Why does Star Wars matter so much to Generation X? How did it's release become such a world-changing event? Even if you were there at the time, understanding the difference between the world Before and the world After. 

This episode certainly won't have all the answers, but it will look at what was happening at that moment in movies. 

 

Space Con 4 - or IV or whatever

https://fanlore.org/wiki/Space-Con_(Star_Trek_and_Science_Fiction_convention)

I remember that program book - had a copy. Worked as a Gopher on the second day - no experience required, it was my first time at a con, they didn't care, they needed people.

An original Star Wars Trailer, to refresh your memory, if needed.

https://youtu.be/XHk5kCIiGoM

It was only ten years after the START of Star Trek, barely 8 after its last episode aired on NBC, and there was talk by the guests about What Might Happen Next - what these days is referred to as Phase II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Phase_II

It quickly turned into 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Motion_Picture

(No doubt, in part because of Star Wars.)

I could put an image or a link on here for the lobby book that we had, but I'll just say instead to do an internet search for "original star wars 1977 theater book"

 

And while we're at it, "fantasia psychedelic poster" will let you see what I saw in the foyer of that theater, a young boy who was very excited that there was a movie with dinosaurs in it. 

Star Wars actually made "highest grossing movie" a thing that mattered. That was probably because Gone With The Wind had been The Big One for nearly 40 years at that point - before Star Wars, well, who could feasibly dethrone the Biggest Movie Ever?

Anyway, if you want to play that game, here's a place to go

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films_in_the_United_States_and_Canada#Adjusted_for_ticket-price_inflation

Hey, I messed up on Julia: It won 3 Oscars. And it's about fighting Nazis, but not the Holocaust itself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_(1977_film)

Couldn't hurt to take a look at my previous analysis of The Force Awakens

http://stories.generationalize.com/2015/12/the-force-awakens-initial.html

There's a reason for this link to be included, but it would be too much work to explain why.

https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/what-we-lost-not-having-carrie-fisher-in-rise-of-skywalker.html

For all of those Disney family films, I'm going to point out Charley and the Angel because a)it has Harry Morgan as The Angel and b) the title appears to be the first thing like "Charlie's Angels" 

(I remember that I saw this movie at some point, probably thought it a decent one, but don't remember anything about it.)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069866

And my favorite of the Dexter Riley films, Now You See Him Now You Don't.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069031

And let's throw a bone to Arnold, since it's easily lost otherwise and it's a film I remember seeing and...yeah, I couldn't have been even a teenager at the time.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069732/

Oh heck - how did I miss The Bad News Bears, which came out a year before Star Wars and is the first time you really SEE Generation X in a movie?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074174/

(I could've used Bugsy Malone but sadly I've never seen it, and it seems to be trying to be a kids movie itself.)

Here's a list of other Gen X films for comparison and edification.

http://stories.generationalize.com/2016/03/movies-of-generation-x.html

In addition to the Stories blog, I'm on Twitter at @generationalize. 

Opening fanfare from the original Star Wars soundtrack, as is the closing -  Princess Leia's theme.  (Which John Williams played at one of his Hollywood Bowl performances, and noted was originally intended as a love theme for, um, her and Luke, since, well, nobody really expected changes, and, um, yeah.)