I reckon I'd have prefered it if they'd have made the film like this trailer had shown it to be like.... a space civil-war. That's what I think the prequels got wrong... it was too showy-offy and less 'farm boy come soldier/guardian'.
I remember seeing TV commercials when this came out which got me excited to see the movie. I was only 5 at the time of its release, but it changed my life. The commercial was much more succinct, just a lot of cool shots from the movie and Williams' music.
I would have never seen this trailer for the movie because I hardly ever went to movies before Star Wars, just a few Disney things my parents took me to - just too young for anything else.
Just goes to show you how powerful John Williams score is. A completely integral part of the story and feeling. Star Wars would not be what it is without it.
Looking back, yeah this teaser is downright hilarious and cheesy, but considering Star Wars was predicted be considered a piece of crap by the Fox execs back then, they tried as hard as they could to make it exciting.
I'm sorry, but I really like this trailer, while everyone else seems to hate it. Think about it, this trailer came out in December 1976, six months before the film came out. So logically it wouldn't be or look finished.
I was a kid in 1977 when I first saw this trailer and it got all of us so jacked up to see it! It was a different time, and it's hard for someone who didn't live through it, understand something from before their time. Let's just say that this trailer made us want to see this on opening day -- and we did just that on May 25, 1977. The trailer certainly didn't hurt the film from becoming the biggest box office hit of all time that year, either.
@TServo2049 It's been a year since you posted this, but I'll respond: the voice on this trailer (and in successive trailers for the original release of this trilogy) belonged to Malachi Throne.
Yeah, it's a great historical movie trailer looking back, but in 1977 it didn't do the movie any favors with the cheesy, cliched voice-over. Mark Hamill once told a story where he went to a movie and the trailer was playing, and the "A billion years in the making, and it's coming to YOUR galaxy this summer!" part came up
Then some guy in the audience shouted out "Yeah, and it's coming to late night TV six months after that!"
Its true to say this trailer isn't all that good. But in the end they added some music, little more sound effects and added colour to the lightsabres and the rest was history
That's hilarious. Boy, was he eating those words a year later.
I love this trailer because it gets the film's tone so incredibly wrong. It makes it look like a dark, scary suspense drama. It shows how clueless the Fox salespeople were about just how to promote this weird movie they had on their hands. They had no precedent to go by. So totally shooting in the dark, they apparently tried to play it up as hard science fiction.
Whoa, I just love the cheesy 70's voicepver and the rather...uh...layed back temporary score. So glad John Williams gave us such a memorable theme for this movie.
The voice over is provided by the king of Sci Fi at that time... William Shattner.
johnerik03 1 month ago
@johnerik03 It's actor Malachi Throne providing the voiceover...
barztool 1 week ago
This reminded me of a twilight zone trailer.
cubsfan4life33 1 month ago
white lightsabers ?
Buddytroost 2 months ago
This is such a fun early trailer. It's neat they did'nt even have the tone of the movie down pat at this point yet.
jayce79 3 months ago
what music was used for this trailer? pleaseee tell meeee
unmisfitminor101 3 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
I reckon I'd have prefered it if they'd have made the film like this trailer had shown it to be like.... a space civil-war. That's what I think the prequels got wrong... it was too showy-offy and less 'farm boy come soldier/guardian'.
mandolaman12 3 months ago
You'll kiss three buck goodbye... HARDWARE WARS!
MarvelAlliance2 4 months ago
I remember seeing TV commercials when this came out which got me excited to see the movie. I was only 5 at the time of its release, but it changed my life. The commercial was much more succinct, just a lot of cool shots from the movie and Williams' music.
I would have never seen this trailer for the movie because I hardly ever went to movies before Star Wars, just a few Disney things my parents took me to - just too young for anything else.
bluechao 4 months ago
I don't know why, i just love when a movie trailer says "This summer" especially if it is this old.
horaciosi 5 months ago
Just goes to show you how powerful John Williams score is. A completely integral part of the story and feeling. Star Wars would not be what it is without it.
sweetheart815 8 months ago
Vader uses a red light saber and Obiwan uses blue in the film; this early trailer shows both using white light sabers.Billion yrs in the making!
skunkburna 9 months ago
Vader and ObiWan both using white lightsabers; was they both white in the film?
skunkburna 9 months ago
@skunkburna Obviously they were still finishing the effects when the trailer was put together.
Paul07791 9 months ago
1:38... priceless
Straixin 9 months ago
There's no John Williams soundtrack...
Kangaxxter 9 months ago
Looking back, yeah this teaser is downright hilarious and cheesy, but considering Star Wars was predicted be considered a piece of crap by the Fox execs back then, they tried as hard as they could to make it exciting.
nepomusik 9 months ago
I'm sorry, but I really like this trailer, while everyone else seems to hate it. Think about it, this trailer came out in December 1976, six months before the film came out. So logically it wouldn't be or look finished.
ThatsGoodTelevision 1 year ago 11
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I was a kid in 1977 when I first saw this trailer and it got all of us so jacked up to see it! It was a different time, and it's hard for someone who didn't live through it, understand something from before their time. Let's just say that this trailer made us want to see this on opening day -- and we did just that on May 25, 1977. The trailer certainly didn't hurt the film from becoming the biggest box office hit of all time that year, either.
August138 1 year ago
There was different angles in the battle of Vader vs. Kenobi.
ALL the lightsabers we're white.
I think the color it was the original recorded until they changed to handed animation and color.
The effects, and sounds we're different.
The film was going to be released on December 1976. But it moved due the complication of special effects.
They spended 11 million originally 8, but because of effects. This film saved Fox to go on bankrupt.
The shortest and less expensive film of the saga.
TheOneBeatle 1 year ago
when this came out they werent even done with the movie
gamerdude309 2 years ago
> Wow, this is a great example of how BAD this movie could have been had all the right things not happened for it.
Absolutely, true enough!
latvdude 2 years ago
WOW. I remember seeing this ... but don't think I've seen it since.
What I didn't remember was how abysmally awful that music track was ... :O
latvdude 2 years ago
No clue WHO voiced this, it's not Orson Welles OR Paul Frees.
The music is a *very* slow version of "Winter" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons suite
TServo2049 2 years ago
@TServo2049 It's been a year since you posted this, but I'll respond: the voice on this trailer (and in successive trailers for the original release of this trilogy) belonged to Malachi Throne.
DougEngalla57 9 months ago
Wow, this is a great example of how BAD this movie could have been had all the right things not happened for it.
That teaser made it look horrible. Ice Pirates anyone?
lifeinaustin 3 years ago
that cheesy 70's voiceover is orson wells
doozi 5 years ago
Doozi: I believe it to be Paul Frees. Orson Welles was one candidate to voice Vader, though.
timharrod 4 years ago
It can't be orson. They couldn't afford him
elbethere 4 years ago
Orson voiced the original trailers so I don't see why he wouldn't so the teaser(s) also.
doozi 4 years ago
Star Wars: A billion years in the making, and it's coming to YOUR galaxy...this summer.
Jeeze Louize, the trailer certainly did the movie no favors, did it?
KevServo 5 years ago
I couldn't dissagree more. It's great.
elbethere 4 years ago
Yeah, it's a great historical movie trailer looking back, but in 1977 it didn't do the movie any favors with the cheesy, cliched voice-over. Mark Hamill once told a story where he went to a movie and the trailer was playing, and the "A billion years in the making, and it's coming to YOUR galaxy this summer!" part came up
Then some guy in the audience shouted out "Yeah, and it's coming to late night TV six months after that!"
KevServo 4 years ago 2
I saw that
Its true to say this trailer isn't all that good. But in the end they added some music, little more sound effects and added colour to the lightsabres and the rest was history
CrimsonSapphire45 4 years ago
That's hilarious. Boy, was he eating those words a year later.
I love this trailer because it gets the film's tone so incredibly wrong. It makes it look like a dark, scary suspense drama. It shows how clueless the Fox salespeople were about just how to promote this weird movie they had on their hands. They had no precedent to go by. So totally shooting in the dark, they apparently tried to play it up as hard science fiction.
Marbles471 2 years ago 13
Yeah also this could all be happening in space right now
TriPLeKoVAx42 4 years ago
Whoa, I just love the cheesy 70's voicepver and the rather...uh...layed back temporary score. So glad John Williams gave us such a memorable theme for this movie.
OceanbornAngel 5 years ago
You gotta admit though---that temporary score is damn spooky. Especially when played with 0:36 to 0:42. (shiver).
Marbles471 2 years ago