I have a copy of the original version. No episode number, no A NEW HOPE. My earliest Star Wars memory was seeing it the theater in 1979. Yes 79. We didn't really have rental movies yet (VCRs existed but were 1000s of dollars in 1979 money). Movies came back into the theater a lot more back then. And yes they didn't add the stuff until Empire came out as Episode V. This is well documented. I have documents from back in the day that prove it. Most of the material that people have today is from after that point when VCRs became commonplace. Hence the confusion. I don't actually remember the opening crawl that well from when I originally saw it.
I remember when I was very young, my parents were hurrying to drive us home, and I wasn't sure why. We got home, turned on the TV, they plopped me down, and there was Star Wars. We got there just in time for the space battle around the Death Star and the trench run.
I didn't understand what I was seeing, but I didn't need to. I was hooked on F&SF from then on.
I recall the original opening, the unenhanced special effects, and the overacting from script. Sir Alec Guinness loojed like he was in yet another B movie. Then like COL Breen from "Bridge Over the River Kwai," the realization "My God, what have I done?"
I saw Star Wars in 1977 right as I turned 10 (May 29). I could fully read and understand the opening crawl. I wonder how many 10 year olds can do that in 2026.
Yep, I was there, May '77. I remember the minor thrill a few years later when the new release added the "Episode IV: A New Hope," as a promise of more to come, both prequel and sequel.
Proof reading needs work. the Lucasfilm documentary The Other Side of Midnight as a condition of getting Star Wars at all — several exhibitors took the deal specifically because they wanted the documentary. I also saw it in a very small theater. I was working a job in a small town in WA state. Man I was working with heard about it and asked if I wanted to go. Knew nothing about it but had nothing better to do. The theater was packed. I think we got the last two seats. It was GREAT. Only thing better was when I watched Bullet in college at the student theater. At the end they rewound the film to the beginning of the car chase in SF and showed it again. Twice!!
I have a copy of the original version. No episode number, no A NEW HOPE. My earliest Star Wars memory was seeing it the theater in 1979. Yes 79. We didn't really have rental movies yet (VCRs existed but were 1000s of dollars in 1979 money). Movies came back into the theater a lot more back then. And yes they didn't add the stuff until Empire came out as Episode V. This is well documented. I have documents from back in the day that prove it. Most of the material that people have today is from after that point when VCRs became commonplace. Hence the confusion. I don't actually remember the opening crawl that well from when I originally saw it.
Based. We need non-special editions released again.
Next year isn't it?
I saw The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the early 80's when it returned to theaters. More movies should be returned to the big screen.
Yes they should. I saw Song of the South.
I remember when I was very young, my parents were hurrying to drive us home, and I wasn't sure why. We got home, turned on the TV, they plopped me down, and there was Star Wars. We got there just in time for the space battle around the Death Star and the trench run.
I didn't understand what I was seeing, but I didn't need to. I was hooked on F&SF from then on.
I recall the original opening, the unenhanced special effects, and the overacting from script. Sir Alec Guinness loojed like he was in yet another B movie. Then like COL Breen from "Bridge Over the River Kwai," the realization "My God, what have I done?"
I saw Star Wars in 1977 right as I turned 10 (May 29). I could fully read and understand the opening crawl. I wonder how many 10 year olds can do that in 2026.
Yep, I was there, May '77. I remember the minor thrill a few years later when the new release added the "Episode IV: A New Hope," as a promise of more to come, both prequel and sequel.
And Han shot first.
Proof reading needs work. the Lucasfilm documentary The Other Side of Midnight as a condition of getting Star Wars at all — several exhibitors took the deal specifically because they wanted the documentary. I also saw it in a very small theater. I was working a job in a small town in WA state. Man I was working with heard about it and asked if I wanted to go. Knew nothing about it but had nothing better to do. The theater was packed. I think we got the last two seats. It was GREAT. Only thing better was when I watched Bullet in college at the student theater. At the end they rewound the film to the beginning of the car chase in SF and showed it again. Twice!!
The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Star Wars, when I was not quite 7 years old. To say it changed my life is an understatement.
That's one reason that I hate these franchise-destroying leftists SO very much.
https://shapeofcinema.substack.com/p/the-empire-strikes-back-1980?r=8dbojf&utm_medium=ios
https://shapeofcinema.substack.com/p/the-star-wars-trilogy-1977-1980-1983?r=8dbojf&utm_medium=ios