In 1977, when George Lucas had the guts (or was naive enough) to storm cinemas with a space fairy tale in which a princess had to be rescued from the clutches of a malevolent man with a German helmet, Kubrick's 2001 was still the standard for space spectacle. Lucas was not intimidated by that and found for Star Wars reinventing everything himself. Although...
His first notes for what would become his life's work were loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's Japanese adventure film The Hidden Fortress. As a director, he had at the time made some name for himself with two completely different films: the low-budget future fantasy THX 1138 and American Graffiti, a nostalgic look back at the lives of Californian teenagers in the 1960s.
With some good will, you could say that he combined those two passions in Star Wars. A space fantasy brimming with nostalgia for the comics of his youth. Flash Gordon has often been cited as an important influence. At the same time, he managed to make the viewer feel that it was all overwhelmingly new and original - which in many ways it was.
Its strong suit was its decision not to turn spaceships into shiny machines, but dented and dusty vehicles that gave the impression of having lasted for centuries. That approach was also seen later in Alien (1977) and Blade Runner (1982), for example.
Furthermore, it was a golden find that the human heroes were joined by droll robots R2D2 and C3PO, who provided much-needed humour. Immortal also became the Force, a kind of semi-religious energy field that insiders can make use of. 'May the Force be with you,' fans wished each other.
The Star Wars series that followed had its ups and downs, but the original Star Wars (later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) was immediately widely embraced.
The Volkskrant reviewer was still somewhat cautious in saying that its content is a "rather naive boy's book story" and did not yet see the film of the century in it, but still "technically very ingenious science fiction" and also noted:
"Director George Lucas wanted to gift the youngest (American) generation with a film that should provide today's youth with the pleasure Lucas himself experienced in his youth with comic book heroes like Flash Gordon and adventurers like Errol Flynn."
I myself noted in the Noordhollands Dagblad: "With sophisticated trickery and boyish bravado, he conjures up a spectacular fairy-tale world before the viewer's eyes [...] and the view of unknown planets is breathtakingly realistic (and thankfully humorous)."
US trade magazine Variety was immediately all praise and in 1977 started the discussion with the salutation "George Lucas set out to make the biggest possible adventure fantasy out of his memories of serials and older action epics, and he succeeded brilliantly." To add:
"Like a breath or fresh air, 'Star Wars' sweeps away the cynicism that has in recent years obscured the concepts of valour, dedication and honour. Make no mistake - this is by no means a "children's film," with all the derogatory overtones that go with that description. This is instead a superior example of what only the screen can achieve, and closer to home, it is another affirmation of what only Hollywood can put on a screen.
In casting his principals, Lucas chose three not-so-familiar faces, all young, talented and designed to make the story one of people, not of garish gadgetry. The superb balance of technology and human drama is one of the many achievements: one identifies with the characters and accepts, as do they, the intriguing intergalactic world in which they live."
Also The Hollywood Reporter was wildly enthusiastic and wrote: "Lucas combines excellent comedy and drama and progresses it with exciting action on tremendously effective space battles. Likeable heroes on noble missions and despicable villains capable of the most dastardly deeds are all wrapped up in some of the most spectacular special effects ever to illuminate a motion picture screen. The result is spellbinding and totally captivating on all levels."
Either way, Lucas must have touched a sensitive spot deep in all of us subconscious. The phenomenon would grow into an entire entertainment industry, and that original Star Wars quickly became the (at the time) most deserving film of all time.
Over a decade after the completion of the six-part series, another seventh instalment is here: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, now directed by J.J. Abrams. Disney has stipulated that reviews may not appear until tomorrow, but judging from a first message in Variety, the omens are promising.
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