Star Wars Returns

Twenty years after Star Wars first blasted its way onto the screen in May 1977, the Force, it seems, is still with us.

Unlike other summer "event" movies, Star Wars has remained an influential fixture of popular culture, influencing everything from fashion to politics.

"It's an icon of our age, our generation," said Matthew J. Smith (senior-political science), President of Penn State's Science-Fiction Society. "It's become our historical event."

Though Star Wars was initially released on no more than 40 screens across the country, it soon became a phenomenon, as eager moviegoers waited hours in line to see director George Lucas' science fiction epic.

The film was so popular, it stayed in some theaters for more than a year. Many fans sat through multiple screenings of the film, some watching it 20 or 30 times. By the end of the summer of 1977, it had become the highest grossing film of all time.

"It's been with us for 20 years," said William Kelly, professor of integrative arts. "Through clever marketing, they've somehow convinced us its back. It never really left."

As the film's popularity grew, the films oft-repeated mantra, "May the Force be With You," became a late '70s catch phrase, surfacing on numerous T-shirts and buttons. Many of its characters were ironed on to T-shirts, hats and even underwear.

The stars of the film became so familiar, they became an easy target for satire. MAD Magazine lampooned the film twice, once as a musical parody. "Saturday Night Live" 's Bill Murray, as a lounge singer, crooned the film's theme song, albeit in a rather off-key rendition. And even "The Muppet Show" featured a guest turn by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, who dueled with Gonzo for the affections of Miss Piggy.

Star Wars mania grew so intense that a variety show, entitled "The Star Wars Holiday Special," was broadcast to appease a legion of fans. Airing on Nov. 17, 1978, the show was made up of music and comedy skits and featured members of the film's cast, as well as guest stars.

The show, which has yet to be re-released, remains a hard-to-find collectable among fans, as well as a reminder of how hungry the public was for almost anything Star Wars related.

With the release of the two Star Wars sequels -- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) -- the trilogy's popularity and impact continued to grow. From the bloated gangster Jabba the Hutt to the cuddly, fuzzy Ewoks -- who were spun off into two television movies and an animated cartoon series -- the various creatures from the series became easily recognizable symbols of popular culture.

Of all the characters featured in the sequels, however, it was Yoda -- the short, hairy Jedi with an endless supply of sage-like advice -- who seemed to catch on most with the public.

"Weird Al" Yankovic paid homage to the Dagobah-dwelling puppet with "Yoda," a take-off of the Kink's song "Lola." Lucas' friend and Indiana Jones collaborator Steven Spielberg featured him in a brief cameo in the 1982 hit E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial (Ironically, the new Star Wars replaced E.T. as the all-time highest grossing film last week). Across the country, schoolchildren and stand-up comics struggled to recreate Yoda's deep, cackling voice.

Yoda, was a main subject for parody in Mel Brooks' 1987 spoof Spaceballs, a send-up of the trilogy. Spaceballs satirized several aspects of the trilogy, from the opening credits crawl to the merchandising bonanza.

Although Spaceballs was a fond tribute to the Star Wars trilogy, other references took on a more negative denotation.

In the mid-'80s, President Ronald Reagan developed the massive Strategic Defense Initiative plan, a nuclear shield program which was dubbed "Star Wars" by the press, much to Lucas' chagrin.

"When Reagan used it, it showed how popular it had become. It sort of pushed its popularity into the forefront," Smith said.

In 1990, Lucas sued rapper Luke Campbell of the band 2 Live Crew for performing under the name Luke Skyywalker. The case was settled out of court, with Lucas reportedly collecting $300,000 from Campbell, who agreed to stop using the name.

Today, Star Wars' influence is greater than ever. With last year's video re-release, as well as a slew of new toys, the films have caught on with a whole new generation, some of whom weren't even born when the film first came out.

"It's popularity with kids is because of its assimilation into pop culture already," Smith said.

In addition to gaining younger fans, the film's original audience now has grown up, and their devotion to the trilogy can be found in much of today's entertainment.

References to the films abound on television shows such as "Friends" and "Seinfeld." One show in particular, "The Simpsons," has made constant allusions to the trilogy, even featuring a cameo appearance by Chewbacca in a past episode.

The films also have spawned a new generation of filmmakers who grew up on the trilogy. Kevin Smith, director of Mallrats and Clerks, cited Star Wars as one of his main influences and makes several mentions of it in his films.

Star Wars also affected modern music, as many bands have taken their name from the films. Often the references are obscure. The pop-punk trio Nerf Herder, for example, takes their moniker from one of Princess Leia's many insults to Han Solo, while the straight-edge band Rancor is based on the dragon-like monster that dwelled under Jabba the Hutt's throne room.

With the promise of three new films, as well as several new toys, books and games, there appears to be no end in sight for Star Wars-mania. Although 20 years old, the film has continued to affect viewers, old and new.

"Star Wars is not about the future, it's about the value of the past," Kelly said. "And I think that's a big factor in why it remains popular today."