The Ultimate Luke ANH Graflex Research & Discussion Thread
- Thread starter IronDestinyProps
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This has been what some have believed since the discussion in September of 2019. Others have differing opinions. Roy was kind enough to do a 3D model illustrating the "all 3mm rivet" option (to match the 3mm rivets on the D-ring bracket) that I believe to be accurate. Your interpretation may vary!
This was exactly my line of thought as well Seth! (post #166) Why so many rivets for such a lightweight belt hanger??
A friend of mine also bought a Graflex off of an actual photographer who had drilled holes in it to hardwire it to a camera or something. My next line of thought would be this...If the holes were previously drilled, why not just stick your t-track over them to hide them? I'm wondering if these rivets were installed before it was ever a lightsaber for some odd reason? Although that wouldn't allow batteries to slide in all the way.... Hmmm...
I can't make a new image right now but if the bracket is about 0.5mm (24-25 gauge) it would probably work. But I don't know the exact thickness of the back plate. But all this is a bit theoretical because it's always possible to rivet in a slight angle and have the head bend slightly in the process. I'd say it's not that difficult to attach that bracket in there.
But, if they had access to multiple flashguns for the production, then why in the heck would they use a wonky, riveted lower tube for the HERO prop of the film’s MAIN CHARACTER? It would certainly be easier to grab another lower without that modification. There’s no way someone would think that it added to the aesthetics of the prop.
Again, Occam’s Razor indicates that the rivets were added to the flashgun by the production, for reasons unknown. For me, it seems suspicious that two rivets were used for the d-ring in close proximity to the four rivets on the side of the tube. I think the inner core/bracket/d-ring stability theory is the one which holds the most weight. All of those rivets being clustered together in that lower rear section of the flash tube can’t be a coincidence, to say nothing of the notion that different sets of rivets were added by different people at different times for different purposes. That doesn’t track.
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Batteries might still fit there's some extra room as they are spring-loaded (don't have any right now to test though)
Interesting, yes that actually would make more sense! But as far as your first statement, I would answer, Because they didn't care as much as we do now haha! For the budget of this production, one might have said something like: "Ahh just slap some grips on that, it's not that noticeable".... Especially because if you'll observe, we DIDN'T notice them for the longest time!
They might've Imagined with Luke gripping the hilt, they wouldn't be very noticeable? And as far as reasoning, same reason all the grips are roughed out at different lengths and angles... when in reality, we all know something is vastly more repeatable with a set measurement.
Another thing to remember is that you can 'hardwire' a Graflex using a flash cord and the connectors at the top of the flash, that is what they are there for (connecting multiple flashes together, or for a hardwire power connection). Flashes from different manufactures may vary, but you don't need to drill into a Graflex to hardwire power.
Unless it didn't work that way anymore and the owner decided to see if they could bodge it?
I think it's most likely from production though.
Because most filmmakers, especially in 1977 dont make films with the expectation that every shot will be paused, freeze framed and blown up to look for details or flaws. It’s just supposed to look passable to the human eye for the few seconds it passes across a flickery theatre screen. Now in the digital, HD age things are a bit different but you still see that filmmaking mentality. Just look at the amount of stunt sabers that are seen fairly close up in the sequel trilogy. Even then most of us probably didnt see them on our first viewings. And that’s really the point.
No, but it still defies logic that they'd hypothetically take a flashgun with a noticeable mod/flaw and use it for the hero prop--the BEAUTY prop--rather than relegating it to backup or stunt status, and going with a clean lower tube.
UNLESS the prop crew themselves were the ones who made the mod after the other flashguns had been converted into stunt/backup props, be it due to an early attempt to affix a d-ring or whatever.
I mean, why not just swap out the Elstree lower, if anything? That one is clearly pretty jacked up, and was presumably an early FX attempt.
UNLESS the prop crew themselves were the ones who made the mod after the other flashguns had been converted into stunt/backup props, be it due to an early attempt to affix a d-ring or whatever.
I mean, why not just swap out the Elstree lower, if anything? That one is clearly pretty jacked up, and was presumably an early FX attempt.
It may be because they simply did not have access to as many Graflexes for ANH so they had to streamline and just work with the few they had, worts (rivets) and all.
Large format Portrait cameras such as Graflex's were still heavily used in the 1960-1970s and still the standard for things like studio family photos. I was in grade school in the early 1980s and I remember my school class photos being taken with a large format camera because I remember the photographer from the studio company having to go under a black sheet attached to the camera when our class photo was taken. The image quality of 4X5 cameras was much better than 35mm SLRs for still-life photos like portraits back then.
I've been hearing stories from 'old timers' on the RPF for almost 20 years (guys in their 50s-60s now) who were in their 20s when SW came out who knew about the Graflex flash being used for Luke's lightsaber and how they would go to photo shops and buy them for nothing- like $5-$10 each, and hearing how shops had dusty boxes with dozens of them available. I also remember hearing stories about how sometimes when guys would go to buy one the shop owners would say that they used to have some but threw out boxes of them because no one wanted them anymore (most photographers using large format cameras were using modern 35mm SLR strobe flashes instead of 1-time bulb flashes)
I don't availability was much of an issue in 1975-1976.
Is true in the UK too though? They may well have been not that common here in the UK.
Large format cameras were still the standard in the UK in the 1970s for portrait photography, and Graflex was a major manufacturer of cameras from the early 1900s through the 1960s and exported all over the world until Graflex was purchased by the Singer company. I would image lots of professional photographers and photo journalists still used them in the UK in the 1970s, so parts and flashes would have been available. Just think about how many Graflex and other vintage camera parts were used on various props in ANH.
The Nikon F was released in 1968 and became the standard for photo journalists and sports photography in the 1970s, but large format cameras were still the standard for portrait photography until advances in 35mm lenses and film happened in the 1980s.
The Nikon F was released in 1968 and became the standard for photo journalists and sports photography in the 1970s, but large format cameras were still the standard for portrait photography until advances in 35mm lenses and film happened in the 1980s.
Plus, the Elstree Graflex was tossed out with the rubbish with a perfectly good lower tube (probably at the time) and a perfectly good clamp. The production team didn't even save the 'good' parts of the flash, probably because they didn't need to as Graflex supply probably wasn't an issue and they didn't need to save those parts.
It's possible, but I don't think that Graflex was that common after WW2 here in the UK, as there were quite heavy restrictions on importing them unless someone was a licence holder. Many would've definitely come in before WW2, which could explain why those used in the OT seem to be Folmer era flashes.
Could've chucked it in the bin, the young lad picked it up and gave it to his friend, so they then couldn't find it. Or they just didn't think anyone would ever notice them so just thought "sod it, that'll do".
Too many possibilities really and I don't think we'll ever know for certain all the whys and wherefores unfortunately.
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