A Film Initially Called Star Wars
The original 1977 theatrical release was titled simply Star Wars; the Episode IV and A New Hope subtitle appeared in the opening crawl in 1981.
Movie
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Star Wars
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Why it's in the Vault
Star Wars: A New Hope is a landmark space adventure whose influence on popular cinema remains impossible to overstate. George Lucas combines the simplicity of a mythic hero's journey with memorable characters, imaginative alien worlds and John Williams's magnificent orchestral score. Luke Skywalker's discovery of a much larger universe, Han Solo's roguish charm and Darth Vader's imposing presence establish a mythology that continues to captivate generations. Seen today, some of the pacing, action choreography and practical effects reveal their age, especially when compared with the technical possibilities of modern science fiction. Yet the handmade quality of the creatures, spacecraft and environments also gives the film a distinctive personality that polished digital spectacle cannot always reproduce. An essential piece of cinematic history and a wonderfully imaginative adventure, even if its original sense of technical astonishment has inevitably softened with time.
— Matty, Curator of the Vault
Atmosphere
Adventurous, mythic, nostalgic, heroic, imaginative
Sense of adventure
Nostalgia
Visual spectacle
Dramatic tension
Contains science-fiction combat, laser gunfire, explosions, implied mass casualties, threatening villains and some frightening images.
Dans les coulisses
Ce qu'on ne voit pas à l'écran
Revolutionary Visual Effects
Industrial Light & Magic was established to develop the film's groundbreaking motion-control effects.
A Record-Breaking Success
The film became a major box-office phenomenon and transformed Hollywood's approach to blockbuster filmmaking.
The Voice of Darth Vader
James Earl Jones supplied Vader's iconic voice while David Prowse performed the character physically.
A Legendary Opening Crawl
The scrolling introduction was created using practical photographic techniques rather than computer-generated graphics.
A Changing Film
The 1997 Special Edition and later revisions altered numerous visual effects and scenes, making the original theatrical version distinct from many modern releases.
Aux origines
Original screenplay by George Lucas
Palette
Les couleurs du film
Tatooine Sand#C7A16A
Rebel Alliance Orange#C66B3C
Imperial Black#25272C
Lightsaber Blue#5BA6CE
Death Star Grey#7E8586
Starfield Gold#E3C777
Images
