“May The 4th Be With You!”
Yes, it’s “Star Wars” day – as fans around the world celebrate May 4th – you know: the classic line from the movie “May the force be with you” is now a national “Star Wars” holiday! I’m going to celebrate as well, sharing with you some of the best trivia about the franchise I can find – beginning with the guy who started it all: no, not George Lucas, but this guy!
“Flash, Flash, I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth!”
Cult movie fans know that Sam Jones WAS “Flash Gordon!’ But did you know this: it is “Flash Gordon” himself that led to “Star Wars!”
There, do I have your “fanboy” attention now? Time to tell a fascinating story about a classic sci-fi movie – and a classic “cult” film that was an inspiration…
How “Flash Gordon” Created “Star Wars!”
It’s a great story, almost as great as both movies are!
George Lucas Loves Flash Gordon!
George Lucas had hoped to remake the original Flash Gordon film from 1936 – in fact, “Flash Gordon” serials were very popular at that time…
How “Flash” Became “Luke!”
George Lucas had already directed “THX-1138” and “American Graffiti” – and was eager to take on “Flash” – but when he learned that Dino De Laurentiis had already bought the rights, he wrote “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” instead!
Can you imagine how “Flash Gordon” would have turned out under Lucas’s direction? And that is no disrespect to the team behind “Flash”, but clearly his love of science fiction would have made “Flash” a great success…
Introducing Sam Jones!
Sam J. Jones was cast in the role after being spotted by the mother-in-law of Dino De Laurentiis on an episode of “The Dating Game”! And let’s be honest, he looks and acts just like Han Solo!
Cue The Killer Queen!
One other classic aspect of “Flash Gordon” is the musical soundtrack, written and performed by Queen!
It is one of Queen’s great songs, even if it is very short…it has the perfect Queen sound, and it fits the style and tone of the movie perfectly! Here is the music video that captures the band recording the song:
Unfortunately, “Flash” Was No Luke Skywalker…
“Flash Gordon” was not a huge box office success…but fans have found it over the years, and of course, “Star Wars” did OK for itself…and now fans love to role play by dressing up like characters such as Princess Leia – as Olivia Munn did for G4:
Thanks as always to Olivia for stepping up for the good of the galaxy!
The original Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher, has tragically passed away, but she left us with a hilariously insightful look at her “Star Wars” experience:
Yes, she spilled the beans on her “Alliance” with Han Solo and so much more, you can read about it here:
An d don’t forget that “Star Wars” inspired James Bond to change his schedule!
That’s right! 007 reversed course and rushed “Moonraker” into production to draft off of the massive success of “Star Wars!”
See how it all went down here:
Finally, another piece of trivia: George Lucas cast “Star Wars” in conjunction with Brian DePalma’s “Carrie” casting!
Casting “Carrie” – AND Princess Leia!
Here’s great trivia: George Lucas and Brian De Palma held a joint audition for “Carrie” and “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. There is a long-standing rumor that originally, Sissy Spacek was cast as Princess Leia, and Carrie Fisher as Carrie, but when Fisher refused to appear in nude scenes and Spacek was willing to do them, they switched parts.
Princess Leia Says “NOT TRUE!”
However, Fisher refuted this story in a Premiere magazine article called “The Force Wasn’t With Them,” about actors who auditioned unsuccessfully for “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” That article got into the “switched roles” legend, and quoted Fisher as saying:
“Not only do I love being nude, I would’ve been nude then… But anyway, it’s total bullshit that Fisher refused to play Carrie.”
Spielberg’s Set Visits!
In a 2010 interview with “The A.V. Club”, Actress P.J. Soles said that Steven Spielberg often came to the set at Brian De Palma’s invitation – because DePalma told him that there were “a lot of cute girls down here.”
Soles said that Spielberg asked out most of the women on the set, Soles included, and Amy Irving was the only one who accepted. Irving and Spielberg were married from 1985-1989 and had one son together.
Finally, I took a look at all of the stuff you can buy to celebrate the film – and of course Darth Vader as well! You can see it all here:
So there you go: some “Star Wars” trivia to help you celebrate this intergalactic holiday!
I you like this story, please share on social media – thanks!
May The 4th Be With You!
Categories: 70's Cinema, 70's Music, Action Films, Art, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
I was a young kid when the first Star Wars movie came out. My brother took me. I thought I was hot shit. It’s amazing to think of the 49 years since and how Star Wars has become entrenched in our culture. I like how you compare Star Wars and Flash Gordon. A few different moves or decisions here or there and they easily could have traded positions. Now if only I had the original R2D2 and C3PO toys from the late 70s. Now they might be worth something!!! May the 4th be with you.
LikeLike
As an old fart I know the Flash Gordon serials well….and the Saturday serials of Buck Rogers…..memories of the old Saturday Matinees…..chuq
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I love about Lucas – he took those very same memories and joy and turned them into Star Wars…too bad the quality didn’t stay at the highest level
LikeLike
I sent you an email, John. Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw Flash Gordon at the cinema, and loved it. High camp, and a lot of retro-fun. As to Star Wars, here’s what I read about the inspiration for it. It is a precis of what Lucas said at the time. (I had seen The Hidden Fortress at the National Film Theatre in London in 1968, when I was 16. That was 10 years after it was released, and shown as part of a season of Kurosawa films. When I saw Star Wars many years later, I didn’t immediately make the connection. But more recently I have seen an interview with Lucas admitting it was a major influence on the story). Best wishes, Pete.
‘George Lucas cited Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 film The Hidden Fortress as a major influence on Star Wars, particularly for its innovative storytelling perspective. Lucas modeled the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 after the film’s two bickering, low-status peasants, Tahei and Matashichi, who observe the action, a technique that anchored his epic tale.
Key influences include:
Lucas was such a fan of Kurosawa’s work that he originally intended to cast Toshiro Mifune, who played the General in The Hidden Fortress, as Obi-Wan Kenobi.’
LikeLike
This is terrific Pete! Adds a ton to the “Star Wars” mythology!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for finding my comment, John. And you really need to see ‘The Hidden Fortess’ now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed – and I will!
LikeLiked by 1 person