On a recent episode of Making Tracks we caught up with producer Kyle Newman to discuss the new documentary A Disturbance In The Force, which looks closely at The Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. Accompanying the documentary is this book from Steven Kozak which delves deep into what Jimmy Mac describes as ‘the enormous trash heap of history surrounding the Special‘.
A Disturbance In The Force: How and Why the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened
Bea Arthur as the owner of the Mos Eisley Cantina. Long scenes entirely of Wookiees bleating at each other, without subtitles. Harvey Korman, in drag, as a four-armed Space Julia Child. Six minutes of Jefferson Starship performing for Art Carney and a bored Imperial Guard. Mark Hamill, fresh from his near-fatal motorcycle accident, slathered in pancake makeup. A salacious holographic burlesque from Diahann Carroll.
Even by the standards of the 1970s, even compared to Jar-Jar Binks, the legendary 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is a peerlessly cringeworthy pop-culture artifact. George Lucas, who completely disowned the production, reportedly has said, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.” Just how on earth did this thing ever see the light of day?
To answer that question, as Steven Kozak shows in this fascinating and often hilarious inside look into the making of the Special, you have to understand the cultural moment in which it appeared―a long, long time ago when cheesy variety shows were a staple of network television and Star Wars was not yet the billion-dollar multimedia behemoth that it is today. Kozak explains how the Special was one piece of a PR blitz undertaken by Lucas and his colleagues as they sought to protect the emerging franchise from hostile studio executives. He shows how, despite the involvement of some of the most talented people in the business, creative differences between movie and television writers led to a wildly uneven product. He gives entertaining accounts of the problems that plagued production, which included a ruinously expensive cantina set; the acrimonious departure of the director and Lucas himself; and a furious Grace Slick, just out of rehab, demanding to be included in the production.
Packed with memorable anecdotes, drawing on extensive new interviews with countless people involved in the production, and told with mingled affection and bewilderment, this never-before-told story gives a fascinating look at a strange moment in pop-culture history that remains an object of fascination even today.
Publisher: Applause; 1st edition
Author: Steve Kozak
Page Count: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1493075270
Release Date: 15th November 2023 (USA) / 15th January 2024 (UK)
Remember UK fans, the film premieres tonight at the Prince Charles Cinema off Leicester Square in London at 8.45pm tonight, so don’t think – grab your wallet and keys and head there now.
All UK Star Wars fans, check out the UK premiere of A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on Thursday, Nov 16th @ 8:45pm. Great way to celebrate Life Day Eve. Link for more info and how to buy tickets below. @ThePCCLondon https://t.co/3JRmaAYZCp
— A Disturbance in the Force (@SWHSDoc) November 3, 2023
- Kozak, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 11/15/2023 (Publication Date) - Applause (Publisher)
