Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Release Date: May 25, 1977 (original); January 31, 1997 (Special Edition)

Synopsis: Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke's Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Empire. Although Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, his former apprentice, Luke proves that the Force is with him by destroying the Empire's dreaded Death Star.

Opening Crawl:

It is a period of civil war.
Rebel spaceships, striking
from a hidden base, have won
their first victory against
the evil Galactic Empire.

During the battle, Rebel
spies managed to steal secret
plans to the Empire's
ultimate weapon, the DEATH
STAR, an armored space
station with enough power
to destroy an entire planet.

Pursued by the Empire's
sinister agents, Princess
Leia races home aboard her
starship, custodian of the
stolen plans that can save her
people and restore
freedom to the galaxy....

Awards: Academy Award Winner: Best Art Direction-Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Special Achievement in Sound; Academy Award Nominee: Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Screenplay.

BAFTA Award Winner: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music, Best Sound. BAFTA Nominee: Best Costume Design, Best Film, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design/Art Direction

Golden Globe Winner: Best Original Score. Golden Globe Nominee: Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Saturn Award Winner: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Costumes, Best Director, Best Make-Up, Best Music, Best Science Fiction Film, Best Special Effects, Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing, Outstanding Editing.