The British Force Behind Star Wars

2019 

Star Wars super-fan David Whiteley celebrates the unsung British heroes behind the original 1970s Star Wars film. The Star Wars saga has finally concluded with the release of The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019. This documentary celebrates where it all began. The Galaxy Britain Built contains a wealth of stories, experiences and anecdotes from the people who made one of the most successful movies of all time. These stories, many of them never heard before, are intertwined with previously unseen behind the scenes footage and stills from the personal collections of those who took part. 

The documentary is presented by Star Wars super fan David Whiteley, who has his own connection to the original film (he was born on May 4th … Star Wars day!) David tracks down the British talent who brought the galaxy to life. His mission takes him all over the UK, to the States and the Caribbean. His warm interviewing style draws out the surprising tales and jaw dropping moments on set from the often modest and understated British men and women who made the film happen. 

The Galaxy Britain Built reveals how the iconic lightsaber was made, it shows how the original sketches that became the basis for Chewbacca and Darth Vader were created, it details how sets, puppets and robots were made and what happened when they didn’t work! Through interviews with the designers and producers, David uncovers the amazing talent that worked with a shoe-string budget to create the aesthetic of George Lucas’s galaxy. 

He also explores the contribution of the London Symphony Orchestra and meets Ann Skinner, who was in charge of continuity. As well as seeing her incredible continuity stills from the set, Ann reveals how she helped Sir Alec Guinness with one of the most famous speeches in Star Wars. The film is 90 minutes long – a must for Star Wars fans and is in memory of Star Wars Producer, Gary Kurtz and Costume Designer, John Mollo, who passed away shortly after the production ended.

Documentary   

The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Force Behind Star Wars 

Running time 90 minutes  

 

Book

The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Talent Behind Star Wars

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