'Empire of Dreams' looks at 'Star Wars'

The documentary has audition tapes and comments from Steven Spielberg.
By FRAZIER MOORE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A quarter-century after the release of "Star Wars," who remembers a time before?
But a documentary about this cinema phenomenon observes, "The 'Star Wars' trilogy didn't just change the way we look at movies. It changed the way movies are made." Not to mention modern mythology.
"Star Wars: Empire of Dreams" is an unusually well-done and thorough look at how the young George Lucas had an idea for a film (an updated Flash Gordon, 1930-ish space opera) that few understood or supported, then, in a fight to the finish, how he got it made.
The documentary, which airs at 8 tonight on A & amp;E, puts "Star Wars" in historical context (you could thank Richard Nixon and Watergate, in part, for its grateful reception by a public seeking something to believe in). And it tracks the many choices and innovations that went into the film, which are now accepted as holy writ.
Trying out
Among the delicious tidbits: black-and-white audition tapes with Kurt Russell and William Katt, as well as Mark Hamill; Cindy Williams along with Carrie Fisher (who won her role by promising to drop a few pounds).
Best of all, "Empire of Dreams" consults nearly everyone you'd want to hear from, including Lucas' pal Steven Spielberg, the film's performers and key off-screen participants.
Months late, after nonstop production problems, battles with the studio, a complete re-editing, and a bout of hypertension waged by Lucas, "Star Wars" premiered May 25, 1977. The crazy little film was an instant archetype.
With characteristic humor, Fisher sums up how she experienced the "Star Wars" whirlwind: "You're not really famous until you're a PEZ dispenser. But I'm not really famous. Princess Leia is. And I look like her."
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