MovieChat Forums > Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) Discussion > Star Wars and Buck Rogers.

Star Wars and Buck Rogers.

posted 20 years ago by brandramaged
3 replies | jump to latest

I would like to reply to a comment I saw about this movie just a minute ago on this website. I haven't edited any of it.

"Not a Star Wars rip-off!

As I recall, it was reported in the press that Larsen said the "Buck Rogers" and "BattleStar Galactica" series were scripted long before "Star Wars" was released theatrically. The success of "Star Wars" obviously gave network executives the impetus to give these two the "Green Light".

If anything, "Star Wars" began to more resemble "Buck Rogers" in adding the romantic aspects that were obviously missing from the first episode of "Star Wars".

Except for the war in outer space, "Buck Rogers" was a highly original movie that had the guts(though not the first obviously) to tackle the post nuclear holocaust, and the division between the "haves" and "have nots" on earth (its too bad this was not pursued more in the TV series). Princess Ardala added some much needed sexiness that Lucas obviously tried to imitate when he put Princess Leaia in the "slave Girl" costume.

"Buck Rogers" not only followed the trends, rekindled a few in a highly entertaining manner. I laughed all the way through this movie.

The opening credits where all the major females in the movie appear in bikinis is a classic not to be missed."

Alright, first things first. No Buck Rogers is not a Star Wars rip off. It was a saturday matinee back in 1939. Star Wars was based on these saturday matinees. This person was obviously not around back when Star Wars first appeared in theatres, and if he/she was they must have completely forgetten about the romance aspects of the film. Star Wars was a space opera from the very beginning. Ask any Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers fan (who were fans before Star Wars debuted) and I'm sure they'll tell you that Star Wars has romance. For the most part I agree with this person, however I am posting this to defend Star Wars. George Lucas was a huge fan of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. It's because of his movies that I have began to take an interest in these series. I was not around in 1977, but from everything I've heard about it, it was great to see Star Wars in theaters for the first time. I don't care about this so much to dig up any reviews which liken Star Wars to Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers, but I would bet there are some. So to whomever wrote this: Show some respect to this magnificant series which single handedly brough back the space opera genre.

[–] Tiki_Barfly 20 years ago

After the success of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, Lucas planned on making a big budget FLASH GORDON movie. When he learned that Dino De Laurentis had already secured the FG rights, however, he began production of... (you know).

[–] Orbtastic 20 years ago

Battlestar Galactica was just Bonanza in space.

[–] FilmbenderX 16 years ago

This in response to the previous (Threads) by "brandramaged".

Yes this NEWER(1979) Buck Rogers is a Ripp-off(response or Knock-Off) of Star Wars. There is no question, despite how old the "Buck Rogers" material is(or Galactica for that matter). Galactica boasted that it's from the creators of Star Wars effects (Dykstra). These series borrowed HEAVILY from the recent (at the time) hit of Star Wars.

The technolgy used was developped or perfected durring Star Wars. The Dog fights, costumes,and style of musical score. Look at the contrast of Logan's Run(1976) to Star Wars(1977).

So indeed the Buck Rogers(1979) and (especially) BattleStar Galactica (1978) were in fact are in fact direct RIP OFFS of Star Wars (1977), it was undeniable back then in the late 1970's, I can't imagine how it could be disbuted now.