I first watched this as a child when it was broadcast in 1978, like just about everybody in my class I'd seen Star Wars and loved it so was over joyed to learn that there was to be a television special. Imagine my shock when it finally aired and instead of exciting action with the characters I'd seen in the film we got a bunch of grunting Wookies that weren't even subtitled.
The basic plot is that Han and Chewbacca are trying to get to Chewie's family for Life Day, which is sort of like a Wookie version of US Thanks Giving. While his family await their arrival we are treated to the delights of Wookie life: mum does some cooking, dad watches a semi pornographic device which is rather disturbing to put it mildly. They are paid a visit by a friend played by Art Carney as well as by a group of imperial storm troopers... by this point I was hoping the troopers might just kill them but no such luck, instead one of them sits down and watches Jefferson Starship perform a song on the TV, this leads to a song and dance routine when the empire imposes a curfew.
About half way through we leave the Wookies and get an animated adventure with the regular characters, while the animation is of a very low quality it is of some interest to fans as this is the first time we encounter Boba Fett, who initially offers to help Luke and the droids find Han and Chewie, but we soon learn that he has only befriended them in order to find their base for the empire. Sadly this only lasts a few minutes then we are back to the Wookies where the Stormtroopers are watching a "documentary" about life on Tatooine where Bea Arthur is the landlady of the Cantina seen in the original film. Of course by the end Han and Chewie get there and then Luke, Leah and the droids arrive and Leah "treats" us to the Life Day song.
The acting in this is poor, we only get cameos from the original cast but even they aren't good, Carrie Fisher appears to be as high as a kite, Mark Hamill is made up so heavily it is hard to recognise him and Harrison Ford appears to know he is in something that will live on in infamy... I'm sure Sir Alec Guinness was pleased that he was killed off in the film so he didn't have to appear in this apart from a few flash back scenes at the end lifted straight from the film.
If you are a Star Wars fan you should watch this for completeness, I wouldn't show it younger fans though, that would be too cruel. Even George Lucas hates this so it isn't available on an official DVD, it can be seen on line though.
The basic plot is that Han and Chewbacca are trying to get to Chewie's family for Life Day, which is sort of like a Wookie version of US Thanks Giving. While his family await their arrival we are treated to the delights of Wookie life: mum does some cooking, dad watches a semi pornographic device which is rather disturbing to put it mildly. They are paid a visit by a friend played by Art Carney as well as by a group of imperial storm troopers... by this point I was hoping the troopers might just kill them but no such luck, instead one of them sits down and watches Jefferson Starship perform a song on the TV, this leads to a song and dance routine when the empire imposes a curfew.
About half way through we leave the Wookies and get an animated adventure with the regular characters, while the animation is of a very low quality it is of some interest to fans as this is the first time we encounter Boba Fett, who initially offers to help Luke and the droids find Han and Chewie, but we soon learn that he has only befriended them in order to find their base for the empire. Sadly this only lasts a few minutes then we are back to the Wookies where the Stormtroopers are watching a "documentary" about life on Tatooine where Bea Arthur is the landlady of the Cantina seen in the original film. Of course by the end Han and Chewie get there and then Luke, Leah and the droids arrive and Leah "treats" us to the Life Day song.
The acting in this is poor, we only get cameos from the original cast but even they aren't good, Carrie Fisher appears to be as high as a kite, Mark Hamill is made up so heavily it is hard to recognise him and Harrison Ford appears to know he is in something that will live on in infamy... I'm sure Sir Alec Guinness was pleased that he was killed off in the film so he didn't have to appear in this apart from a few flash back scenes at the end lifted straight from the film.
If you are a Star Wars fan you should watch this for completeness, I wouldn't show it younger fans though, that would be too cruel. Even George Lucas hates this so it isn't available on an official DVD, it can be seen on line though.