The man who gave the go-ahead to the making of the original
Star Wars back in 1975 from his US offices at Twentieth Century Fox,
Alan Ladd, Jr.'s instincts on the youthful talent and quiet determination of filmmaker George Lucas, against the criticisms of so many naysayers, soon paid rich dividends for the struggling Hollywood company (and then some) by 1977, so the production of the first sequel of the franchise in London, despite many behind the scenes woes, seemed more than a sure-fire bet at the worldwide box office, of which the enthused power player visited the set with his UK Fox team (including Peter Beale, left behind Ford) and enjoyed the company of Harrison Ford, a rising star of whom he'd work with again, for 1982's
Blade Runner.
Marcia Lucas would recall that George pitched the original concept of Star Wars to Alan Ladd, Jr. as 'The Dirty Dozen in Space", of which Ladd was very enthused, wanting to make a film the captured the all-important youth market of the 70's, whilst also knowing that Fox desperately needed a potential bankable hit. George Lucas would deliver the goods on both fronts.
