It doesn't take a science-fiction fan to know that 2007 is the 30th anniversary of the premiere of the original "Star Wars" film, but while Warsies everywhere celebrate the long-time success of the show, not everyone was very confident.
A new book by being published by Ballantine Books take a look at many of the interviews production members, cast members and even George Lucas made before the release of the film, and shortly after. "The Making of Star Wars" by J.W. Rinzler depicts a group of people exhausted from redefining moviemaking, and not sure they would see box office results from their work, The Hollywood Reporter said.
The movie opened May 25, 1977 in very limited release, showing in just 32 theaters across the country. It also was showing at Grayman's Chinese Theater, but only because another film -- "Sorcerer" -- had been postponed.
When Lucas was told by Twentieth Century Fox that "Star Wars" on just its first day was going to be a major sleeper hit, the creator and director was not convinced.
"Wait, calm down," Lucas apparently told the Fox production chief Alan Ladd Jr. in a phone conversation after the first day. "Remember, science-fiction films do really great the first week, then they drop off to nothing. It's a good sign, but it doesn't mean anything. Let's wait a couple of weeks.
"The movie's only been released for five hours. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch."
Many of the interviews featured in the book came from Charles Lippincott, who was vice president of marketing and merchandizing for Fox in the 1970s. Lippincott would later work to promote such films as "Alien" and "Flash Gordon." He was a producer in 1995's "Judge Dredd," and appeared as himself in the 1999 video production "The Unauthorized Star Wars Story."
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Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.
