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Star Wars 40th Anniversary: Why I Refused To See The George Lucas Film in 1977
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- Category: Blogs
- Published: Thursday, 25 May 2017 09:34
On May 25, 1977, people lined up to see a new sci-fi film from an unknown director named George Lucas. I wasn't one of those people. I was only six years old, and I refused to see a movie titled STAR WARS solely based on the sexist movie poster. The movie's one-sheet featured a sexy Princess Leia at the feet of a buff warrior holding some kind of weapon. I said no thanks to my male cousin when he invited me to go see it with his parents. Who knew I was a feminist at the ripe young age of six, but all that was about to change.
As a kid growing up in Los Angeles, I was drawn to television shows that featured strong female leads. I begged my mom to let me stay up to watch WONDER WOMAN, CHARLIE'S ANGELS and THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES. Being a tomboy, Disney princesses weren't my thing. I was riveted by the women taking control of the situation. Sadly at the movies, there were no role models I could look up to.
When STAR WARS became a certified hit, I still refused to watch it until my cousin came home from the movies and couldn't stop talking about how cool the movie was. He promised I would fall in love with the film, and he begged me to go watch it again with him. I vividly recall him pitching the movie, and I was just not having it. At the time I called the film dumb but what I really meant was "cheesy." The poster was just a put off but at six you really don't know why. I just knew that the image of a sexy woman at a man's feet felt degrading.
I finally agreed and our parents took us to the Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Stubborn even back then, I told him I'd watch it to prove him wrong. As soon as Darth Vader walked onto the rebel alliance ship, I was hooked. C-3PO and R2-D2 reminded me of my favorite comedians, Laurel and Hardy so I fell in love with them instantaneously. Then Han Solo came into a scene, and it was love at first site. I was attracted to scoundrels even back then. When a fearless Princess Leia faced Darth Vader and stood up to him, I knew that was my girl. She could do good all by herself and bossed Han Solo and Luke Skywalker around after her "rescue." I had found my new role model, and as a young girl it was a life changing moment.
I recall being so excited during the movie that I kept asking my cousin to tell me what happens next, but he was getting annoyed and shushed me. After the movie I couldn't stop raving about STAR WARS, and of course, my cousin had to say it. "I told you so." After that I begged my parents to let me see it again, and because my parents are awesome people, they obliged 12 more times. My cousin and I had a running bet who would see it the most. I won.
When Carrie Fisher passed last year, it was like a punch in the gut. Sure she was an actress playing a part, but the influence she had over me and thousands of other little girls has meant so much. Here was a character fighting for what was right, and she stood up to forces regardless of her gender.
STAR WARS changed my life, and to this day I obsess over anything STAR WARS. It's hard to believe 40 years has passed, and I'm feeling rather old, but I'm proud that I was around in 1977 for the birth of a phenomena known as STAR WARS.