the star wars (1977) thread in '70s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

0 Points

Forum Jump

the star wars (1977) thread

Author	Comment
delgadosaur	the star wars (1977) thread	Lead	[-]
Oct 20 10 12:58 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As this forum has been retitled to include '70's sci fi, I searched through and could not find a thread about one of my favorite films of all time, which came out the day I turned thirteen years old and changed my life, I thought I might try starting a thread. I saw the film in a drive in in the San Fernando Valley, either in the Alameda, the Victory or Tujunga, and have never been the same since. Because of that film I began to want to work in movies, something I was able to accomplish, and I had never seen anything so interesting and exotic up to then, and I was thrilled by the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and of course R2D2 and C3PO. Compared to other spaceships, the Millenium Falcon was the fastest, coolest hunk of junk I'd ever seen. Then there's that Vader guy...
	Remove this ad
Dr Criddle		#1	[-]
Oct 21 10 11:42 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My dad took me to see them when they were re-released, when I was eight years old, and they also inspired me to want to be a filmmaker. It also kick-started my interest in film history, as I went about trying to track down video copies of many of the films that inspired it (Metropolis, The Searchers, and soforth.) I still love all three of the old ones, even Return of the Jedi.
bipolarber		#2	[-]
Oct 21 10 7:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Never heard of it... popular, was it? "[The audiance] will populate the darkness with more horrors than all the horror writers in Hollywood could think of. If you make the screen dark enough, the mind's eye will read anything into it you want! We're great ones for the dark patches." -VAL LEWTON
Wes		#3	[-]
Oct 22 10 6:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This has to be the quietest *Stars Wars* thread on the Web ! I like the original Star Wars trilogy but for what its worth (and I'm trying not to sound like a cool hipster here!) I much prefer THX-1138 and American Grafitti. I wonder what direction Lucas' career would have gone if Star Wars wasn't the colossus it turned out to be... I definitely want to see *Holiday Special* sometime, that illigitimate and mistreated Star Wars offspring chained up in the basement... http://plutoniumshores.blogspot.com/ - going steady, deeper into movies...
ryanbrennan		#4	[-]
Oct 22 10 4:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I missed the STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL when it was first broadcast but caught up to it last year when I ran it during the holidays for a member of the family who is obsessed with STAR WARS. It's rough going. Even he couldn't make it through the whole thing. I saw STAR WARS at its first public screening in Dallas with a full house. The audience reaction was part of the fun seeing the movie, those "oohs" and "aaahs" of amazement as the first ship passes overhead really added to the awe and sense of wonder. I remember the whole early phenomenon from first hearing about the movie. The novelization was early on and promised things it was hard to believe we'd actually see in the movie (but did). A friend of mine was a journalist and had received from 20th Century-Fox a color brochure in a box bound with tape around it that said repeatedly "Star Wars." He didn't want it and sold it to me for $3.00. Later, I acquired the original one-sheet for the movie (but not the teaser poster) and, even later, was given some of the original cardboard character standees that greeted you in the lobby. STAR WARS played so long that even the summer of the next year, when I was working as a bartender, the 45 rpm single still received heavy play in the jukebox. Home video was just coming onto the market and STAR WARS was probably the hottest bootleg sought. Even a trailer would thrill an home audience.
ryanbrennan		#5	[-]
Oct 22 10 4:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you haven't read it already, I'd highly recommend J.W. Rinzler's The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Making of the Original Film. Most of the quotes come from a series of interviews conducted by Charles Lippincott before, during and right after the production. Fascinating stuff and a masterful blend of the human and the technical.
Servant of Legendre		#6	[-]
Oct 23 10 5:43 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Changed my life too. It was one of the first movies I ever saw at the cinema, which helped, I'm sure. And the first action figure I bought after seeing the movie was Chewbacca. I have none of my Star Wars stuff left, dammit.
AlfredLynch		#7	[-]
Oct 26 10 5:20 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	In regards to the new Blue Ray box - I am really hoping Lucas will insert the outtake Luke and Biggs scene. The first movie is so great and those little scenes are what make it that way, it belongs in the movie if you ask me. Even the first time I watched it on you tube, it was Star Wars and felt like home.
Monster Jungle Xray		#8	[-]
Oct 26 10 5:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Until I was about 10 years old I practically lived, breathed, and ate everything Star Wars, it made that huge inpact on me. My favorite scene was the cantina, and it helped instill in me a life long fascination with alien creatures. Greedo was a favorite character even though he was fried in a minute. I saw the original around 9 times in the theater in '77, a couple of those being at the Drive-In. In later years I could appreciate all the wipes and disolves that George had picked up from his days as an editor, it helped give it that old serial feel. Darth Vader of course was the best villain I had ever seen, and Han Solo was the coolest guy ever. Luke (What's That Flashing?!?) Skywalker to me was just plain annoying, and I never really connected to him as a kid, and to be honest CORVETTE SUMMER didn't help out my opinion of Mark Hamill too much either. In fact I was never that intrigued by the whole Jedi, and the Force aspects of Star Wars. I was way more interested in the alien races and spaceships. This carried over to the whole Jabba's Palace sequence being my favorite in the entire original trilogy, although the tinkering George did to it in the Special Edition was abysmal. I did made sure that I saw the Holiday Special when it first aired, and despite only seeing it once more on vhs in the years since then I remember that intial viewing quite well. Once again the cantina scene here was my favorite part.
delgadosaur		#9	[-]
Oct 27 10 1:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I loved the John Berkey painting on the cover of the novel, and am I remembering correctly that there were photos inside of the novel as well?
Dr Acula		#10	[-]
Oct 27 10 8:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Star Wars thoughts: 1) First got the story record, then the Marvel comic, then in the second year of it's release, we finally saw it at a drive-in. A lightning storm broke out, and the film cut out visually from the sandpeople attack scene until Luke was in the middle of the scene in Ben's house. Never saw the scenes until the TV broadcast. 2) Because I read the comic first, I expected the Briggs scene where he's talking about joining the rebels, and for me I've always felt like it was "in" the film (like the skinny Jabba the Hut scene from the comic). 3) I thought the Jawas were the coolest of the creatures. I loved their lightning guns, there weird little sounds they made, and their cool cult-ish hoods. I was completely disappointed in the action figure Jawas though, because I wanted a hood that could be removed to show what the creatures really looked like. 4) I totally thought that Luke and Leia were the romantic couple, and thought they would obviously be married. 5) I saw the Star Wars Holiday Special as broadcast. Even as a young kid, I thought it was horrible. 6) The effects were amazing then, and they are still amazing to me now. I still get a rush of excitement as ship battles occur on screen. 7) It's my favorite Star Wars film, the one I'd keep if I was allowed only one Star Wars related film the rest of my life.
	Remove this ad
Rick		#11	[-]
Oct 27 10 8:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Saw it at the first showing on the day it opened, May 25, 1977, but only because my girlfriend was, as usual, running late. We were going to go see some movie (can't remember what). I was in the living room, waiting. She was in the bedroom, primping. I heard the mailbox clang outside and went out to get the mail. There was my subscription copy of TIME magazine. In the upper right hand corner of the cover was a little banner reading "The Year's Best Movie!" I flipped to that story and found a two- or four-page article on STAR WARS. I skimmed the article which huffed and puffed about how much fun it was, that it was Flash Gordon for the seventies, etc. I said to my g.f., "how about if we saw a different movie?" "What movie?" she asked. "Uhh, TIME says it's the year's best movie." "What is it?" "There's a great article here..." "Rick, what is the movie called?" Pause. "Uhh...STAR WARS..." She stuck her head out of the room and said, "Oh, Rick, no..." "Please." Another pause, big sigh, "Oh, okay." And thus I saw STAR WARS in a theatre that was no more than half-filled. Loved it, of course, and it's a great movie-going memory.
Dr Acula		#12	[-]
Oct 27 10 8:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What's she think of it after you dragged her to the showing?
Rakshasa		#13	[-]
Oct 27 10 10:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I saw STAR WARS many times during it's first theatrical run during the summer of 1977 (my summer leading into the 5th grade ~ I was ten years old) and I was blown away. I loved it and like most kids my age, became obsessed with all things STAR WARS. I collected the Topps cards, I built the models, I had the action figures, the Death Star Playset, the toy land speeder, the soundtrack album, the t-shirts, the posters, and I of course, will forever have that memory of seeing it with my older brother for that very first time on the big screen and being totally mesmerized by the images on the screen, the music, the sound, the characters, the droids, The Force, EVERYthing. I became a little less "into" it with each sequel, although I do love EMPIRE STRIKES BACK almost as much and RETURN OF THE JEDI a little less than that (too many muppets). I have no interest at all in the three prequels. It's the original three for me and that's it. But yeah, it's the first film, 1977's STAR WARS, that will forever be the magical favorite of mine. A true iconic film of my youth that hit me like a train and captured my imagination (much like JAWS had done two years earlier). Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758 Last Edited By: Rakshasa Oct 27 10 10:23 PM. Edited 1 times.
Rick		#14	[-]
Oct 27 10 10:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dr Acula wrote: What's she think of it after you dragged her to the showing? Well, she loved it. She may have had problems with punctuality, but she knew a fun movie when she saw it. So, thankfully, I was NOT in trouble.
happydude33		#15	[-]
Oct 27 10 10:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Held back on chiming in because I'm so tired of defending my love of this movie because of what came after, but will add that it's absolutely my favorite film and certainly deserves its reputation as one of the best films of all time. Unlike lots of folks, I haven't lost interest in what came after though I totally understand why they have. But to me, the world is better with more (albeit weak(er)) Star Wars than with less. I love all of it and am old enough to have had my first impression of Jabba be that skinny green walrus looking guy from the comic. This one movie has so permanently generated good will for me that I accept additions, changes, and whatever else for the sake of combining monsters, action, adventure, mythology, and eastern spirituality into one package. I admit, it's absolutely a childhood love and I get that many can't get past the technical limitations of the sequels, but I love it whole-heartedly. Can't wait to show it to my unborn child. COINCIDENTALLY, we were told for two months my unborn child was a boy- which I announced in another thread. Turns out it's gonna be a girl! Last Edited By: happydude33 Oct 27 10 10:55 PM. Edited 1 times.
Rakshasa		#16	[-]
Oct 27 10 10:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	happydude33 wrote: Can't wait to show it to my unborn child. COINCIDENTALLY, we were told for two months my unborn child was boy- which I announced in another thread. Turns out it's gonna be a girl! Congratulations, HD! May she be healthy and happy and live a long life filled with Star Wars! Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
happydude33		#17	[-]
Oct 27 10 10:59 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, Rak! Excited as can be. Already started negotiating with my wife when I can show her the original SW and Frankenstein.
Dr Acula		#18	[-]
Oct 28 10 8:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	happydude33 wrote: Thanks, Rak! Excited as can be. Already started negotiating with my wife when I can show her the original SW and Frankenstein. I hope you name her Leia or some other Star Warsy name!
Joe Karlosi		#19	[-]
Oct 28 10 9:31 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	When STAR WARS came out I was 15, and collecting FAMOUS MONSTERS, and I was a huge PLANET OF THE APES fan. I noticed that my friends talked about nothing else but STAR WARS at that time, and everyone in fandom seemed to turn their backs on everything else in the genre. The PLANET OF THE APES craze, which I suppose was already on its last legs anyway, got completely eclipsed by the popularity of STAR WARS. But so did everything else, including FAMOUS MONSTERS. As a result, I really have always resented the STAR WARS phenomenon. The first time I saw any of it was through a silent color Super8 10-minute film that a friend brought to my house. I could see that the effects were advanced (in 1977), but I just was not interested at all. I did not even bother to go and see the movie in '77; I couldn't have cared less. In later years I made it a point to see STAR WARS and all the other entries of the series, and I've come to the point where I now think it's very good, as well as the other two entries in the "original trilogy". As for the "newer" films, I despise THE PHANTOM MENACE and think it's an incomprehensible piece of crap. I did enjoy ATTACK OF THE CLONES and REVENGE OF THE SITH. My ratings (Out of Four): STAR WARS (*1/2) THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1/2) RETURN OF THE JEDI (*1/2) THE PHANTOM MENACE () ATTACK OF THE CLONES (*) REVENGE OF THE SITH (*) As I write those ratings, I am surprised that despite my generous scores, I do not own these movies and still have no desire to, even though I liked them overall. They're just not part of me, as the PLANET OF THE APES series is. I still really don't care about them, though I gave them all an objective viewing.
JamesD		#20	[-]
Oct 28 10 10:22 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think there is a Star Wars thread in the Monster Kid Memories section (I haven't checked, though). I was 2 years old when Star Wars was released, so I missed the initial phenomenon (and Empire's as well). But I did see both films from endless reruns on cable television, and I was old enough to want to see Return of the Jedi in a theater (where I promptly became separated from my mother and sister during the opening scene, which of course is set in the darkness of outer space - yes, I was frightened out of my wits. A kind usher helped me out. They had ushers in theaters back then). I loved the original three movies, I owned plenty of Star Wars toys and action figures (including the Millenium Falcon set), the trading cards (and a Jedi sticker book), and I read the Marvel comic book. I was completely into all of it. But when I watched the three films on the 20th anniversary rerelease...the only one I still enjoyed as an adult was Empire. It's still the only one I'm willing to sit down and watch if I find it playing on cable. I'm not sure why, but I think the overwhelming cultural force that Star Wars has become might have something to do with it. It might also be that I value different elements of movies than I did when I was eight. Speaking of Star Wars as a cultural force, this is just my memory, but the way I remember it, in the late 80s and (very) early 90s, Star Wars seemed basically dead as a pop culture phenomenon. There were no new films on the horizon, no licensed novels, and no new comics or toys (Marvel stopped publishing their comic by then). I remember the tenth anniversary of Star Wars being lightly announced in newspapers with no fanfare (whereas the 20th lead to all three films being rereleased). Anyway, one of the neat Star Wars toys I had was a hand-cranked movie camera with a film cartridge that contained a small number of (silent) shots from the movie (mostly the space scenes). To watch the scenes you rotated the crank, but you could do that as slow or as fast as you liked - and run the film backward. I would run the scenes by rotating the crank as slowly as possible, to see the Death Star explode in incredibly slow motion. I loved it! I don't remember what this toy was called, but I think it was a Kenner product. James
	Remove this ad

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Yuku free message boards

the star wars (1977) thread

the star wars (1977) thread