#vintage #nostalgia #promo STAR WARS made its network television debut on CBS on February 26, 1984 and had a very cool intro from Mr. Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker himself. This is a really fun little time capsule off a high quality Betamax tape recorded off-air. Thank you to Meredith95 for making it available.
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C-3PO and R2-D2 in the fantastic motion picture that started it all. George Lucas is amazing. Star Wars next Beating the Rabbit one Monday at six. You were about to become part of the phenomena of Star Wars. In a few minutes, you'll see a movie that's become more than just a movie For seven years now, it's been part of my life, and the saga it's given birth to has touched the lives of millions of others.
It has a magic Star Wars that magic doesn't lie only in its brilliant special effects. Its power derives from its spirit of romance and adventure. It's like the movies and clip hanging serials of the past. It's an exciting and very special fantasy. And when it came out, the world went instantly. Star Wars crazy.
May 1977. A legion of fans are already waiting when Star Wars opens at Hollywood's legendary Chinese theater. Similar record breaking crowds gather at the openings in Australia and England.
Eager moviegoers rewrote the record books around the world as George Lucas's Science-Fiction adventure becomes an unprecedented international phenomenon.
There has indeed been nothing like it in the history of the movies.
In the modern world. Success can't be confined to one medium. It spills over into every area of our lives. And so it was from a very beginning with Star Wars. It spawned more star wares than anyone could count and creatures. Its music models have permeated our culture. Within minutes, it seemed collectors were vying to be the first to own the newest Star Wars product.
But after three movies, the title of Champion Collector probably must go to the Steuben family of New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
The collection is said to be worth over $15,000. But what value can be placed on the affection the world beamed to the film's two metallic megastars? R2-D2 and C-3PO were in the forefront of the honors bestowed on the picture while they got to make their indelible impression with the men outside Hollywood's Chinese Theater.
The movie collected innumerable awards, including six coveted Oscars but perhaps the true measure of the film's success can be taken by assessing its power to touch the lives of its viewers.
They came and they waited for Star Wars and for each of the two sequels that followed. In city after city across America, the same scenario was repeatedly played out.
People camped out overnight to see the Rose Parade, and this is worth at least three times as the Rose Parade. So we're here for 21 say.
They did, right. Some even got married in Star Wars movie lines and spent their honeymoons inside at the movie George Lucas at the time explained the fascination with Star Wars. I think one of the key factors in the success is that it's a positive film. It has heroes and villains and that it essentially is a fun movie to watch.
The message of Star Wars reached out beyond the movie when President Reagan sent a telegram to Sally Ride aboard the Challenger saying May the Force be with you.
Even Walter Cronkite, the eminent Greaves of America's Space Communication Network, visited George Lucas in his intergalactic workshop. Take this little tiny section down here for Cronkite in a television special commented on the possible lasting impact of Star Wars.
The scale. The complicated mixture of sophisticated technology, space age machinery and Starry-Eyed fantasy. And today's science fiction films just may serve as inspiration for upcoming generation of scientists.
Once it was released, the impact of Star Wars was obviously great. But during the making of it, none of us had the slightest idea of what was to come. We were making a movie and we were enjoying it. Harrison Ford was asked at the time how much fun it was. It was a lot of fun. How much fun but this much and even more.
More fun to make and much, much more fun to watch. And now what has to be one of the most extraordinary moments in movie history? The beginning of the Star Wars saga.
MAGIC JOHNSON: I think R2, I think he was my main, my hero in Star Wars.
STEVEN SPIELBERG: In 1977, George Lucas put the butter back in popcorn and Star Wars became probably the most fattening movie of the last ten years.
Valerie Bertinelli: The first time I saw Star Wars, I was struck by the fact that R2-D2 and C-3PO reminded me a lot of Laurel and Hardy.
When Star Wars first opened, it had such an impact on my house. Not only did my son love the movie, but he was so fascinated with the special effects, weren't we all?
BRUCE BOXLEITNER: Han Solo has a way of getting into and out of trouble. The only problem is his mouth. The more he opens it, the more trouble he gets.