40 years on: Star Wars at the Oscars – part two

George Lucas at the 1978 Academy Awards.
Would he ever need to get out of his seat?

It was one of the most surprising Oscar nights ever. The 50th Academy Awards were held amid protests and controversy, with the top prizes going to a film whose director was not there.

Last time, we saw how Mark Hamill and the droids helped lighten the mood after some gasps and boos at a controversial speech by Best Supporting Actress winner Vanessa Redgrave. Now, it's on to more of the competitive awards – and a few early wins for Star Wars.

Spoilers in 1977: How much did people know about the original Star Wars going in?

The Marvel Star Wars comic book was
one of many ways to get Star Wars spoilers
Photo: Comics A-Go-Go! 

The phrase "spoiler warning" is a pretty recent invention. Back in the 1970s, you could stumble upon films' plot twists quite easily. 

Today, Episode Nothing considers the spoilers that were around in 1977, as news spread of the incredible success of Star Wars.

Selling Star Wars: Fox boss Peter Myers on the film's original release

Audiences outside Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood,
the cinema most associated with Star Wars

Did 20th Century-Fox know what it had on its hands with Star Wars?

Many books and articles written about the film's first release have insisted that George Lucas had a much better idea than Fox about how to market the movie. 

Just what the internet needs – another Star Wars blog

Star Wars before it was Episode IV: the original opening crawl

Yes, this is another blog about Star Wars.

But it's about Star Wars the film, not the franchise.

Specifically, it's about the original film as it was in 1977, before it was Episode IV of anything. These were the days when it was just – as the early trailers put it – "the story of a boy,a girl and a universe".