Star Wars: The Force was with George Lucas
In 1977, a young director, George Lucas, released what would become the greatest science fiction saga of all time: Star Wars. But we should immediately think about the word "science fiction" in relation to these films: Myth, epic, narrative adventure also coexist in Star Wars.
About George Lucas - A Life, by Brian Jay Jones.
In 1977, a young director, George Lucas, released what would become the greatest science fiction saga of all time: Star Wars. But we should immediately think about the word "science fiction" in relation to these films: Myth, epic, narrative adventure also coexist in Star Wars. It is these elements that have allowed the original story to expand. The magic has been repeated in dozens of films and productions. Star Wars is a kind of epic in which the frontiers to be explored seem endless. In fact, they reflect the equally endless frontiers of the abyss of the human soul.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
George Walton Lucas Jr. was born in 1944 in Modesto, California. There were four children in the family and he was the only male of the Lucas couple. He had a close relationship with his younger sister Wendy. On the other hand, he always had a contentious relationship with his father, which would come to influence his filmmaking. In addition to his passion for science fiction series like Flash Gordon (television was in its infancy), George developed a deep interest in motorcycles. He began riding at the age of thirteen and then attended the Modesto City Machine Shop, hoping to one day become a professional rider. He struggled in school, which complicated even more his relationship with his father and pushed him to spend more and more time around engines, until he was involved in an accident that nearly killed him and forced him to spend an entire summer in rehab. He spent his time studying and managed to graduate from high school. He then convinced his father to let him attend film school at USC (University of Southern California).
First goals
From there he began working in the film industry, thanks in part to his wife, editor and future producer Marcia Griffin (1945-). In 1971, he founded Lucasfilm Ltd. The first hit was 1973's American Graffiti, produced in association with Universal and Coppola's production company, who was at the height of his success with his film about the Italian-American Mafia. In 1995, American Graffiti was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress. In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked it seventy-seventh on its list of the one hundred best U.S. films of all time. In 1974, Lucas completed the first draft of a "space" movie with the help of his friend Steven Spielberg (1946-), who suggested him composer John Williams (1932-) for future soundtracks.
Star Wars
Faced with the need for special effects, Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic, initially coordinated by the young John Dykstra (1947-), who played a key role in the final rendering of the film. With financial backing from 20th Century Fox, Lucas developed the entire project within a few years, and in May 1977, Star Wars was released in American theaters to unprecedented success. By the end of the year, the film had become the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing his friend Spielberg's Jaws.
Brian Jay Jones's book
George Lucas, by Brian Jay Jones, is the first comprehensive account of the history of this iconic director, how he built his cinematic empire, and the enormous impact he has had on cinema. The book is at once a biography, a business manual, and a history of film-making. It explores the life and work of a fiercely independent writer/director/producer who became one of the most influential filmmakers and cultural icons-a true game changer.
Skywalker Saga
Original Trilogy
- Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
Prequel Trilogy
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Sequel Trilogy
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Spin-off films
- Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
- The Ewok Adventure (1984)
- Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985)
Standalone films
Live-action films
- Rogue One (2016)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Animated film
- The Clone Wars (2008)