MovieChat Forums > Star Wars (1977) Discussion > Anyone see this in the theater when it c...

Anyone see this in the theater when it came out?

posted 7 years ago by Jehosaphet (1063)
32 replies | jump to latest

In another thread, someone is talking about how much this movie is just bleh...corny and boring, it didn't age well etc. And yeah, maybe that's the case, but I think there's also a case to be made that the movie(s) are so woven into the fabric of pop culture that we forget just how different it was from anything else at the time it was released. Yes, the plot is somewhat of an amalgamation of movie plots that came before it, but the details, remember how dang unique this stuff was during the day?

Like, I clearly remember being terrified of Darth Vader, with the all black appearance, the way he breathed while he talked, but mostly it was that mask of his. Just...scary as hell. And probably at least partly because it was so other-worldly, like nothing you'd ever seen before.

Leia's hair looked just...so dumb lol I think I may have had a quick moment of wondering if we were supposed to take it seriously or not, but there was tons of stuff that was really mind blowing back then. Just that one shot of Luke cruising along in his land speeder was enough to seal the deal as this being the most amazing thing I'd ever seen in my little life, him hauling ass just above the ground like that.

The most lasting impression of Star Wars though was from Empire, which I saw in theaters at 10. The Imperial walkers, when they made their appearance on Hoth, those lumbering, laser shooting giants looked like something straight out of a frigging nightmare. There was literally nothing to tie them to...you couldn't put them in any kind of context...just a complete "Holy sh*t! WTF is that??" moment that no other movie has yet to replicate.

I wonder how much having seen this in the theater back in the day has to do with how much its loved by people, you know? Because it was a whole other experience, and one that I think makes people who view the movies as lukewarm seem unfit to hold an opinion. Anyone have anything else that sticks out as just...so awesome?

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2451) 3 years ago

My friends and I saw it at the theater in 1977. Our town then lacked a theater and we had to travel thirty miles. The line stretched clear down the block and around the corner and the theater being small doubtless not everyone got in. After the end when we got out my friend's big brother said, "That was so open-ended. Nobody got the girl and the villain got away. They're setting up for a sequel." My friends and I stood amazed at his brilliance. I saw it again later that year at the drive-in.

[–] kenburke (2386) 3 years ago

I did and loved every minute of it!!!

[–] christomacin (4697) 3 years ago

Yes. We went to Burger Chef before he movie and got one of the posters. My brother still has the whole collection.

[–] liscarkat (19031) 3 years ago

I saw it in a theater in Orange County, California during its original release in 1977. It was quite a big deal, and everyone in the theater gasped and shrunk down in their seats when the giant ship passed over near the beginning. One thing that was different back then was the advertising. There were black billboards around with nothing on them but the words "Star Wars is coming in May". Nobody knew anything about it, and there was a lot of suspense. In contrast, if it was released today we'd have seen much of it and heard all the clever lines in the trailers long before we ever actually got to see the movie.

[–] TheMouseShadow (418) 3 years ago

probably ten times. It was like a revelation when it hit.

[–] MovieKnut (184) 3 years ago

I saw it during its initial release. Saw while on holiday in Nairn, Scotland. The cinema is not there anymore. A supermarket has been built on the site.