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Smugglers Rants
date posted: Oct 04, 2005 3:38 PM
"If I Could Turn Back Time."
"Do-Do-Do-Do...Do-Do-Do-Do!"

The Twilight Zone theme is running through your head as a spinning image coalesces into view. It's George Lucas, The Flannelled One and he's just returned from a trip through time to remedy something.
You see, George was sitting in his office at the Letterman Centre, watching happily as his state-of-the-art team craft movie magic and he got to thinking.
Letting his mind drift over a hot cup of Chav he thought "I wonder how different the films would have been if I'd directed all six of them?"
Think about it. While no one in their right mind would wish for anyone but Irvin Kershner to direct Empire (certainly not me - I'm interviewing him soon) Lucas was coming off a hot streak. American Grafitti was a monster hit, Star Wars was the biggest film of all time and littered with accolades. You could well say that back in 1977-78 Lucas was at the height of his directorial powers.
So, what if he had directed Empire. How different would it be?
And likewise Jedi? He asked Kersh to direct, but the great man was worn out after Empire and declined. So George asked Spielberg, but due to a probelm with the Directors Guild cinemas greatest living director had to decline something that had become a dream project for him. So Lucas hired the late Richard Marquand, a man some said was brought on board because he would be easy for Lucas to manipulate.
So why didn't GL direct it himself? And how different would it be if he had?
Questions, questions....

"Do-Do-Do-Do...Do-Do-Do-Do!"

  Graffiti
Somewhere on the Other Side of Mos Eisley
date Posted: Oct 04, 2005 4:37 PM
There would at least have been a tone and style difference in Empire, though the script might still have been pretty similar, as I think Lucas even now prefers not to have to write too much, and he probably would still have developed it with Lawrence Kasdan. I would imagine Jedi would be pretty much the same. Just look how similar it is in tone to Episode I.

Another question would be, what if Star Wars was made in Episode order? What if there was none of that forward story everyone was familiar with and no one knew what would happen to Anakin and Obi-Wan? Would it have played out the same and how much would be different? More difficult to answer.
  Master_Kenobi17
Takin Over For Talon
date Posted: Oct 04, 2005 6:42 PM
GL said it was too hard to direct and write and manage a company at the same time. Watch the 'Empire of Dreams' documentary on the fourth disc of the trilogy dvd pack if you haven't already. It will explain everything.
  jediknight2210
Where did you dig up that old fossil?
date Posted: Oct 04, 2005 7:15 PM
Yeah Empire of Dreams does explain everything. I kinda do wish he directed every film though, but thats okay, ill live.
janlomona
Smugglers Rants
date Posted: Oct 05, 2005 9:35 AM
I wasn't posing the qwuestion in regards to true facts - GL almost had a heart attack directing Star Wars, and found producing an easier proposition. I just wonder how different the two films he didn't direct would have been if he had controlled them himself, and if he ever wishes he had done them.
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