The first Star Wars trailer is missing a whole lot

For Throwback Thursday (do we have to use the hashtag if it's on a blog?), here's a neat piece of film history. In December 1976, the first trailer for Star Wars was released, about half a year before the movie. Episode Nothing supplied some context in a recent blog post explaining why it looks so rough.

Star Wars was still a work-in-progress at this point in its production. Apart from a few quick space shots, most of the trailer avoids scenes with special effects; the only lightsabers that appear in screen weren't colo red in yet, for instance. And perhaps most glaringly in hindsight, the trailer doesn't have the iconic John Williams score. Without that adventurous music, the movie seems almost dour.

It's a fun glimpse at how a studio decided to promote a movie they didn't realize would be a juggernaut. The whole thing is a dark mishmash that reportedly cost about $4000. We guarantee that if 20th Century Fox knew what would follow, they wouldn't throw together something like this.

The 2012 New African Film Festival begins Thursday (and runs from March 8 - 13)

AFI Silver Hosts the 8th Annual New African Films Festival
Thursday, March 8 - Tuesday, March 13
AFI Silver Theatre
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Get tickets

AFI Silver is proud to host the 8th annual New African Films Festival, co-presented by AFI, TransAfrica and afrikafé. The vibrancy of African filmmaking from all corners of the continent is on display in this year's acclaimed selections.

To see the entire schedule, visit AFI's New African Film Festival site.

MAMA AFRICA
Opening night: Thu, Mar 8, 7:00
Opening night tickets $12/$10 AFI Members
Additional screening: Mon, Mar 12, 9:20

The late, great singer Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) was one of the most charismatic African performers of her time. At the height of her popularity in Africa, Makeba boldly took a public anti-apartheid stand that led to the revocation of her passport and the beginning of a lifetime in exile. Director Mika Kaurismäki uncovers stunning archival footage that offers a rare glimpse into Makeba's personal life, highlighting the admiration and gratitude that she felt for Harry Belafonte, who managed her career in the United States. This documentary reveals private moments which illuminate this legendary artist's political activism. Official Selection, 2011 AFI Fest presented by Audi. – Courtesy of AFI Fest presented by Audi

DIR/SCR/PROD Mika Kaurismäki; SCR/PROD Don Edkins; PROD Rainer Kölmel. Finland/Germany/South Africa, 2011, color/b&w, 90 min. In English and French with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Mama Africa trailer

Mama Africa – Miriam Makeba from trigon-film on Vimeo.

To see the entire schedule, visit AFI's New African Film Festival site.

Excerpted from the AFI Silver site.

Tim Robbins & James Gandolfini Join The HBO Movie 'Cinema Verite'

Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini are set to co-star opposite Diane Lane in HBO Films’ Cinema Verite. The movie, written by David Seltzer, is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the groundbreaking 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family. The series by Oscar-winning doc filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond centered on Santa Barbara couple Pat Loud (Lane) and Bill Loud (Robbins), who split up during the filming, and their children, the eldest of whom, son Lance, became TV's first openly gay character. For the rest of the story, click here.

Media Services owns the follow-up film to "An American Family," called "American Family Revisited" (VHS 2641) and the very funny Albert Brooks' spoof, "Real Life" (VHS 4876 or DVD 6108). Unfortunately, the original "An American Family" 12 part series has not been released on VHS or DVD. Rest assured, Media Services will purchase it once it does.

Cannes Film Festival opens today with Pixar's 'Up'

Disney Pixar's animated feature, 'Up' opened the 62nd Cannes Film Festival this year, breaking ground for animated film. See what the Washington Post and the Associated Press had to say.

'Up' trailer

Here's a sneak peek at some of the sights and posters, courtesy of the CinemaIsDope blog.