The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

Country of Origin: USA
Date(s) of Broadcast: 17 November 1978
Number of Seasons: N/A
Total Number of Episodes: 1
Average Episode Running Times: 97 mins
Format: colour
Sound:

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Twentieth Century Fox / Smith-Hemion Productions
Executive Producers: Dwight Hemion, Gary Smith
Producers: Joe Layton, Jeff Starsh, Ken Welch, Mitzie Welch
Associate Producer: Monroe E. Carol, Rita Scott
Production Supervisor: Ray Brannigan

SCRIPT
Script: Pat Proft, Leonard Ripps, Bruce Vilanch, Rod Warren

DIRECTION
Directors: David Acomba, Steve Binder

PHOTOGRAPHY
Key Grip: Peter Lomprakis
Gaffer: Howard Smith

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editors: Jerry Bixman, Vince Humphrey

MUSIC
Music: Ian Fraser; John Williams (Star Wars Theme)
Songs: Craig Chaquico (Cigar-Shaped Object); Ken Welch; Mitzie Welch
Music Recorded At: Group IV Recording

SOUND
Sound: Ed Greene
Sound Effects: Neiman-Tillar Associates
Post-Production Studio: Sunwest Recording Studios

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Keith Crary, Verne Langdon, Michael Lorenz, Jim Nielsen
Costume Designer: Bob Mackie
Assistant Costume Designer: Robert Turturice

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Chewbacca Costumes: Stuart Freeborn
Wookie Family Costumes: Ellis Burman Jr, Thomas R. Burman, Stan Winston
Cantina Masks: Rick Baker, Stuart Freeborn

VISUAL EFFECTS
Video Animation: Elizabeth Savel, Jenn de Joux
Animation: Nelvana

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Brian Bartholomew
Assistant Art Director: Leslie Parsons
Set Decorator: Garrett Lewis
Props: C.B. Chisam
Illustrator: Ralph McQuarrie

MISCELLANEOUS
Choreographer: David Winters
Assistant Choreographer: Charlie Phillips
Stage Managers: Peter Barth, Mike Erwin
Star Wars Consultant: Miki Herman
Technical Facilities: MVS Television Complex

LOCATIONS
Studio: The Burbank Studios, Hollywood, California, USA

CAST
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)
Harrison Ford (Han Solo)
Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa)
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader)
Beatrice Arthur (Ackmena)
Art Carney (Saundan)
Diahann Carroll (holographic wow)
Harvey Korman (Krelman / Chef Gormaanda / Amorphian instructor)
Mickey Morton (Malla)
Paul Gate (Itchy)
Patty Maloney (Lumpy)
Jack Rader
Stephanie Stromer
Michael Potter
Yûichi Sugiyama (ringleader)
Claude Woolman
Lev Mailer
John McLaughlin
The Jefferson Starship (real names: Marty Balin, Craig Chaquico, Paul Kantner) (holographic rock band)
Gabriel Dell (voice of Boba Fett - uncredited)
David Prowse (Darth Vader - uncredited)
Arthur Rowton (Zutton - uncredited)
Leslie Schofield (Chief Bast - uncredited)

Han Solo is trying to get his trusty Wookie sidekick Chewbacca home to his family on the planet Kashyyyk for the Lifeday celebrations. But Imperial troops are out looking for them and the family amuse themselves with television, holographs and other diversions until Chewbacca can join there.

If you though the execrable Jar Jar Binks was bad, just wait until you see this... Given its sole broadcast in the wake of Star Wars's (1977) triumphs at the box office, the dismal variety show tried to build on some of the characters from the film and merely ended up looking incredibly foolish. So much so, in fact, that Lucas has disowned it (he claims that it had nothing to do with him, though his subsequent use of characters introduced here calls that claim into some doubt) and the show has become the holy grail for die-hard Star Wars completists who simply have to see it all. They will be sorely disappointed - there's no plot as such, just an endless procession of increasingly bad musical interludes, pointless sketches and a dreadful animated sequence. Appalling in ever respect imaginable - and then some... (Full Review)

USA
Television Distributor: CBS Television

1978
November
17: USA - first and only television brodcast (on CBS)

Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle evil Imperial forces to help Chewbacca reach his imperiled family on the Wookie planet - in time for Life Day, their most important day of the year!

SEE ALSO
Star Wars (1977)

MAGAZINES

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

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

aliens, androids, blockades, bounty hunters, empires, families, lightsabers, live action and animation, military, princesses, rebellions, robots, royalty, sequels, space stations, space travel, space wars, spaceships, star wars

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009