Marcia Lucas

Though practically erased from the history books at Lucasfilm, Marcia Lucas was an instrumental part in the shaping of George Lucas's early scripts, and was a primary force behind their final form in the editorial stage. Moreover, she had a successful career of her own as a professional editor, and was a key figure in the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. When their marriage ended on bad terms in 1983, Marcia retired and George went into a state of professional and personal depression. This chapter examines her life and career as an editor, but perhaps more importantly, it investigates the influence Marcia had on her husband and his films, where her vital contributions to film history remain unappreciated, and where her absence changed the direction of George Lucas as a person and a filmmaker.