They’d probably have understood it better if Lucas had gone with the idea in some Ralph McQuarrie sketches of Leia running around topless during the prison escape.
Wait, is that really a thing? I knew Leia were much more battered and bruised before they went with the whole “mind-probe” thing, but I didn’t know they went that far.
Either way, it’s so strange to think that SW almost became this really violent, typical 70’s sci-fi, type of movie before Lucas decided to prioritize the Flash Gordon elements over the Dune influences and make it more child friendly.