From Publishers Weekly
The life and career of the one-man cinematic revolution that is George Lucas gets a lush visual treatment in Hearn's frankly adoring and uncritical coffee-table book, though there's plenty of smart text underpinning the artwork as well. The first two of the book's eight chapters are best, covering Lucas's childhood and student filmmaking days at USC, which culminated in the 1971 masterpiece THX 1138 and 1973's iconic American Graffiti. Hearn deftly portrays this heady period in Lucas's life, in which the director was furiously experimenting with the form and working inside the short-lived San Francisco filmmaking collective American Zoetrope with pals Francis Ford Coppola, master editor Walter Murch and legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler. This section is elaborately illustrated with photographs, publicity stills and script excerpts, and the photos of young Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss and Lucas himself will amuse fans. Once Hearn begins to delve into Lucas's rise into the cinematic stratosphere with Star Wars, and the creation of his mini Hollywood in the Bay Area, however, the book fails. Hearn's worshipful tone doesn't allow him to satisfyingly explain how this long-haired rebel turned into the mini-mogul that he is today. Still, this is a crucial addition to the libraries of not just Star Wars aficionados but all lovers of modern cinema. (Mar.)

Book Description
Acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas re-invigorated the science-fiction genre more than 25 years ago with Star Wars, one of the greatest epics and cultural icons of its generation. He has enthralled audiences with his grand vision, mythic narratives, and groundbreaking visual effects ever since, and he remains a pivotal figure in American cinema: Star Wars: Episode II (2002) was the first film to be shot entirely with state-of-the-art digital cameras, and Star Wars: Episode III is set for release in 2005.

Marcus Hearn draws on exclusive interviews-as well as unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm archives-to craft a definitive look at more than four decades of the director's work. Lavishly illustrated, the book features many never and rarely seen images, including stills from Lucas's student films and behind-the-scenes photographs from the first Star Wars, the Indiana Jones adventures, and Star Wars: Episode III. Hearn delves deep into Lucas's achievements in the film industry as a director, writer, editor, and producer. Destined to be the classic illustrated survey of Lucas's career, the book is sure to fascinate not only die-hard fans but also general film and popular culture enthusiasts. AUTHOR BIO: Marcus Hearn is a writer, editor, and publisher specializing in film and popular culture. He is the author of the best-selling Star Wars: Attack of the Clones-The Illustrated Companion. He lives in London. Ron Howard is an actor, producer, and director whose film A Beautiful Mind (2001) won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

About the Author
Marcus Hearn is a writer, editor, and publisher specializing in film and popular culture. He is the author of the best-selling Star Wars: Attack of the Clones-The Illustrated Companion. He lives in London. Ron Howard is an actor, producer, and director whose film A Beautiful Mind (2001) won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"A gifted storyteller in the epic tradition, a masterful director and editor, and a visionary leader in the field of visual effects and production techniques, George Lucas has made an enormous contribution to the art and culture of our time. The Cinema of George Lucas presents new insights into the work of this innovative and influential filmmaker, whose groundbreaking technical achievements and creation of enduring modern mythologies have forever changed both film and science fiction." "Drawing on exclusive new interviews, oral histories, and unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm archives, including documents such as shooting schedules and production notes, author Marcus Hearn analyzes Lucas's personal journey as a director over four decades - beginning with his student work - while also delving into his projects as a writer, an editor, and a producer. He also discusses Lucas's many other accomplishments in the film industry, including the formation of Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound, and LucasArts." The book is lavishly illustrated with many images that have never or rarely been seen, such as stills from Lucas's student films made at the University of Southern California, material from the director's cut of his early science-fiction film THX 1138, and production shots and behind-the-scenes photos from, among other films, the very first Star Wars film, the beloved classic American Graffiti, the Indiana Jones adventures - and the forthcoming Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (to be released on May 19, 2005).

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly