OVERLAY REPORT

The film **Star Wars** (1977)—later subtitled *Episode IV: A New Hope*—was a massive critical and commercial success that garnered a wide array of domestic and international accolades. At the time, it was revolutionary for a "genre" film to receive such high-level recognition, particularly in the major categories of the Academy Awards. ### **1. Academy Awards (Oscars) – 1978** *Star Wars* received a total of **10 competitive nominations** and won **6 competitive Oscars**, plus a Special Achievement Award. * **Wins:** * **Best Art Direction:** John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, and Roger Christian. * **Best Costume Design:** John Mollo. * **Best Film Editing:** Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, and Richard Chew. * **Best Original Score:** John Williams. * **Best Sound:** Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, and Derek Ball. * **Best Visual Effects:** John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, and Robert Blalack. * **Special Achievement Award:** Given to **Ben Burtt** for the creation of the alien, creature, and robot voices. * **Nominations:** Best Picture, Best Director (George Lucas), Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), and Best Original Screenplay. ### **2. Golden Globe Awards – 1978** * **Win:** **Best Original Score** (John Williams). * **Nominations:** Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director (George Lucas), and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness). ### **3. BAFTA Awards (British Academy) – 1979** Because the film was released in the UK later than in the US, it was recognized at the 1979 ceremony. * **Wins:** **Best Music** (Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music) and **Best Sound**. * **Nominations:** Best Film, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. ### **4. Saturn Awards – 1978** The Saturn Awards, which honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror, saw the film sweep nearly every major category. * **Wins (12):** Best Science Fiction Film, Best Director (George Lucas), Best Writing (George Lucas), Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), Best Music (John Williams), Best Costumes (John Mollo), Best Make-Up (Rick Baker and Stuart Freeborn), Best Special Effects (John Dykstra and John Stears), and various technical awards including Outstanding Editing and Art Direction. ### **5. Foreign and International Awards** * **Japan Academy Film Prize (1979):** Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. * **Hochi Film Awards (Japan):** Won **Best Foreign Language Film**. * **Kinema Junpo Awards (Japan):** Won the **Readers' Choice Award** for Best Foreign Film Director (George Lucas). * **César Awards (France):** Nominated for Best Foreign Film. * **Evening Standard British Film Awards (1978):** Won **Best Film** and **Best Actor** (Alec Guinness). * **Hugo Awards:** Won **Best Dramatic Presentation**, a top honor in the science fiction community. ### **6. Film Festival Awards and Mentions** * **San Sebastian International Film Festival (1977):** The film had its European premiere here in September 1977. George Lucas was nominated for the **Golden Shell** (the festival's highest honor). The premiere is famously remembered for the appearance of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and R2-D2. * **Los Angeles Film Critics Association:** Won **Best Picture** (tied with *Annie Hall*) and **Best Music Score**. ### **7. Musical Awards (Grammys)** The score by John Williams was a phenomenon of its own, winning **three Grammy Awards** in 1978: * **Best Pop Instrumental Performance** * **Best Instrumental Composition** (for the "Main Title") * **Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture** ### **Legacy Recognition** In 1989, *Star Wars* was one of the first 25 films selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the **National Film Registry** for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In 1997, it received a **Saturn Special Award** for its 20th anniversary.