So, I've read that a short film (now unfortunately lost?) was shown in front of ESB in 1980. What else would have been shown? If you saw Star Wars in 1977, ESB in 80 or ROTJ in 83, what was shown before the film? I assume trailers, but I'd like to know which.
'Black Angel' is not necessarily lost:
When I was a kid, the theater sometimes had some low-volume background music playing in the partially lit theater. When the lights went down, a few trailers, then the film. There was one constant throughout the 70s for me. I've probably seen this bumper 200 times;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F_tv1XNoCc
It's a totally different experience in the theaters of today. Man, you're bombarded with commercials and TV previews prior to the film, then 5 or 6 trailers at ear-piercing volume, then the movie. The seats are more comfortable these days though. ;-)
On topic;
I don't think I've ever been to a movie where there was a short shown first.
I would love to see Black Angel again.
As far as music goes I remember Kiki Dee and Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" as one of the tracks played before the curtain came up.
I also remember there being a trailer for Star Wars, before Star Wars.
JEDI had the first THX sound thing. Also the teaser for WARGAMES.
The only thing that I remember seeing(besides the movies themselves!)when I went to watch SW and ESB back to back in 1981 is this Pearl And Dean AD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCo1Ffn9_u8
There might be other UK members here who remember the same?!
I saw Star Wars in 1977. Many, many, many times. For 3 years it was just Star Wars...period. I saw it in good theaters, cheap theaters and drive-ins with those clunky metal speakers you hang on your window. The screen and sound quality never subtracted from the excitement. I can watch the original cut right now, over 30 years later, on some beat up VHS tape and enjoy it. It's the story that makes this movie. Nothing? else.
http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=SkAZxd-5Hp8
I saw Star Wars at an Odean cinema so I didn't get Pearl And Dean but instead got Rank Advertising.
Something like this would also have been a feature.
There was an amusing advert for the bar at the cinema which had the tagline, "enjoy your friends at the Hollywood Bar".
Not sure what I saw before ESB and RotJ but generally theaters showed a kaleidoscopic shifting image with soft muzak. Kinda like this:
Interesting reading. I've just started a thread in preservations about a proposed reconstruction project - I'd be glad to hear of any thoughts on what should go into it!
http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/1977-UK-theatre-intro-reconstruction/topic/14490/
An extra couple of snippets from the In70mm site:
Some engagements added 70mm blow-up version of animated short "Duck Dodgers In The 24th And A Half Century".
(From this page.)
"Sorcerer" film editor Bud Smith recalled his experience in seeing the coming attractions trailer he had cut for that film in front of "Star Wars" at the Chinese Theatre: "When our trailer faded to black, the curtains closed and opened again, and they kept opening and opening, and you started feeling this huge thing coming over your shoulder overwhelming you, and heard this noise, and you went right off into space. It made our film look like this little, amateurish piece of [expletive]. I told Billy [Friedkin], 'We're [expletive] being blown off the screen. You gotta go see this."
(From this page.)
Bingowings said:
Something like this would also have been a feature.
That's a good reel. Full of all the ads and attraction cards.I remember those like it was yesterday.
So apparently this was shown in support of RotJ - ring any bells for anyone?
Guessing this is where you spotted things:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231461/reviews
Weird early example of computer animation, 10 February 2006
Author: Alex Gifford from AustraliaMy friend and I obsessed for years over the identity of the short film we saw, whenever we went to see 'Return Of the Jedi' in the UK in 1985. I remembered the images of the Easter island Head being shot and he remembered the bigger fish swallowing the smaller fish and so on... After a through search I managed to track it down on DVD - and I was not disappointed!! The 'story' is simple, the film tells of the developments of man, and how all we are doing is inventing new and bigger machines and working towards war and our own destruction. But, it's the imagery that always sticks and the often very strange soundtrack. The film was applauded on it's release as it used computers for animation for one of the very first times (how things have advanced), but I remember it as the short film before 'Return Of The Jedi'. Having finally tracked it down I was able to fully relive one of the moments of my youth - and it was good!!
Jonno said:
So apparently this was shown in support of RotJ - ring any bells for anyone?
Not only was that really enjoyable to watch, but...
Qui-Gon Jinn said:
There's always a bigger fish
Still better than Prometheus.
Recent update to the 'Black Angel' story:
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/12/20-12-pl_blackangel/
Christian is still debating how to share Black Angel with fans.
none said:
Recent update to the 'Black Angel' story:
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/12/20-12-pl_blackangel/
Christian is still debating how to share Black Angel with fans.
This is excellent news!
I hope we'll get a proper preservation of Return of the Ewok in the near-future as well.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Post 102 is worth more.
I’m late to the party, but I think this is the best song. Enjoy!
—Teams Jetrell Fo 1, Jetrell Fo 2, and Jetrell Fo 3
More Black Angel news:
The restoration's had some screenings, and a Netflix/iTunes release is planned for next year. Nice clip in that link btw.
