Star Wars - BookWyrm

audio cassette

Published May 1, 1993 by Brand: HighBridge Company, Highbridge Audio.

ISBN:: 978-0-942110-99-9

(1 review)

When this series was first broadcast on National Public Radio in 1981, it generated the largest response in the network's history: 50,000 letters and phone calls in a single week, an audience of 750,000 per episode, and a subsequent 40-percent jump in NPR listenership.

This landmark production, perhaps the most ambitious radio project ever attempted, began when "Star Wars" creator George Lucas donated the story rights to an NPR affiliate. Writer Brian Daley adapted the film's highly visual script to the special demands and unique possibilities of radio, creating a more richly textured tale with greater emphasis on character development. Director John Madden guided a splendid cast--including Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, reprising their film roles as Luke Skywalker and the persnickety robot See Threepio--through an intense 10-day dialogue recording session. Then came months of painstaking work for virtuoso sound engineer Tom Voegeli, whose brilliant blending of the actors' voices, …

When this series was first broadcast on National Public Radio in 1981, it generated the largest response in the network's history: 50,000 letters and phone calls in a single week, an audience of 750,000 per episode, and a subsequent 40-percent jump in NPR listenership.

This landmark production, perhaps the most ambitious radio project ever attempted, began when "Star Wars" creator George Lucas donated the story rights to an NPR affiliate. Writer Brian Daley adapted the film's highly visual script to the special demands and unique possibilities of radio, creating a more richly textured tale with greater emphasis on character development. Director John Madden guided a splendid cast--including Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, reprising their film roles as Luke Skywalker and the persnickety robot See Threepio--through an intense 10-day dialogue recording session. Then came months of painstaking work for virtuoso sound engineer Tom Voegeli, whose brilliant blending of the actors' voices, the music, and hundreds of sound effects takes this intergalactic adventure into a realm of imagination that is beyond the reach of cinema.

2 editions

LemonSky reviewed Star Wars by George Lucas

Review of 'Star Wars' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I had heard some good things about this radio show, but had not actually listened to it myself until recently. I've started listening to audiobooks and modern radio shows, so I decided to try out the original Star Wars trilogy radio shows. I was pleasantly surprised. Brian Daley adapted "Star Wars (A New Hope)" to the radio format very well. What some people feel is padding, I see as character development - Luke's "friends" back home and his relationship with Biggs (barely touched on in the movie), Leia's life on Alderaan with her father and an especially annoying Imperial diplomat, and details here and there about various characters. Captain Antilles, who is so short-lived in the movie, has more of a role as well.

Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their roles of Luke Skywalker and C-3PO respectively. Brock Peters ("To Kill a Mockingbird") does an excellent job as Darth …

I had heard some good things about this radio show, but had not actually listened to it myself until recently. I've started listening to audiobooks and modern radio shows, so I decided to try out the original Star Wars trilogy radio shows. I was pleasantly surprised. Brian Daley adapted "Star Wars (A New Hope)" to the radio format very well. What some people feel is padding, I see as character development - Luke's "friends" back home and his relationship with Biggs (barely touched on in the movie), Leia's life on Alderaan with her father and an especially annoying Imperial diplomat, and details here and there about various characters. Captain Antilles, who is so short-lived in the movie, has more of a role as well.

Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their roles of Luke Skywalker and C-3PO respectively. Brock Peters ("To Kill a Mockingbird") does an excellent job as Darth Vader. He really amazed with me with his handling of the role. Bernard Behrens was also very good as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Other supporting actors are David Ackroyd as Captain Antilles, Keene Curtis as Grand Moff Tarkin, Stephen Elliott as Prestor, Adam Arkin as Fixer, and Meshach Taylor and David Alan Grier in small roles.

The casting isn't perfect, though. Like many others, I would like to single out Perry King, who makes a terrible Han Solo. It took me forever to get used to him. He simply lacks Harrison Ford's presence and acting ability. Ann Sachs as Leia is almost as bad. She improved (eventually), but I never warmed to her. She sounds like she's 16 years old.

However, King and Sachs are not enough for me to rate this show less than five stars. Of the three Star Wars radio shows I've listened to, this is definitely the best one.