong director, the film became a community effort — like the best films are — and it actually worked!

It’s a sad realization to come to, but don’t get me wrong, Lucas does know film and filmmaking. “American Graffiti” proves this. But I think “Star Wars” got away from him and didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to. This explains how each tinkered “revised” version of the film that has come out over the years in various mediums moves away from the original, because the “original” in fans’ minds is not the “original” in Lucas’ mind.

It’s bittersweet. For all the pleasure that “Star Wars” gave with repeated viewings and collectible merchandise and sequels (and a holiday special!), it killed so much. As I said, films would be crushed under the weight of money-making blockbusters. Mad Magazine was never the same, and neither was Famous Monsters. Seemed like everyone had to bend what they were doing to fit the “Star Wars” mold and it just didn’t work.

In a sense, I guess, “Star Wars” ended the seventies. Or maybe it was just time to grow up.

Original TV Spot:

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