Page 56 - Star Wars Insider #176

TEASER TRAILERS

episode five udiences’ first look at creatures.” But what would

Star Wars’ sequel is a bit have been most tantalizing for
the empire Afeaturing movie footage, fans in 1979 was the promise of
unusual: rather than
“an awesome confrontation between
strikes back it was created using concept art and Luke Skywalker and the master of the
still photography. Shots across close
dark side of the Force, Darth Vader!”
ups of Ralph McQuarrie’s paintings Given the lack of live-action
T E ASER T R A IL ER, 1979 give the sense of movement, as does footage, viewers might have been
the “Venetian blind” effect applied to forgiven for thinking that the new
imagery of the familiar heroes movie would be animated, were it
and newcomer Lando Calrissian not for the closing character stills.
(played by Billy Dee Williams). The intriguing photo of Lando—
As in 1976, the Star Wars logo smiling, but not described as either
move slowly towards the viewer. hero or villain—is the closing shot
Another reminder of the 1977 of the trailer before the logo shoots

blockbuster is John Williams’ back into infinity and explodes.
unmistakable main theme music. As the blast echoes in the
As the music plays and emptiness of space, the title appears
visualizations of Hoth and Cloud at the bottom of the screen and the
City slide by, a laconic voiceover voiceover assures us that The Empire
teases “exotic worlds” and “new alien Strikes Back is “coming next year!”

episode SIX
RE TURN OF

THE JEDI

T E ASER T R A IL ER, 1982

y the time the first trailer for Return of the Jedi
(here titled Revenge of the Jedi) debuted, Star Wars
was so well established, moviegoers would have
Bhad no doubt what they were about to see as soon
as they heard the words “A long time ago…”
The trailer dispels any doubts about Han Solo’s wellbeing
after he was frozen in carbonite, showing him at the heart of
the action early on. Feeling more like a modern trailer than
the preceding teasers, the emphasis here is firmly on action.

With the exception of grunts, cries, and R2-D2’s signature
sounds, the only character to say anything is Admiral
Ackbar, with the debut of his catchphrase, “It’s a trap!”
The voiceover is eager to add hype to the wonders still to
come. “An epic of heroes and villains,” intones the narrator.
“An adventure as vast as the universe!” Has there ever been
a better line to sum up Star Wars?

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