Luke's speeder is another distinct design in a world filled with them. As it turns out, Flash Gordon flew, and 'died' in one very similar to it half a decade before Luke. Perhaps they both shop at Wioslea?
Fair-haired, square jawed and irresistible to women, Flash Gordon is the great American hero personified. Alex Raymond managed to upstage Buck Rogers in the comic strips with his sense of adventure, and ever-changing perils.
Though not providing much in terms of direct influence on Star Wars, Buck Rogers is nonetheless vital to the evolution of science fiction as we know it, not to mention comic books.
The Imperial Attack / Blockade Runner track from the Star Wars score has a certain resemblance to the Crucifixion track from Franz Waxman's 1935 Bride of Frankenstein score. A track which was reused, as it happens, as the intro music for the Flash Gordon serial (and more on that later).
What possessed the production of Star Wars to equip Leia with her now icon haircut? Did it stem from mexican freedom fighters? Indians? Or was it something closer to the pulp and WWII-based sources that Star Wars generally draws from?
