While most fans are vaguely familiar with the hardships surrounding the making of
Star Wars -- a reticent film studio, a breakneck production schedule, an apathetic film crew, an inflexible budget, untested special effects technology, weather problems, droid problems, etc., few have heard direct testimony from those involved taken
during the film's production.
The Making of Star Wars, because it draws on interviews recorded primarily between 1975 and '78, brings a real sense of immediacy to its behind-the-scenes telling of the story.
Rinzler, author of both the Art of and Making of books for Revenge of the Sith, came well-prepared for this backstage study of A New Hope, having followed Lucas for three years during the making of Episode III, recording every step of its creation. For the retro-active Making of Star Wars, which covers events which took place over three decades ago, Rinzler needed a different set of tools.
"Everyone knew Revenge of the Sith was going to be a huge event and probably a huge hit," says Rinzler, "and everyone working on it was conscious of his or her role in cinematic history. The exact opposite was true for those working on Star Wars. A few had inklings, and Lucas was already somewhat well known because of American Graffiti, but no one had any idea of how enormous Star Wars would become. Quite a few people were sure they were working on a turkey. Whereas Episode III was traveling down a paved road, it was interesting to chronicle Star Wars' uphill struggle along a craggy, dangerous precipice. There was huge drama at every step of the way."
According to Rinzler, these struggles included the torturous task of writing numerous drafts of the screenplay, the battle to get the distribution contract with Fox, on-location filming disasters, the near-implosion of ILM, and other obstacles that could have very easily derailed the fledgling production. "It was from sheer willpower that Lucas got
Star Wars made," says Rinzler. "If he hadn't had the success of
American Graffiti before, even he might not have got it made. The details are in the book, but understanding just how tough it was, was a surprise."
