?A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ...? It was 28 years ago that the famous words first scrolled down movie screens. Yesterday, arguably the world?s most successful film series draws to a close with the premiere of the sixth and final episode of ?Star Wars?.

In one of the most eagerly awaited and widely hyped film releases in years, ?Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith? was due to have its gala premiere late yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. At an early press screening in the packed Grand Theatre Lumiere, hundreds of fans and journalists cheered and clapped afterwards, some expressing surprise at the darkness of the portrayal of Anakin Skywalker?s transformation into Darth Vader.

?I was quite surprised, because it?s much deeper than his previous films,? said one woman as she left the cinema. The odd grisly scene means the film received a PG-13 US rating, which warns the film may be inappropriate for pre-teens. This is seen as the main potential handicap to the film becoming a box office smash hit.

For many die-hard Star Wars fans, it will be an emotional farewell to a series which has built a cult following and pushed the boundaries of cinematic special effects and sound. One reporter said he felt ?empty? after seeing the film. Because it was bad? ?No, because it is over.?

George Lucas is in the glamorous Riviera resort on a whirlwind round of interviews, honours and promotional events, including one on an ocean liner moored just off the coast. Early reviews have been generally positive. Variety magazine said Sith was ?considerably more satisfying than the disappointing Episodes I and II and provides the series with the kind of finale that some fans had almost lost hope of seeing.?

Sith ends the cycle of three prequels, and explains how Jedi Knight Skywalker is tempted over to the dark side. It also provides the link between the first trilogy and the second, which is actually a prequel.

Star Wars has earned more than $3.5 billion at the box office and an estimated $9 billion in merchandise sales.

<B>Mike COLLETT-WHITE</B>