Archive of the Day

From Blockbuster by Tom Shone, a scene in which George Lucas screens Star Wars for several movie people in 1977:

(Alan) Ladd hated Harrison Ford's performance -- thought it was too camp -- and resolved to ask Lucas to fix it in the editing, but for the moment he said nothing and simply left. Everyone else headed out to a Chinese restaurant; as soon as they sat down Lucas asked them, "All right, whaddya guys really think?" (Brian) De Palma plowed into it: "It's gibberish," he said. "The first act, where are we? Who are these fuzzy guys? Who are these guys dressed up like the Tin Man from Oz? What kind of movie are you making here? You've left the audience out. You've vaporized the audience."