LIFE George Lucas

George Lucas, the creative force behind the Star Wars franchise, revolutionized filmmaking with his special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic. Now, this special edition celebrates and chronicles the man behind some of the most powerful cultural stories of the 20th century. Lucas first scored with 1973's nostalgic American Graffiti, inspired by his suburban California youth. Four years later came Star Wars, an epic thrill ride with spectacular visuals and captivating characters both human and not. Here you'll go behind the scenes with interviews and anecdotes about the film that some argued helped America reclaim itself after the fall of 1960s cultural idealism and the Vietnam War. Then, visit the epic and productive friendship with Steven Spielberg and consider how Lucas changed the way we watch films. Many years and many blockbusters later, the famed creator sold his Lucasfilm production company to Disney, in 2012, and now spends most of his time and much of his $5.5 billion fortune on philanthropy. This special edition helps you retrace the brilliant risks and epic successes of one of America's most successful filmmakers.