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RUMOR George Lucas first cut of Star Wars 1977

Discussion in 'Original Trilogy' started by Cmdr. Ed Straker, Jan 29, 2015.

  1. Cmdr. Ed Straker

    Cmdr. Ed Straker Rebel Official

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    Hello everybody I'am new to the Cantina but I was a long time lurker.
    This is my first thread and I don't know if it's thread worthy at all.
    It's more of a question as a contribution, so please don't rip off my head ;)
    I want to gather some information about George Lucas first cut of Star Wars before it's releasing in may 1977.
    I read somewhere, maybe in this forum that his first cut was a total mess and that he hired a Oscar winning cutter/editor to create a new version.
    Is this true and which members know something about it?
    I'am just curious and want to know how much different his orignal cut of the movie was.
    Thanks beforehand for any contribution to this topic.
    By the way don't mind my bad writing style, english is not my mother tongue.
     
    #1 Cmdr. Ed Straker, Jan 29, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
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  2. Talon Karrde

    Talon Karrde Rebel Official

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    It was actually two guys he brought in: Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch. Even Marcia Lucas did some work to save the film. Chew described John Jympson's editing as "lethargic".
    This fansite has a great deal more info regarding this, as much of that original cut included what are now deleted scenes:
    http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/archive/index.php?categoryid=9

    I've seen Jympson's original cut of the Cantina. It's not the stuff great movies are made of. Very dull and unimpressive. It's pretty much the original filming sequence; "Hello Greedo" happens literally right after Han tells Chewie to get the ship ready.
    I am, however, a huge fan of the Luke's original introduction and the deleted Luke/Biggs scenes. "Mouth like a meteor" in the middle of a wasteland really conveys the reality of the police state those people lived under. Those scenes were included in The Star Wars Storybook, which happens to be how I was first exposed to Star Wars. You can imagine my dissapointment when I popped in the VHS ~1990 and saw those scenes weren't there. And I was really hoping they were going to re-include those scenes in the 1997 SE.. instead we got what we got.
     
    #2 Talon Karrde, Feb 4, 2015
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  3. Cmdr. Ed Straker

    Cmdr. Ed Straker Rebel Official

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    Thanks, for your contribution, you really helped me out.
    I find this kind of information very exciting, I thought nobody would answer me, because everybody seems to be only interested in Ep.VII nowadays.
    Now I will have a good read, maybe next time I can help someone out.

    Edit: great read so far, saved it in my favourites, Thanks Again!
    I think every Original Trilogy fan should read this.

    By the way I own the first three classic comics.
    Some cutted scenes from Ep.IV found their way in.
    I can whole-hearted recommend this comic.
    Star Wars Classic Comic.jpg
     
    #3 Cmdr. Ed Straker, Feb 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 19, 2015
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  4. Darby

    Darby Rebel Official

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    Good thread. I didn't know any of this stuff.
    And don't worry about your writing style. it's better than most english speakers where I'm from. :)
     
    #4 Darby, Feb 4, 2015
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  5. DaceDiath

    DaceDiath Clone Trooper

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    I don't think he even completed a first cut with the original editor.
     
    #5 DaceDiath, Feb 19, 2015
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  6. RBanks

    RBanks Guest

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    GL also talks about the editing of the first film, and his having to replace the original editor, in the 2004 documentary Empire of Dreams.

    He goes into it in some detail, showing some of the first cut compared to the new improved material.

    It's a good documentary.

    ETA: Here's the specific chapter of the documentary aptly titled- Averting Disaster-

     
    #6 RBanks, Feb 19, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 19, 2015
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  7. Grand Master Galen Marek

    Grand Master Galen Marek Jedi General

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    I agree it is.
     
    #7 Grand Master Galen Marek, Feb 20, 2015
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  8. Cmdr. Ed Straker

    Cmdr. Ed Straker Rebel Official

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    Thanks for the contribution so far, kudos to all of you ;)
    George Lucas used many different cutters including himself and his former wife.
    Star Wars was very near to a debacle, I'am glad that they finished it and got it right at last.
     
    #8 Cmdr. Ed Straker, Feb 21, 2015
  9. Get In Gear

    Get In Gear Force Sensitive

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    I think it's worth noting that Jympson's rough cut was exactly that - just an attempt to assemble all of the available footage together in sequence to give an impression of the story, rather than a finished version of the film. Most of the effects footage was non-existant - I believe some of the battle scenes just used stock WWII dogfight footage.
     
    #9 Get In Gear, Mar 18, 2015
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