While 1978 was the year that Star Wars truly broke across the UK, the film originally opened in London back on 27th December 1977, and the BBC Archive have their footage from that illustrious day in Star Wars history as fans crowded around the Dominion on Tottenham Court Road.
#OnThisDay 1977: Star Wars finally opened for a few lucky cinema-goers in London. You can watch more Star Wars-related videos here – https://t.co/tAcdH1Yr4B pic.twitter.com/4Do60fomZi
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) 27 December 2019
The film was a phenomenon, not only in the States but across the world and here in the UK – the physical home of the original trilogy – it was no different.
On StarWars.com back in 2013 I posted the first of 2 articles looking at that first Star Wars Christmas here in Blighty, Star Wars In The UK: 1977, The First Star Wars Christmas and Star Wars In The UK: Late 70’s, Early 80’s. Both take a look back to the very beginnings of the Skywalker Saga, halcyon and far simpler days.