Alex at the BFI Film on Film 1977 Star Wars Screening
George Lucas’ Star Wars (1977) is a Sci’Fi Adventure Movie that went on to shape the genres and the movie industry as a whole. Starring Mark Hamill as the main protagonist Luke Skywalker, a young farm boy who had stumbled upon an R2 Unit containing a plea for help and stolen plans that could aid the rebellion against their adversary The Galactic Empire.
I had the pleasure to view this film in one of it’s most earliest (publicly released) forms pulled straight from the BFI National Archive during their Film on Film Festival 2025, fantastically preserved on the original 1977 dye transfer IB Technicolor British release print. This was my first time ever seeing the original cut as I never had the opportunity to watch the originals or even the early home releases, quite a few edits had been made over the years from the addition of the “Episode 4, A New Hope” title to the special editions more drastic in-film alterations. Here none of that was present and for the first time in a long time I can confirm that “Han Shot First”, to which the whole audience during my screening erupted in cheers.
Big Thanks to the BFI for inviting me down to Southbank for this extremely rare showing, and for the sneak peek at the original continuity script for Star Wars.
BFI Film on Film, Film Festival 12/6/25 (12A) 5 Stars
Youth #Gottit View:
In the Sci-Fi fandom world – this was like having an Oasis ticket. Seing this iconic film as it was originally released has become something of a legendary thing over the decades. Fingers crossed Disney will release it one day to a much wider audience. Please, please for the 50th anniversary?!!!!
The Original 1977 Star Wars Teaser Trailer!!!
