When did "Star Wars" become Episode IV?

I searched the FAQs for this, but couldn't find an answer. From what I understand, Fox made GL release ANH as "Star Wars" first, and a few months later, he got to add the "Ep IV - A New Hope" in the crawl. Is this correct? When did the "official" title of the movie change to "Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope"?

 

Yes, that's correct. I'm not sure when it changed, though. But on the box (can't find mine at the moment, dammit) isn't "Star Wars" in larger letters and "A New Hope" in smaller letters?

 

I thought it had changed after TPM came out.

 

I have ANH recorded from tv in the mid 80's and the crawl said episode IV.

 

I think it became A New Hope when Lucas found out he would be able to make a sequel. Up until then he thought it would be a stand alone movie.

 

Lucas talks about it a couple of times on the DVD commentary..it was orginally going to always be Episode IV, Lucas got his way when the money rolled in at 20th Century Fox

 

1980.

 

It was probably added at one of the re-releases in cinemas.

 

I'm pretty sure it was added when he decided to make ESB... just don't know exactly when.

 

I found this on the Official Site:
Soon after the unexpected huge success of Star Wars, George Lucas announced that it was only one part in a multi-chapter saga, and almost immediately started production on the next part, The Empire Strikes Back. But there was also a pre-story that might get made someday, he said. The first movie really started "in the middle" of the story.
Star Wars was still playing in numerous theaters a year after its opening on May 25, 1977. It was re-released in 1979, 1981 and 1982. But when was the change made? For the indisputable answer, we went to Lucasfilm's film archivist, Sterling Hedgpeth. Here's what he says:
"I found a box with all the positive elements for the 'revised' opening crawl, and the assorted trim boxes are dated from October through December 1980. This, then, is consistent with the view that Episode IV: A New Hope was added for the first time to the opening crawl for the April 10, 1981 re-release."

 

He added it to be consistant with ESB.

 

I remember when Time magazine did a 1980 cover story on the release of "Empire," they had a sidebar stating that "Star Wars" would now be subtitled "Episode IV: A New Hope." That was the first I'd heard of it.

 

This was added to the film on the last re-release before ESB's release. Back in the old days Lucas always re-release the Star Wars movies. I wish he would have done that this time. Re-release TPM before AOTC, etc.
If you want a added date, I believe the last re-release before ESB was August 13th 1979 (with ESB coming out that following May 1980. A Teaser (or trailer) for ESB was attached to the re-release)

 

I see I chose well for my first post.

I think I can clear up the question. Being somewhat of an old fart, I saw Star Wars twice in 1977 in its initial release. At that time it was only titled 'Star Wars' and nothing else.

I saw the film twice more on rerelease in late summer 1978. At that time, I noticed the title change to the subtitle 'Episode IV: A New Hope'.

Remember, by 1978, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back began production after the fantastic success of the first film.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!