Nonsense, CFQ: I, too saw it 3 or 4 times in its initial run, and “Episode IV” was certainly there all along. I distinctly remember pointing it out to other people in the theater, most of which replied something on the order of: “obviously there’s gonna be more sequels!”
And when at the end of the film Darth Vader ever-so-significantly escapes in order to fight again another day, the lessons of this “Episode IV” foreshadowing were complete.
Also, I bought the very first videotape release of the film (well before Episode V) immediately when it went on sale – it was on BetaMax, just to show how long ago this was – and “Episode IV” was right there in all its glory, exactly as it was in the theater. Want me to post a screen shot?
Sorry, ambushed, but you’re simply wrong (and what do you expect a video to prove vis a vis what appeared on theater screens, anyway?):
"Q 001: Why does it say Episode IV in the scroll-text at the beginning of Star Wars, Episode V in The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI in Return of the Jedi? Did the Episode IV sub-head appear in the original theatrical release or was it added at a later
date?
Answer: The Star Wars saga as originally conceived by Lucas was much too large to be made into a single film or even a single
trilogy so Lucas structured his ideas into three trilogies.
He decided to make the middle trilogy (Episodes IV, V and VI)first because he believed it had the greatest chance of being
a theatrical success.
An interesting point is that the “Chapter IV: A New Hope” sub-title did not appear until the 1979 re-release of the movie.
Randal Schwartz (merlyn@romulus.reed.edu) says the following about the '79 release:
That was the one with the extended trailer for ESB, which came out the following summer. So the order was:
summer of '77: SW [no IV]
summer of '78: re-release of SW [no IV]
(but Westgate was still playing it)
summer of '79: retitled SW with IV, ESB trailer
summer of '80: ESB
The reference to “Westgate” was that the Westgate theatre (just a few blocks from where I am typing this) was still
playing it. They set the record worldwide for the longest continuous run for SW [sans IV], something like 79 weeks.
So, naturally, it wasn’t a “re-release” for summer of '78. "
Well, pldennison, it sure does look like I was wrong! My apologies to all. I guess it’s time to consider turning myself over to professionals on an inpatient basis!
A quote from Lucas from before the movie was released in '77:
" I wasted four years of my life cruising like the kids in American Grafitti and now I’m on an intergalactic dream of heroism. In Star Wars I’m telling the story of me."
ambushed, I think it’s BSS (“Biggs Scene Syndrome”). Way back when, the “Star Wars Storybook,” published for kids in '77, contained stills and dialogue from a cut scene in which Luke sees his friend Biggs on Tatooine. You’d be amazed how many people are absolutely convinced that they saw this scene in the theater, even though it has neve appeared in any cut of the movie, not even the “Special Edition.” The scene where he sees Biggs again in the Rebel hangar waws restored, though.
I remember that Storybook with the Biggs scene too. I was 8 when “Star Wars - A New Hope” came out in 1977, and the first novel I read was the novelization of the movie. I also remember asking my mom why it was called Episode IV when we saw the movie (it was early September 1977 - I had started school earlier that week and was excited about my R2D2 binder and Chewbacca lunchbox - talk about target marketing). Another interesting note was that the first edition of the Marvel comics adaptation of ANH had the scene with Jabba and Han at the Millenium Falcon. Jabba was drawn with some funky tentacles coming out of his head, not his now familiarly corpulent shape. Another interesting thing I remember from the Marvel comic adaptations was when Empire Strikes Back was released, the comic preceded it by a couple of weeks. But the Yoda in the original comic didn’t look anything like him in the movie (purple, much thinner). I got a later version with the correct Yoda about 2 months later. It seems that Marvel couldn’t draw the real Yoda for Lucas’ fear that his appearance would give away the plot of the movie!
Let’s just suppose you had this idea about, say… a convoluted story set on many different worlds about a mystical religion and featuring characters with family trees that would be at home in any Tennessee town (no flames, I’m a Tenn. Vol anyway), all taking place a long time ago. Plus, as an added feature, say that the movie-making technology involved is in its infancy (some might say even preconceived technology), making the movie as planned theoretically impossible to make. Also, this script, as planned would be difficult to pair down into a ten-hour movie.
Now, suppose you take this idea to every SINGLE production company in your town (say, for example, Hollywood) and basically you’re told you’re f*cking nuts for even thinking this might work. You’re told the ideas are too flaky, it’d be impossible to make, nobody established would make it (look what “Barbarella” - and a few ill-considered comments about a contemporary police-action - did to Jane Fonda’s career) and besides, who ever heard of a sci-fi film (besides “2001” - a fluke - barely enough to break even) that made any kind of money!!!
Flash forward 20 years. You made the story work. The plot is relatively intact (no small feat in Hollywood) to your basic idea. The special effects techniques you created for these movies have revolutionalized the industry. These movies are quite possibly the most recognized story in the entire world. They’re not high-concept ideas, but they’re popular. These movies grossed an incredible amount of money (remember, sci-fi movies NEVER make money). These movies have made some actors’ careers, and ruined others by the recognizability of the characters. You have created a cultural phenomenon. This idea has become your life.
You have huge corporations interested in this idea (which you were told would never work, remember) and willing to commit amazing resources to promote this idea.
What are you going to do? You’re already a multi-millionaire. What’s a couple hundred million more? Especially for an idea nobody (who are your peers now) thought would work? Especially if they can tie into a current cultural phenomenon, a tiny doggie that talks sooooo cute… Did I mention there’s money involved? Every little item that’s manufactured (not necessarily SOLD) you get a profit from. It’s just an idea that sprung from your head.
I think I know what I’d do.
Besides, Colonel Sanders holding a lightsaber, battling against mindless robotic armies serving an organization bent on tyranny might be a subtle reference to a war from a long time ago, featuring soldiers clad in Blue and Gray…
I’m not sure if you guys noticed this, but hardly anyone in real life gives a crap if it was subtitled “A New Hope” or Episode IV or “Bobba Fett’s Day Off”- it’s somewhat disturbing (to me, anyway) how much passion is spent on four moderately amusing movies that featured good special effects and appealing, easily recognizable/merchandisible characters. When I was a kid, I remember an ad campaign for a horror movie that had the tag line “You’ll keep telling yourself it’s only a movie.” Some of you folks need to remember that, and not stroke out over the details.
It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…
Is it prostitution when whores sleep together? Have you seen that ridiculous, rapping, bouncing “Colonel Sanders” cartoon KFC is using? God, the real Colonel must be turning over in his grave. There was no dignity left there to be lost through merchandising; there was no way the non sequitor could be worsened.
Colonel Sanders tasted the mass-produced mashed potatoes and gravy. He asked, “How can anyone eat this goddamned slop?” The company replaied that Sanders’own recipe was so intricate it would have been prohibitively expensive for KFC to market it with his chicken.
Second, we live one town over from George Lucas’ hometown. He has been incredibly generous to the city of Modesto, CA, renovating one of its historical movie houses with the latest in technology (and THX Sound) so we could all get together with his classmates and celebrate the 25th anniversary of “American Graffiti.”
He has been very accessible to our local press (my husband works for the local rag)and is truly a philanthropic man. He perfers not to make a big deal about it because he doesn’t think it’s right to do so.
As to “Menace Merchandising,” blame the media and the masses … but when it comes to that Anakin Skywalker comforter on my son’s bed, there’s no one to blame but me.
I have to say that the only thing that I really don’t like is all the Taco Bell, Pepsico., etc. stuff. But I do really want an r2d2 cup. One of those with the legs. They’re so cool.
Anyway, I like all the stuff. I own a lightsaber. I want Star Wars sheets and I saw this really cool r2d2 stufftie that makes beeping noises when you squeeze it. I own many Phantom Menace posters already. I really want this cool Darth Vader phone.
I’m just saying all this because I’m a teenage girl, one of the age groups one would imagine that would not be hit as hard. I like the stuff. I think that Lucas is just giving the public what it wants. I mean, $20 at Target for a lightsaber really isn’t all that expensive.
