CLASSIC IMAGE: COMING TO BLIGHTY!

A lovely image of the original Summer 1977 press screening invite, bearing the iconic Ralph McQuarrie logo, by FOX UK for the first full London press screening of the original STAR WARS at the huge screen DOMINION THEATRE in the West End-soon given an electric and overwhelmingly positive reception by the 1,000 plus attendees, and quite a venue to enjoy the visual spectacle of the movie, of which all press attendees and many of the films cast and crew, including Garrick Hagon (already pre-warned by Anthony Daniels that his early scenes had been cut), were literally gobsmacked by it-many of those who previously predicted that it was going to be a disaster actually getting out of their seats to clap at the incredible opening Star Destroyer scene! Quickly, from this response and the box office records being broken States-side, the UK newspapers were making demands to cover the film in the lead-up to its eventual smash-hit Xmas release.

A second no less enthusiastic screening, for trade, press and publicity, would be held in late October, again at the DOMINION, (guests would include TV presenter Michael Aspel, DOCTOR WHO star Tom Baker, with his producer Graham Williams and script editor Anthony Read, actor Richard Griffith, and upcoming new BBC sci-fi TV series BLAKE'S 7 producer David Maloney and its creator Terry Nation- all of whom would be envious of its big budget effects and blown away by the overall film). There was also at least one further advance screening in November at the Leicester Square Theater, again located in London's West End heart.