Events March 5 - Production begins on The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to Star Wars. November - Production begins on Raiders of the Lost Ark. Top Grossing Films of 1979 Kramer vs. Kramer, starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, both of whom won Oscarss for their performances The Amityville Horror Star Trek: The Motion Picture Alien Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford and others The Muppet Movie The Jerk, starring Steve Martin Moonraker starring Roger Moore Love at First Bite, starring George Hamilton Meatballs, starring Bill Murray Births Deaths February 12 - Jean Renoir, director May 29 - Mary Pickford, actress, movie studio founder June 11 - John Wayne, actor August 17, Vivian Vance, actress September 8 - Jean Seberg, actress Other Movies Released Caligula, by Gore Vidal and Bob Guccione The Electric Horseman, directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda Hardcore, starring George C. Scott Mad Max, starring Mel Gibson 1941, starring Dan Aykroyd Rock 'n' Roll High School, produced by Roger Corman, featuring The Ramones 10, directed by Blake Edwards, starring Dudley Moore Tess, directed by Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski
Deaths February 12 - Jean Renoir, director May 29 - Mary Pickford, actress, movie studio founder June 11 - John Wayne, actor August 17, Vivian Vance, actress September 8 - Jean Seberg, actress Other Movies Released Caligula, by Gore Vidal and Bob Guccione The Electric Horseman, directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda Hardcore, starring George C. Scott Mad Max, starring Mel Gibson 1941, starring Dan Aykroyd Rock 'n' Roll High School, produced by Roger Corman, featuring The Ramones 10, directed by Blake Edwards, starring Dudley Moore Tess, directed by Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski
Other Movies Released Caligula, by Gore Vidal and Bob Guccione The Electric Horseman, directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda Hardcore, starring George C. Scott Mad Max, starring Mel Gibson 1941, starring Dan Aykroyd Rock 'n' Roll High School, produced by Roger Corman, featuring The Ramones 10, directed by Blake Edwards, starring Dudley Moore Tess, directed by Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski