Those who have have never seen Flash Gordon or Hidden Fortress or read a space opera think the original Star Wars is extremely original, the first of its kind! This is as far from the truth as you can get. Star Wars was designed to be unoriginal. It’s a mix of everthing George Lucas loved and put into the context of Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, the common story behind all stories.
Let’s not forget THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and Dam Busters
Star Wars even in it’s genesis has never been completely original and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.