DARTH SABER
Master Member
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New Elstree Studio documentary with discarded Graflex.
- Thread starter Skelatorious
- Start date
Funny how they refer to his hutt (house) as a cave...
The d ring is now the rivets vs screws
DARTH SABER
Master Member
Sorrry that was not the pic i meant to post.
I cant even delete the pic or the post itself..ugggh
DARTH SABER
Master Member
This is the pic to determine if the D ring is more centered or closer to the edge
I have to agree.
The first assumption made about this hilt, when it first popped up, was that it could not have been screen-used, looking as destroyed and deformed as it did, and was most likely a failed attempt to modify a Graflex, possibly for stunt work. As a failure, it was tossed away, later to found in a junk pile, just as described.
Now, we are trying to convince ourselves that this destroyed / failed prop actually had screen-time.
I think the first assumption regarding this piece is most likely closest to the accurate history of the prop and I don’t think it ever saw screentime. I have yet to find clear evidence of a Graflex in ANH with a deformed top, sans bunny ears, either as a belt hanger or a bladed stunt.
I think we want so badly to FINALLY have a known screen-used ANH Graflex out there that we are allowing that to color our perception of the prop.
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Exactly. We all want a hero ANH Graflex to pop up after all these years, but the likely reality is that the heroes were mostly destroyed, ended up in private collections, or were converted to ESB sabers...which were then likely destroyed or ended up in private collections.
That’s what I believe
Agreed.
Yeah, okay. You forced me to pull out my copy of Rinzler’s book to double-check. Ben’s home was filmed first, then the training, then the duel.
The question remains, though: If the ANH hero Graflex(es) survived the production, then where the heck were they when the Seidemann photos were taken? Why did they need to create the HOLIDAY SPECIAL saber?
I personally believe that the ANH sabers were either destroyed or kept in private hands after filming. The HS saber was built as a quick-and-dirty stand-in, and then the ESB sabers were built using photo reference from ANH, but with tweaks to the design (the circuit board and second red button). They initially went with seven ANH-style grips, and then improvised when the Finse cold made the grips fall off. The six-grips-with-fasteners look devised on location then tricked down to all of the other heroes and stunts as production moved from Norway to England.
I don’t want to derail this.. but I’m also a r2 builder. Those guys have had so many visits into the archives it’s not even funny.
And I mean RECENT visits.. anyway they go in their for r2 stuff
They have found most of the original r2s that are now all over the world and in private collections ( ANH r2’s) there is talk over there that George Lucas himself has a large uncatalogued collection of props from Indiana Jones, and Star Wars.. in his own personal collection... not in the ranch. NOT in the archives.. this is his own stuff hes saved
One is a r2 that is missing, George last I knew was building a art museum, and wanted to display his collection of art there. And rumor was he was going to have a small display of props and costumes he’s had saved
If this is all true, who’s to say George doesn’t have these sabers in a box?
Again I have zero proof of this. But that’s what I’ve heard from the r2 builders, pretty sure George has a complete ANH 3po as well
Time will tell. I love stuff like this though, we never knew about this stunt until last week.. it’s been hiding for 40 years. I find that completely amazing.. I literally didn’t sleep that night.. went to bed at 3am because I was so excited about something new
The limits are really endless..
I agree the ANH hero luke sabers could had been converted into ESB sabers, or disapeared forever. This Elstree saber was picked up when the movie still havent been released, so thats why it was saved from ESB conversion or doesnt appear in any postproduction photoshoots.
So this Elstree saber may be the only one existing still dressing as ANH style.
Two hero darth vader were used in the movie, but only a production oficial photo of one of them exist. That doesnt mean the other one didnt existed.
So this Elstree saber may be the only one existing still dressing as ANH style.
Two hero darth vader were used in the movie, but only a production oficial photo of one of them exist. That doesnt mean the other one didnt existed.
I agree. If you take a centered clip and if it was a perfect profile of the clip from the side, the clip will only ever be visible at center from the side profile. As soon as you rotate it, then the clip dips below the center line. In this picture, the clip is rotated and yet it still does not cross below the center line, proving it is above center. You can see the d-ring extending down below the line.
Now we just need someone to model it!
Before anyone mentions the grip, it is indeed crooked.
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Hamill’s been pretty adamant that he didn’t save a saber prop.
It sort of reminds me of the assumption that Nimoy had a stash of TOS props in his personal collection. His kids have been pretty clear that all he saved were some of the scripts and a set of mounted ear tips in a shadow box.
Remember the rumors circling that Hamill had a lightsaber and it was in a family photo with his son playing with it?
Dude I dug and dug for days until someone posted the photo and it was clearly a early replica lol joke was on me that day
I Heard it was an original from ESB or ROJ. But his son left it abandoned in a park, and was forever lost.
matty matt
Sr Member
I love that these discoveries often raise more questions than answers. It's more fun this way.
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