# Star Wars fans: looking for obscure Star Wars trivia tidbits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288 "2005-05-10T22:06:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/21 "2005-05-11T19:49:02Z")
When they made Star Wars trading cards, some genius snuck in a picture of Threepio sporting a giant golden erection. Check it [out](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=99987&item=6178084643&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/22 "2005-05-11T20:09:49Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > In _Star Wars,_ the only sound effect to be recorded live, on set with a microphone and make it clear through to production was the sound of Han hanging up his headset on the Falcon. Every other single sound you hear in the entire movie was dubbed in. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/23 "2005-05-11T20:22:51Z")
I have done the [Force quiz](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7793319/) on [MSNBC.com](http://MSNBC.com), and here’s some answers: > [@](#): > > **3. In “Star Wars,” Han Solo boasts about the speed of his ship, the Millennium Falcon, by informing Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi that it “made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.” What is bizarre about this statement?** > > The correct answer is C. Since a parsec is a unit of distance (3.26 light-years) and not of speed, Han’s claim sounds strange—after all, you wouldn’t say “my Buick is so fast, I can drive it for five miles!” It’s never referred to again in the films, but in the Lucas-authorized novels the discrepancy is explained by making the Kessel Run a path that goes near a series of black holes, so it’s dangerous to go in too straight a line. Daredevil Han takes the Falcon right through the thick of it, cutting down his distance traveled to a mere 12 parsecs. > > **5. One of the most memorable shots in the first “Star Wars” film was that of Luke Skywalker staring off into a twin sunset on the desert planet of Tatooine. How did George Lucas create that impressive special effect?** > > The correct answer is D. The image of a double sun was not created using special effects, but was a natural optical illusion caused by the desert conditions in Tunisia, where the scene was filmed. > > **8. Chewbacca, the co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, makes a cameo appearance in “Revenge Of The Sith.” What do Chewbacca and “Raiders Of The Lost Ark’s” main character Indiana Jones have in common?** > > The correct answer is B. When Lucas was writing the original draft of “Star Wars,” he envisioned Chewbacca (later played by Peter Mayhew) as the sidekick of Han Solo, and it was a natural creative leap to model the friendly, hairy character on Lucas’ dog Indiana. Later, he used Indiana’s name for the archaeologist in “Raiders.” We don’t actually know about the characters’ cheese allergies or lack thereof, but it is true that before “Star Wars’” release, producers asked Lucas to make the Wookie wear shorts. (He refused.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/24 "2005-05-11T20:38:01Z")
-Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles in the original three movies is the uncle of Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels) -The scene with the Wampa ice creature in TESB was added to explain the facial scars on Mark Hamill, who had previously been in a car accident. -John Ratzenberger of _Cheers_ fame had a small part in TESB as a Rebel officer. -R2D2 gets his name from a movie-making term entitled “Reel 2, Dialogue 2” (I think that’s it) -During filming of the pivotal duel in TESB, when Vader reveals that he is the father of Luke Skywalker, actor David Prowse was told to say “Obi-Wan Kenobi is your father,” in order to preserve secrecy. Later on, the correct line, “No, I am your father,” spoken by James Earl Jones, was dubbed in. ---
**Author:** ![DogMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/25 "2005-05-11T20:53:58Z")
Mark Hamill knew about the revelation that Luke & Leia were twins ahead of time, and let Carrie Fisher in on it. Originally, she wasn’t supposed to find out until the dialog was filmed. She later said that she was glad he told her in advance, so she could mentally prepare for it and finish the scene, since her first reaction was just a dumbfounded, “WHAT?” I believe she said it was rather like if she’d been told her father wasn’t Eddie Fisher, it was Hitler - so she was VERY grateful for the advance notice. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/26 "2005-05-11T20:56:50Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > Originally the line was something like “I’ll be back” but Ford wasn’t sure if he would be. He hadn’t decided to do the last movie yet. According to Irvin Kershner, it was written as “I love you, too.” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/27 "2005-05-11T20:57:27Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > - Interesting bits of info about the original story/script (like how Han Solo was originally a green monster and Luke Skywalker was originally an old general, or how the story was supposed to have been part of the “Journal of the Whills”) [The Annotated Screeplays](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345409817/104-1508896-0234329?v=glance) give extensive information on the development of Star Wars; the characters, different plot versions, and more. It a commentary of the script as told by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ralph McQuarrie, and others. If you have time, go watch the commentaries on the Star Wars DVD. [Here](http://www.starwarz.com/starkiller/scripts.htm) is all the versions of Star Wars even the legendary 14 page story synopsis. You might want to look through the _Art of Star Wars_ to see the artistic development and conceptual designs of Star Wars. Tell the audience about how the old Flash Gordon serials influenced the making of Stars into episodes. The influence of the Hidden Fortress; ask them who is the the princess, the wizard, the two burecrats. Metropolis as a model for the droids. George Lucas got the idea of the myth of the hero from Joseph Campell. Lucas intentionally made Star Wars watchable as a silent film which may be why it is popular around the world. There was a scene to be made with wampas wreaching havoc at the Rebel’s base, and it’s funny if you try to picture it. Darth Vadar translated to “dark father” in Dutch. Wonder if the Dutch knew something others didn’t? Luke Skywalker says to Obi Wan: D–n your force!" in novel written by George Lucas. Lucas also has Luke ask “What’s a duck!” It’s interesting Lucas left these out of the script, what could have been, and the making of Star Wars, and how it got that way. Hope this helps and may the Force be with you. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/28 "2005-05-11T21:06:31Z")
In the book version of _Return of the Jedi,_ Obi Wan tells Luke that Owen Lars was his (Ben’s) brother, not the stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker, as _Episode II_ established. During the scene in _ESB_ where Leia shouts to Luke that Cloud City is a trap, the Imperial officer urging her along the hallway is [Jeremy Bulloch](http://imdb.com/name/nm0120116/), the actor who was also inside the Boba Fett costume. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/29 "2005-05-11T21:06:33Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > Strangely, he didn’t regret the vast fortune he made doing the movie and how it kept in comfort doing any movie he pleased till his dying day, though. 😉 Hey, nobody said you \*had \*to be poor to be an artist! BTW, **sleepy2** , [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/c3po.htm) has the beef (terribly sorry) on the well-endowed C-3PO story. They say it’s \*probably \*not intentional. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/30 "2005-05-11T22:35:42Z")
Supposedly, even though his professionalism far outweighed his discomfort, Alec Guinness hated playing the part of Obi-Wan and the script in general. The dialogue he called banal, the story and shooting as being too silly/ridiculous, and begged George Lucas to kill off Obi-Wan. He probably told Lucas this by convincing him of its relevance to the story when in reality he did it so he wouldn’t take part in any more films (he had had a conversation with Lucas previously, before doing the pictures, and agreed because it looked interesting. At some point, Lucas must have commented on the three part thingy). What’s interesting to note is that today’s Obi-Wan, Ewan McCregor, complains pretty much about the same things. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/31 "2005-05-11T22:40:44Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > During the scene in _ESB_ where Leia shouts to Luke that Cloud City is a trap, the Imperial officer urging her along the hallway is [Jeremy Bulloch](http://imdb.com/name/nm0120116/), the actor who was also inside the Boba Fett costume. [Bulloch](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0120116/)’s in _Sith_, too ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/32 "2005-05-11T22:42:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > During filming of the pivotal duel in TESB, when Vader reveals that he is the father of Luke Skywalker, actor David Prowse was told to say “Obi-Wan Kenobi is your father,” in order to preserve secrecy. Later on, the correct line, “No, I am your father,” spoken by James Earl Jones, was dubbed in. No, actually Prowse said “Obi-Wan killed your father”. Why would Luke credibly scream out “NOOOO!!!” to Obi-Wan being his father? ---
**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:** [May 11, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/33 "2005-05-11T22:54:15Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > Han Solo’s famous “I know” line (as he’s being lowered into the carbon-freezing chamber) was an ad lib. To make it seem more spontaneous, he also ad-libbed his lines in the scene in Star Wars where he says “Everything under control, situation normal” and ends with “Boring conversation anyway - Luke! We’re going to have company!” Don’t forget the well-known Stormtrooper banging his head on the door blooper, which Lucas spoofed by having Jango Fett (the clone source of all future stormtroopers) banging his head in AOTC. There’s a scene in Return of the Jedi where R2D2 is walking towards the stairs into Jabba’s palace, and the camera pans around the room then back again, with R2D2 now on the main floor. This was b/c there was no way to show R2D2 going down stairs. In the newer ones they show him extend his third leg to go up / down stairs. (Of course, I can think of several scenes in the movies prior to AOTC in which his ability to FLY would’ve come in handy) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/34 "2005-05-12T14:34:02Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Artoo-Deetoo got his name from the term R2D2 which refered to a a piece of film Lucas was looking for calling it Reel 2 Dialouge 2. > > The Dutch may have known the secret about Darth before anyone else since “Vader” in Dutch means “Father”. > > Obi-Wan got his name from the name of a movie production vehicle known as an OB Van. There was considerable early speculation, coyly not denied by Lucas, that Obi-Wan was one of the clones of the Clone Wars (thus, his designation woulc have been OB-1). The novelization of the first “Star Wars” movie came out about a year before the movie did. It bears George Lucas’s name as author, but was actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster. Lucas said in a TIME magazine article about the time that “Empire Strikes Back” came out, that he envisioned a triple trilogy for his SW saga. Now, of course, he denies ever thinking or saying such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/35 "2005-05-12T14:39:35Z")
> [@William V.](#): > > The novelization of the first “Star Wars” movie came out about a year before the movie did. It bears George Lucas’s name as author, but was actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster. Foster also wrote the sequel book _Splinter of the Mind’s Eye_, released before _ESB_, in which Luke and Leia not only hook up, but also kill Vader. Which is ooky. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/36 "2005-05-12T14:48:48Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Artoo-Deetoo got his name from the term R2D2 which refered to a a piece of film Lucas was looking for calling it Reel 2 Dialouge 2. This occurred during the editing of _American Graffitti_. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/37 "2005-05-12T16:32:00Z")
From the IMDB: The language spoken by the Jawas was created by recording speakers of the African Zulu language and electronically speeding it up. Greedo’s language is the Peruvian Indian language Quechua, played backwards. Peter Cushing found the boots that came with his costume extremely uncomfortable to wear because they were too small for his feet. Thus he only wore them in the few shots in which Tarkin’s feet could be seen. In all other shots, Peter Cushing wore a pair of fuzzy slippers. The MPAA originally rated the film G, but studio execs had it changed to PG before release because it might turn off teenagers from seeing it, considering it a “kids’ movie”. Despite the legend that R2-D2 was named after Reel-2 Dialogue-2, George Lucas came up with his name the same way he came up with most of the droid characters names: by sounding out letter and number combinations that were easy to say. Of course, IMDB does have the following conflicting trivia items: Chewbacca’s “voice” is a combination of several animals including bears, badgers, walrus and camels. The sounds made by Chewbacca are actually recordings of sounds made by Polar Bears. More from IMDB: While Lucas was filming on location in Tunisia, the Libyan government became worried about a massive military vehicle parked near the Libyan border. Consequently, the Tunisian government, receiving threats of military mobilization, politely asked Lucas to move his Jawa sandcrawler farther away from the border. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/38 "2005-05-12T17:12:58Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > Foster also wrote the sequel book _Splinter of the Mind’s Eye_, released before _ESB_, in which Luke and Leia not only hook up, but also kill Vader. > > Which is ooky. :eek: Are you sure abut that?.. Or were later editions ret-coned? Luke cuts off Vader’s hand but doesn’t kill him and I have no memory of Luke and Leia “hooking up” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/39 "2005-05-12T17:16:24Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > From the IMDB: > > The language spoken by the Jawas was created by recording speakers of the African Zulu language and electronically speeding it up. Amazingly, whatever phrase in this African dialect was selected for the bit where the Jawas get the drop on the 'droids, when slowed down, sounds _exactly_ like “Stick 'em up!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/40 "2005-05-12T17:32:09Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > Foster also wrote the sequel book _Splinter of the Mind’s Eye_, released before _ESB_, in which Luke and Leia not only hook up, but also kill Vader. > > Which is ooky. :eek: Killing Vader isn’t so bad. Oh. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288.md?page=3)