Star Wars at 35: Photo Force ~ a behind-the-scenes pictorial celebration of A New Hope
It’s a brother-sister thing: Mark Hamill (with lightsaber prop and in a natty black shirt) and Carrie Fisher (replete with bagel buns) pose for Terry O’Neill in this little seen publicity shot
Today – yes, today – is exactly 35 years since the world changed forever. How so? Well, 4 May 1977 was the first day on which crowds of kids queued around the block to see a strange, little outer-space-set sci-fi flick that would go on to alter the direction of Hollywood and worldwide cinema, make Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and Chewbacca household names and ensure a girl in white with a bagel-bun hairdo signalled the sexual awakening of an entire generation of boys. In short, 4 May 1977 was the day on which Star Wars (or Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, if you were born in the ’90s) was unleashed on an unsuspecting Planet Earth.
And to mark this milestone, this very blog will be dedicating the entire month of May to that very flick – and to a lesser extent its sequels and, yes, prequels. Indeed, to kick-off the interstellar love-in is this post itself – an overly affectionate tribute, I’m afraid, to the well of awe-inspiring wonder and magical marvellousness that is Star Wars, featuring, as it does, oh-so familiar quotes from the movie scattered among little-seen behind-the-scenes pics of its making. May the Jedi delight begin – oh, and the force be with you, of course…
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PASS MOUSE over images for more information/ CLICK on images for full size
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“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope…”
~ the best home-movie Luke Skywalker’s ever seen
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“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…”
~ Ben Kenobi pulls a fast one on weak-minded stormtroopers
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“I suggest a new strategy, R2: let the Wookie win”
~ C3P0 offers sensible advice on hearing how bad a loser at intergalactic chess Chewie may be
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“That’s no moon…”
~ Ben Kenobi realises the Empire’s pulling a fast one on a planetary scale
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“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”
“I’m Luke Skywalker – I’m here to rescue you!”
~ a brother and sister are finally reunited
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“The circle is now complete: when I left you I was but the learner, now I am the master”
“Only a master of evil, Darth”
~ two old friends exchange pleasantries
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“Remember, the force be with you. Always”
~ and so an entire generation goes a wee bit Buddhist. Sort of...
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Thanks to The Making of Star Wars by J.W. Rinzler for many of the images
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Further reading:
George's Journal 
May the 4th be with you!
I’ve got a bad feeling about this! In fact that is how my head felt on the 5th, me and a few mates played the infamous Star Wars drinking game while watching the film on the evening of the big day!
Revenge of the Fith?
Ha, sounds a top way to celebrate The ‘Wars big night, Simon! I’m looking forward to watching it in the next few days (as well as the five others in the series) in order to review them on here. 🙂
And very witty, dublo 😉 – forgot to add a link to your marvellous blog post on Ralph McQuarrie’s concept art for A New Hope; it’s there now, though…!
Such a Great iconic film, if you were born in the late 60’s, early 70’s this defined your childhood. Simon, http://www.morethanjustprint.co.uk