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Episode IV Behind-the-Scenes - May 12, 2002
Q: Why was the stormtrooper line "Close the blast doors!" added to the Special Edition release of A New Hope?
A: It wasn't so much added as it was put back in. That line was part of A New Hope since the very beginning, but an entire generation who grew up with the original Star Wars on video never heard it.
There are at least five different mixes for the Star Wars audio track, with three of them dating back to the film's original theatrical release. In some markets, you could literally hear a different version of the film if you knew what theater to go to.
During A New Hope's theatrical run, there was a 70mm 6-track mix, a 35mm Dolby stereo mix, and a 35mm monaural mix. The 70mm version was the first audio track out the door, rushed to completion for delivery to so-called "showcase" theaters. The 35mm Dolby mix had a longer lead-time as Star Wars spread out from its initial 32-screen debut to its eventual spread to 1,098 screens 13 weeks later. Some of those theaters, though, lacked Dolby sound altogether, hence the need for mono mixes.
With each different mix, there are differences in the emphasis or placement of sound effects. Some are really minor -- the laser sounds of the Death Star prison breakout are a lot zingier in some versions, or Dice Ibegon -- the snake-headed lamproid in the cantina -- chirps instead of snarls. Some are a bit more pronounced, such as Luke asking, "Blast it, Wedge, where are you?" instead of asking for Biggs, Princess Leia's blaster sounding like Dirty Harry's .45, or Aunt Beru having a different voice altogether. The "blast door" line is another example.
When it came time to release Star Wars on VHS, one particular audio mix was chosen, and it became the de facto version for many, many fans. A subsequent laserdisc release created a fourth audio mix, taking elements from the previous three. Of course, the Special Edition prompted a fifth mix, and the DVD release, a sixth.
Q: Why was the stormtrooper line "Close the blast doors!" added to the Special Edition release of A New Hope?
A: It wasn't so much added as it was put back in. That line was part of A New Hope since the very beginning, but an entire generation who grew up with the original Star Wars on video never heard it.
There are at least five different mixes for the Star Wars audio track, with three of them dating back to the film's original theatrical release. In some markets, you could literally hear a different version of the film if you knew what theater to go to.
During A New Hope's theatrical run, there was a 70mm 6-track mix, a 35mm Dolby stereo mix, and a 35mm monaural mix. The 70mm version was the first audio track out the door, rushed to completion for delivery to so-called "showcase" theaters. The 35mm Dolby mix had a longer lead-time as Star Wars spread out from its initial 32-screen debut to its eventual spread to 1,098 screens 13 weeks later. Some of those theaters, though, lacked Dolby sound altogether, hence the need for mono mixes.
With each different mix, there are differences in the emphasis or placement of sound effects. Some are really minor -- the laser sounds of the Death Star prison breakout are a lot zingier in some versions, or Dice Ibegon -- the snake-headed lamproid in the cantina -- chirps instead of snarls. Some are a bit more pronounced, such as Luke asking, "Blast it, Wedge, where are you?" instead of asking for Biggs, Princess Leia's blaster sounding like Dirty Harry's .45, or Aunt Beru having a different voice altogether. The "blast door" line is another example.
When it came time to release Star Wars on VHS, one particular audio mix was chosen, and it became the de facto version for many, many fans. A subsequent laserdisc release created a fourth audio mix, taking elements from the previous three. Of course, the Special Edition prompted a fifth mix, and the DVD release, a sixth.
The gushers on IMDB.com will hear about this soon...!
(Interestingly this also answers a question I had years ago, which is why the blaster rifles sound like 20th century firearms in the "grappling hook scene" in Star Wars Special Edition. That was actually more accurate to one version of the audio back then! In fact, I heard a recording from somebody who had brought a tape recorder into the theater 20 years ago and I heard the "gunshot" blaster shots again! Wow...)
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