When Luke Skywalker first encounters Princess Leia in the inaugural Star Wars film, the score crafted by John Williams unwittingly implies a sense of romantic tension between the characters. This is further accentuated by the interplay of their dialogue and Leia’s demeanor as Luke arrives to rescue her, fitting the narrative of a hero’s love for his damsel. Following this, Leia awards Luke with a kiss on the cheek for luck, and jealousy arises from Luke towards Han Solo concerning Leia’s affections, all of which bolsters the romantic undertones. Initially, the responsibility for the impression of an incestuous relationship lies primarily with George Lucas, and secondarily with Williams.
The composer revealed to Variety how he was able to rectify the situation in the sequel, crafting “a new, non-incestuous theme for ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’” This was shrewd judgment on Williams’ behalf, particularly since it remained ambiguous if the revelation of Luke and Leia being siblings was already determined during the production of “Empire.” Despite the evident focus on Han and Leia’s relationship, the infamous scene in which Leia kisses Luke to spite Han still made it into the film, observed by R2-D2 without any intervention.
In the end, modern audiences have demonstrated through the popularity of shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Rick and Morty” that they can be quite lenient with the inclusion of incestuous storylines in science fiction and fantasy narratives. Despite the accidental insinuation of incest by Williams in Star Wars, the legacy of the original trilogy remains untarnished and celebrated widely.
FAQ About John Williams’ Work in Star Wars
- Did John Williams intentionally create romantic music for Luke and Leia?
No, the romantic undertone in the music for Luke and Leia was an unintentional mistake as their sibling relationship was not established until later in the series. - How did John Williams address the issue in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’?
Williams wrote a new theme for Leia that was non-incestuous in nature for the second Star Wars movie, distancing from the previous romantic implications. - Was the reveal that Luke and Leia were siblings known when ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ was being made?
It is unclear if the sibling twist was fully planned out by the time “The Empire Strikes Back” was in production. - Do fans still enjoy the original Star Wars score despite the incest implications?
Yes, fans continue to celebrate the music of the original Star Wars trilogy, and the unintentional implications have not affected the trilogy’s popularity or legacy.
Conclusion
In retrospect, the awkward romantic cues provided by John Williams in the score for the original Star Wars film represent an innocent oversight rather than a deliberate narrative choice. As the series unfolded, Williams adeptly adjusted the musical themes to suit the evolving relationships and revelations of the characters. The original trilogy’s esteem endures, unaltered by the unintended insinuations of a romantic connection between the Skywalker twins. John Williams’ contribution to Star Wars remains a cornerstone of cinematic music, illustrating the power and resonance of his exemplary compositions.