THX 1138

THX 1138 is such an amazing film. As George Lucas’s first film, THX1138 puts all the inspirations for Star Wars into perspective. A lot of the sounds and even the robot/drones would go on to inspire the Star Wars movies.

THX 1138 was a finished effort of George’s student flim: Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB. George took advantage of USC’s equipment to make the student film. One of the most interesting things about the film was its considered an unoffical collaboration with the US navy.

“USC worked in collaboration with the Navy to help military filmmakers earn college credits via student-taught classes. Lucas agreed to teach the class in order to gain unlimited access to the camera equipment, film stock, and processing facilities that the school had reserved for the Navy. He also employed his students as the film’s cast and crew.”

The young filmmaker, fresh out of school, was picked up by Frances Ford Coppela (The Godfather). Coppela was so impressed with Electronic Labyrinth that he pushed Warner Brothers to support a full-length version of the film. He assisted George Lucas is writing and producing THX-1138 in 1970. Although THX- 1138 was mostly a flop at the box office, it is still almost beyond its time and definitely above the average science fiction. THX-1138 is a fascinating and chilling science fiction that has been lost over the years.

After making the student film: Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, Francis Coppola was so inspired and impressed by George’s work that he hired him under his wing to create the full version of the film. THX set the foundations for all the Star Wars movies and made it possible to start networking further in the industry for George.