Unless you live under a rock, you know what ‘Star Wars‘ is. It’s a fandom that has deeply permeated pop culture and continues to do so. ‘Star Wars‘ has brought light into many worlds and made a wealthy man out of its creator George Lucas.
Struggling to get his start in the 70s Hollywood, Lucas went on to create something extraordinary. ‘Star Wars‘ changed people’s perception of him and the definition of blockbuster cinema. But how did George Lucas come around to making stories in a galaxy far, far, away?
George Lucas Was Inspired By The Works Of Akira Kurosawa
George Lucas is a long-time admirer of the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. His first exposure to foreign films came about in film school. After seeing ‘Seven Samurai,’ George Lucas got hooked on Kurosawa’s visual style and storytelling etiquette. He was inspired by many of the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker’s movies.
However, it was Akira Kurosawa’s film ‘The Hidden Fortress‘ that lit the fuse for George Lucas. This 1958 film follows peasants Tahei (Minoru Chiaki) and Matashichi (Kamatari Fujiwara), tasked with safely escorting Makabe Rokurōta (Toshiro Mifune) and Princess Yuki (Misa Uehara) as they attempt to smuggle gold from Yuki’s Akizuki clan through Japan.
George Lucas used the foundation of ‘The Hidden Fortress‘ to create ‘Star Wars: A New Hope.’ Lucas made the Tahei and Matashichi characters into the lovable droids C-3P0 and R2-D2. Princess Yuki became a model for Princess Leia, with General Rokurōta becoming the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Has ‘Star Wars’ Won Any Academy Awards?
Despite having a torrid time making ‘A New Hope,’ ‘Star Wars‘ became a global phenomenon and multimedia franchise created by George Lucas. The franchise has branched into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe.
Out of 37 Academy Awards nominations, ‘Star Wars‘ live-action movies have won seven. ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ won Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects, Visual Effects, and Best Music, Original Score for composer John Williams. ‘The Empire Strikes Back‘ won the Oscar for Best Sound in 1980.
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