On a recent episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Mark Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, made a guest appearance to discuss the highly anticipated film. As Carson introduced Hamill to the audience, the applause was thunderous, highlighting the immense popularity of the franchise.
Hamill began by expressing his enthusiasm for Star Wars, stating that he recently watched the film and found it to be an incredibly fun experience. He mentioned that beneath all the special effects, Star Wars is essentially a coming-of-age story about a normal kid growing up in an extraordinary universe.
Carson and the audience welcomed Hamill with great excitement, acknowledging his crucial role in the film. Hamill described Star Wars as an intergalactic Western with clearly defined heroes and villains, and a storyline that focuses on pure entertainment rather than deep philosophical messages.
The conversation also touched on the film’s incredible success at the box office. Carson mentioned that Star Wars had already become one of the highest-grossing films of all time, surpassing the previous record-holder, Jaws. Hamill confirmed this, stating that the film had raked in a staggering $191 million in the United States alone. Furthermore, the film had yet to be released overseas, making its success even more astonishing.
Despite the immense popularity of the film and its iconic characters, Hamill shared some humorous anecdotes from the set. He revealed that Harrison Ford, who played the charming space pirate Han Solo, had once jokingly threatened to tie up director George Lucas and force him to deliver his own lines at gunpoint. Hamill also recalled some challenging dialogues, including a particularly convoluted line that he had urged Lucas to remove from the script.
Throughout the interview, Hamill’s charisma and sense of humor shone through. He shared stories about his co-stars, including Alec Guinness, who portrayed the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hamill recounted a delightful anecdote featuring Guinness and a mischievous dwarf actor that left the audience in stitches.
As the interview came to an end, Carson treated the audience to a brief film clip from Star Wars, showcasing a scene where the heroes rescue Princess Leia, played by the incomparable Carrie Fisher.
The episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson featuring Mark Hamill was a thrilling and entertaining experience for fans of Star Wars. Hamill’s infectious energy and behind-the-scenes stories added an extra layer of excitement to the conversation, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating their next trip to a galaxy far, far away.
Originally aired on November 29, 1977
