Star Wars, Episode IV a New Hope

This is a quality poster.

Since I decided to transform my personal blog (who cares about people complaining about the world online? Jesus! social networks are a pain in the ass nowadays!) into a movies' blog I was always hesitant of reviewing films that had currently had a long run in reviews from official websites and from far more capable people than me but, every now and then  I have been practicing  with some of my personal favorites, which happen to be the personal favorites of millions of people around the globe. If there was a movie that touched deeply the foundations of myself and got me into the world of Science Fiction, transforming myself into a big fan of comic books, robots, superheroes and the strong belief that the world could be a better place one day today's entry will be definitely my biggest challenge because I hate it when you make it personal and start crying your childhood fears to people who only want to know if the movie is the deal they're looking for or not. So, after this introduction that does not add anything new to your world or mine, let's talk about the best movie in the history of film making: Star Wars!!

What made this the hugely successful triumph it was? Was it its marvelous casting? Was it John Williams' music? Was it George Lucas' never ending imagination?, Was it the ingenuity of the viewer?  or Was it what got Michael Bay a job? (luck, haha)

 

I wasn't born by the time the movie had its opening day at the theaters in 1977. However, I was born a few years later, where I could comfortably enjoy watching the constant reruns on TV of the original trilogy. So, you could say I was old enough to remember every scene, every character, every nuance of this film; having committed it to memory forever, as if I would never again be able to see this beloved, instantly loved masterpiece. Fortunately, that wasn't the case and years later I would enjoy the "special edition" of the trilogy on the big screen and on DVD. 

Obi Wan Kenobi meets a new hope.

Today, thirty six years later its opening, sitting here writing this review, I realize how important Star Wars is to me and to the world for that matter. I'm obsessed with this movie, and with the subsequent movies which followed. I wait in great anticipation for Episode 3. I'm a fan, and I don't care what other people say about Episodes 1 & 2. I don't even mind the "prequel" factor, as the situation at the time, dictated to Lucas which movies he would do first.

See, I remember the studios saying to him that he had to choose from the three central climactic books, and trash the rest, or just trash the whole idea. He didn't exactly "sell out," he did what he had to do to get his movie...his vision...out there for us to see and experience. I admired his decision then, and I admire it now. Episodes 1-3 are being filmed now, because Lucas had the clout, the money, and the patience to give us his vision...his complete vision and not just the three center books of a 9-book series. I realize that now, there are dozens of books, but at the time, there were nine. And while most of us were happy with Episodes 4-6 and would not have missed 1-3 and 7-9, I personally am so very glad he has taken it upon himself to give us his full vision. I have enjoyed each and every installment with the same sense of awe and joy as I did this one.

The casting was the first triumph for this cinematic milestone. Harrison Ford(who had previously fail cast for the Six Million Dollar Man) is a charismatic and magnetic personality and portrayed Han Solo with a professionalism that you'd expect from more seasoned actors. Sir Alec Guiness is an absolute joy as Obi Wan Kenobi. His casting was precise and excellent in that part. Carrie Fisher portrayed Leia Organa in a way that, up until then, had never been experienced. Most "princess" types before her were whining, whimpering, little snots who were incapable of anything beyond tripping and twisting their ankle in times of peril, while Fisher portrayed her character as a bold, brazen, yet sophisticated and educated woman who was aware of her surroundings and capable of defending herself and her realm with the utmost authority.

Darth Vader introduces new meaning to the word evil.

the Death Star.

And Mark Hamil. He was perfectly cast as the whining little boy who wanted more, but was afraid to reach for it. He grows up quite well on film in these three installments, and endears himself to the audience so much the more for it. But a cast member who is almost always left out of these reviews is Peter Mayhew. Chewbacca. His character, as a supporting character to Han's, was exemplary. It's not easy portraying a walking carpet, yet holding the attention, admiration, and love of virtual millions, and James Earl Jones's voice being used as the voice of Darth Vader, was pure genius. His commanding voice haunted the dreams of countless thousands of star-struck children for generations to come. I also have to say that this movie would not have had the charm it does had it not been for Anthony Daniels' C3P0. He is a gift and a joy.

The musical score by John Williams featured in this masterpiece was one of the contributing factors. But honestly, this movie's success was such a total surprise to everyone, including Lucas, that nothing could prepare the world for the aftermath of having witnessed this bona fide legend, first hand.

"These aren't the droids you're looking for"

World famous X-Wing!

The story itself; replete with sub-plot after sub-plot, rich in dialog and detail, was beyond anyone's greatest expectations. Everyone, including Lucas, expected this movie to fail. It is a timeless classic, which I will not repeat here. There are too many movie reviews giving full details of the plot, and I won't be redundant beyond what I have already said.

However, that being said, there are a few points I would like to make concerning the symbolism of this endeavor. The Force is a metaphor for the psychic abilities with which we are all born. It was also a metaphor for hope and faith, dedication and commitment to the greater state of being. The Empire is said to have been a metaphor for the Germanic Nazi "storm troopers." While the Rebellion is said to have been symbolic of (what would later become) the NATO forces who defeated them, of course there are lots of myths written around Star Wars and some of them just go too far.

And then there are the effects. The effects were, in 1977, so awesome; so creative; so ahead of their time, as to ensure this movie's vast success for the next forty years. George Lucas enjoys an almost god-like status among sci-fi/fantasy fans worldwide and his Industrial Light & Magic special effects company became the renowned brand whenever it came to state of the art technology at the service of film making. In addition, Star Wars success guaranteed Lucas the go for the completion of his wonderful trilogy in which new characters will play a significant role in the developing of a story that was so complex and yet so well told that it required six additional episodes to fully understand the whole universe Lucas imagined. However, he himself has stated several times time that Star Wars is about the tragedy of Darth Vader and episodes 7, 8 & 9 would never become a reality because the story has already been told. On the other hand he corrected this by the time he sold Star Wars to Disney by stating that he only referred to him not directing more Star Wars movies and that he never denied the possibility of others making more expanded universe films. I for one, do not have  a lot of expectations about the new trilogy. Without most of the characters that made Star Wars the legend it is, I can't see where the direction of a new trilogy would take us to. I loved the prequel trilogy, but the expanded cartoon shows here and there, despite the fact they did rely on familiar characters, they were definitely made for cash rather than for the love of art.

Luke lost everything but hope.

Great pilot & even a greater Jedi.

Star Wars changed the world

George Lucas' multi-film Star Wars saga has had a significant impact on modern world popular culture. Star Wars references are deeply embedded in popular culture; references to the main characters and themes of Star Wars are casually made in many English-speaking countries with the assumption that others will understand the reference. Darth Vader has become an iconic villain. Phrases like "evil empire" and "May the Force be with you" have become part of the popular lexicon. The first Star Wars film in 1977 was a cultural unifier, enjoyed by a wide spectrum of people. Furthermore, the Jedi way has been considered a philosophy that takes the best of a person only to make it better. On the other hand, the dark side of the force is actually thinking inwards so whether there is a philosophy behind the Star Wars religion we can at least say "hey, this George Lucas guy is telling us to be selfless, to rely on others, to trust, to love and ultimately to lead a more spiritual way of life rather than being obsessed with consumption, possession and power".

The science fiction industry since the introduction of the original 1977 Star Wars, has often been influenced by and compared to Star Wars. Sounds, visuals, and even the music from the films have become part of the tapestry of American society. The film also helped launch the science fiction boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and made science fiction films a blockbuster genre. It has also been parodied in films and short videos, such as Spaceballs.

The legendary opening blockade runner scene.

My favorite Jedi master.

Now, fasten your seatbelts and be ready for a lightspeed jump that will take us to the coolest secrets of the first Star Wars film. Of course, there are hundreds of websites with a thousand more secrets than the ones I chose but, hey! I did my research and selected the most significant ones. Enjoy them you will!

Star Wars secrets revealed

C3PO's voice

George Lucas had not originally intended to use Anthony Daniels's voice for the voice of C-3PO. He only changed his mind after a suggestion by Stan Freberg, one of the actors considered as Daniels' replacement Daniels' voice was altered in post-production. His character was supposed to be like a "used-car salesman". Ultimately, though, George Lucas was won over by the charisma of Daniels' reading of the part as a "snooty British butler" and so Daniels has done the voice for C3PO ever since. 

Chewbacca the indecent

According to Mark Hamill, studio executives were unhappy that Chewbacca has no clothes and attempted to have the costume redesigned with shorts. 

The force was the first Tesseract!

At one point in the scripting process, the Force was a large crystal or galactic holy grail called the 'Kyber crystal'.  

Oh crap!

Tatooine in Episode IV?

The planet Tatooine is never referred to by name throughout the entire showing of "A New Hope". It doesn't appear on the scroll at the beginning of the movie. When C-3PO says he doesn't know what planet they're on, Luke responds by saying "If there's a Bright Center to the Universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from". In the original trilogy, Tatooine isn't mentioned by name until Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It is referred to by name and visited in all subsequent movies and prequels. 

The original Lightsaber

The hilt of the lightsaber given to Luke Skywalker is a Graflex 3 Cell Camera flash tube with some rubber grips and a loop attached to the base, these flash tubes can still be bought today but cost around the same as an official replica hilt. 

Jabba, is that you?

Jabba the Hutt was originally supposed to appear in the film, dropped in optically on top of stand-in actor Declan Mulholland. However, the effect was not acceptable and the scene was cut until CGI allowed it to be completed for the 1997 'Special Edition'.  

Spaghetti Wars

In Italy, R2-D2 was renamed C1-P8 while Darth Vader became Lord Fener, the reason being that "Vader" in Italian sounds too close to the common noun for the toilet bowl (the "water", clearly from the English "water closet"). The "clones" mentioned by Obi-Wan Kenobi became "quotes" (Italian: "cloni"/"quoti"). 

Latino Wars

In Latin America and Spain something similar to what happened in Italy took place with a few characters. R2D2 was known as "Arturito" a common spanish name that sounded almost the same as the original english name. Also, C3PO was known as "Citripio" the written pronunciation of the original name which somehow, sounded more spanish fitting for the audiences.

Master & Apprentice meet again.

Darth Vader's body versus Darth Vader's voice

David Prowse, the actor in the Darth Vader suit, was still disgruntled more than 20 years after the film's release about the fact that his voice was replaced by James Earl Jones. In an interview with the Canadian press, Prowse claimed that he was a victim of "reverse racism". As there were no black members in the cast, the studio was worried that they would lose a significant size audience.  

I've never seen neither Yoda nor Palpatine in episode IV, have you?

This is the only Star Wars series film in which neither Yoda nor Palpatine make an appearance. Yoda is not mentioned, as the character had not yet been created. Palpatine (whose name is never uttered in the classic trilogy) is mentioned, but referred to only as "the Emperor". 

Luke Skywalker is a pro

Mark Hamill held his breath for so long during the trash compactor scene that he broke a blood vessel in his face. Subsequent shots are from one side only. 

R2D2 did have a voice! 

In early drafts of the script, R2-D2 could speak standard English, and had a rather foul vocabulary. Although all of Artoo's English speech was removed, many of C-3PO's reactions to it were left in.The shootout between Han Solo and Greedo inside the Cantina was the subject for a lot of controversy and debate among Star Wars fans as to who shot first.

12 Minutes of Sith presence

Darth Vader has only 12 minutes of screen time.  

Galactic funk

Pop Musician Meco recorded a Disco version of the theme song, which also mixed in other pieces of the musical score, most notably the Cantina Band song. The single reached Number One for two weeks on the Billboard Pop Chart in October, 1977. 

The Toy line Wizard

George Lucas' decision to accept a lower salary on the film in exchange for full merchandising rights was considered a fool's gamble on his part. Toys based on movies had never been major money-earners (though some movie-toy combinations had done moderate retail returns) because of the long gap between when a movie would go through its theatrical run and when any products based on it would be available. But Star Wars was such a phenomenon that it reached the holiday 1977 sales period in full swing, and changed the way movies were merchandised forever.  

They saved the day!

Obi Wan Kenobi's Origin

The character name Obi-Wan Kenobi appears to allude to the following definitions. OBI - a form of belief involving sorcery, practiced in parts of the West Indies, South America, the southern U.S., and Africa. And a charm used in this belief system. WAN - Archaically meaning dark or gloomy; also pale in color or hue, meaning decline in ability (referring to dotage of the aging Jedi). KEN - knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception. range of sight or vision.

Do you speak Zulu?

The Jawa language was based on the Zulu language. The recordings of Jawa voices you hear in the final film are a mixture of studio recordings, as well as recordings done in places like canyons to get an ambient echo effect of sorts, spliced together. 

Ben Kenobi  hated Star Wars!

Alec Guinness always recalled the experience of making the movie as a bad one, and consistently claimed that it was his idea to have his character killed in the first film, so he "wouldn't have to carry on saying these rubbish lines". Reportedly because he hated working on Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) so much, Alec Guinness claims that Obi-Wan's death was his idea as a means to limit his involvement in the film. Guinness also claimed to throw away all Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) related fan mail without even opening it. Contrary to this, George Lucas has said he made the decision to kill off Kenobi, that Guinness was "less than happy" his character was dying earlier than expected, and that Guinness appeared to enjoy his time on set. While Alec Guinness made no secret that he disliked the dialogue in George Lucas's script, he claimed that he accepted the role for two reasons: 1). He was an admirer of Lucas' previous film American Graffiti (1973) and 2). The narrative compelled him to read the whole script through to the end, in spite of not liking the dialogue and not being a fan of science fiction.  

Greedo or Han?

Many fans debated that Greedo actually shot first a split second before Solo did, but with careful examination of the scene, it was obvious that Greedo never fired his shot at all. For the 1997 Special Edition release of this movie, George Lucas had edited the scene to include Greedo shooting first at Solo at point blank range, with Solo moving his head slightly to the right to dodge the shot before firing back at Greedo. The shooting scene was edited for a third time for the 2004 DVD release, so that both Greedo and Han Solo fired their guns more or less at the same time. 

Taped titties

Carrie Fisher's breasts were taped down with gaffer tape, as her costume did not permit any lingerie to be worn underneath. She joked later, "As we all know, there is no underwear in space."  

No underwear in space.

The Kenner empire rises

Interested in creating a modest line of colorful space toys, Kenner Toys signed on for the merchandising shortly before Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) opened, although they did not believe the movie would be a hit. When Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) became a hit, they were unprepared to handle the demand and produce enough Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) toys to handle the demand for Christmas. Instead, they sold boxed vouchers for various toys. The toys sold in the "Empty Box" campaign during December were not delivered until the following March.  

I Have a bad feeling about this

The following characters "have a bad feeling about this": Obi Wan (Episode I), Anakin (Episode II), Obi Wan (Episode III), Luke (Episode IV), Han (Episode IV), Leia (Episode V), C3-PO (Episode VI). The line is also spoken by Harrison Ford again as Indiana Jones in George Lucas' Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).  

Left handed clones

Most of the Stormtroopers are left-handed. That is because of how the weapons are constructed. Their weapons are based on a real weapon, where the magazine is on left side of the weapons. This construction caused it to hit the troopers in the chest. Therefore they have to switch grip of the weapon, which made them look left-handed. 

Special Effects blow up

Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) spent most of the production period in chaos, attempting to create special effects that had never been created before. They blew half their budget on four shots which George Lucas rejected. Ultimately, around $5,000,000 of the $8,000,000 budget was spent by ILM.  

The secret message.

 

Walnut Vader

When Darth Vader crushes the neck of Captain Antilles, the actual sound you hear is of walnut shells being crushed. The same sound effect is used in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), when Han Solo is freed from the carbonite.

Samurai Vader

The famous Darth Vader suit was designed by production designer Ralph McQuarrie, who was concerned about the character being able to breathe while he was traveling from his spaceship to Princess Leia's spaceship. It was not explained why Darth Vader wears the suit at all times until Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). The look of the Darth Vader suit was based on robes worn by Bedouin Warriors.  

Princess & Heroine Leia Organa.

 

Luke, the transvestite & metamorph

Luke went through several changes. Lucas toyed with the idea of changing him into a woman after cutting Princess Leia from the script. He also entertained the notion of casting the principal characters as a dwarfs. In an early screenplay, Skywalker was a 60 year-old general. In the shooting script, he was called Luke Starkiller but this was changed to Luke Skywalker during production. 

Jedi came from Japan

The word "Jedi" is derived from the Japanese words "Jidai Geki" which translate as "period adventure drama." A period adventure drama is a Japanese TV soap opera program set in the samurai days. George Lucas mentioned in an interview that he saw a "Jidai Geki" program on TV while in Japan a year or so before the movie was made and liked the word. 

Is it Star Wars or is it a New Hope ?

When first released in 1977, this movie was simply titled "Star Wars", as it was intended to be a stand-alone movie. Sequels were not considered until after it became wildly successful. The name of this movie was changed to "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" in 1981 to fit in better with the names of the other films. The later print was the first one to be released on mass market video (an earlier Betamax release did not have the subtitle), and all video, laserdisc or DVD releases have featured the subtitles. The theatrical cut DVDs, released in September 2006, were the first time that the original opening crawl, without subtitle, has been released on home video. The reason George Lucas created the title card "Episode IV" in the first film was as a homage to 1940's Saturday afternoon "cliffhanger" serials, like the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. He also used the "text crawl" the same way each of those series opened up new chapters. He did not at the time have Episodes I, II, and III already planned. In fact, at one point, 20th Century Fox wanted the "Episode IV" title removed so as not to confuse moviegoers. There are some prints of the film that do not have that title card.  

Vader actually fights Ben Kenobi

This is the only film in the series where David Prowse did the lightsaber fighting on his own; he was doubled in the sequels because he kept breaking the poles that stood in for the blades. This switch might explain why Vader pivots on his feet in this film, but not in the others. 


Star Wars, the Trailers

Star Wars originally had only one trailer but, as a way to convince 20th Century Fox executives and theaters, George Lucas delivered an early teaser trailer of the unfinished product in 1976.

Later, after the film was complete there was the release of the official 1977 trailer for Star Wars.

20 years later in 1997, in order to promote the restored trilogy known as "Star Wars: Special Edition" Lucas created new trailers for the three episodes adding new extended scenes


Here's the original 1976 teaser trailer that had the 20th Century Fox executives unconvinced of where could a movie like this one take them. it Is said that Lucas did a private screening of the unfinished film to his friends and only Steven Spielberg thought it was going to be a massive hit. Notice the lack of John Williams signature music on this teaser.

Here is the original Star Wars theatrical trailer with Williams' unforgettable score and the finished edition of the movie with more special effects. This is the trailer you would see if you went to the movies back in 1977.

Here is the 1997 Star Wars Episode IV a New Hope Special edition trailer that run on TV for several weeks to promote the return of the trilogy to the big screen for those who hadn't watched it like that before (me and many others) plus the addition of new recently restored extended scenes for the already initiated.

Here an interesting side to side comparison between the special edition and the original edition of the movie. The comparison focuses only in the death star battle scenes.

Obviously, the next entry will inevitably be The Empire Strikes Back. Until then, may the force be with you!