Omnibus (1967)

George Lucas - Flying Solo (1997x7)

Air date: Jun 23, 1997

Profile of George Lucas as STAR WARS hits the cinema screens again, twenty years after its original release. With rare behind-the-scenes footage, Francis Ford Coppola, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Ron Howard, Walter Murch & more... As the “Star Wars” films enter their period of new storylines, recurring characters, and calendar domination over the next decade, George Lucas only stands now to distance himself from his creation, and reportedly get to work on more intimate, experimental ventures. While we wait to see the results of those efforts, an older documentary on the man provides a close look on his life leading up and into his life-changing franchise. Commissioned to coincide with the 1997 “Star Wars” Special Editions, the BBC Omnibus “George Lucas: Flying Solo,” profiles the director as he discusses his formative years, as well as clips and insight into his 16mm short films, “Look at Life,” “Herbie,” and “Freiheit.” His experimental roots are indeed a large element of the documentary (directed by James Erskine), as an interview with Francis Ford Coppola poses Lucas' alternative path if the trilogy never happened. Interviews with his actors and collaborators -- Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Irvin Kershner -- are included as well, and the entire doc is worth a look just to see the personality behind the absolute behemoth that “Star Wars” would eventually become.