This week on the CineTV blog, we’re talking about movies that you enjoy with friends. For more information check out the contest post at - @cinetv/cinetv-contest-68-favorite-movie-between-friends - be sure to check it out and the many other contest entries.
When it comes to films to watch and talk about friends, there is one film that sticks out at the top of my list, and it is a film that needs no introduction as most people will have seen it at least once, if not dozens of times. Star Wars (1977), the first blockbuster film in the modern era of movies and launched a major motion picture and literary franchise. Last night, my Bonnie Bride and I, along with a couple of friends, watched the original theatrical release of Star Wars for the umpteenth time, and we reminesced together about the first time each of us saw Star Wars for the first time. The following are some of my experiences and why this is such a good film to see with friends.
Star Wars poster - IMDB
When Star Wars appeared on the scene, I was just getting started down the path of Science Fiction Fandom and an active member in the local chapter of the Star Trek Association for the Revival (STAR), along with a few friends, including a guy known in Fandom circles as Zorch Frezberg, whom I had known since I was a heck of a lot younger, and at this time he was frequently known as Zorcho (Mark, his real name, passed away a few years back). Several months before the film was due to be released I ran across the novelization in a local bookstore, and intrigued, bought it and read it. Yes, I still have that copy. I knew this was going to be a fun film to see, and was looking forward to the release. Unfortunately, the closer theater showing it was a four hour drive away, and this kid was not going to get to see it anytime soon. One of my friends and fellow STAR members did go up to San Francisco to see it, and raved about it.
Front and back covers of my copy of the novelization Star Wars, 1st Edition, 1st printing
As fate would have it, though, shortly thereafter we (the folks and I) moved to San Diego, and a few weeks later I was able to go see it at the Mission Valley Theater (at that time is was a single screen move theater). The film rocked. Sadly, at that point I did have to go by myself having only recently relocated to San Diego and didn’t have any friends there. This would change when I joined STAR San Diego, one of the largest Science Fiction Clubs in the country with over a hundred fans attending the monthly meetings, many in costume, especially at this time Star Wars costumes. This became my biggest introduction to fandom, and the new Star Wars movie was the buzz, more than Star Trek.
A fan dressed as Darth Vader - StarCon '77
I would see Star Wars a couple of more times over the summer before attending my first Science Fiction convention, StarCon ‘77, at El Cortez Hotel. And yes, there was a plethora of Star Wars costumes there, girls dressed as Princess Leia (I remember the names of three of them, and still loosely in touch with one of them), and guys dressed as Han Solo (including the future prop maker Bear Burge) and a whole bunch more as Luke Skywalker, and a few Rebels and Imperials, in addition to numerous Trek outfits, and a few Logan’s Run costumes, Logan’s Run having been the big science fiction film of 1976 (and dwarfed by Star Wars). Actually, I felt a bit out of place in my Logan’s Run outfit, and also had a borrowed Klingon costume (I got my own Klingon rig a few months later), which helped me fit in. This was a long bloody time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
A group of Star Wars fans poolside, El Cortez Hotel, Starcon '77
Vaughn Pickett in Trek outfit, StarCon '77
Star Wars would continue on at the same theater in San Diego until sometime in ‘78 when it finally cycled out, and STAR San Diego went to the final showing as a fairly large group, which would be my seventh time seeing the film in the theater. One friend of mine saw it every week when it was in the theater, something on the order of 50 times by the time the first run ended. And yes, she was one of the many Princess Leias that showed up at conventions back then.
That's me in Klingon, holding a lightsaber, Galacticon 1980
Star Wars would continue to be a main choice for costuming for years to come, along with Star Trek, the two franchises being the main costuming choices of fans (NOTE - this is long before the term Cosplay had been coined), eventually having costumes from Battlestar Galactica showing up at conventions.
There was also a bit of friendly debate between fans about which franchise was better – Star Wars or Star Trek. My choice has always been both are great film franchises as I have enjoyed both throughout my life and my continued involvement in Fandom.
I hope you enjoyed this romp down memory lane with me, and some of the convention photos I took (and one of me). Remember – Han shot first!
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