# Empire Strikes Back snowspeeder suicide scene **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658 "2004-10-22T19:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/1 "2004-10-22T19:53:08Z")
Backstory: I have a Betamax tape of the copy of **Empire Strikes Back** that was shown on my parents’ movie theater during first release. There is a scene that shows a speeder getting hit, then spinning out of control and crashing into an AT-AT, causing the AT-AT to explode. I have been trying to get that scene converted to a format that can be viewed on the intar-web. Unfortunately, after spending a few days trying to figure out how to get that scene from my Betamax (VHF screws) to my TiBook, I’m at an impasse. I haven’t been able to find hardware that will allow me to transfer the scene from VHF screws to USB and transfer it to my TiBook so I can rip it to DVD or QT. I’m still working on it, but I wanted to give everyone an update. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/2 "2004-10-22T20:56:35Z")
Go to Radio Shack and see if you can find a converter box with VHF screws and analog output. If you have an old Atari, Nintendo, Commodore 64, or something similar try using the converter that came with it. Then get a USB capture device that takes analog inputs. [Here’s a list](http://www.videoguys.com/vidcap.htm), there may be other brands available also. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/3 "2004-10-22T21:00:06Z")
If I’m remembering right, the flat wire leads were 300 ohms, coaxial, 75. That might help narrow it down some. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/4 "2004-10-22T21:01:00Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > Go to Radio Shack and see if you can find a converter box with VHF screws and analog output. If you have an old Atari, Nintendo, Commodore 64, or something similar try using the converter that came with it. I happen to have an extra one somewhere. The current equipment from Radio Shack has a 75-ohm connector instead of twin screws. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/5 "2004-10-22T21:12:54Z")
[Here ya go.](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1296) Radio Shack has a 300 ohm (twin screws, UHF) to 75 ohm (coaxial F connector, VHF) converter. Of course then you need a capture device that takes an F connector. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/6 "2004-10-22T21:16:17Z")
Thanks for the replies, fellas. I’m hesitant to actually purchase an expensive capture device just for the purposes of this issue, but I feel a certain obligation. Will advise. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/7 "2004-10-22T21:18:19Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > There is a scene that shows a speeder getting hit, then spinning out of control and crashing into an AT-AT, causing the AT-AT to explode. ! Wow. That scene isn’t even on the old pre-Special-Edition laserdisc of _TESB_ I have at home. I mean, sure, there are a couple of snowspeeders getting hit and spinning out of control and crashing, but none of them crash into an Imperial Walker hard enough to make the Walker **explode**! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/8 "2004-10-22T21:29:44Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > ! > > Wow. > > That scene isn’t even on the old pre-Special-Edition laserdisc of _TESB_ I have at home. > > I mean, sure, there are a couple of snowspeeders getting hit and spinning out of control and crashing, but none of them crash into an Imperial Walker hard enough to make the Walker **explode**! Yep. basically I’m going to spend a bunch of money to prove to a bunch of strangers on a message board that I’m not crazy. Damn you SDMB!! 🙂 Sordid history [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279595). ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/9 "2004-10-23T13:13:16Z")
Thanks for the update, Dooku (as well as your efforts). Hope you find a solution for those genuinely curious about your finding… ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/10 "2004-10-23T23:01:42Z")
I vivedly remember that scene and am surprised that isn’t not in any of the home release versions. If it’s any consolation, a post in rec.arts.sf.starwars.info that [lists removed scenes](http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&selm=2AUG95114204%40pyros.hacks.arizona.edu) has it mentioned: > [@](#): > > In from Germany and when I first saw the ESB there were several scenes > which were later cut… > 2) The scene with the Snowspeeder crashing in the AT-AT Head.(Looks like the scene were the A-WING crashed in the Stardestroyer bridge in ROTJ.) Also is an interesting quote about a prerelease version of the film: > [@](#): > > As with “Star Wars,” the early 70mm prints of “Empire” went out unfinished. I saw this version several times, so I know the differences quite well. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-strikes-back-snowspeeder-suicide-scene/270658/11 "2004-10-23T23:30:35Z")
**Dooku** , I believe you, since like **Skott** , I remember that scene very vividly (for reasons that I discussed in that other thread). Either that scene really was shot, or I must join you and Skott in being insane. Just to confirm that I’m not insane\*, I’d love to see that scene again, so keep us posted. [size=1]\* or, if I am insane, at least I could rest assured my lack of sanity has little to do with Star Wars.