Since I posted last in this thread I've see the Kurosawa film, The Hidden Fortress. I had heard that a lot of the elements for SW were taken right from this film and that's pretty much true. The movie even starts with two peasants fighting with each other in the desert, ala R2-D2 and C-3PO. Where they run across a former General named Makabe (Kenobi) and they have the gold (Death Star Plans) that the bad guys want. In the process of the adventure they help a young head strong Princess named Yuki (Leia) and they help her escape from the country (The Death Star) and just when all hope is lost A rogue general has a change of heart and helps them at the last minute (Han Solo) The only thing missing the young farm boy, and a wookie.
Although it's not directly as ripped off as say Sergio Leone's "A Fist Full of Dollars" was of "Yojimbo." I don't know if Sergio Leone ever said this was remake or not. It's not listed in the credits as one, but it is clearly the same film. I mean right down to key plotpoints like the hero freeing the wife of the gambler from the bad guy who has taken her in lue of payment.
Actually with a little research it looks like Sergio Leone didn't give credit where credit was due and got caught with this pants down because of it. This is from IMDB:
"The film's US release was delayed when Yojimbo (1961) screenwriters Akira Kurosawa and Ryuzo Kikushima sued the filmmakers for breach of copyright. Kurosawa and Kikushima won and as a result received 15 percent of the film's worldwide gross and exclusive distribution rights for Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Kurosawa said later he made more money off of this project than "Yojimbo"."
Go figure.
