Home Flash Gordon Kurosawa films Joseph Campbell Personal Myth Lord of the Rings Dune 2001: Space Odyssey Forbidden Planet Ben-Hur The Wizard of Oz E.E. "Doc" Smith Lightsabers The Droids Imperial Walkers Other stuff More other stuff Music FAQ Storytelling Lessons Other Science Fiction Message Board

LEFT: Hologram of The Wizard's head addressing Dorothy and her friends. RIGHT: Hologram of the Emperor addressing Darth Vader. In 1939 MGM released two spectacular color films, Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Wizard was by far the most elaborate and credible vision of a make-believe world at the time, and set the precedent for big screen flights-of-fantasy ever since. Star Wars Wizard of Oz Obi-Wan Kenobi disappeared when killed by Darth Vader, leaving only an empty robe The Wicked Witch of the West disappears when Dorothy spills water on her, leaving only her empty dress Jawas Munchkins Bottomless chasm where Obi-Wan Kenobi disables the tractor beam, actually a matte painting combined with live footage Bottomless chasm outside the witch's castle, actually a matte painting combined with live footage (This idea was used again in Forbidden Planet) Mechanical sounds whenever C3-PO moves Clanking metal sounds whenever the Tin Woodsman moves Guardian of the Gate to the Wizard's palace Guardian of the Gate to Jabba's palace The Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion disguise themselves as "Winkies" (the Witch's guards) Luke and Han disguise themselves as Stormtroopers1 Lucas did his homework with the creator of "Space Opera," E.E. "Doc" Smith Source: Mark Hammil, Carrie Fisher and a gabillion reviewers say The Wizard of Oz was a huge influence on Star Wars. The rest is speculation. 1 Thanks to William Grimley for pointing this out. Star Wars created by George Lucas, © LucasFilm Ltd. Star Wars: Origins © 1999-2006 by Kristen Brennan, part of the Jitterbug Fantasia webzine.