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Star Wars (1977): Difference between revisions
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[[File:SW EP4.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Star Wars'' (1977)]] | [[File:SW EP4.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Star Wars'' (1977)]] | ||
'''''Star Wars''''' (retroactively titled '''''Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope''''') is the 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The movie is the first | '''''Star Wars''''' (retroactively titled '''''Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope''''') is the 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The movie is the first installment in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' feature film series, and would spawn two direct sequels: 1980's ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' and 1983's ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' and would form the "Original Trilogy" of the ''Star Wars'' saga. | ||
{{Film Title|Star Wars}} | {{Film Title|Star Wars}} | ||
Latest revision as of 21:59, 20 August 2023
Star Wars (retroactively titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) is the 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The movie is the first installment in the Star Wars feature film series, and would spawn two direct sequels: 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi and would form the "Original Trilogy" of the Star Wars saga.
The following weapons were used in the film Star Wars:
Blaster Pistols
DDC Defender Blaster Pistol (Vostok Margolin .22LR target pistol)
Early in the film, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) can be seen with a "Drearian Defense Conglomerate Defender sporting blaster pistol". The pistol is actually a Vostok Margolin .22LR target pistol, with some muzzle attachment fitted, selected for its diminutive size, keeping the prop gun from looking too bulky and unwieldy in Fisher's petite hands. Luke also briefly carries the Defender during the ceremony at the end of the film.
BlasTech DH-17 Blaster Pistol
One of the weapons utilized by the Rebels is the "BlasTech DH-17 blaster pistol", used by Rebel troops against Stormtroopers on the blockade runner Tantive IV and are later seen being carried by guards and officers on the Death Star. These were nonfunctional props with the receiver and pistol grip based on casts from a Sterling SMG (hence the larger trigger guards) and a (back then) distinctive looking Singlepoint OEG (Occluded Eye Gunsight) attached. Consequently, the muzzle flashes were added in post-production. There is an interesting continuity error where a couple of Imperial guards start off carrying this weapon but then switch to the E-11, firing it one handed like a pistol no less. This is perhaps because they looked similar enough and blanks provided a better reference point for adding blaster effects later.
BlasTech SE-14C Blaster Pistol (Rexim-Favor Mk5)
The "BlasTech SE-14C blaster pistol" is carried by Dr. Evazan, who draws his weapon after provoking a fight with Luke Skywalker at the Mos Eisley cantina. It was built from a Swiss Rexim-Favor Mk5 submachine gun with the stock, barrel, and magazine removed and two ASI 4x20 scopes attached.
A similar weapon, the "BlasTech SE-14r light repeating blaster" is also seen being wielded by Stormtroopers in publicity photos, but does not actually appear in the film.
DL-21 Blaster Pistol (Armalite AR-7)
The "DL-21 Blaster Pistol" is a chopped down Armalite AR-7 in pistol form with the tail section from a British 2 inch mortar shell fitted to the muzzle. The DL-21 was carried by Ponda Baba at the Mos Eisley cantina. However it is not certain if it actually appears in the film, as the only clear shot of the weapon was when it was shown in Ponda Baba's severed hand and George Lucas did not like the original hoof-like appearance of the appendage in question so the scene was reshot with a werewolf-like hand instead holding the SE-14C listed above. In this first appearance the pistol lacked a true grip instead having a simple rubberised tube, possibly a bicycle handle grip, and was fitted with a telescopic scope.
BlasTech DT-12 Heavy Blaster Pistol (Ruger Mk I)
Greedo carries a BlasTech DT-12 during his famous/infamous confrontation with Han Solo. The pistol is a Ruger Mk I modified with a short barrel, finned flash hider, slightly modified grips, and several apparently targeting-related devices.
BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol (Mauser C96)
The "BlasTech DL-44 heavy blaster pistol" is the iconic sidearm of Han Solo (Harrison Ford). The weapon is also sometimes in the hands of other Rebels. The DL-44 blaster pistol's design consists of a Mauser C96 handgun fitted with a shortened barrel, a right-side mounted scope, a muzzle cone, and additional "greeble" cosmetic parts. Multiple blank-firing and replica versions of the prop were created during production; the blank-firing models were the models that made the primary appearance in the film, and are generally considered the gun's standard model.
The blank-firing models of the DL-44 in A New Hope were built from real, 9mm blank-converted Mauser C96 pistols supplied by Bapty & Co. Three of these blank-firing models were produced, with the pistols being modified with heavy-looking "bull" barrel sleeves and the muzzle of an MG81 machine gun. It's been claimed that the pistol itself was previously used by Frank Sinatra in The Naked Runner, where it also had a scope mounted to it, although the lower body was replaced.
The scope mounted on the blank-firing models is a Hensoldt Wetzlar Dialyt 3x scope (a WWI-era German sniper rifle scope) in its original mounting. It's been claimed that the scope and mount were previously used in Sitting Target, where it was mounted to a Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer machine pistol: the mount in Star Wars was attached to a custom bracket on the pistol's right side rather than the left as in Sitting Target. Bapty & Co. only had one functional scope despite having three blank-firing DL-44 props, so the one scope was transferred between the three props for closeup shots; dummy scopes and mounts were also mentioned to have been used.
An additional, non-firing blaster built on an MGC replica is used in the closeup of Han drawing his pistol to shoot Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina, since all the firing versions were held by Bapty & Co in England while this additional footage was filmed in Hollywood. Unlike the blank-firing props, the MGC replica prop is instead mounted with a Japanese Compac Super 4x31 hunting scope and an M3 "Grease Gun" conical flash hider; though seen in promotional materials, it's claimed that no flash hider was actually fitted during filming, presumably to make it easier to draw the blaster from its holster.
After the conclusion of A New Hope's production, the blank-firing prop models were disassembled and returned to storage in their original Mauser C96 configurations, in accordance with British gun laws—and also because the armorers had no idea that the movie would become a pop culture phenomenon. They would go unused in the productions of the future installments of the Star Wars franchise. As a result, DL-44 props in later Star Wars films were built from other Mauser C96s with other scopes and muzzle devices. For instance, in The Empire Strikes Back, the DL-44 prop's scope was changed to a M19 brass azimuth-finding telescope sight, and the muzzle device was changed to a different design. Some sources claim that a fire extinguisher nozzle was used for one of the props.
In 2010 and 2018, the original scope, scope mount, and one of the three C96 pistols used in the production of A New Hope were rediscovered by former Bapty & Co. director Tony Watts and the film's lead armorer Carl Schmidt. Schmidt reassembled the gun in a configuration that came close to the configuration as used in the original film. This pistol would be put on auction at the Rock Island Auction Company in 2022. (Source 1, Source 2)
Blaster Rifles
BlasTech E-11 Blaster Rifle (Sterling L2A3)
The "BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle" is the standard issue blaster rifle of the Imperial Stormtroopers. The E-11 props were built from the British-made Sterling L2A3 submachine gun (provided by Bapty & Co.) equipped with Sherman tank gunsights. Numerous main characters, including Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) use the weapon. Some details differ between the weapons shown here in A New Hope and the other two movies in the original trilogy, most notably the method of scope attachment and battery pack beside it (or lack thereof).
A revealing mistake is that spent cartridge cases can be seen ejecting from this "blaster" rifle. It is most noticeable in the bridge swing scene of A New Hope and when Lando is firing at Stormtroopers in The Empire Strikes Back. In Return of the Jedi the hero props were built from MGC Sterling replicas, explaining why there were no blanks used as in the previous two films.
BlasTech DLT-19 Heavy Blaster Rifle (MG34)
The "BlasTech DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle" is the standard issue heavy blaster of the Imperial Stormtroopers. The DLT-19s were World War II German MG34 general purpose machine guns painted solid black with added "rails" on the barrel shroud (like the E-11): these were just metal drawer runners that Bapty & Co purchased from a nearby B&Q hardware store.
BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster (Lewis Gun)
The "BlasTech T-21 light repeating blaster" seen carried by the Sandtrooper Officer. It is a British Lewis light machine gun with its drum magazine removed and other minor cosmetic alterations.
RT-97C Heavy Blaster Rifle (MG15)
Imperial Sandtroopers can be seen carrying "RT-97C heavy blaster rifles" while on patrol on Tatooine. The RT-97C prop is in fact a modified German MG15 machine gun. Notably, until the release of Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection in 2008, the weapon did not have an official designation, and had been simply referred to as the "MG-15" by fans. The name references Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas, the artists of the blueprints, and the year they first met - R(eiff)T(revas)-(19)97C(hris).
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Ion Blaster (Cut-down Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII)
The "ion blaster" utilized by the Jawas who shoot R2-D2 were built from a cut-down British Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII* series bolt-action rifle with a No.1 Mk.I Cup Discharger grenade launcher attached to the shortened barrel. Due to the fact that the shortened rifle lacks the nosecap to which the grenade launcher normally mounts, the redundant clamping mechanism has been removed and instead the launcher is attached directly to the barrel.
