The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film
by J.W. Rinzler
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Book Summary Information
Author: J.W. RinzlerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-04-24
ISBN: 0345477618
Number of pages: 324
Publisher: LucasBooks
Book Reviews of The Making of Star Wars (TM): The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film
Book Review: A "must have" for Star Wars fans
Summary: 5 Stars
"Making Of" was written a few years ago by J.W. Rinzler. He was able to comb the Lucasfilm archives and unearth dozens of interviews that were conducted contemporaneously with the making of the original film. This, along with tons of production artwork, photographs, and behind the scenes materials are what comprise the book. It was both a difficult read, and an easy read. After reading the introduction by Peter Jackson, I plowed straight in to the book. It's not a terribly long book (around 300 pages), but it a big book - thick and unwieldy - printed in an almost sadistically small font. It's also printed on heavy stock paper, with just enough gloss to make it challenging if lighting conditions aren't ideal. There - that's the bad - all physical issues with the book itself. Now on to the good.
As a fan, I pride myself on knowing a decent amount of Star Wars trivia and folklore. Still, I was amazed at the things I learned in the book. It's been 33 years since the original film came out. I, like some many others, have grown up with the Star Wars mythos as part of the fabric of my life - it's easy to take for granted. For most of us, we don't really remember a world without Star Wars. (I'm also happy to say that I've passed my love of "Star Wars" done to both of my kids.) With that perspective, I found it fascinating to Lucas struggle to pull this new world together. You get to follow that evolution through four different versions of the script, and ultimately to what we all know and love from the film itself. You can see Lucas as he struggles to meld the ideas that he has, refine them down., and deliver a true "modern fairy tale". You also see his unyielding self criticism, and unhappiness with how the movie eventually turned out. It's easy to understand why he revisited the films in 1997 to "fix" them, and try to put on the screen the story he always wanted to (except for the Greedo incident - there he should have left well enough alone - Han ALWAYS shoots first. End of story).
Along with the evolution of the script, you get a good look at what it took to start a special effects company from scratch (ILM), and get a movie that no one believed in, made in the late 70's. There were many stories I had heard before - Luke Skywalker was originally called Luke Starkiller; and many that I had not heard - he was called Starkiller up until just shortly after principle photography had started. Lucas felt, with the Manson murders in the news, that Starkiller might not play well. They hadn't yet filmed the scene where Luke introduces himself to Leia in the Death Star prison cell, so the change was made.
If you are a "Star Wars" fan, or just a fan of movies, you should read this book. I am giving it five stars. I almost gave it four stars because it was so physically frustrating to read but, in the end, I just enjoyed it too much. "Star Wars" was a seminal event in film history, and I loved to get a look behind the scenes of how it came to be. Rinzler is publishing a definitive history of the making of "The Empire Strikes Back" - due out this summer. I've already got it in my shopping basket on Amazon.
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