HAPPY FORTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY TO THE ORIGINAL 'STAR WARS'!

One of the early US adverts for Star Wars cinema release- art by Tom Jung. Note the original logo with the 'W'.

It was an undiminished joy watching multiple times the original Star Wars in the cinemas on its barnstorming release from 1977/78, and it continues to be an undiminished joy for millions and generations to watch and adore either via VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats, even with the many controversial changes/additions made to it. It's timeless, it's iconic, it's magical, it's unforgettable, remaining unbeaten as the legacy launch point to so, so much in our modern world of entertainment.

HAPPY FORTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY! to the original STAR WARS! 

'STAR WARS' AT 40: LAUNCHING DOLBY STEREO!

Early FOX promo for DOLBY STEREO's work on the upcoming Star Wars.

"Making Films Sound Better." The mantra of the Dolby System sound company as their early work on the original STAR WARS was soon demonstrated to great acclaim in many of the bigger cinemas in the US and UK then showing the film in exclusive engagements. There was still a long way to go to make sure that the sound, music and dialogue of a film were as crisp and audible as they deserved to be, what with so many seventies and eighties cinemas worldwide needing to upgrade from the Mono system, but the definition of great sound in modern blockbusters was a revolution clearly on its way!

'STAR WARS' AT 40: 'FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...'

A selection of FOX trade ads promoting STAR WARS for Oscar consideration in 1978.

It's a more than well know fact that the Academy Awards organisation and its many diverse member voters in Hollywood aren't all that fond of the realms of science fiction and fantasy, but in 1977 even they couldn't ignore the immediate stratospheric box office success and overall impact with the general worldwide public that STAR WARS had made. When the time came for the Variety film news trade paper and other titles of similar ilk to begin putting out their showbiz advertising campaigns paid for by film companies for the 1978 Oscar ceremony, a proud 20th Century Fox was eager to push for STAR WARS to get award consideration in all the departments it could. At the end of the day, though, and as expected, STAR WARS ultimate wins saw the vital human element of the film ignored, though it pretty much won all the technical awards everyone expected, as well as a Special Achievement Award in sound effects editing.

'STAR WARS' - SWEDISH STYLE!

Old enemies and old friends assemble in this fun and highly nostalgic Swedish promotional image nicely composed for the 1980/81 Kenner Toy Range of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

it’s little me, in a pair of commercials from the 80s! | WIL WHEATON dot NET