Nostalgia
- Thread starter The SHADOW
- Start date
London, 1976.
Sir Alec Guinness sat reading a script that had been hand-delivered by an up-and-coming American filmmaker named George Lucas.
The script was for something called "Star Wars."
In a letter to a friend, he wrote that it was "fairy tale rubbish" with dialogue that was "lamentable." He worried the space fantasy would become an embarrassing footnote in his distinguished career.
When 20th Century Fox offered him $150,000 for the role of "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Guinness made a counteroffer. But in a counter-offer, Fox agreed to give him 2% of the box office gross. Lucas, grateful for Guinness's participation, later added an extra 0.25% from his own share.
For a film nobody expected to succeed, it seemed like a meaningless concession.
Then the box office numbers started coming in.
Star Wars wasn't just successful. It became a cultural phenomenon unlike anything Hollywood had seen. It broke every record. It played in theatres for over a year. It spawned merchandise empires and changed cinema forever.
And Alec Guinness owned 2.25% of the profits.
Sir Alec Guinness passed away in 2000 at age 86. His brief 20 minute appearance as Obi-Wan Kenobi had been immortalized across generations, and his estate continues to receive royalties to this day.
Twenty minutes of screen time in "fairy tale rubbish."
Over $95 million in earnings.
One very smart contract.
Sir Alec Guinness sat reading a script that had been hand-delivered by an up-and-coming American filmmaker named George Lucas.
The script was for something called "Star Wars."
In a letter to a friend, he wrote that it was "fairy tale rubbish" with dialogue that was "lamentable." He worried the space fantasy would become an embarrassing footnote in his distinguished career.
When 20th Century Fox offered him $150,000 for the role of "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Guinness made a counteroffer. But in a counter-offer, Fox agreed to give him 2% of the box office gross. Lucas, grateful for Guinness's participation, later added an extra 0.25% from his own share.
For a film nobody expected to succeed, it seemed like a meaningless concession.
Then the box office numbers started coming in.
Star Wars wasn't just successful. It became a cultural phenomenon unlike anything Hollywood had seen. It broke every record. It played in theatres for over a year. It spawned merchandise empires and changed cinema forever.
And Alec Guinness owned 2.25% of the profits.
Sir Alec Guinness passed away in 2000 at age 86. His brief 20 minute appearance as Obi-Wan Kenobi had been immortalized across generations, and his estate continues to receive royalties to this day.
Twenty minutes of screen time in "fairy tale rubbish."
Over $95 million in earnings.
One very smart contract.
hank37w
Well-known member
Gee that brings back some memories of growing up in Cabramatta.
Remember seeing INXS there at least once from memory, I think they may have played there a couple of times, it certainly was one of the top venues for bands in that golden age where you could go to so many pubs and clubs to see really good bands and entertainers.
I actually left Cabramatta when I bought my house a bit further out in the south west in early 1981 but still kept a link to Cabramatta with my parents living on the East side of Cabramatta until they passed away and my Mother in Law living there over on the West side until earlier this year when she finally made the transition to a nursing home.
Didn't know that an Ireland was the licensee of the Stardust and I can only assume that he is linked to the Irelands who for generations had the Sunnybrook Vineyard and Wine cellars later to become the Sunnybrook Convention Centre and Hotel.
Virtually across the road just near Warwick Farm Racecourse is the Ireland's Bridge which is named after the Ireland family.
Conjures up memories and names of other locals such as the Medich and Gattelari families who were very prominent in the community and names that were in the media for all the wrong reasons in more recent times.
Love the effort you put into this Nostalgia thread tiger_one, it really brings back great memories of simpler times to so many of us. 😍
Remember seeing INXS there at least once from memory, I think they may have played there a couple of times, it certainly was one of the top venues for bands in that golden age where you could go to so many pubs and clubs to see really good bands and entertainers.
I actually left Cabramatta when I bought my house a bit further out in the south west in early 1981 but still kept a link to Cabramatta with my parents living on the East side of Cabramatta until they passed away and my Mother in Law living there over on the West side until earlier this year when she finally made the transition to a nursing home.
Didn't know that an Ireland was the licensee of the Stardust and I can only assume that he is linked to the Irelands who for generations had the Sunnybrook Vineyard and Wine cellars later to become the Sunnybrook Convention Centre and Hotel.
Virtually across the road just near Warwick Farm Racecourse is the Ireland's Bridge which is named after the Ireland family.
Conjures up memories and names of other locals such as the Medich and Gattelari families who were very prominent in the community and names that were in the media for all the wrong reasons in more recent times.
Love the effort you put into this Nostalgia thread tiger_one, it really brings back great memories of simpler times to so many of us. 😍
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Blast from the past. Rode Lord Fury to win the 1961 Melbourne Cup at 20/1.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Never quite understood the lyrics to this one but liked the song !
Champion @Halbrowne61,
It's about lost love, so not surprisingly, I'm guessing it doesn't relate to you. 😉
But like you, I also liked the song, the entire 7 minutes and 21 seconds .... I've forgotten, was their an intermission?
Have to agree with you about the effort tiger_one puts into this thread and so many other threads. I always have to check the Today Is thread, who knew there were so many special days or so many bizarre days.
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