013: We Meet Luke—in that ‘Treadwell scene’
“I KNOW YOU DON’T KNOW YOU MANIAC” An odd line this. I’ve wondered where did I get it from? Well, imagine my surprise as I listened to Episode 1 of the 1981 Radio Adaptation the other night – and there it was: 30 years later! “So THAT was it!”. It’s the deleted ‘Treadwell scene’. “I know you don’t know—you maniac!”
This page contains one of those ‘what-if’ scenes.
Film Notes
The Deleted Treadwell Scene’
When Howard Chaykin was in such a hurry to get Issue#1 of the Star Wars comic adaptation illustrated for Marvel, the scene of Luke shown here was still—presumably—intended for inclusion in the film. But none of the final versions have ever shown this scene—or the other Tatooine scene with his friend Biggs. George felt (or someone else must have argued) that they slowed the film down.
It was probably the right decision. But it’s amazing when you consider how the Prequel Trilogy films drag at times: why didn’t they get that same much-needed ruthless editing?
Poor Garrick
But what’s done is done. Instead, we meet Luke when the Jawas arrive at the farm; and very effective it is too. I suppose fans will always mourn any footage that was ditched from the most influential film of the last 30 years—but then again, the restored Jabba/Solo scene wasn’t very successful was it? My ideal fantasy compromise would be the original theatrical version (cleaned-up and remastered of course) and the restored-everything-back-in version for fun. Then: ahem, bin all of the others. I asked Garrick Hagon (Biggs) himself about this once, and he too—unsurprisingly—was all for an expanded cut. Well, why wouldn’t he? (More on that encounter on a later Blog post)
It’s funny, even with the scenes removed, the early part of the film is actually still a bit slow by today’s standards! George admits this himself. Not that I’m complaining: most of today’s films are a stupid blur of effects, noises and nonsense with no character development.
Art Notes: Luke ‘Obserbves’
“I know you don’t know, you maniac!”
Much of this is lifted from Chaykin’s self-inked Marvel issue#1. Hence: 3P0‘s odd appearance, the more mature look of panel 2, and the exciting wide bottom panel.
One of Marvel’s extra scenes. Art: H.Chaykin
Chaykin’s inking in Issue#1 was odd. Messy, rushed—but very expressive. It really does have a brush-stroke feel to it. But back then, without DVDs or even video tape and years to wait until seeing the film again; what I wanted was an accurate, realistic rendering—which is what I got with the ‘Empire‘ adaptation. But nowadays – it’s nice to see a different take on something so familiar and instantly accessible.
Incidentally, here’s that lost footage.
Next: We meet the man who literally murdered Luke’ father
PANEL 1
------------
Threepio and Artoo are in the corridor of the Tantive IV, amidst the battle. A laser bolt shoots by, behind them.
"Don't expect me to thank you!" says C-3PO, "I should have known better than to trust the logic of a half-sized thermo capsulary de-housing assister!"
PANEL 2
------------
(Below, on the death-white wasteland which is the planet Tatooine) we see Luke Skywalker by his landspeeder, peering at the sky...
(A bright sparkle in the morning sky catches a watchful eye--)
PANEL 3
------------
(--Luke Skywalker's)
"What that?" asks Luke of his Treadwell droid.
"Ploop roobee" it responds.
PANEL 4
------------
"I know you don't know, you maniac!" shouts Luke, and then, "Treadwell, get my Macrobinoculars."
PANEL 5
------------
Luke leaps into his Landspeeder.
(He observes it for a moment, then leaps into his landspeeder—and aims it towards Anchorhead.
But but – didn’t we see that scene at the cinema? (As usual) I misremember it clearly: Luke wearing some sort of weird hat with Rommel glasses is bangin’ on about the academy to the vaporiser droid when – you even have the dialogue correct in your panel – he stops and says ‘wait – what’s that?’ I think he mentions ‘it could be a starcruiser or something…’ and then he moves towards the speeder and he says ‘come on!’ then the droid blows a gasket (he mentions this to Owen and Beru later) and then Luke jumps ‘impatiently’ (he put the Ham in hamill) into the speeder. Funnily enough – I was greatly surprised to see the storm troopers on those green things years later – they definitely weren’t in my first version. Someone please back me up – he used to pick on meee!
It’s a false memory I’m afraid N. Yep – rommell goggles – just what I was thinking.
But – do you ever remember being a baby in your cot? There you are – behind the bars? You can see yourself right there 🙂
I think we blended all the different sources we had of Star Wars (in the absence of easily accesible recordings) together in our heads and it became real – perhaps even more real. All those countless conversations you and I and John S. had. Great fun.
So where did we see that scene again? We both remember the dialogue… or was it from ‘The Making Of Star Wars’?
It must have just been in the Comic, the novel and your Star Wars Storybook. And as I said – youngsters with vivid and creative imaginations – as you, John S. and I had – probably retrospectively built it all into the imagined experience of seeing the film. I bet we used to have conversations like
“Surely you remember that brilliant bit?”
“Oh yes, er… of course (I think. Try to fit in, try to fit in)”
“Oh well if you two do – I do too.”
It’s funny, you’d think the film would have been a disappointment when we finally saw it again after a few years.
I actually liked that scene with Jaba and Han, It gave us insight to why he had a bounty (or was about to have one) on him, it also made for a few BMS strips 😉 . I would love for Lucas to do what you said ( I’m sure his bank account would love it too 🙂 ) as I have never seen it in theaters 🙁 . I am glad he didn’t include the Biggs seen , It slows it down and when we meet him later it gives you the sense that there is a bigger back story to Luke and it increases the depth of the universe giving people more to work with when the expanded universe started to take form, and it helped make for some great spoof material
It was nice to see that Jabba footage; but a shame about Solo looking like a cardboard cut-out stepping over Jabba’s tail! They shouldn’t have worried about that technical issue.
He doesn’t look that bad, but maybe that’s because they blurred him out a little.
Hmm… it’s just the way they shifted him up and down. Looked weird to me. Otherwise I’d be fine with it.
I know what you mean , maybe in the next re-release they will fix that and his head when Gredo fired at him (they should have left that alone.
His head? I didn’t see that. Do you mean Solo tilted his head sideways or something to avoid the shot?
That scene was ruined. It wasn’t clear at all what happened after they messed with it. I can’t follow all the confused stuff happening at once. Hmmm, reminds me of the prequel Trilogy!
If you watch the seen very closely his head moves to the side and it looks terrible.
Lucas redid that seen because he thought that it made him look like a bad guy but in indiana Jones he kills people all the time . Who can forget the seen in the marked with the sword man ? He killed him without giving him a chance.
You make a good point!
A – HA! I do believe N’s recollection is actually from the radio drama!
As is the surprising “I know you don’t know, you maniac” line.