Word: threepio
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Solo and Luke Skywalker . . . oops, Lieut. Starbuck and Captain Apollo. Galactica's version of Artoo Detoo is a robot dog, a "daggit," named Muffit. Unfortunately, the duplicator at Universal Studios, which is producing the show, seems to have broken down before it could re-create the inimitable Threepio or Star Wars' Wookie, the most famous Teddy bear since Winnie-the-Pooh...
Along with Luke, Darth Vader will be back, as menacing as ever, as will Princess Leia, Han Solo, the Wookie Chewbacca and computerdom's cutest robots, Artoo Detoo and Threepio. There will also be several new characters, "of various genres," as Creator George Lucas phrases it, together with "aliens, robots and others, including humans." What about Obi-wan-Kenobi, the role that last week brought Alec Guinness an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor? Lucas is suddenly circumspect. "Obi-wan's aura will be there," he says cautiously, "his essence, if you like...
Mready the highest-grossing picture in U.S. history ($195 million), the film may very well break European records too. In Paris, where it opened last October, 1 million people went to see the robots, Artoo Detoo and Threepio, at the annual toy show, and kids say goodbye with a wave of the arm and a "Que la force soit avec toi." Their parents are standing in line too, and journals have hailed its brave statement of the human spirit...
Artoo Detoo, on the other hand, is a manly little machine. He responds to Threepio's complaints with a variety of impatient beeps and whistles and when busy, chirps and burbles like a mobile Mr. Coffee machine. When he gets zapped by Darth Vader, it is almost as traumatic for kids as that awful moment in Bambi when the little fawn's mother is slain by hunters. Fortunately for Artoo Detoo, however, not to mention the youngsters, there are replacement parts back in the shop...
...against it, Star Wars has one clear advantage: it is simple, elemental, and therefore unique. It has a happy ending, a rarity these days. Princess Leia is saved, the Death Star is vaporized-oh, come on, you knew it all along-and Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Artoo Detoo and Threepio receive the gratitude of freedom lovers everywhere. For most audiences the only sadness in the climax is that the film ends and cannot go on and on and on. It is surely one of the swiftest two hours on celluloid...