Before Star Wars became a global phenomenon and coincided with the release of the first feature film in the saga, later titled A New Hope, the legendary Topps Company released a collection of sticker cards in 1977 dedicated to the controversial film. Reason ? Card #207, namely the most famous Star Wars trading card of all time, where C-3PO appears to have… an erection!
Since its release, the card has simply become an obsession for fans of the universe created by George Lucas, opening the door to all kinds of speculation about the origin of this “mistake” – especially since Topps released it. Subsequent editions of his collection were deleted. Let’s find out the secret.
Where does this “error” come from?
According to Gary Geran, who oversaw Topps’ image selection at the time, the film’s masters had fun on set, giving C-3PO a “little” extra before taking a photo that would then be reprinted for future releases. of the map.
The “obscene” version
However, in 2007, the official Star Wars website clarified that the image was nothing more than a coincidence. According to an explanation approved by Lucasfilm, part of the costume came loose at the exact moment the photo was taken, giving the character a “mechanical thrill”:
“ The extra addition does not appear to be the work of the artist, but rather an effect of time and light. A pristine stock photo shows the image as it appears on the card. The current theory is that a piece of C-3PO’s costume fell off when the photo was taken and simply lined up the image of the pervert. The original contact sheets from the photo shoot testify to this. They are not retouched in any way, but always contain the same image. Whatever the real explanation, the “naughty airbrush artist” scenario just doesn’t cut it.”
Revised version
Key stakeholder version
However, neither explanation seems to be true – and Anthony Daniels says so! The formation of both theories “AbsurdThe actor, who slipped into a mythical droid costume, explained what happened (via Mental Floss ).
According to Daniels, the phallic incident occurred on the set of London’s Elstree Studios during the filming of a scene in which C-3PO is immersed in an oil bath. “It was really oil“, he says. “I was standing on a platform that gently dropped me into the green liquid. The team was kind enough to warm up. Not as much as the steam indicated. This was achieved with two electric kettles hidden behind me.“
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But this oil had an unexpected result. “Oil seeped into the spaces between me and the legs of the suit as I chatted with my new master, Luke Skywalker. Finally I got up, dripping but without incident. At least that’s what I thought.“
Daniels finished the scene – and the film – without ever thinking about the shot in question. Years later, he came across the map and realized what had happened.
“At the time, the pants part of the suit was made of two pieces of thin plastic. front and back. A strip of gold ribbon held them together, well. But immersion in vegetable oil dissolved the adhesive and the two parts separated. At the same time, C-3PO’s left foot fell on the shoe. All this has led to excessive exposure to plastic in the region. This created this bulging wrinkle.“
Anthony Daniels Mind you, a wicked Topps employee took a photo with a crease and highlighted it to make it look bigger and with extra anatomical detail. What happened next is still open to some interpretation. Lucasfilm’s previous explanations have disappeared from the Star Wars homepage, and the company has finally confirmed this new narrative.
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No, Anthony Daniels will not sign your card
The “X” version of the card is not that rare and can usually be had for between $30 and $100, depending on its condition. However, don’t expect thatAnthony Daniels Dedicated to you: “If you see one signed by me, it’s fake”– said the actor. “I will never sign an autograph. Say I’m not being funny, but clever as it is, I find it insulting to a good friend of mine who can’t speak for himself on this planet.“
In addition to finding it juvenile, Daniels believes the card commits a worse sin than one might think: It goes against the very essence of C-3PO’s character. “As a protocol droid and an expert in the intricacies of etiquette, C-3PO would never appear so flustered as this in public. And this is a fact.“
The entire Star Wars saga can be streamed on Disney+.
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) takes our blind test on Saga creatures:
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
