The Origins of Star Wars: How George Lucas Changed Cinema Forever
Few films have transformed popular culture as dramatically as Star Wars . Released on May 25, 1977 , what is now known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was expected by many industry insiders to be a modest science fiction adventure. Instead, it became one of the highest-grossing films in history, launched one of the world's largest entertainment franchises, and forever changed the way movies are made, marketed, and experienced. The story behind Star Wars is almost as remarkable as the film itself. It is the story of a young filmmaker who combined mythology, old movie serials, Japanese cinema, and cutting-edge special effects into something audiences had never seen before. George Lucas: A Young Filmmaker with Big Dreams 4 George Walton Lucas Jr. was born on May 14, 1944 , in Modesto, California . As a teenager, Lucas was fascinated by automobiles and dreamed of becoming a professional race car driver. Just days be...