According to George Lucas, Star Wars is based off the old weekly movie serials from the 30s and 40s. I have a Dick Tracy serial starring Ralph Byrd. The plot of this serial is Dick Tracy fights a secret criminal ring called the Spider Ring. The ring is led by The Lame One, and old mysterious man. The Lame One kidnaps Tracy's brother Gordon Tracy, brainwashes him and operates on him to make him evil. Sound familiar??? Gordon even talks slow like he's brain washed (like vader). Hes now the number 2 man to the lame one. the lame one comes up with the evil plans and Gordon carries them out. Dick tracy doesnt even realize that this crazy guy is really his brother Gordon but soon discovers and and looks to save him. After Tracy defeats the lame one, Gordon gets into a car accident. The wreck knocks Gordon back into his old self and out of the lame one's spell. Dick Tracy runs to his brother who turns back to the good gordon before he dies in tracy's arms. The similaries between Gordon and the lame one and vader and the emporer are too close. see for yourelf; the serial is out on DVD.