MovieChat Forums > Star Wars (1977) Discussion > Leia Line Lost?

Leia Line Lost?

posted 5 years ago by CoriSCapnSkip (1562)
15 replies | jump to latest

Please advise on whether George Lucas, TCM, or I am to blame here. One of the most memorable lines for me in the 1977 original Star Wars film and the novelization is Princess Leia's, "Leave him alone. Can't you see what the old man meant to him?" during the escape from the Death Star. I was listening for it in the scene where she placed the blanket around Luke's shoulders, but I would swear that the TCM version went straight from Han Solo saying, "Come with me, kid, we're not out of this yet," to Luke shaking off the blanket to follow Han without Leia saying anything. Was this line only in the novelization, and I merely imagined it to be in the movie? Or was it in the original movie, and if so why no mention of such a significant cut on any of the fan sites listing changes? Was it somehow missing from the TCM version only but appears on the discs (I looked into getting discs several years ago, but everything I saw was Blu-Ray only and I wasn't buying a new player just for that), or, most sinister and insidious, was the line actually spoken in the TCM version and I briefly entered an alternate timeline in which that line doesn't exist? I can't find this scene on YouTube so help me, internet. You're my only hope! Thanks and May the Force Be With You.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

"Leave him alone. Can't you see what the old man meant to him?"

This line was NEVER in ANY version of the movie I saw, and I must've seen them all. Could be a novelisation line, but I don't know, as I never read it.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 5 years ago

This must be right but I am stunned. As with many other stories in both book and movie form, often I would see the movie first and while reading the book was able to picture the scenes with the lines spoken in the actors' voices, see their expressions, and so on, but in most cases I knew which things were in both and which were in the book only! The only time besides this I've had a "false scene" be so vivid in my mind was after the shooting of the mad dog in To Kill a Mockingbird, I thought Jem walked past the dog for a closer look. After seeing the movie on TCM I checked the book and he doesn't do this in either version. My concept of reality is slightly shaken!

As for Star Wars, I had a modest collection including the novelization in paperback (from which I cut the pictures after getting a hardcover version), the bubble gum cards, the picture storybook, and a framed cast photo, and saw the movie in the theater (with a line down the block and around a corner--to this day I don't know how we all fitted in but we did)--and the drive-in, and must have seen it on TV, but this was my first viewing since Carrie Fisher's passing and I was just waiting for that line!

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

I recall that line as well and, like you, I had all of the Star Wars extras. I assume it was from either the picture storybook or the novel.

[–] mcqueen (1150) 5 years ago

It's on page 168 of the novelization of the film.

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

Thanks!

[–] mcqueen (1150) 5 years ago

You are very welcome!

[–] mikethemartian (6063) 5 years ago

I was sure in The Wrath of Khan that Bones told Kirk he made a mistake giving up command again after V’ger when they were “celebrating” Kirk’s birthday in his apartment. But after rewatching the movie last year I realized it was probably something I remember from the novelization I read back in ‘82.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 5 years ago

Know what else is funny? There were a couple of sorta cliché lines in Star Wars to the effect of, "We meet again," and such, that I thought, "He's not gonna really say that," and then he did!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

"Was this line only in the novelization, and I merely imagined it to be in the movie?"

probably.
The books always have stacks of things that arnt in the film, wether its a novelisation of the film , or the normal way round.

I've still got the ROTJ novel after 3o some years. I remember long passage about Luke gazing at his lightsaber marvelling at the details of it blah blah

[–] janelsenor (2042) 5 years ago

This was never in the film.

I had a similar issue with the line, "We're sitting ducks down here!" during the trench run. I could have sworn it was in the movie, but it isn't. It's odd because I can still hear it in my head.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 5 years ago

At least I'm not the only one!

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 5 years ago

Someone also remembered a "pee scene" in the film My Girl, where the friends had a contest of who could go the longest, which is in fact only in the book.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7401) 5 years ago

This reminds me of the fact that after so many years I finally read this old novelization from right at the time of the movie's release that was at my Grandparents' house as a kid which has this extra scene of Luke actually going to Toshe station. He meets his friend Biggs there and some other friends of his who aren't in the actual movie. It describes them playing these futuristic arcade games. I'm curious what this scene would've been like had it been filmed. Though it'd make the movie a little too long.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 5 years ago

It was filmed but it's nothing exciting. It's on the Blu Ray as a special feature.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8yxbq9JJY0/TntiULwpIHI/AAAAAAAAHl8/P3w_E1zwE0g/s1600/Tosche.jpg

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 2 years ago

Just watched the movie again and had another false memory. I remember Luke yelling "Biggs!" when Biggs is hit during the final battle sequence. That isn't in there either.