The Galaxy Britain Built: Droids, Darth Vader & Lightsabers

[SpeedBash]

This sounds like it could be good.

Airs on BBC4 on Thursday 21 December 2017 @ 22:00.

BBC said:

The Galaxy Britain Built celebrates the British contribution to the original Star Wars.

Presenter and Star Wars fan David Whiteley uncovers some never-before-heard stories from the geniuses who helped build the galaxy, from the costume designer and art director to the man who made the lightsaber.

The programme documents the behind-the-scenes talent that helped bring the galaxy to life in the late 1970s. It also looks at how the British talent continues to be part of the Star Wars legacy to the present day.

Programme Page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09k5l6w

Trailer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qc3rs

Clip: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qwnhv

Star Wars: The blockbuster made in Borehamwood

[Halb]

SO happy I'm checking pages in here, I would have missed this.

[s p a c e m a n]

[PH5121]

I'm enjoying watching it.

[Tango13]

Genuinely enjoyed watching that

[Watchman]

Good shout. Just finished this and agree with all the above. You often hear of people trading on a single act they may have committed earlier in their lives and it leaves a bit of a sour taste, but the people involved in the production of Star Wars literally made dreams for millions of people and deserve the recognition.

I was 9yo when I watched Star Wars. My daughter is 9yo now, but she seems so much older than the boy I was sat in the back seat my Dad's car after the film, looking up at the night sky and wondering if it *could* all be possible.

It looked so believable on screen, thanks to all those people on both sides of the Atlantic... although I can't help but think it was the British mentality of overcoming the lack of a decent budget with invention and imagination that made the look and feel of the film so real.

Edited by Watchman on Friday 22 December 21:01

[Halb]

It was a wonderful doc, also made sense the stuff about Rogue One at the end.

[SpeedBash]

Bit of a bump...BBC 4 repeated this on Monday 16 December 2019 @ 21:30.

As such, it's now available on iPlayer if you missed it or wish to watch it again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000cdzt/the...

[Halmyre]

Missed this first time round and glad I caught it now. Really interesting listening to these people talking about their experiences.

[Eric Mc]

Watched it the other night. It was really good - as was the preceing programme which was about the Palitoy compnay and their Star Wars merchandise - and the struggle to get it into production.

Although it wasn't mentioned in the programme, Airfix got mixed up in the saga that eventually ended up with the demise of Palitoy - namely both companies were acquired by the American food giant, General Mills. Palitoy did not survive the experience. Airfix did - but only just.

The purchase of various UK toy companies by General Mills back in 1980 or so was a complete disaster for toy manufacturing in the UK.

[seyre1972]

Halmyre said:

Missed this first time round and glad I caught it now. Really interesting listening to these people talking about their experiences.

Me too - missed 1st 10 minutes of the repeat - but will re-watch it all way through. Interesting re the other programme mentioned re the Toy manufactures and the Star Wars tie ins. Will look to catch this as well over the quiet/off-time over Xmas.

[anonymous-user]

Watched it last night.
Really rather good. The Blue Peter props were rather telling of how low-budget SW and movies in general used to be.
Felt it lost its way a bit towards the end and didn’t seem to know how to finish.
Would’ve perhaps been better as two episodes, one covering the original film, and a follow up detailing its legacy.

[Halb]

Watched them both agin. Very good.
I watched a youtuber who makes great videos on classic toys. He's made a few on the lines of Pallitoy, he's got some great info, for those interested.
THE STORY OF ACTION MAN - Part 1 of 3 - Documentary Film - Vintage Action Man Collection
Analog Toys

https://youtu.be/-1MxYXHb6d4

[seyre1972]

Halb said:

Watched them both agin. Very good.
I watched a youtuber who makes great videos on classic toys. He's made a few on the lines of Pallitoy, he's got some great info, for those interested.
THE STORY OF ACTION MAN - Part 1 of 3 - Documentary Film - Vintage Action Man Collection
Analog Toys

https://youtu.be/-1MxYXHb6d4

Ooh - cheers - will add that to my "To Watch list"

[AshVX220]

I caught this show last night and really enjoyed it. Great to hear of peoples experiences and makes you realise the talent that got involved in the film, most of whom thought it would come to nothing. The clip of the movie reviewer talking about how bad it was, I wondered what happened to him?

[Eric Mc]

I remember a girl I used to work with who saw the film just after it was released and she thought it was total rubbish. She said that the way R2D2 waddled about made him look like he had wet his pants.

Her overall impression of the film was wrong although she had a point about R2D2.

[anonymous-user]

Eric Mc said:

....a girl....thought it was total rubbish.

Yep, sounds about right.

[FourWheelDrift]

AshVX220 said:

The clip of the movie reviewer talking about how bad it was, I wondered what happened to him?

Was it any of these? - https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-original-r...

[Halmyre]

Eric Mc said:

I remember a girl I used to work with who saw the film just after it was released and she thought it was total rubbish. She said that the way R2D2 waddled about made him look like he had wet his pants.

Her overall impression of the film was wrong although she had a point about R2D2.

Waddled? All R2D2 ever did was roll along or jiggle about on the spot when excited. Was she thinking about C3PO perhaps?

[anonymous-user]

Halmyre said:

Waddled? All R2D2 ever did was roll along or jiggle about on the spot when excited. Was she thinking about C3PO perhaps?

It was a girl. We’re lucky she even knew which film it was.