WithStar WarsCelebration happening all weekend long, we thought it would be a good time to revisit a hidden gem in the franchise’s canon, the 1983 TV documentaryFrom Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga. The entire 65-minute film was split up into nine segments on the officialStar Wars YouTubepage last May, but in case you missed it last year, you can watch it all right here. The documentary, which aired on PBS in December 1983, was written by Richard Schickel, who previously wrote the TV documentariesThe Making of Star Wars(1977) andSP FX: The Empire Strikes Back.
Ever wonder how they ever madeStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope,Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes BackandStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi? Well this documentary explains it all as we’re taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of the making of theStar Warssaga. It shows how the puppets are made and worked, and creatorGeorge Lucastalks about what influenced him to do it, and everything. Narrated by Luke Skywalker himself,Mark Hamill. In part 1 ofFrom Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga, Hamill explains the main plot of the saga and the story of Luke Skywalker, a Tatooine farmboy who discovers his Jedi destiny. On his journey across the galaxy, Luke would confront evil in the form of Darth Vader, Sith Lord; learn from Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda; and discover both the dark side and light side within himself. Princess Leia, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and other companions would join Luke – but he would face the ultimate villain, the Emperor, alone.
Filming of the originalStar Warsbegan in Tunisia in 1975, withGeorge Lucasserving as writer/director;Irvin Kershnerhelmed The Empire Strikes Back; and Richard Marquand was behind the camera for Return of the Jedi. As seen in the video, Lucas was heavily involved in all the films, including effects sequences like the Death Star attack and Hamill’s costume fitting from Return of the Jedi. In an interview,Lucasexplains that creating the world in A New Hope was a big hurdle. With that done, he was free to tell bigger and better stories with its sequels. Take a look at this full TV documentary below, and stay tuned for more fromStar WarsCelebration throughout the weekend.
