Star Wars, backup sci-fi for 1977 ?

[joejoeherron]

I was on looking up an older film earlier, and it said 20th century fox had a sci-fi planned to be "the year's blockbuster of 1977 ", but the movie ran  a few months late,so they put there promotion and money behind "Stars Wars". The movie I was looking up was "Damnation Alley". I read the info and couldn"t belive it. I love "Damnation Alley" ,but I did not know it had that much clout?, to be a blockbuster. I know I am new to this,but did I miss something? I love Star Wars,but I wonder,

Was it a bad year for 20th century fox?

Besides Star Wars. I really enjoyed " The driver" with ryan o'neal which if my clouded my brain remembers, came out in 1978

[retrorussell]

Heh.. I saw Damnation Alley at the drive-in on a double bill with "Wizards" when I was 6.  It certainly didn't seem to achieve blockbuster status at the box office.  Most people who I've talked to outside of my family had never heard of it.  I didn't think it was that great.

[Jack]

I remember it being somewhat of a big deal when it came out.  Watching it now, it's kind of hard to imagine why.   I guess it all has to do with how much advertising it gets.

[TheDope]

I remember that, too - the special effects were VERY hokey, ranking somewhere around Bert I. Gordon on an off day.  The acting was about on par with Star Wars but I don't think it would have stood a chance as anything special even if SW hadn't been released.

- TGWD