Editorial: The Phantom Menace and the Films That Inspired It

George Lucas is Star Wars and Star Wars is George Lucas. The galaxy far, far away is a composite of so many pieces of the visionary from Modesto's life. In light of there being a long drought spell for new films in the franchise, we are looking back to see what films possibly inspired the creator to make The Phantom Menace just in time for its 24th anniversary.







BEN-HUR (1959) Director: William Wyler



They don't come more epic and grander than this box office smash hit. Winner of 11 Academy Awards and renowned for one of the best action sequences in film history. George Lucas tried to catch the same lightning in a bottle to kick off his prequel trilogy. The Roman Circus Maximus and the Mos Espa Podrace Circuit serve as the venues where Judah Ben-Hur and Anakin race to win their freedom. Heroes locking carriages with a cheating old foe while becoming the champion of the local denizens.



Ben-Hur is also a tale of Christ. Under oppressive occupation, a young couple flees to the desert. There, a virgin-born savior emerges. In The Phantom Menace, Queen Amidala flees occupation forces for the deserts of Tatooine only to find a virgin-birthed savior too. Love interests Esther and Padmé share more than just a wardrobe, as they both fall for a man full of inner turmoil.



The character of Quintus Arrius is a surrogate father figure to Judah, like Qui-Gon is to Anakin. Sheik Ilderim and Watto might visit the same gambling houses to bet on races, as well as have a peculiar charm. A parade celebrating the great victory of Arrius and Rome mirrors the one thrown on Naboo for the Peace Ceremony, a victory parade that should have been for Palpatine as noticed by John Williams, who hides elements of the Emperor's theme into the victory music.







THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958) Director: Akira Kurosawa



A general escorting a young exiled leader who uses a body double to hide her true identity through enemy territory. There, the royal sees the unjust life of the commoner, disagrees with the general often, and is ready to sacrifice her own life for her people. I could be talking about Princess Yuki or Queen Amidala; just some of the themes and occurrences these films share. It's also the movie that provided the inspiration for C-3PO and R2's friendship.







THRONE OF BLOOD (1957) Director: Akira Kurosawa



Akira Kurosawa moved the events of Shakespeare's Macbeth to feudal Japan, and George Lucas brought some of those elements into the prequels. Pretending to be faithful allies in the light while playing shadow games in the dark, are Palpatine and Asaji. Her name may have been the inspiration for Asajj Ventress, too. Many visual aesthetics found their way into Lucas's film, like the Gungan soldiers riding out of the fog of Naboo's swamps.







FLASH GORDON (serial) (1936) Director: Frederick Stephani



Flash and Dale fly to the planet of Mongo aboard a sleek silver spaceship, where they are captured by Emperor Ming. There is something about Emperor Ming's throne and outfit that reminds me of when we first meet Queen Amidala.  The shark men capture Flash after he tries to escape, and he's taken aboard a sub that is later attacked by a giant sea creature. The frog-like Gungans and their underwater city, the attacking sea creatures, sneaking into palaces... as well as how the heroes jump around environments is purposefully done in the spirit of this episodic adventure.



In Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940), we see the introduction of the view screen, like the one used by Amidala to contact the Trade Federation. Ben Burtt used a sound effect from this serial for the sign-in/off, and it sounds like an exotic flute. Chapter 2of this serial's opening credits was the inspiration for Star Wars' intros, too.







FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) Director: Fred M. Wilcox



An Id monster is melting something similar to blast doors, while Dr. Morbius and others hide in the Krell lab. George wanted to reimagine the classic motif of the scary monster coming through the door and reversed it to Jedi melting the blast doors to get to the villains, who are frightened.







NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984) Director: Hayao Miyazaki



The landing of the Trade Federation's C-9979 landing crafts in the Naboo forests is a mirror to the Tolmekian invasion forces in the Valley of the Wind. The themes of symbiosis prevail in this tale of a young royal trying to protect her people while she ultimately fulfills a prophecy of a savior in doing so. Natalie Portman was originally even cast to voice Nausicaä for the 2005 American dub, but for one reason or another, Alison Lohman ended up doing the part.



Amidala shares many qualities and problems with Nausicaä. Both seek to end the conflict by alliances instead of force. In that spirit, the most underrated scene is the quiet conversation between Padmé and Jar Jar. Up to that point, Amidala had gone to one group after the other seeking help, but they all had bureaucracies stopping them from acting. Lucas shows the power that two people just listening can have as she learns of the Gungan army. It also was a metaphoric reclaim of her duality, as she goes from the passive handmaiden to the powerful queen with a plan. The simple talk also is the catalyst for peace on Naboo and the seed for freedom.







BLADE RUNNER (1982) Director: Ridley Scott



John Knoll and the animation team added 'The Spinner' vehicle into background shots of Coruscant as an homage to the film. The Spinner was a propulsion vehicle seen throughout as well as used the police. It is only fair as Blade Runner used the Millennium Falcon model for buildings. The look of Coruscant at night, especially the grittier areas, reflects the concept for a dystopian Los Angeles.







THX 1138 (1971) Director: George Lucas



George Lucas's first film is linked to The Phantom Menace in theme. THX is a dystopian anti-conformity attack on rigidity and organizations. The Phantom Menace highlights the individual over them. Greedy Trade Federations and bureaucratic councils thwart our heroes at every turn. Let's count the groups who are useless: Naboo's Royal Advisory Council (it offers no real advise), the Gungan High Council (they deny the Jedi help), the Galactic Senate (they want to delay for investigations), the Jedi Council (they won't train Anakin or believe the Sith are back). It is only when Amidala makes the choice for action that things get resolved.







INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) Director: Roland Emmerich



An invasion of aliens blockades a planet using communications from a mothership. A solitary ship penetrates the shields and destroys it from the inside. This exposes the invasion forces' main weakness and allows the underdogs to achieve victory. The Droid Army and the Trade Federation are foiled just as easily by a boy and his droid. After accidentally blowing up the main reactor, Anakin then punches a Neimoidian in the face and says: 'Welcome to Naboo.' That last part didn't happen, but we wish it did.







THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (serial) (1935) Director: Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason



Aside from the title being a possible inspiration, this serial may have many possible ties to the Star Wars films. A Queen is invaded, and there's a plot to usurp her power by a High Chancellor. The Muranians dress in a mixture of the futuristic and Medieval, much like the Naboo. The Queen uses a view screen similar to Amidala's. There are sword battles on high platforms (these at least have guard rails). George Lucas had planned 12 chapters in the saga at one point, and this was because serials were usually 12 chapters long.







WHAT! NO BEER? (1933) Director: Edward Sedgwick



A lot of the scenes with Jar Jar are inspired by the gags of the silent era, and Buster Keaton in particular. There is a gag with Jar Jar during the battle with battle droids when he bumbles his way to a Gungan battle wagon full of boomas and accidentally releases them into the pursuing tanks. This was directly inspired by a gag with Buster Keaton where he releases beer kegs out of the back of a wagon and they chase him down a street.



What films did I miss? Let me know in the comments. And stay tuned for another piece focusing on The Phantom Menace's Easter eggs by our Alexander Giles in the coming days.



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