Episode #014: Star Wars (1977)

The Essential Films Podcast

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. On today’s podcast adventure, Adolfo and Mark discuss the 1977 George Lucas classic: STAR WARS! On this week’s show:
Growing up Catholic as a Star Wars fan
More Alamo Drafthouse discussions
Christopher Nolan’s distaste for CGI
What’s the perfect date movie of 2017?
The Star Wars/San Diego Comic-Con connection
All the trailers coming out of Comic-Con 2017
Disney hunting down trailer leaks
Jeff Goldblum makes everything better
A tribute to Martin Landau, George Romero and John Heard
Star Wars’ 40th Anniversary
The many titles George Lucas went through before settling on “Star Wars”
Why is A New Hope so good? Was it a fluke?
George Lucas was not tested in a big budget environment
George Lucas, the world’s biggest independent filmmaker
Star Wars changed the movie licensing game
The complex ownership between 20th Century Fox and Disney
When did we first experience Star Wars?
The Special Edition releases in 1997
Star Wars action figures!
Fast Food Star Wars tie-ins
The multiple VHS releases
Star Wars as a holiday film
Why did Adolfo get in trouble when he saw Star Wars in theaters in 1997?
Who won that damn Star Wars Hummer?
When did “Star Wars” become “Episode IV: A New Hope”?
How the naming convention was inspired by the old chapter movies of the 30s and 40s
Serials were not meant to be watched all at once
How the film was plagued with multiple production problems
Hammer Horror icons Peter Cushing and his on-screen rival Christopher Lee both appeared as Star Wars villains
The use of CGI to bring back younger versions of older actors (or dead actors)
Empire of Dreams: the best documentary on Star Wars
How Star Wars changed the sci-fi game in the 70s
How the crew completely disrespected George Lucas
George Lucas: Control Freak
The New Hollywood directors
The director has final say on a film
What Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg thought of the film when they saw the rough cut
“It rhymes.”
Why Jabba the Hutt isn’t needed in Star Wars Special Edition
Marcia Lucas is the real MVP
Star Wars: a space fairy tale
Did Lucas rip-off The Dam Busters?
David Prowse was not pleased he was dubbed over
The movie was really made in post-production
Ben Burtt: Sound genius
Inventing new technology just make the film
The birth of Industrial Light & Magic
How the Death Star trench run was filmed
The Prequels and their loyal defenders
The joint casting sessions for Star Wars and Carrie
Who was Mark Hammill’s competition for Luke Skywalker
The wacky names considered for Han Solo
Harrison Ford and Alec Guinness grew to resent the films
“I Was Going to Toshi Station to Pick Up Some Power Converters”
Is Princess Leia English?
Are you Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?
The great chemistry between Fisher, Ford and Hammil
Anthony Daniels does not have a career outside of C-3PO
The inspiration for C-3PO and R2D2
The second act problems of Return of the Jedi
Boba Fett: a great looking character without substance
What is the proper viewing order of the saga?
What Adolfo considers to be the WORST Star Wars movie
The most recognizable movie theme of all time
Star Wars launched a merchandising empire
Adolfo’s vintage Burger King Star Wars glasses
The “Empty Box” campaign
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Prequels, sequels, spin-offs and sequels
“When will then be now?” “Soon”
George Lucas can’t leave well enough alone
How can you watch the original theatrical versions (legally). Hint, it involves going on eBay and some outdated technology
The “De-Specialized” Editions
Han shoots first!
FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:
FLASH GORDON (1936)
BATMAN (1943)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)
BATMAN AND ROBIN (1949)
THE DAM BUSTERS (1955)
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958)
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
PLANET OF THE APES (1968)
THX 1138 (1971)
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
JAWS (1975)
LOGAN’S RUN (1976)
CARRIE (1976)
DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)
THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (1978)
MAD MAX (1979)
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO (TV Series, 1981-1983)
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
THE A-TEAM (TV Series, 1983-1987)
SCARFACE (1983)
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
MUPPET BABIES (TV Series, 1984-1991)
BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)
STAR WARS: DROIDS (TV Series, 1985-1986)
BIG (1988)
SPACEBALLS (1988)
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989)
HOME ALONE (1990)
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
ED WOOD (1994)
PULP FICTION (1994)
BATMAN FOREVER (1995)
THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO (1996)
BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)
THE IRON GIANT (1999)
THE SOPRANOS (TV Series, 1999-2007)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (2001)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)
EMPIRE OF DREAMS: THE STORY OF THE STAR WARS TRILOGY (2004)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED (Video Game, 2008)
THE WALKING DEAD (TV Series, 2010-Present)
THOR (2011)
THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2014)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
ANT-MAN (2015)
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)
DUNKIRK (2017)
WAR OF THE PLANET FOR THE APES (2017)
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
THE BIG SICK (2017)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)
READY PLAYER ONE (2018)
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2018)
THOR: RAGNAROK (2018)
LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
Star Wars glasses: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f3/4b/d1/f34bd1b1f58cbb9e586c826120a0c206.jpg
Harmy’s Despecialized Editions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmy%27s_Despecialized_Edition
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