May 4, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Random Star Wars Factoids:

1. The carbon freezing scene in The Empire Strikes Back was written in as a way of killing off Han Solo in case Harrison Ford did not re-sign for the sequel Return of the Jedi.

2. Most of the Stormtroopers are left-handed. That is because of how the weapons are constructed. Their weapons are based on a real weapon, where the magazine is on left side of the weapons. This construction caused it to hit the troopers in the chest. Therefore they have to switch grip of the weapon, which made them look left-handed.

3. Terri Nunn of the 80s new wave band Berlin was in the running for the role of Princess Leia and had readings with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXy59jMqOsc

4. The word Ewok is never mentioned at any point during Return of the Jedi.

5. At 30, The Empire Strikes Back has the lowest body count of the entire Star Wars saga.

6. Darth Vader has only 12 minutes of screen time in Star Wars Episode IV

7. Originally to be titled "Revenge of the Jedi" but producers thought Jedis wouldn't seek revenge. Some posters and theater stand-ups were made early, but pulled very soon as the title changed names. Also Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was originally to be called "Star Trek: The Revenge of Khan", but the title for that movie was changed to avoid confusion with this movie back when "Revenge of the Jedi" was being considered. Neither film ended up using the word "revenge" in their titles.

8. Return of the Jedi is the first film to mention the TIE Fighter by name, when Lando issues the order to split up to "get some of those TIE Fighters to follow".

9. Star Wars Episode IV is the first film to make over $300,000,000 domestically.

10. 20th Century Fox was so sure Star Wars was going to be a disaster that they came within a matter of days of selling off their stake in the film as a tax shelter. Positive feedback from an advanced screening made them change their minds, and the profits from the film ended up saving the studio from bankruptcy.