Halliwax's weird V3 theory
- Thread starter Halliwax
- Start date
Yeah really really tough.... I can’t see it being the V2, during practice we know the v3 didn’t have a clamp..
Is this the v3 with the clamp on it?
Anyone know the time this scene was filmed?
Nope definitely see it now sloth! Agree with ya, clamp is on it
This is freak’n awesome! Thank you!
My theory, when first reporting the discovery of the use of a hilt as a “tool” in Echo Base, was that this could be the last appearance of the Obi-Wan hero.
Kenobi's Lightsaber Made A Cameo As A Tool In "ESB"!!
I have said before the I believe that parts that were significantly altered for the production of ANH were actually OWNED by the production vs. rented. This would include the lightsaber camera flashes, cameras made into macro binoculars, airplane parts, and even Obi-Wan’s hero saber. I think the original hero hilt(s) were stored with other prop parts from ANH and brought back out of the “prop box” as a miscellaneous item to use in the Hoth scenes. I definitely see a chrome-like shine to the pommel as the “random Rebel soldier” waves it around.
I have a hard time believing they would remove the stunt blade and use a dueling hilt for a background tool. I think they grabbed what was immediately available. Enough ANH props resurfaced in ESB to support this theory, I believe.
That’s my theory, anyway.
Kenobi's Lightsaber Made A Cameo As A Tool In "ESB"!!
I have said before the I believe that parts that were significantly altered for the production of ANH were actually OWNED by the production vs. rented. This would include the lightsaber camera flashes, cameras made into macro binoculars, airplane parts, and even Obi-Wan’s hero saber. I think the original hero hilt(s) were stored with other prop parts from ANH and brought back out of the “prop box” as a miscellaneous item to use in the Hoth scenes. I definitely see a chrome-like shine to the pommel as the “random Rebel soldier” waves it around.
I have a hard time believing they would remove the stunt blade and use a dueling hilt for a background tool. I think they grabbed what was immediately available. Enough ANH props resurfaced in ESB to support this theory, I believe.
That’s my theory, anyway.
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Mouse Vader
Sr Member
Best clip I've seen of this Sloth. This enhance still shows the clamp bars / box you mentioned.
Attachments
Totally see the clamp, and the rest is so dark it's difficult to tell, but the reflectiveness/reflectivity of the pommel suggests a chrome sink knob, to my eyes.
I'm guessing Obi Wan Hero, which is what I actually MEANT to say in that other thread where someone asked if the Elstree Graflex could've been what was used as a tool in the Hoth hanger, and in my hasty response to clear that up, I blurted out V2. Oops! Brain toot!
Apologies, I never thought it was the V2, but for whatever reason that's what came out when I responded in that thread. I do remember this "tool" being discussed in the past, when it was theorized it could be Old Ben's hilt, but it's been a while since I've thought about it, and all I saw in my head the other day was a thin neck Obi Wan/ROTJ Luke "style" hilt, and perhaps this time around, I pictured the cone knob in my head as well, as if it were some feature of the tool. Like, a glass breaker, or something. ALL IN MY HEAD.
So, sorry about that, disregard my senile comment!
Anyway, regarding whether the original Obi Wan hilt was disassembled and the rented parts returned to Bapty (or whoever) after Star Wars was finished, I agree that it's ENTIRELY possible (unless there's absolute irrefutable proof elsewhere) that they ended-up buying the parts from whomever supplied them.
This happens ALL THE TIME in productions, where props or dressing is rented, with the full intent of return, and something happens down the line, for instance, damage (sometimes accidental, sometimes purposeful): perhaps some of the rented parts, like the Hales and the Browning Booster, were irrevocably modified in order to build the lightsaber prop, and when brought back to Bapty, were deemed unusable for rentals to other productions.
In those situations, the production has to purchase the damaged items from the rental company. I've personally dealt with this sort of thing in the past. A piece of set dressing is used for a stunt or something and the shooting crew doesn't know it's a rental, and it's destroyed, or the Decorator or Production Designer or someone who KNOWS it's a rental happens to be around and enlightens the rest of the crew, and it's quickly decided to use it ANYWAY, because "Eff it, this shot is more important, so we'll just have to eat the cost and buy it".
Something similar could've happened with Obi Wan's lightsaber, but less dramatic. Then there's always the possibility that they THOUGHT they'd be able to return the parts, but upon inspection by Bapty, they notice holes have been drilled (to attach the clamp to the Hales, etc) among other things, and Bapty charges them the full price of the parts and sends them on their way, back to the studio/warehouse/lock-up/production offices/whatever, along with the parts they just had to buy.
I mean, it could've gone any number of ways. Hell, the production could've decided they wanted to buy the parts early-on, as they KNEW they'd have to modify them to build what they wanted, and maybe they wanted to then be able to KEEP the thing as an asset, seein's how it was a Hero prop.
Of course, I'm forgetting that nobody really knew they'd be making any more Star Wars films, so what's the point in keeping it, especially since poor old Ben is DEED!
ANYWAY, it's also highly possible it's one of those aluminum castings from the Stunt mold. But I just don't feel like we'd see such a high polish/chromed-looking finish on the pommel if that were the case. Maybe the studio lights make it look shinier than it really was, I dunno. Or, perhaps, *GASP* someone polished it!
I'm starting to wonder what the point of this post is, now. I'm speculating about the reasoning behind WHY or HOW the prop dept could've/would've held on to the Old Ben lightsaber prop, after Star Wars. I'm not sure it matters. At least, not the SPECIFICS.
I would agree with Danny, though, about the possibility that there was more than one Hero version of this prop. After all, having worked in the Prop Department in the past, the phrase "One is none!" is pretty common. 99% of the time, there's a backup, but I have to remember that this was "Star Wars", the first, and the cheapest, dirtiest and least resourceful of the bunch.
Still, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were two. Two handwheels, potentially loads of balance pipes, etc etc.
EDIT: Oh yeah! Or is it the Obi-Wan getting cut in half "stunt" hilt, that James Kenobi showed in the old thread?! I'd say this is VERY possible!
I'm guessing Obi Wan Hero, which is what I actually MEANT to say in that other thread where someone asked if the Elstree Graflex could've been what was used as a tool in the Hoth hanger, and in my hasty response to clear that up, I blurted out V2. Oops! Brain toot!
Apologies, I never thought it was the V2, but for whatever reason that's what came out when I responded in that thread. I do remember this "tool" being discussed in the past, when it was theorized it could be Old Ben's hilt, but it's been a while since I've thought about it, and all I saw in my head the other day was a thin neck Obi Wan/ROTJ Luke "style" hilt, and perhaps this time around, I pictured the cone knob in my head as well, as if it were some feature of the tool. Like, a glass breaker, or something. ALL IN MY HEAD.
So, sorry about that, disregard my senile comment!
Anyway, regarding whether the original Obi Wan hilt was disassembled and the rented parts returned to Bapty (or whoever) after Star Wars was finished, I agree that it's ENTIRELY possible (unless there's absolute irrefutable proof elsewhere) that they ended-up buying the parts from whomever supplied them.
This happens ALL THE TIME in productions, where props or dressing is rented, with the full intent of return, and something happens down the line, for instance, damage (sometimes accidental, sometimes purposeful): perhaps some of the rented parts, like the Hales and the Browning Booster, were irrevocably modified in order to build the lightsaber prop, and when brought back to Bapty, were deemed unusable for rentals to other productions.
In those situations, the production has to purchase the damaged items from the rental company. I've personally dealt with this sort of thing in the past. A piece of set dressing is used for a stunt or something and the shooting crew doesn't know it's a rental, and it's destroyed, or the Decorator or Production Designer or someone who KNOWS it's a rental happens to be around and enlightens the rest of the crew, and it's quickly decided to use it ANYWAY, because "Eff it, this shot is more important, so we'll just have to eat the cost and buy it".
Something similar could've happened with Obi Wan's lightsaber, but less dramatic. Then there's always the possibility that they THOUGHT they'd be able to return the parts, but upon inspection by Bapty, they notice holes have been drilled (to attach the clamp to the Hales, etc) among other things, and Bapty charges them the full price of the parts and sends them on their way, back to the studio/warehouse/lock-up/production offices/whatever, along with the parts they just had to buy.
I mean, it could've gone any number of ways. Hell, the production could've decided they wanted to buy the parts early-on, as they KNEW they'd have to modify them to build what they wanted, and maybe they wanted to then be able to KEEP the thing as an asset, seein's how it was a Hero prop.
Of course, I'm forgetting that nobody really knew they'd be making any more Star Wars films, so what's the point in keeping it, especially since poor old Ben is DEED!
ANYWAY, it's also highly possible it's one of those aluminum castings from the Stunt mold. But I just don't feel like we'd see such a high polish/chromed-looking finish on the pommel if that were the case. Maybe the studio lights make it look shinier than it really was, I dunno. Or, perhaps, *GASP* someone polished it!
I'm starting to wonder what the point of this post is, now. I'm speculating about the reasoning behind WHY or HOW the prop dept could've/would've held on to the Old Ben lightsaber prop, after Star Wars. I'm not sure it matters. At least, not the SPECIFICS.
I would agree with Danny, though, about the possibility that there was more than one Hero version of this prop. After all, having worked in the Prop Department in the past, the phrase "One is none!" is pretty common. 99% of the time, there's a backup, but I have to remember that this was "Star Wars", the first, and the cheapest, dirtiest and least resourceful of the bunch.
Still, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were two. Two handwheels, potentially loads of balance pipes, etc etc.
EDIT: Oh yeah! Or is it the Obi-Wan getting cut in half "stunt" hilt, that James Kenobi showed in the old thread?! I'd say this is VERY possible!
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