Gary Kurtz: top related news
25.05 / 20:19
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45 Years Ago Today, Hollywood Took A Gamble On A Weird, Scrappy Little Sci-Fi Movie Called Star Wars
Star Wars almost didn't happen. Universal passed on it. United Artists passed on it. Even Disney turned it down, which is ironic given the company's recent $4 billion acquisition of the franchise. Only 20th Century Fox was willing to take a gamble on this weird, scrappy little sci-fi movie—encouraged by creator George Lucas earning a Best Picture nomination at the 1974 Academy Awards for American Graffiti. This quirky 1950s coming-of-age comedy drama couldn't be more different from the outlandish space opera Lucas was pitching, but the studio saw something in this enthusiastic young filmmaker.