clone_Wolf

I know what I saw, and I saw the missed throw. I saw (maybe) the

very same print over and over again at the same theater back in 77.

(@Tampa Bay Mall Cinemas, on Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL)

Im not saying that YOU are wrong, btw. I only know what I saw.

And I certainly believe that back in the olden days (77...), films were

spliced from many different sources before being sent out for copying,

for release to theaters. In fact, I kind of believe that I *didnt* see

STAR WARS during the first week it was released, because my family

was on a summer vacation right after school let out. So maybe, just

maybe, Fox was scrambling to cobble together more prints after the

first feedback came back, and they grabbed a snipped of film which

*did* include a first throw. I dunno. But I *do* know I saw it. And

so do many like me who are old enough to have seen it in 77.

About the interview with Donohue or whoever... I also know I saw

this, because it explained why the movie I had visually memorized had

changed, And I remember telling my friends (all of us sci fi geeks) what

Lucas had done (after seeing the interview), because many of my friends

had also noticed and commented about other differences too.

Additionally, I *do* believe that not every TV show (daily talk

shows more especially perhaps) has been archived like everything else

is today. Remember, this was all even before VCR tapes were common

in the US. I would love it if this snippet could be found. I was gobbling

up anything and everything STAR WARS related at the time. This movie

changed me.

No, you're not losing your mind.  It was visible only in the theater

presentation of 77 and 78.

See my response about this issue in the 'CED' thread.

Ill bet that somewhere, there's a vid of the old talkshows

where Lucas admitted that he cut the missed grap hook throw scene

when he added the "A NEW HOPE" banner.  

I believe that starkiller was commenting that Lukes first missed

throw never made it to any commercially available copy of the film.

It was visible ONLY in the theaters in '77 (and '78).

If people want some validation of this, listen to the current AOTC

DVD release (with audio commentary ON), and skip to the chapter

when Anakin and Padme are approaching the Droid Factory...

Ben Burtt (sound editor) speaks about them (the writing team) having

the initial notion of having Anakin and Padme have to do a similar

grappling-hook-swing in the factory. Burtt also comments that in ANH

Luke does initially miss, and Leia give him a wry look ('Jedi, huh?!)

Additionally, back in 79, when SW:ANH was re-released into theaters

again (with the "A NEW HOPE" title), Lucas was on one of the national

talk shows, (Merv Griffin, or Dick Cavitt, or some such), and the host

commented about the changes Lucas made to the film - and specifically

mentioned the first missed grappling hook throw having been cut out.

Lucas replied that some of the comic elements that detracted from the

excitement of the moment were removed ("Close the Blast Doors"). And

about the first throw being removed, Lucas's exact words were "Heroes

dont miss.".

Many of us older fans specifically remember the first missed throw.

including everyone in my family. I still remember the visual of it, as it

bounced distinctly below and left of the pipe it catches on in throw #2.

It was there. Too many of us old farts saw it.

- Clone_Wolf.

p.s., I was 16 at the time, I had a paper route, and I paid to see SW

23 times that summer and fall. I didnt read the book (or magazines

or comicbooks) beforehand (or afterwards) that would otherwise

jade my memory on this.