While the massive success of the original “Star Wars” started a space race of sorts in Hollywood, with studios launching sci-fi projects to try and capitalize on the interest in galactic adventures, the ripple effect was felt around the globe. However, the crown for the weirdest, most outlandish tribute (of sorts) to George Lucas’ creation might just be “Turkish Star Wars.”
Technically known as “Dünyayi Kurtaran Adam” or “The Man Who Saved The World,” the 1982 film from Çetin Inanç not only has the distinction of being one of the most awful movies ever created, it became so by openly using footage from “Star Wars,” and ripping the score from a variety of movies (including “Raiders Of The Lost Ark,” “Moonraker,” and more) for its generic and weird adventure story. Scrappy bootlegs have made it a favorite on the cult circuit, but now, it’s in line for a full blown restoration.
The folks at Neon Harbor, who specialize in oddball world cinema, have announced that they have uncovered the only surviving 35mm print of “Turkish Star Wars” sitting in a collection owned by a former movie projectionist in Turkey.
“A 35mm print of ‘Turkish Star Wars’ is the holy grail, not just of rip-off films, but all cult film. There are no negatives, and the few other prints of the film ever struck have been destroyed. My goal is to get this one scanned to preserve it for posterity — and hopefully screened in a theater for other fans like me,” said the company’s Ed Glaser.
It’s not the lost reel of Orson Welles’ “The Magnificent Ambersons” or anything (keep hope alive), but it’s once again proof that cinematic history is still waiting to be discovered in the unlikeliest of places. No word yet on when the restoration might be available, but it couldn’t come at a better time as the world is now diving headlong back into the revived franchise. Check out the full movie below.