# 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:** 3
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/41 "2005-05-12T17:33:18Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > 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” The copy I had and then lent to somebody and never got back _definitely_ had Luke and Leia getting a little too friendly (I specifically recall a mud-wrestling scene, and looking the book up on Amazon bears that out), and Vader fell into a big chasm. Luke _also_ died, but Leia brought him back to life with some crystal thing. It ended with a big lightsaber duel and Vader falling … I distinctly remember thinking that the author had intended for him to be dead. I could be wrong. I’ll do my best to locate my copy, but I recall thinking I would never read it again because it creeped me out. (But I re-looked up that thing I mentioned earlier about Owen being Ben’s brother, because I thought _that_ was what somebody was going to challenge me on. 🙂 ) ---
**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, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/42 "2005-05-12T17:48:30Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > 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. Uh, this doesn’t sound plausible either. The only part of the Sandcrawler that was built full scale was one side of the caterpillar treads, used in close shots where the actors were standing next to the vehicle. Not only that, but the Sandcrawler scene was filmed near Sidi Bouhlel canyon, much closer to the Algerian border than the Libyan border. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/43 "2005-05-12T17:55:18Z")
Not sure if this is intentional, but should be. Luke Skywalker Luke S. Lucas Neat! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/44 "2005-05-12T18:04:06Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > It ended with a big lightsaber duel and Vader falling … I distinctly remember thinking that the author had intended for him to be dead. I could be wrong. Bah. First rule of survival in a Call of Cthulhu campaign: If you don’t have the body, it’s not dead. Remember, the goal of all the Jedi is to die in front of Luke so they can become immortal. If they fall down into a pit and die, that’s no good. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/45 "2005-05-12T18:39:45Z")
-When filming **Return of the Jedi** , all locations were marked with signs calling the movie “ **Blue Harvest** ” in order to throw off the massive throngs of fans who tended to show up on set if they had heard a Star Wars movie was being filmed. Apparently props had a tendancy to disappear regularily. -Chewbacca was inspired by Lucas’ large hairy dog (who was named “_Indiana_” btw). -In the original concept script of ROTJ, Endor was supposed to have been inhabited by Wookies (Chewbacca’s species). Can’t quite recall why they changed this to Ewoks though. ---
**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, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/46 "2005-05-12T18:40:06Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Bah. First rule of survival in a Call of Cthulhu campaign: If you don’t have the body, it’s not dead. Remember, the goal of all the Jedi is to die in front of Luke so they can become immortal. If they fall down into a pit and die, that’s no good. Precisely why I thought he had to be dead. Falling into a pit=permanent death. Or, at least, it did at the time. Dying in front of Luke=cool ghost-Jedi projection. I also read the book years before _The X-Files_ premiered, which is the medium that taught me never to believe anyone’s dead until you see the body … and sometimes not even then. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/47 "2005-05-12T18:54:46Z")
> [@RumMunkey](#): > > -In the original concept script of ROTJ, Endor was supposed to have been inhabited by Wookies (Chewbacca’s species). Can’t quite recall why they changed this to Ewoks though. From what I’ve read, Lucas wanted some very primative race or culture to have a major role in the Empire’s downfall. That was originally going to be the Wookies, but after seeing Chewbacca as co-pilot on the Millenium Falcon, helping with repairs, and so on, it was clear that Wookies had to be smart and reasonably adept with technology. Hence the Ewoks. My books are packed up from a move, but I’m pretty sure I still have _Splinter of the Mind’s Eye_; I can go back and confirm details if anyone needs them. ---
**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 12, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/48 "2005-05-12T19:16:02Z")
> [@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. Out of curiosity, what would be the rest of the dialogue? “Join me and together we will rule the galaxy as…” Vader & Luke: Bosom Buddies! Black dude, white girl! Superman and his pal, Jimmy Olsen! ---
**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, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/49 "2005-05-12T19:20:21Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > From the IMDB: > > 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. > [@George Lucas](#): > > R2-D2 cropped up when we were dubbing American Graffiti. We were working late one night and looking for Reel 2, Dialogue 2, and somebody yelled out ‘R2-D2.’ Both Walter Murch, who was mixing the film, and I loved that name so much we decided to keep it. [cite](http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/explore/classic/2000/04/classic20000410.html) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/50 "2005-05-12T19:46:21Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > 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. BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA! 😃 In a related vein, Carrie Fisher said that she had a real hard time playing “angry” against Cushing during filming, since she had previously known him as both a refined actor and a gentleman. > [@RumMunkey](#): > > When filming Return of the Jedi, all locations were marked with signs calling the movie “Blue Harvest” in order to throw off the massive throngs of fans who tended to show up on set if they had heard a Star Wars movie was being filmed. …not that it fooled the fans for long. Some of the filming in the California Redwoods (for the Leia/Han Endor scenes) were punctuated by throngs of fans in the distance yelling, “Hey, Harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrison!” ---
**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, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/51 "2005-05-12T20:10:34Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > In a related vein, Carrie Fisher said that she had a real hard time playing “angry” against Cushing during filming, since she had previously known him as both a refined actor and a gentleman. She has also said she had a particularly hard time delivering the line “I recognized your foul stench when I was brought onboard” with a straight face, because Mr. Cushing did smell quite strongly – of _lavender_. That is just _so_ sweet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/52 "2005-05-12T20:17:52Z")
**Robot Arm** , this was post #15: > [@](#): > > - The action in this film was supposed to take place on the home planet of the Wookies. When Lucas decided to change it, he simply chopped the Wookies in half to make them four feet tall, and reversed the syllables in the name. ---
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/53 "2005-05-12T20:55:22Z")
The shape of the Milennium Falcon was taken from a hamburger with an olive lying beside it. Apparently a couple of the designers were out for lunch one day and it hit them. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/54 "2005-05-12T20:59:16Z")
Yes, **FB** , but I was trying to expand on that a bit with the reason _why_ he changed it. ---
**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, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/55 "2005-05-12T22:03:43Z")
Cynics may consider that a lame rationalization for the change, though. Cute, teddy-bear Ewoks were more marketable as plush toys than Wookies would have been. Gotta include a hook for six-year-olds, and never mind if it alienates the older fans. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/56 "2005-05-13T04:22:05Z")
[Tataouine](http://www.toysrgus.com/travel/tunisia/tataouine/tataouine.html) is the name of a town in southern Tunisia not far from [Matmata](http://www.toysrgus.com/travel/tunisia/matmata/matmata.html), the town where a good deal of the desert scenes from the series were filmed. Three guesses what that became… The Sandcrawler was likely inspired by [this hotel in Tunis](http://www.toysrgus.com/travel/tunisia/tunis/tunis.html). In Matmata you can also visit the cantina… there are still some props bolted into things in the town and I had a lot of fun poking around there, Star Wars or no Star Wars, southern Tunisia is _cool_… ---
**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 13, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/57 "2005-05-13T04:40:24Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > The Sandcrawler was likely inspired by [this hotel in Tunis](http://www.toysrgus.com/travel/tunisia/tunis/tunis.html). That is freaking cool. Now I want to visit more than ever. That’s even more impressive than The Biggest Tongue In Tunisia. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/58 "2005-05-20T10:08:00Z")
The original title was _Star War: What is it Good For?_ (I just thought of that, hence the delay) ---
**Author:** ![snorlax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@snorlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snorlax)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/59 "2005-05-20T12:37:57Z")
The [Wilhelm scream](http://www.nerf-herders-anonymous.net/WilhelmScream.html) is a male scream which was originally in a 50’s Western movie and has been an in-joke in the Star Wars series and other films. In Ep III it was a minute or so after Count Dooku was killed, during the battle which ensued I’m not well-versed enough in the Star Wars universe to provide more detail as to who/what/where was screaming in the above instance but I’m sure someone more knoweldgeable can provide more details. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288/60 "2005-05-20T13:41:37Z")
> [@snorlax](#): > > I’m not well-versed enough in the Star Wars universe to provide more detail as to who/what/where was screaming in the above instance but I’m sure someone more knoweldgeable can provide more details. Again, it was a midnight showing so I was very tired, but I’m pretty sure we heard several Wilhelms throughout the movie. -Joe, royal WE [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-fans-looking-for-obscure-star-wars-trivia-tidbits/303288.md?page=4)