Star Wars Movie

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science will pay tribute this evening to Adam Beckett, an animator and visual effects artist who was little known during his lifetime but whose work endures in pop culture through his contributions to the original "Star Wars." The overlooked artist, who died in a house fire 30 years ago at age 29, was "a unique talent," says his friend and co-worker Richard Winn Taylor ("Tron"), a visual effects artist who is co-hosting the retrospective this evening at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

At 10 theaters around the country, 20th Century Fox is taking advantage of the massive crowds for "Independence Day" to tout another little space alien project it has planned for theaters next February: the 20-year anniversary re-release of the "Star Wars" trilogy. The crowd-pleasing trailer, showing in Los Angeles only at the Mann Village Westwood, has been the subject of considerable Internet chatter in recent weeks as cyber-philes wondered where and when it might pop up.

When producer-director George Lucas was out stumping for the preservation of America's film heritage, he wasn't expecting the problem to hit so close to home. In preparation for the re-release of his 1977 blockbuster "Star Wars" on its 20th anniversary, 20th Century Fox discovered that the film was in serious need of repair. "We found when we went back that the film needed more than being cleaned up," says Tom Sherak, executive vice president at the studio. "Not the whole movie, but part of it."

George LUCAS, looking overheated under the midday sun, gamely worked the red carpet last Sunday at the world premiere of the latest cinematic installment to his space saga, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." At one point, Lucas was photographed with one of his most avid fans, a grinning, chubby fellow from Pennsylvania who showed up at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre wearing two-day stubble, a sweat-stained shirt and a brimmed frontier hat that Indiana Jones would admire.

On Nov. 17, 1978, the "Star Wars" universe was rocked by a disturbance in the Force more calamitous than the destruction of Alderon, more catastrophic than the Clone Wars, and more devastating than the introduction of Jar Jar Binks. It was "The Star Wars Holiday Special" (or "TSWHS"), a two-hour prime-time special on CBS, in which two worlds collided: "Star Wars" and the traditional television variety show. If you have a bad feeling about this, you aren't alone.

Want tickets? May the force be with you. "Star Wars" will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special screening April 23 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The evening kicks off the academy's fourth annual "Great to Be Nominated" series, which showcases best picture Oscar nominees that garnered the most nominations in a particular year but didn't win in the top category.

Lucasfilm Ltd. has chosen Los Angeles for the 30th anniversary celebration of the release of "Star Wars." The company will take over the L.A. Convention Center May 23 through 28 for a wide range of events, including back-to-back screenings of all six of the space adventures. The event is dubbed "Celebration IV," because officially sanctioned "Star Wars" conventions have been held in Denver (1999) and Indianapolis (2002 and 2005). The 17-hour movie marathon begins at 9 a.m.

The fourth edition of "Great to Be Nominated," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' screening series honoring the film from each awards year that received the most nominations without winning best picture, blasts off Monday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater with the 30th-anniversary screening of "Star Wars." Besides receiving a special achievement Oscar for Ben Burtt Jr.'

What's that old saying? It ain't over until the fat Ewok sings? Well, that's the motto Wednesday, at least, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where more than 2,500 fans are expected for the first-ever American theatrical screening of all six "Star Wars" films in story order. That means the event will start at 9 a.m. with "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" and, about 17 hours later, will wrap up with the teddy-bear luau at the end of "Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi."

A long time ago (well, it was actually 30 years ago this Friday, to be precise), a California dreamer named George Lucas introduced us to a galaxy far, far away with a quirky and grand space opera called "Star Wars." It blatantly copped elements of Flash Gordon, "The Wizard of Oz," "Lawrence of Arabia" and Camelot, but it also created something wholly new and revolutionary in American cinema.