What's the story behind this deleted scene (Vader cuts Kenobi in half)?

http://youtu.be/RIefj6dOhnM?t=2m22s

I like the idea of that scene better than the actual scene, though the special effects are a bit hokey. If Kenobi's torso didn't just hang there for a moment before falling like Wile E. Coyote after stepping off a cliff, it would look a lot better.

I've always thought the actual scene was strange, even as a kid. Kenobi seems to just disappear before Vader's lightsaber even makes contact. So what was that supposed to be? A "force-assisted suicide"? Plus, Vader's lightsaber doesn't seem to harm Kenobi's clothing whatsoever, even though it clearly makes contact.

Was the deleted scene considered too graphic?

doubleofive said:

Deleted scene? That's a blooper.

So that must have been the unfortunate incident that resulted in them hiring Alec Guinness to re-shoot all of the original-actor-who-played-Kenobi's scenes, on the condition that they'd stop playing with real lightsabers.

doubleofive said:

Deleted scene? That's a blooper.

 How do you know it wasn't in the original cut? ;)

Un-burnt cloak is a bit stupid after seeing that clip

From what was shown in the movie I've always assumed Obi-Wan willed himself into the Force just before Vader got him.

As far as graphic violence goes the first Star Wars movie showed the results of Obi-Wan slicing off the arm of an alien and the charred skeletal remains of the elderly couple taking care of Luke. So I'm not thinking this was cut due to how graphic it was.

I'm guessing they didn't go for this because it looked too much like Vader killing Obi-Wan and not Obi-Wan willing himself into the Force. Not a big difference, but enough that Lucas felt it needed changing. Although Obi-Wan's cloak probably should have suffered some type of burns in the movie we saw.

pablumatic said:

Obi-Wan's cloak probably should have suffered some type of burns in the movie we saw.

 Considering Vader tries to put the imaginary fire out with his foot I would say so too.

They changed it because they couldn't get the effect right and ultimately decided on a more mystical ending to Ben's mortal coil.

Is it true that it was Marcia Lucas' idea to kill off Ben in this manner?

Even the take used is double-printed in the edit (for faux slo-mo) - this is generally a sign of slight desperation at things not quite looking the way they should.

The part of Ben's death that really bothers me is that Vader's lightsaber passes through Ben's, something that is impossible. It would have either stopped right there or thrown the lightsaber to the ground.

^Oh, but don't you follow the EU?! It clearly says in Nebulous Article #422 of Obscure Magazine #584 that Sith lightsaber crystals have the rare, occasional, once-in-a-blue-moon-lifetime ability to short out/cut through/anti-viagrate regular lightsaber blades!

ray_afraid said:

Tyrphanax said:

Ronster said:

pablumatic said:

Obi-Wan's cloak probably should have suffered some type of burns in the movie we saw.

 Considering Vader tries to put the imaginary fire out with his foot I would say so too.

I always figured that was him confusedly confirming that Obi-Wan had disappeared; making sure there wasn't a body in the cloak.

 Ha! I hate that shot.

Vader must have really, really, REALLY bad vision.