26 Facts About Gary Kurtz

1.

Gary Douglas Kurtz was an American film producer whose list of credits includes American Graffiti, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz.

2.

Gary Kurtz then served as production manager on Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet with Basil Rathbone and Faith Domergue for American International Pictures.

3.

Gary Kurtz additionally worked as an assistant director and second unit director, as well as a camera operator for the second unit, on the musical comedy Beach Ball for Paramount Pictures.

4.

In 1966, Gary Kurtz was again production manager on Queen of Blood, with John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, and Dennis Hopper, as well as acting as a sound technician on Blood Bath, both for American International Pictures.

5.

Gary Kurtz then worked as an assistant camera operator on another Monte Hellman western, The Shooting, starring Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson, and finally wore multiple hats as production manager, assistant director, and editor on the Harry Dean Stanton-starring The Hostage, both for Crown International Pictures.

6.

In 1973, at approximately the same time as he began his collaboration with George Lucas, Gary Kurtz formed his own company, Kinetographics, in San Rafael, California.

7.

Gary Kurtz continued his collaboration with Lucas on Star Wars, released in 1977.

8.

Gary Kurtz clashed with cinematographer Gilbert Taylor, whom Kurtz called "old-school" and "crotchety".

9.

Gary Kurtz's final collaboration with Lucas, The Empire Strikes Back, was an expensive and difficult production.

10.

Gary Kurtz had to help direct along with David Tomblin, Irvin Kershner, Harley Cokeliss and John Barry to bring the film in on even this revised schedule and budget.

11.

Gary Kurtz was actively involved from post production through its release in theatres in the US and the UK, but was replaced four weeks before filming wrapped by Howard Kazanjian.

12.

On Gary Kurtz's parting of ways with Lucasfilm following the movie's release, Kazanjian took over the producer's reins for Return of the Jedi.

13.

Gary Kurtz decided not to produce the latter film as he found its story to be too commercial, as well as redundant of the first film in the trilogy.

14.

Gary Kurtz claimed that he and George Lucas clashed over how to progress the Star Wars series.

15.

Gary Kurtz claimed Lucas changed the emphasis from storytelling to prioritizing toy merchandising.

16.

Times, Gary Kurtz revealed he had become disillusioned with what he saw as the commercially driven direction the franchise was taking, as well as the related changes that Lucas made to the plot of the third movie, which was originally much darker, and supposedly included the death of Han Solo.

17.

Gary Kurtz was particularly displeased with Lucas' decisions in Return of the Jedi to resurrect the Death Star and to change the plot outline from one that ended on a "bittersweet and poignant" note to one having a "euphoric ending where everyone was happy".

18.

At the scoring stage, Gary Kurtz had composer Trevor Jones scrap his initial notion of reflecting the settings' oddness by using acoustical instruments, electronics and building structures, in favor of a more sweeping orchestral score so as not to alienate audiences.

19.

Gary Kurtz was brought onto the production and appointed producer of the American production side, initially hiring Ray Bradbury and later Edward Summer to write screenplays.

20.

Fans awaiting a director's cut have been disappointed after Gary Kurtz said in an interview that the script was originally much more violent, but that these violent scenes, which would have made the plot more coherent, were never filmed.

21.

Gary Kurtz was producer for all films unless otherwise noted.

22.

Gary Kurtz was producer for all projects unless otherwise noted.

23.

Gary Kurtz was married first to Meredith Alsup and then to Roberta Jiminez.

24.

Gary Kurtz had two daughters, Tiffany and Melissa, with Alsup and a son, Dylan, with Jiminez.

25.

Gary Kurtz was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

26.

Gary Kurtz died of cancer in north London on September 23,2018.