View source for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

{{Infobox movie
| name           = Star Wars: Episode IV -<br />A New Hope
| image          = Star wars2.svg
| caption        = Special Edition Logo
| director       = [[George Lucas]]
| producer       = [[Gary Kurtz]]<br />[[Rick McCallum]]<br />(Special Edition)
| writer         = George Lucas
| starring       = [[Mark Hamill]]<br />[[Harrison Ford]]<br />[[Carrie Fisher]]<br />[[Peter Cushing]]<br />[[Alec Guinness]]
| music          = [[John Williams]]
| cinematography = [[Gilbert Taylor]], BSC
| editing        = [[Richard Chew]]<br />[[Paul Hirsch (movie editor)|Paul Hirsch]]<br />[[Marcia Lucas]]
| studio         = [[Lucasfilm]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Fox]]
| released       = May 25, 1977
| runtime        = 121 minutes (original)<br />125 minutes (Special Edition)
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = [[United States dollar|$]]11,000,000
}}

'''''Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope''''' (initially named '''''Star Wars''''') is a [[science fiction movie]]. It is the first film made in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' saga, but is the fourth film in the story's timeline. The movie was released in 1977 and also incorporates adventure, action and drama.

In 1989, Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope was selected by Library of Congress into the United States National Film Registry.

== Plot ==
The film takes place years after [[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith|''Revenge of the Sith'']], which was made in 2005 as a [[prequel]]. The [[Rebel Alliance|Rebellion]] has stolen the secret plans for the [[Galactic empire|Galactic Empire]]'s superweapon known as the Death Star. [[Darth Vader]] and his [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|stormtroopers]] capture [[Leia Organa|Princess Leia Organa]], a leader of the Rebellion but she secretly gives the Death Star plans to two droids (robots), [[C-3PO]] and [[R2-D2]].

The two droids escape to a desert planet called [[Tatooine]], where they are bought by [[Luke Skywalker]] and his adoptive parents, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Luke and the droids are attacked by desert natives called "sand people", but are rescued by Luke's friend, [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]], who is a [[Jedi]].

Obi-Wan explains that the Jedi used a power known as [[the Force]] to keep peace in the galaxy until the Empire hunted them down. R2-D2 shows Obi-Wan the distress call from Princess Leia. Luke finds out that stormtroopers have destroyed his home, including his aunt and uncle, in search for R2-D2. Luke decides to accompany Obi-Wan and the droids to Alderaan, Leia's homeworld.

They go into a local cantina, where they meet two pilots, [[Han Solo]] and [[Chewbacca]]. Han Solo is a smuggler/pirate, who is in debt to a crime lord named [[Jabba the Hutt]]. Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids leave the planet with Han and Chewbacca in their ship, the ''[[Millennium Falcon]].''

On board the Death Star, Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin interrogate Princess Leia and use the superweapon to destroy her homeworld Alderaan. The ''Millennium Falcon'' arrives and they discover Alderaan's destruction. The Death Star uses its technology to capture the ''Millennium Falcon'' and bring it aboard the space station. Luke, Han, Obi-Wan and Chewbacca decide to sneak around the station to rescue Leia. They eventually find her in a cell. As they try to escape, Darth Vader kills Obi-Wan in a [[lightsaber]] battle, but the rest of the heroes escape on the ''Millennium Falcon.''

They arrive at the Rebel base and R2-D2 gives the secret plans to the Rebels and they discover a weakness in the Death Star. They organise an attack on the Death Star in their small ships called starfighters. With the help of [[the Force]], Luke is able to destroy the Death Star. The Rebellion celebrates their victory.

== Main cast ==
* [[Mark Hamill]] as [[Luke Skywalker]]
* [[Harrison Ford]] as [[Han Solo]]
* [[Carrie Fisher]] as [[Leia Organa|Princess Leia Organa]]
* [[Alec Guinness]] as [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi]]
* [[David Prowse]] as [[Darth Vader]], voiced by [[James Earl Jones]]
* [[Anthony Daniels]] as [[C-3PO]]
* [[Kenny Baker]] as [[R2-D2]]
* [[Peter Mayhew]] as [[Chewbacca]]
* [[Peter Cushing]] as [[Grand Moff Tarkin]]
* Denis Lawson as Red Two (Wedge)

==Related pages==
* ''[[Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones|Attack of the Clones]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith|Revenge of the Sith]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back|The Empire Strikes Back]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi|Return of the Jedi]]''

==Other websites==
{{wikiquote-en|Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope}}
* [http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv Official website]
* {{imdb title|id=0076759|title=Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope}}
* {{amg movie|1:46636}}
* [http://movies.wikilot.com/wiki/Star_Wars_%281977%29 Star Wars at the Movie Wiki]

{{Star Wars}}

[[Category:1977 science fiction movies]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox movies]]
[[Category:Movies directed by George Lucas]]
[[Category:Screenplays by George Lucas]]
[[Category:Star Wars Skywalker Saga movies]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry movies]]
[[Category:American science fiction movies]]
[[Category:1970s English-language movies]]
[[Category:1970s epic movies]]
[[Category:American epic movies]]
[[Category:Movies about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:1977 action movies]]
[[Category:1970s American action movies]]
[[Category:1977 adventure movies]]
[[Category:1970s American adventure movies]]
[[Category:1977 war movies]]
[[Category:American war movies]]
[[Category:Robot movies]]
[[Category:Movies composed by John Williams]]
[[Category:Movies that won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award]]
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