Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [1999]

Country of Origin: USA Year of Production: 1997 - 1998 Running Times: 133 mins Format: colour     35mm     digital [Texas Instruments DLP 1280 x 1024, 1.9:1 anamorphic]     Arriscope Ratio: 2.35:1 Sound: DTS     Dolby EX 6.1     SDDS

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SELECTED CREDITS

[Full Credits]

PRODUCTION
Executive Producer: George Lucas
Producer: Rick McCallum

SCRIPT
Script: George Lucas

DIRECTION
Director: George Lucas
2nd Unit Director: Roger Christian

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: David Tattersall
Documentary Cinematographer: Jonathan Shenk
2nd Unit Director of Photography: Giles Nuttgens

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editors: Paul Martin Smith, Ben Burtt
1st Assistant Editor: Marypat Plottner
Assistant Editors: Aura Gilge, David Suther
UK Assistant Editors: Julian Pryce, Jamie Martin

MUSIC
Music: John Williams
Music Performed By: London Symphony Orchestra

SOUND
Sound Designer: Ben Burtt
Sound Recordist: John Midgley
Documentary Sound Recordists: Mark Becker, Guy Hake

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Chief Make-Up Artist: Paul Engelen
Make Up: Meg Speirs, Melissa Lackersteen
Chief Hair: Sue Love
Hair: Sarah Love, Darlene Forrester
Costume Designer: Trisha Biggar
Assistant Costume Designer: Ann Maskrey

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Supervisor: Geoff Heron
2nd Unit Special Effects Supervisor: Peter Hutchinson

Miniature Construction and Photography Unit
Model Supervisor: Steve Gawley
Chief Model Makers: William Beck, Barbara Affonso, Brian Gernand, Keith London, Lorne Peterson, Steve Walton, Charlie Bailey, Giovanni Donovan, Ira Keeler, Michael Lynch

LIVE ACTION CREATURE EFFECTS
Live Action Creature Effects Supervisor: Nick Dudman
Creature Effects Coordinator: Lyn Nicholson
Animatronic Model Design Supervisor: Chris Barton

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Supervisors: John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires
Pre-Visualization / Effects Supervisor: David Dozoretz

Industrial Light and Magic
Additional Visual Effects Supervision: Scott Farrar
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: Barry Armour
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Chrissie England
Visual Effects Producers: Ned Gorman, Jeff Olson, Heather Smith, Ginger Theisen, Judith Weaver

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Gavin Bocquet
Design Director: Doug Chiang
Supervising Art Director: Peter Russell
Art Directors: Fred Hole, John King, Rod McLean, Phil Harvey
Art Directors [Tunisia]: Ben Scott, Taieb Jallouli
Italy Shoot Art Director: Livia Borgononi
2nd Unit Art Director: Ricky Eyres

LOCATIONS
Locations: Ksar Hadada, Tunisia; Leavesden, England, UK; Royal Palace, Caserta, Campania, Italy; Tozeur, Tunisia
Location Managers: Robert Jordan, Richard Sharkey
Tunisia Shoot Location Manager: Moslah Kraiem
Italy Shoot Location Manager: Franco Rapa

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator / Swordmaster: Nick Gillard

CASTING
Casting: Robin Gurland

CAST
Liam Neeson [Qui-Gon Jinn]
Ewan McGregor [Obi-Wan Kenobi]
Natalie Portman [Queen Amidala / Padmé]
Jake Lloyd [Anakin Skywalker]
Ian McDiarmid [Palpatine]
Pernilla August [Shmi Skywalker]
Oliver Ford Davies [Sio Bibble]
Hugh Quarshie [Captain Panaka]
Ahmed Best [Jar Jar Binks]
Anthony Daniels [C-3PO]
Kenny Baker [R2-D2]
Frank Oz [Yoda]
Terence Stamp [Chancellor Valorum]
Brian Blessed [Boss Nass]
Andy Secombe [Watto]
Ray Park [Darth Maul]
Lewis MacLeod [Sebulba]
Warwick Davis [Wald]
Steven Speirs [Captain Tarpals]
Silas Carson [Nute Gunray]
Jerome Blake [Rune Haako]
Alan Ruscoe [Daultay Dofine / Plo Koon (uncredited)]
Ralph Brown [Ric Olié]
Celia Imrie [Fighter Pilot Bravo 5]
Benedict Taylor [Fighter Pilot Bravo 2]
Clarence Smith [Fighter Pilot Bravo 3]
Samuel L. Jackson [Mace Windu]
Dominic West [Palace Guard]
Cristina da Silva [Rabé]
Friday (Liz) Wilson [Eirtaé]
Candice Orwell [Yané]
Sofia Coppola [Saché]
Kiera Knightley [Sabé]
Bronagh Gallagher [Republic Cruiser Captain]
Silas Carson [Republic Cruiser Pilot]
John Fensom [TC-14]
Greg Proops [Fode]
Scott Capurro [voice of Beed]
Jabba the Hutt [himself]
Margaret Towner [Jira]
Dhruv Chanchani [Kitster]
Oliver Walpole [Seek]
Jenna Green [Amee]
Megan Udall [Melee]
Hassani Shapi [Eeth Koth]
Gin (real name: Gin Clarke) [Adi Gallia]
Khan Bonfils [Saesee Tiin]
Michelle Taylor [Yarael Poof]
Silas Carson [Ki-Adi-Mundi / Lott Dod]
Michaela Cottrell [Even Piell]
Jerome Blake [Oppo Rancisis]
Dipika O'Neill Joti [Depa Billaba]
Phil Eason [Yaddle]
Jerome Blake [Mas Amedda]
Mark Coulier [Aks Moe]
Kathy Smee, Don Austen, David Greenaway [Yoda puppeteers]
Lindsay Duncan [voice of TC-14]
Peter Serafinowicz [voice of Darth Maul]
James Taylor [voice of Rune Haako]
Chris Sanders [voice of Daultay Dofine]
Toby Longworth [voice of Lott Dod]
Marc Silk [voice of Aks Moe]
Tyger [voice of Tey How]
Scott Capurro [voice of Fode]
Phil Eason [Yaddle
Dipika O'Neill Joti [Depa Billaba]
Clarence Smith [Fighter Pilot Bravo 3]

The Trade Federation has blockaded the planet Naboo in readiness for a full scale invasion. Jedi warrior Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to diffuse the situation and save the planet. But with the dark lords of the Sith plotting in the backgrounds and the evil Darth maul out to stop them, things are never going to be so easy for the Jedi...

After such a long wait, even the most ardent of Star Wars fan was hard pressed to say anything good about this dreadful nonsense. There's no real plot to speak of, simply a vaguely related series of effects set pieces, the acting is generally even worse than in the earlier films [though McGregor and Neeson work minor miracles with the terrible script] and the new batch of characters are largely unlikeable. The effects are stunning and most of the visuals are hugely impressive, but none of them ever quite make up for the fact that the plot is so thin. And then, of course, there's Jar Jar Binks...

Argentina
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox de Argentina
Video Distributor: Gativideo

France
Theatrical Distributor: UGC-Fox Distribution

Germany
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox of Germany

Italy
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Italia

Japan
Laserdisc Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment [PILF-2830]

Spain
Theatrical Distributor: Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
DVD Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment [2002391]

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Argentina
Rating: Atp

Australia
Rating: PG

Belgium
Rating: KT

Denmark
Rating: 11

Finland
Rating: K-12/9

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: 6 (w)

Hong Kong
Rating: I

Ireland
Rating: PG

Italy
Rating: T

Netherlands
Rating: AL

New Zealand
Rating: PG

Norway
Rating: 11

Peru
Rating: PG

Portugal
Rating: M/6

Singapore
Rating: PG

Sweden
Rating: 11

Switzerland
Rating: 10

UK
Rating: U

USA
Rating: PG [for sci-fi action / violence]

1999
Bogey Awards, Germany
Bogey Award in Platin - winner

Golden Screen, Germany
Golden Screen - winner

2000
Academy Awards, USA
Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing [Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort] - nominated
Best Effects, Visual Effects [John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman] - nominated
Best Sound [Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, John Midgley] - nominated

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA [Saturn Award]
Best Costumes [Trisha Biggar] - winner
Best Special Effects [Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires] - winner
Best Actor [Liam Neeson] - nominated
Best Director [George Lucas] - nominated
Best Make Up [Paul Engelen, Sue Love, Nick Dudman] - nominated
Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress [Jake Lloyd] - nominated
Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress [Natalie Portman] - nominated
Best Science Fiction Film - nominated
Best Supporting Actor [Ewan McGregor] - nominated
Best Supporting Actress [Pernilla August] - nominated

BAFTA Film Awards, UK
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects [John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman] - nominated
Best Sound [Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort, John Midgley, Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy] - nominated

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, USA
Favorite Actor: Action / Science Fiction [Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson] - nominated
Favorite Actress: Action [Natalie Portman] - nominated
Favorite Supporting Actor: Action / Science-Fiction [Jake Lloyd] - nominated
Favorite Supporting Actress: Action [Pernilla August] - nominated
Favorite Villain [Ray Park] - nominated

Brit Awards, UK
Best Soundtrack - nominated

Cinema Audio Society, USA
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film [Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, John Midgley] - nominated

Csapnivalo Awards, Hungary
Golden Slate Best Female Performance [Natalie Portman] - nominated
Best Original Score [John Williams] - nominated
Best Screenplay [George Lucas] - nominated
Best Visual Effects - nominated

Golden Satellite Awards, USA
Best Sound [Tom Bellfort, Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood] - nominated
Best Visual Effects [Peter Hutchinson, John Knox, Judith Weaver, Dennis Muren] - nominated

Golden Screen, Germany
Golden Screen with 1 Star - winner

Grammy Awards, USA
Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media [John Williams] - nominated

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, USA [Sierra Awards]
Best Costume Design [Trisha Biggar] - winner
Best Production Design [Gavin Bocquet] - nominated
Best Visual Effects [Dennis Muren] - nominated

MTV Movie Awards, USA
Best Action Sequence - winner [for the pod race]
Best Fight [Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Ray Park] - nominated
Best Villain [Ray Park] - nominated

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA [Golden Reel Awards]
Best Sound Editing: Dialogue and ADR [Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort, Matthew Wood, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Sara Bolder] - nominated
Best Sound Editing: Effects and Foley [Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort, Matthew Wood, Teresa Eckton, Christopher Scarabosio, Bruce Lacey, Marian Wilde] - nominated

Online Film Critics Society Awards, USA
Best Original Score [John Williams] - nominated

People's Choice Awards, USA
Favorite Motion Picture - nominated

Razzie Awards, USA
Worst Supporting Actor [Jar-Jar Binks - Ahmed Best (voice of Jar-Jar Binks)] - winner
Worst Director [George Lucas] - nominated
Worst Picture - nominated
Worst Screen Couple [Jake Lloyd, Natalie Portman] - nominated
Worst Screenplay [George Lucas] - nominated
Worst Supporting Actor [Jake Lloyd] - nominated
Worst Supporting Actress [Sofia Coppola] - nominated

Video Premiere Awards, USA
Best DVD Menu Design [Van Ling] - winner
Best Audio Commentary [George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires] - nominated
Best New, Enhanced or Reconstructed Movie Scenes [Pablo Helman] - nominated
Best Overall New Extra Features, Library Title [Jim Ward] - nominated

Young Artist Awards, USA
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young Actor Age Ten or Under [Jake Lloyd] - winner
Best Family Feature Film: Drama - nominated

YoungStar Awards, USA
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film [Jake Lloyd] - nominated
Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film [Natalie Portman] - nominated

2002
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA [Saturn Award]
Saturn Award Best DVD Classic Film Release - nominated

1997
June
27: USA - filming begins

September
Day Unknown: USA - filming ends

1999
May
19: Canada, USA - theatrical release
27: Puerto Rico - theatrical release
28: Singapore - theatrical premiere
30: Malaysia - theatrical premiere

June
3: Australia, Malaysia, Singapore - theatrical release
10: New Zealand - theatrical release
11: Colombia - theatrical release
17: Bolivia - theatrical release
18: Guatemala, Honduras, Thailand - theatrical release
24: Brazil, Chile - theatrical release
25: South Africa - theatrical release
26: South Korea, Taiwan - theatrical release
30: Philippines, Venezuela - theatrical release

July
1: Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico - theatrical release
2: Costa Rica, Uruguay - theatrical release
8: Argentina, Israel, Jamaica - theatrical release
9: Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay - theatrical release
10: Japan - theatrical release
14: Trinidad And Tobago - theatrical release; UK - Royal Command Film Performance
16: Panama, Peru, UK - theatrical release
29: Russia - theatrical release

August
6: Finland - theatrical release
13: Guyana, Iceland - theatrical release
19: Denmark, Germany, Sweden - theatrical release
20: Austria, Kenya, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, Tanzania - theatrical release
25: Switzerland (French speaking region), United Arab Emirates - theatrical release
26: Switzerland (German speaking region) - theatrical release
27: Lebanon - theatrical release

September
1: Switzerland (Italian speaking region) - theatrical release
4: Suriname - theatrical release
16: Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia - theatrical release
17: Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland - theatrical release
23: Croatia, Slovenia - theatrical release
24: Romania - theatrical release
30: Netherlands - theatrical release

October
1: Portugal, Turkey - theatrical release
13: Belgium, Egypt, France - theatrical release
15: Greece - theatrical release
20: Morocco - theatrical release
22: India - theatrical release

November
5: China - theatrical release
17: Kuwait - theatrical release

December
3: USA - theatrical re-release

2000
April
7: Japan - laserdisc release [Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment [PILF-2830]]

2001
October
16: USA - DVD release [Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment [2002391]]

Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning.

The saga begins Spring 1999

The Saga Begins May 19th

The Force Returns May 19th

Toda saga tiene un comienzo

One Truth, One Hate

Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace - alternative title
Star Wars: Episode I - working title
Star Wars: Episodio I - La amenaza fantasma - Argentinian / Mexican / Peruvian / Spanish title
Star Wars: Episódio I - A Ameaça Fantasma - Brazilian / Portugese title
Star Wars: Episode I - Die dunkle Bedrohung - Austrian / German title
La amenaza fantasma - Spanish working title
Csillagok háborúja I - Baljós árnyak - Hungarian title
Guerra nas Estrelas - A Ameaça Fantasma - Brazilian title
Guerre stellari: Episodio I - Italian promotional title
Gwiezdne wojny: Czesc I - Mroczne widmo - Polish title
Razboiul stelelor - Amenintarea fantomei - Romanian title
Star Wars - det mörka hotet - Swedish title
Star Wars: Episode 1 - La menace fantôme - French title
Star Wars: Episode I - Den skjulte trussel - Norwegian title
Star Wars: Episode I - Den usynlige fjende - Danish title
Star Wars: Episodi I - Pimeä uhka - Finnish title
Star Wars: Episodio I - La minaccia fantasma - Italian title
Star Wars: H aorath apeilh - Greek title
Star Wars: La menace fantôme - French Canadian title

PREQUEL TO
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [1977]
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back [1980]
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi [1983]

SEQUELS
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones [2002]
Star Wars: Episode III [2005]

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [1999b]

SEE ALSO
2001: A Space Travesty [2000]
Austin Powers in Goldmember [2002]
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me [1999]
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins [2000]
Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part 4 [1999]
Cut [1999]
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial [1982]
The Fifth Element [1997]
Flĺklypa Grand Prix [1975]
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light and Magic [1999]
A Galaxy Far Far Away [2001]
Galaxy Quest [1999]
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back [2001]
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist [2002]
Metropolis [1927]
Ninja Mission 2000 [2000]
The Qui-Gon Show [1999]
ReBoot: My Two Bobs [2001]
Scary Movie 3 Episode I: Lord of the Brooms [2003]
South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut [1999]
Star Wars Demolition [2000]
Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo [2001]
Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles [2000]
Star Wars Episode I: Racer [1999]
Star Wars Episode I: The Gungan Frontier [1999]
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [1999b]
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds [2001]
Star Wars Obi-Wan [2001]
Star Wars Starfighter [2001]
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing [2001]
Thumb Wars: The Phantom Cuticle [1999]
X-Men [2000]

MAGAZINES

Bild & Bubbla no.153 [June 2001] pp.29, 30 - 39 [Sweden]
article [Star Wars by David Haglund]

Cinefantastique vol.31 no.7 [August 1999] p.61 [USA]
review [by Steve Biodrowski]

Empire no.89 [November 1996] p.17 [UK]
illustrated production notes [The Force IsWith Us]

Empire August 1999 p.18 [UK]
review [by Ian Freer]

Entertainment Weekly nos.468-469 [22 January 1999] pp.26-27 [USA]
article [by Steve Daly]

Entertainment Weekly no.478 [26 March 1999] pp.30 - 41 [USA]
article [A Monster Movie by Steve Daly]

Entertainment Weekly no.486 [21 May 1999] pp.24-39; 49 - 50 [USA]
illustrated article [The Star Report by Steve Daly]; review [Force of Nature? by Owen Gleiberman]

Entertainment Weekly no.534 [7 April 2000] p.79 [USA]
review [Video: Force Feeding (C-) by Marc Bernardin]

Entertainment Weekly no.536 [21 April 2000] pp.34 - 36 [USA]
article [Phantom Secrets Revealed]

Entertainment Weekly no.621 [19 October 2001] p.61 [USA]
review [Video: 'Star' Treatment (A) by Marc Bernardin]

epd Film vol.16 no.8 [1 August 1999] p.50 [Germany]
review [Star Wars - Episode 1: Die dunkle Bedrohung by Kai Mihm]

Premiere vol.12 no.9 [May 1999] pp.78 - 88; 98 - 105 [USA]
article [Brave New Worlds by Cheo Hodari Coker]; article [Let's Go! Tatooine by Tom Russo]

Premiere vol.12 no.11 [July 1999] pp.84 - 89 [USA]
article [Shot By Shot by Cheo Hodari Coker]

Rolling Stone no.814 [10 June 1999] pp.135 - 136 [USA]
review [by Peter Travers]

Total Film no.2 [March 1997] p.40 [UK]
illustrated article [Star Wars Watch Ewan McGregor: The New Obi-Wan?]

TV Guide vol.47 no.24 [12 June 1999] pp.20 - 34 [USA]
article [Phantom Magic by Mark Nollinger]

Variety vol.375 [17 May 1999] pp.53 - 54 [USA]
review [Mighty effects, but mini magic by Todd McCarthy]

NEWSPAPERS

Arbetet Nyheterna 19 August 1999 Section 2 p.4 [Sweden]
review [Monumentalt barnsligt by Sven E. Olsson]

Diário de Notícias 1 October 1999 [Portugal]
review [by Eurico De Barros]

Diário de Notícias, DNmais 2 October 1999 [Portugal]
review [by José De Matos-Cruz]

Göteborgs-Posten 19 August 1999 p.47 [Sweden]
review [Utdragen teknik-uppvisning by Maria Domellöf]

La Repubblica 16 September 1999 [Italy]
review [by Irene Bignardi]

Svenska Dagbladet 18 August 1999 [Sweden]
review [Kors, vad det var kitschigt i galaxen i dag by Bo Ludvigsson]

Sydsvenska Dagbladet 19 August 1999 p.B7 [Sweden]
review [Humorn gĺr vilse i datoriserat stjärnkrig by Annika Gustafsson]

KEYWORDS

space wars; space travel; prequels; robots; other planets; children; psychics; holograms; flatulence; sword fights; lightsabers; underwater; monsters; gambling; deserts; space opera; funerals; aliens; telekinesis; androids; royalty; queens; politics; politicians; racing; slavery; divine conception; martial arts