Hollywood Studio Magazine (1978)

Stars Wars makes movie history When any motion picture takes off at the boxoffice like “Star Wars” shattering all boxoffice records in its blazing trail of success, it is only natural that everyone tries to understand why. And some of the men who worked on the movie have come up with their own personal views. Take George Lucas, who wrote and directed “Star War”, for example. “True Credibility” is the reason “Star Wars took off!” And, then he explains, “The trouble with the future in most futuristic movies is that it always looks new and clean and shiny. What is required is true credibility in a used future.” Speaking quite candidly, Lucas continues, ‘‘The Apollo capsules were instructive in that regard. By the time the Astronauts returned from the moon, you had the impression the capsules were littered with weightless candy wrappers and old Tang jars, no more exotic than the family station wagon.” Explaining his view on the secret of “Star Wars” incredible success, Lucas continues, “Although “Star Wars” has no points of reference to Earth time or space, with which we are familiar, and it is not about the future but some galactic past or some extra-temporal present, it is decidedly inhabited and used time and place.” To those who might question why all the various gimmicks were not explained in the movie, he answers, “We don’t explain everything. All the hardware is taken for granted.” No expense was spared in scouting the perfect locations for the scenes in “Star Wars”. Finding a setting that looked like it might be found on another planet in another galaxy was no easy assignment. The vast research included a world-wide exploration. All the deserts of America, North Africa and the Middle East were explored. The movie location on another planet in another galaxy called for a dry and arid desert landscape with limitless horizons. Finally the perfect location was found in Tunisia. March, 1976, a “Star Wars” produc 4—-— SCIENCE FICTION World-Wide Research for suitable location tion unit and cast descended on Tozeur, a small oasis situated in Southern Tunisia. This is where North Africa and Arabia meet, and the Sahara Desert begins. Eight weeks were required to turn the desert and towns into another planet by the crew. Actual filming began on the Chotte el Djerid, near Tozeur in Tunisia. “Chotte” means “salt lake” in Arabic. And, this was an arid, dried-up wasteland. Dotting the landscape there were occasional palm trees and all around the bare smooth desert reflecting the sun’s rays from its myriad streaks of white salt. Initial sequences in “Star Wars” take place on “Tatooine” -a planet in another galaxy. And, the young hero Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) lives in a unique homestead -a series of underground caves which he enters through a huge hole in the ground. Sand Dunes of the Tunisian desert just a few miles outside Nefta were also used. Several sequences were filmed against the rocky grandeur of a volcanic canyon outside Tozeur before the cast and crew moved on to Matmata, one of the most unusual towns in the world. Matmata is mostly inhabited by “troglodytes” -people who make their homes in caves cut from the sides of the crater-like holes in the ground. These craters dot the landscape, much like craters on the Moon. These unusual underground homes developed not so much as a defense against possible enemies, but as a means of protection from the weather. For here the weather shows its inhabitants no mercy; it is scorching hot in the summer, and bitterly cold by contrast in the winter. The typical Matmata home consists of an open central hole, 25 feet in diameter. Often the hole is surrounded by parapets. In this way, there is shade from the sun and protection from the wind. The only entrance is by a gently sloping ramp through atunnel. There is a small courtyard, and usually two rooms -or caves -complete with niches and recesses acting as shelves, seats and beds. George Lucas explains, “We filmed sequences at Matmata in the depths of Hotel Sidi Driss, which is larger but still typical of the local residents dwellings. In “Star Wars”, the hotel is seen as the interior of Luke Skywalker’s homestead.” After two and a half weeks’ filming in Tunisia, “STAR WARS” cast and crew flew over to London, England where they went to EMI, Elstree Studios for fifteen weeks of filming the more futuristic appearing Imperial Death Star satellite sequences. The innovative “special effects” that kept audiences on the edges of their theater seats were compiled in Los Angeles during a year of post production work. Second unit movie teams did filming on location in Death Valley as well as Guatemala. x “STAR WARS?” already the highest grossing picture in U.S. history is on its way to breaking the highest-grossing picture records around the world now. When it opened in Paris, one million people went to see it. The London opening was a fabulous success, and the London Discotheques have been ‘playing the music for months. The London Evening News ran a newspaper serialization, studded with photos to boost circulation. “Star Wars” merchandising has become a big business. Books, magazines, and music have all joined forces to keep the world “Star War” conscious. A new surge of popularity for Sir Alec Guiness has catapulted him into a cult hero. Guiness admits, “It’s a fun movie, but some spooky stuff has crept in. People are taking it too seriously, and I wouldn't encourage that altogether.” And then he adds cautiously, “I do believe that something like the force exists. But not as expressed in Star Wars.” Artoo Detoo, the heroic little robot of “Star Wars” has become a movie hero in his own right. “Star Wars” records and concerts have become popular, triggering a whole new wave of popularity for the Science-Fiction books, magazines, as well as serious studies on UFO's. Above all the film has proven once again that good movie entertainment will find a box office return around the world. xx