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Post #115256

Author
Obi-Wan Spicoli
Parent topic
Episode IV title Crawl question
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/115256/action/topic#115256
Date created
14-Jun-2005, 8:18 PM
Quote

Originally posted by: Darth Simon
In addition to when it was first shown with the new crawl, does anyone know when Lucas actually added the crawl to the film? was it while he was working on ESB? (when did production of ESB start? does anyone know?)

Actually, any information you can provide as far as the release dates of star wars, when changes were made, and early info on ESB (such as the production) that is/could relate to release/change dates of Star Wars (ANH) would be most helpful.

To be more specific than what has already been said, the updated crawl first appeared on the two week re-release that began on April 10, 1981.

Before that, however, the updated crawl first appeared in print within the book "The Art of Star Wars" that was published in November of 1979. This book contained the script complete with the "Episode IV" crawl.

However, when Lucas actually came up with "Episode IV: A New Hope" is open to debate and speculation. I do now believe, however, that he did have it in mind early enough to use it for the May 25, 1977 release if he had so chosen.

In the commentary on the official DVD, Lucas states that the studio would not allow him to release the film with the subtitle. This obviously implies that Lucas already had it in mind. But being from the official DVD, one might think that this statement is nothing more than revisionist propaganda; however, it does have precedent. In a 1980 issue of Bantha Tracks that was released just prior to The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas said this:

"Star Wars was the fourth story in the saga and was to have been called, "Star Wars, Episode Four: A New Hope." But I decided people wouldn't understand the numbering system so we dropped it. For Empire, though we're putting back the number and will call it Episode Five: The Empire Strikes Back."

So, in 1980 Lucas said it was HIS decision not to include the subtitle, but in 2004 he said the studio would not let him. But in both cases he claims that it was already in place.

An important note in all of this is that Gary Kurtz backs up Lucas' statements. I somehow find Gary Kurtz to be more reliable. This is from a 1980 issue of Globe:

"George dropped the episode number and sub-title because he thought it might be confusing," said Kurtz. "Also, after showing each of the nine treatments to the people at 20th Century-Fox in 1975, they thought that episode four revealed more information about the characters and would make a better introduction to the story."

What's different is that Kurtz says the execs at 20th Century-Fox were actually in favor of the subtitle from the very beginning, whereas Lucas now says the were not.