German Navy blasts out Darth Vader theme on Thames(bbc.com)
bbc.com
German Navy blasts out Darth Vader theme on Thames
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cn87608w389o
84 comments
Say what you want about the tenets of the Galactic Empire, but at least it's an ethos...
Always better than the nichilists
Isn’t Vaders posse modeled after the German military?
Probably inspired from a vignette on the french comics Valerian, depicting a sort of galactic samurai robot, and improved later.
Darth Vader's helmet, with the crease around the lower edge, certainly looks like German WWII helmets.
Vader’s outfit is mainly intended to look like samurai armor that’s been kinda bent toward a WWII German army aesthetic.
The internet loves samurai Vader
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=laDBqnU5yH0
Especially because, you know, filmmaking credit where credit is due. (Not that Lucas isn't talented, but Kurosawa should never not be mentioned)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=laDBqnU5yH0
Especially because, you know, filmmaking credit where credit is due. (Not that Lucas isn't talented, but Kurosawa should never not be mentioned)
It's not just the helmet.
I will maintain that Star Wars was quite possibly the best WWII movie of all time, although purely as an allegorical and referential work. In the timeless tradition of tailoring your story to your audience, the whole film is packed with references and ideas from other WWII movies, people, and events. Although, it also borrows from just about everything else - a true artifact of its era. For the Boomer post-WWII era, I believe drawing from familiar material like this is one of the keys to its success.
After all, a story about "a young hero and laser swords" doesn't hold a candle to "a bunch of underdogs blow up a gigantic space station filled with space Nazis." I don't know about you, but I know which of those I'm going to see 10 times.
> The attack on the Death Star in the climax of the film A New Hope is similar in many respects to the strategy of Operation Chastise from the 1954 British film, The Dam Busters. Rebel pilots have to fly through a trench while evading enemy fire and drop a single special weapon at a precise distance from the target to destroy the entire base with a single explosion; if one run fails another run must be made by a different pilot. Some scenes from the A New Hope climax are similar to those in The Dam Busters and some of the dialogue is nearly identical in the two films. These scenes are also heavily influenced by the action scenes from the fictional wartime film 633 Squadron. That film's finale shows the squadron's planes flying down a deep fjord while being fired at along the way by anti-aircraft guns lining its sides. George Lucas has stated in interviews that this sequence inspired the 'trench run' sequence in Star Wars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sources_and_analogue...
> The stormtroopers from the movies share a name with the Imperial German stormtroopers and the Nazi German Sturmabteilung (lit. Stormtrooper). Imperial officers' uniforms also resemble some historical German Army uniforms and the political and security officers of the Empire resemble the black clad SS down to the imitation silver death's head insignia on their officer's caps (although the uniforms technically had more basis with the German Uhlans within the Prussian Empire[71]). World War II terms were used for names in Star Wars; examples include the planets Kessel (a term that refers to a group of encircled forces) and Hoth (Hermann Hoth was a German general who served on the snow-laden Eastern Front).[61] Lucas himself has drawn parallels between Palpatine and his rise to power to historical dictators such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler, saying the films exist as an examination of how democracies allow themselves to become dictatorships.[72] The space battles in A New Hope were based on filmed World War I and World War II dogfights.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sources_and_analogue...
I will maintain that Star Wars was quite possibly the best WWII movie of all time, although purely as an allegorical and referential work. In the timeless tradition of tailoring your story to your audience, the whole film is packed with references and ideas from other WWII movies, people, and events. Although, it also borrows from just about everything else - a true artifact of its era. For the Boomer post-WWII era, I believe drawing from familiar material like this is one of the keys to its success.
After all, a story about "a young hero and laser swords" doesn't hold a candle to "a bunch of underdogs blow up a gigantic space station filled with space Nazis." I don't know about you, but I know which of those I'm going to see 10 times.
> The attack on the Death Star in the climax of the film A New Hope is similar in many respects to the strategy of Operation Chastise from the 1954 British film, The Dam Busters. Rebel pilots have to fly through a trench while evading enemy fire and drop a single special weapon at a precise distance from the target to destroy the entire base with a single explosion; if one run fails another run must be made by a different pilot. Some scenes from the A New Hope climax are similar to those in The Dam Busters and some of the dialogue is nearly identical in the two films. These scenes are also heavily influenced by the action scenes from the fictional wartime film 633 Squadron. That film's finale shows the squadron's planes flying down a deep fjord while being fired at along the way by anti-aircraft guns lining its sides. George Lucas has stated in interviews that this sequence inspired the 'trench run' sequence in Star Wars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sources_and_analogue...
> The stormtroopers from the movies share a name with the Imperial German stormtroopers and the Nazi German Sturmabteilung (lit. Stormtrooper). Imperial officers' uniforms also resemble some historical German Army uniforms and the political and security officers of the Empire resemble the black clad SS down to the imitation silver death's head insignia on their officer's caps (although the uniforms technically had more basis with the German Uhlans within the Prussian Empire[71]). World War II terms were used for names in Star Wars; examples include the planets Kessel (a term that refers to a group of encircled forces) and Hoth (Hermann Hoth was a German general who served on the snow-laden Eastern Front).[61] Lucas himself has drawn parallels between Palpatine and his rise to power to historical dictators such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler, saying the films exist as an examination of how democracies allow themselves to become dictatorships.[72] The space battles in A New Hope were based on filmed World War I and World War II dogfights.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_sources_and_analogue...
I think a lot of George Lucas' "genius" just comes down to laziness wrapped in 50 years of nostalgia and mystique. The best parts of Star Wars have nothing to do with him, and the worst parts of it have everything to do with him. The trench run in Star Wars wasn't simply "inspired" by Dam Busters, it was practically lifted scene for scene. Most of the action sequences in Star Wars are the same.
Anyone else would be denounced as a hack and a plagiarist but because George Lucas is a master at tweaking people's member-berries he gets away with calling it "homage."
Anyone else would be denounced as a hack and a plagiarist but because George Lucas is a master at tweaking people's member-berries he gets away with calling it "homage."
Exactly. It's kind of amazing, actually. Imagine writing music where you lifted riffs from The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, and a dozen other famous rock bands, but just changed the key. You'd get sued into oblivion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters_(song)#Lawsuit).
This might also explain why, when more than a generation removed from his target audience, his work started to suffer.
This might also explain why, when more than a generation removed from his target audience, his work started to suffer.
Interesting choice considering the influence that Triumph of the Will had on Star Wars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will
The stereotype of Germans having no sense of humour is so wrong.
German humor is either terrible, or too subtle to be recognized as humor by most other cultures.
It was towed backward, up the river ... not a good luck for the Empire.
I would see that as some self-deprecating german spaß
I would see that as some self-deprecating german spaß
The German Navy ship blasting the Darth Vader theme on the Thames was in London for training and a supply stop.
A German Navy spokesperson said the choice of music had "no deeper message." The ship's commander personally chose the music.
Given the history between the two countries, it was perceived as a poor choice.[a]
---
[a] In particular, think of the elderly in the UK who lived through the Nazi bombing raids and their aftermath:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz
A German Navy spokesperson said the choice of music had "no deeper message." The ship's commander personally chose the music.
Given the history between the two countries, it was perceived as a poor choice.[a]
---
[a] In particular, think of the elderly in the UK who lived through the Nazi bombing raids and their aftermath:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz
I live in the UK and this will be taken with the tongue in cheek it was delivered with. Most here in the UK will probably appreciate the humor. Now, how to counter?
> Now, how to counter?
I have never been to Germany or the UK, so my thoughts are probably uneducated a touch, I really love this response. Instead of somehow becoming offended, find the humor and plan a counter-prank. Make some fun headlines, get a smile out of people reading the news, this is the way.
I have never been to Germany or the UK, so my thoughts are probably uneducated a touch, I really love this response. Instead of somehow becoming offended, find the humor and plan a counter-prank. Make some fun headlines, get a smile out of people reading the news, this is the way.
I recall hearing on the radio about 20 years ago a story (most probably apocryphal) about how the nazis sent a train full of rubbish to Switzerland trying to provoke them and join the war.
But the swiss get rid of the rubbish, cleaned the train, put flowers and food in it and sent it back to Germany with a giant banner saying something along the lines of "Each one gives the best of themselves"
But the swiss get rid of the rubbish, cleaned the train, put flowers and food in it and sent it back to Germany with a giant banner saying something along the lines of "Each one gives the best of themselves"
I love this as a story, but I can't find anything backing up the source as true.
this is the way
Helicopters over Berlin blaring Ride of the Valkyries. https://youtu.be/VE03Lqm3nbI
Next time a British RC-135 overflies Germany it should change its callsign to Obi Wan Kenobi, or something like that. People from flight tracking forums will take care of the rest.
Though it is not quite flashy enough, hmmm...
Though it is not quite flashy enough, hmmm...
Or cue:
>Speedbird 206: Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.
>ATC: Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.
>BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
>ATC: Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?
>Speedbird 206: Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.
>ATC (annoyed): Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?
>Speedbird 206 (nonchalantly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark ... and I didn't land.”.
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391043
Or perhaps this is more apt:
>Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
>Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
>Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
>Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war."
>Speedbird 206: Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.
>ATC: Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.
>BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
>ATC: Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?
>Speedbird 206: Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.
>ATC (annoyed): Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?
>Speedbird 206 (nonchalantly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark ... and I didn't land.”.
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391043
Or perhaps this is more apt:
>Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
>Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
>Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
>Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war."
There is the story about an old-boy RAF pilot who, in the late 1970's was towing a target for a German ships gunnery practice.
He joked over the radio, "the last time the Germans shot at me it was during the war".
The reply came back "And zis time I vill not miss".
He joked over the radio, "the last time the Germans shot at me it was during the war".
The reply came back "And zis time I vill not miss".
In the 70's, James Earl Jones had a CB radio in his car, and did the Darth Vader voice on the road. "You have failed me for the last time."
Or play out the Faulty Tower's "We didn't start it" clip. "Yes you did, you invaded Poland!" Maybe too close to the bone just yet!
Monty Python’s “Bright side of life”?
Maybe position someone on shore with a megaphone to read out The Funniest Joke in the World?
This is probably the best answer. Thank you for suggesting it!
You fly overhead in helicopters blasting the Benny Hill theme song as they sail out the Thames.
With a theme from Avengers, of course.
Don't mention the war.
Fawtly Towers reference <3, if anyone wants to know. One of my favourite comedy shows of all time, and ran from 1975 to 1978 or so. 12 episodes total. So, if you have spare time, it's well worth a watch!
I was just on a solo visit to London for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised that there is a Fawlty Towers play [1] and a dinner show! [2]
I, sadly, did not partake in either option. I shall return.
[1]: https://fawltytowerswestend.com/
[2]: https://www.westendtheatre.com/56131/shows/faulty-towers-the...
I, sadly, did not partake in either option. I shall return.
[1]: https://fawltytowerswestend.com/
[2]: https://www.westendtheatre.com/56131/shows/faulty-towers-the...
> 12 episodes total
I read John Cleese’s autobiography long ago and he mentioned the very different economics of TV in the UK vs the US.
I think it was either the lack of money going into UK TV shows or the lack of a profit motive that led to ridiculously short runs like that.
Fawlty Towers and Yes Minister are top quality shows that should’ve run for 10 seasons.
Luckily their system did better with this when Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear came around and we got a lot of that.
I read John Cleese’s autobiography long ago and he mentioned the very different economics of TV in the UK vs the US.
I think it was either the lack of money going into UK TV shows or the lack of a profit motive that led to ridiculously short runs like that.
Fawlty Towers and Yes Minister are top quality shows that should’ve run for 10 seasons.
Luckily their system did better with this when Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear came around and we got a lot of that.
FT was a rehash of a 1963 US hotel comedy featuring Jonathan Harris and Don Adams. (which used the lines "Oh, the pain" and "Missed it by that much")
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bill_Dana_Show
There's some truth to this.
Many years ago I met someone that related his travels to Germany. When visiting anything left over from WWII (e.g. old bunkers), or referencing anything that happened back then, they took to mentioning "Smurfs" and "Papa Smurf" to get around angering the locals. This was, of course, after nearly causing an international incident during casual conversation.
Many years ago I met someone that related his travels to Germany. When visiting anything left over from WWII (e.g. old bunkers), or referencing anything that happened back then, they took to mentioning "Smurfs" and "Papa Smurf" to get around angering the locals. This was, of course, after nearly causing an international incident during casual conversation.
Interesting. FWIW, it immediately registered to me (in the US) as inappropriate.
I realized I don't know why they would do that, but regardless of why, my first thought was hotheaded stereotype: how quickly an 'escort' could arrive, of boats/aircraft capable of sinking them.
My second thought was that the escort boats could play Queen's "We Are the Champions" [1] over loudspeakers. If it can be many sailors impromptu singing it, all the better.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY&t=33s
I realized I don't know why they would do that, but regardless of why, my first thought was hotheaded stereotype: how quickly an 'escort' could arrive, of boats/aircraft capable of sinking them.
My second thought was that the escort boats could play Queen's "We Are the Champions" [1] over loudspeakers. If it can be many sailors impromptu singing it, all the better.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY&t=33s
We do consistently boo their national anthem before football games and sing stupid songs like 'ten German bombers'
Football yobo's... Ignore 'em. British football chants are infamously offensive and intended to agitate. "Fancy a row?"
Don't mention the war
Luke’s theme?
Irony is a fundamental aspect of British culture and communication, and exceptionally few Britons would find this anything other than amusing.
A couple of old fogies down in Tunbridge Wells, "I say old chap, how very uncouth." Meanwhile everyone else, "It's been almost 50 years since Fawlty Towers. Took them long enough."
The absolute funniest moment of my entire life happened to me in Germany.
I was on a theatre tour (as Technical Director), the show had ended, it was late and night and everyone was tired after a long day and packing everything away. The German host gathered us together and stood on a chair to tell us about accommodation arrangements.
He was clearly your stereotypical, humourless, German. He introduced himself - "Hi, my name is Hans. As you can see, I am German". Short pause, then in a loud stage whisper "Don't mention the war!".
It was SO unexpected to have any humour at all, let alone self-referential Fawlty Towers reference. There was a pause while all the tired people processed what they'd just heard and then absolutely dissolved in laughter.
I was on a theatre tour (as Technical Director), the show had ended, it was late and night and everyone was tired after a long day and packing everything away. The German host gathered us together and stood on a chair to tell us about accommodation arrangements.
He was clearly your stereotypical, humourless, German. He introduced himself - "Hi, my name is Hans. As you can see, I am German". Short pause, then in a loud stage whisper "Don't mention the war!".
It was SO unexpected to have any humour at all, let alone self-referential Fawlty Towers reference. There was a pause while all the tired people processed what they'd just heard and then absolutely dissolved in laughter.
There was a german-language Monty Python special, the Fliegender Zirkus:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xmWN9fwmOKM - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python%27s_Fliegender_Zi...
That is not what the BBC link says (text copied below. including their weird British spelling of "recognisable"). It's seems much more light hearted and funny than what you are portraying.
> German Navy blasts out Darth Vader theme on Thames Londoners spotted this ship on the Thames near Tower Bridge, playing the iconic Imperial March theme from the Star Wars trilogies, otherwise recognisable as the Darth Vader music. But it wasn’t coming from a galaxy far, far away - it was a German Navy ship, in London for training and a supply stop. A spokesperson from the German Navy told the BBC the music had "no deeper message" and "the commander can choose the music freely".
> German Navy blasts out Darth Vader theme on Thames Londoners spotted this ship on the Thames near Tower Bridge, playing the iconic Imperial March theme from the Star Wars trilogies, otherwise recognisable as the Darth Vader music. But it wasn’t coming from a galaxy far, far away - it was a German Navy ship, in London for training and a supply stop. A spokesperson from the German Navy told the BBC the music had "no deeper message" and "the commander can choose the music freely".
[deleted]
> [a]
Someone who has still memories of the bombing will be in their 90s. I don’t want to complete minify that – my late German grandmother had bad memories of the allied bombing her teenage years – but witnesses who lived through WWII are very few still alive. Time flies. The release of Star Wars and the Imperial March (Ep V, 1980) is closer to WWII than to our times.
Someone who has still memories of the bombing will be in their 90s. I don’t want to complete minify that – my late German grandmother had bad memories of the allied bombing her teenage years – but witnesses who lived through WWII are very few still alive. Time flies. The release of Star Wars and the Imperial March (Ep V, 1980) is closer to WWII than to our times.
Why are you complaining on their behalf? The number of elderly who lived through and remember the Blitz is in the hundreds at the most. And most of them recognize that the war was ~80 years ago.
> Given the history between the two countries, it was perceived as a poor choice
Don't be daft! It was a damn good choice.
Though I for one, won't be happy until we have extracted our revenge; sending a 00 agent undercover to retune the Kraut Kapitans musical cocktail cabinet to play 'God Save the King'.
Don't be daft! It was a damn good choice.
Though I for one, won't be happy until we have extracted our revenge; sending a 00 agent undercover to retune the Kraut Kapitans musical cocktail cabinet to play 'God Save the King'.
Not just he history between the countries, but the heavy influence of Nazi propaganda films on the appearance of and shot choices around the Empire in Star Wars, and that two of the most-cribbed-from movies for the first film were about the British bombing either Germany directly, or German-controlled Norway, during WWII. It’s not just bad guy music, it’s bad-guys-very-directly-inspired-by-WWII-Germany music.
(But put me on team “it’s funny”—oh no, ze Germans!)
[edit] I just watched the video and it’s even funnier than I thought, because the lines of that vessel call to mind a star destroyer more effectively than most non-battleships do.
(But put me on team “it’s funny”—oh no, ze Germans!)
[edit] I just watched the video and it’s even funnier than I thought, because the lines of that vessel call to mind a star destroyer more effectively than most non-battleships do.
11 days earlier and it could have been a tribute to Peter Cushing, thirty years after his death.
You do realize all of the Imperial commanders have British accents...
*English accents.
I don't recall any of them sounding Welsh or Scottish! A "British accent" is something I've yet to hear anywhere in Blighty.
I don't recall any of them sounding Welsh or Scottish! A "British accent" is something I've yet to hear anywhere in Blighty.
Although you could say the same about an "English accent" as well. Which particular part of England do you want this accent to be from? For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb63PdPweDc is a fine example of an English accent.
zo1(2)
Open comments, grep 'nazi', sigh, close tab.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzsxN4HNrNw
(... and yes, they ACTUALLY do have a "Weltraumkommando"!)
I find it kinda funny that they apparently consider themselves part of the Empire. But it seems accurate, too >:-)