I was highly distressed too, the first time I saw it, though putting on a brave face for my younger sister, who was in tears when Chewie starts howling as Han goes to his (possible) demise.

I have great memories of going to see this with her (not during the original run, I might add, but on a subsequent reissue). We'd both seen the original on TV, and wanted to see the upcoming Return of the Jedi, so our agonising wait wasn't quite as long.

I eventually got to see the original Star Wars at the cinema during the 1997 reissue, when all three were rereleased. I went to the Odeon Leicester Square on opening night for that one. Great times. :)