Star Wars - The Missing Pieces

Originally Published As - "The Missing Footage" By Ken Hulsey (kensforce.com - 2000)
Info for this article provided by: Anchorhead The Lost Scenes, By David West Reynolds
Star Wars Insider Magazine: Issue 35

One question on the mind of Star Wars fans for decades has been "When are we going to see the Anchorhead scenes from A New Hope?" The footage which was supposed to be placed between the opening space battle and the droids landing on Tatooine never made it into the final cut of the film. Lucas was never very fond of the sequence and thought it didn't fit into the flow of the film. There has always existed the urban legend that some people have seen a version of the film with the footage included. Lucasfilm has always denied that anyone ever has. Puzzling though is the fact that the scene was included in "The Star Wars Storybook" published in 1978. The author of the book had to have seen the footage because it is described in detail and four photos from it are included in the book. More puzzling yet was the fact that cut Biggs footage in the hanger bay on Yavin 4 was added to "The Star Wars Special Edition." Adding the footage explained why Luke was so visibly upset when Biggs dies, but poses the question "How does Luke know this guy?" Evan though Biggs is mentioned in a prior conversation with his Aunt & Uncle, I don't think that the added footage worked with the story. As a fan I felt like I was "thrown a bone.", but was still delighted to see it.

The scene starts with a close up of Luke as he jumps from his landspeeder and climbs the stairs to the power station. Once inside we get our first look at Luke's friends. Fixer is seated behind a table with Camie on his lap. They are both asleep. Luke tosses something at them upon entering to wake them. Camie sits up with a attitude at being awoke. Lukes walks past them upon seeing his old friend Biggs has returned . Deek and Windy, two fellow farm boys are playing a type of mechanically-assisted pool with Biggs. Luke then remembers the battle he had just seen and urges them all outside. Deek and Windy don't want to leave their game.

Deek: Not again, forget it!
Windy: (angry at Biggs) Will you come back here and play the game?
Fixer: (Still waking up) What's all the noise about?
Camie: Looks like Wormie's caught too much sun.

They all exit the station and climb to the platform that surrounds the generator room. They all begin to survey the sky. Biggs soon decides that there is nothing really to see. Camie grabs the binoculars from Luke to see for herself. Luke protests and Fixer attempts to start to protect her. While Camie scans the sky Biggs gives Luke some advice.

Biggs: I tell you Luke, the Rebellion's a long way away from here. This planet? A big hunk of nothing.
Fixer: (not really caring about the space battle and not being able to take his eyes off Camie) I doubt the Empire would Evan fight to save the system.
They all head back into the station and Camie carelessly tosses Luke back his binoculars causing him to almost drop them.
Luke: Hey! Will you watch it?"
The scene ends with Luke alone outside looking at the sky as if he really saw anything.

The final sequence of the lost footage is a conversation between Biggs and Luke as they exit the power station. The two are holding cups of what is refereed to as "Malt Brew." It is at this point Biggs tells Luke of his secret plan to leave the Academy and join the Rebellion. Luke is over-whelmed by the news and left almost speechless. Luke admits that he has canceled his application to the Academy to help Uncle Owen with his farm. It is easy to see why Luke looks up to Biggs because he is living the life that he can only dream of. The two part with a handshake and Biggs leaves to find his destiny while Luke can only watch and yearn for a life of adventure.

Maybe now, after Lucas has completed his series of films , is the time for yet another, longer, reworked version of "A New Hope?" Otherwise we can only hope that the footage makes it onto a future anniversary DVD edition. I just feel left out that I wasn't one of the lucky ones to see the footage at the 1997 San Diego Comic Con because there are no future plans to ever show the scenes publicly again. I hope that's not true and that someday these priceless scenes will be put back where they belong in the full-length version of "A New Hope"