My thanks to fellow Beatles and Star Wars fan Matt Blick, of The Beatles Songwriting Academy, for pointing out a similarity between John Williams' "Rebel Motif" as heard in Star Wars: A New Hope and Leighton Lucas' score to the 1958 movie Ice Cold in Alex. A clip from the latter may be found below.

This music bear striking similarities to Williams', particularly towards the end, around 1:40 - a transcription of which is provided below.

Now compare with the opening scene from A New Hope, as heard at the beginning of the third track from the soundtrack.

Although Alex is fast (a tempo of roughly 180 bpm) and Star Wars is slower (about half as fast), both feature a Mars-inspired ostinato in the lower strings, with a fanfare consisting of two major chords a minor third apart heard in the treble voices. Furthermore, in both, this fanfare opens with a very short anacrusis (think of the "ta" in "ta-da") followed by a long held chord that resolves to the lower chord, which is shorter in duration than the held chord, but longer in duration than the anacrusis.

I think it's a safe bet that Ice Cold in Alex was on John Williams' temp track for Star Wars!

Having recently completed my comparison of the "A New Hope" soundtrack to the film, this post will feature the same basic information but opposite in structure - a comparison of the film to the soundtrack, with the timings of the film (hour:minute:second) on the left, followed by an equal sign (=) and the approximate corresponding timings on the soundtrack (disc#, track #, minute:second) on the right. Sections followed by an asterisk (*) are followed by brief explanations.

This comparison is made using the Special Edition DVD of the film, and the accompanying 2-disc soundtrack.


0:00:00-0:00:02 = no music

0:00:02-0:00:23 = D1, T1, 0:00-0:21

0:00:23-0:00:29 = no music

0:00:29-0:02:45 = D1, T2, 0:00-2:16
 0:02:39-0:09:16 = D1, T3, 0:04-6:44

0:09:16-0:10:28 = no music

0:10:28-0:11:25 = D1, T4, 0:00-0:57

0:11:25-0:12:31 = no music

0:12:31-0:12:52 = D1, T4, 0:57-1:20
0:12:52-0:13:06 = D1, T4, 1:37-1:51
0:13:06-0:15:16 = D1, T4, 2:44-4:54
0:15:16-0:15:40 = D2, T5, 0:39-1:02
0:15:40-0:15:50 = D1, T5, around 0:10
0:15:50-0:17:41 = D1, T5, 0:00-1:53

0:17:41-0:19:16 = no music

0:19:16-0:19:42 = D1, T5, 1:57-2:23

0:19:42-0:21:08 = no music

0:21:08-0:23:00 = D1, T6, 0:00-1:53

0:23:00-0:25:11 = no music

0:25:11-0:27:28 = D1, T6, 1:53-4:10

0:27:28-0:27:45 = no music

0:27:45-0:27:55 = D1, T7, 0:00-0:09
0:27:55-0:28:05 = D1, T7, 0:32-0:42 
0:28:05-0:28:12 = D1, T7, 0:50-0:57
0:28:12-0:28:21 = D1, T7, 0:59-1:08

0:28:21-0:28:37 = no music

0:28:37-0:30:51 = D1, T7, 1:08-3:21

0:30:51-0:31:05 = no music

0:31:05-0:32:45 = D1, T8, 0:00-1:39

0:32:45-0:34:08 = no music

0:34:08-0:35:06 = D1, T8, 1:39-2:39
0:35:06-0:35:56 = D1, T8, 2:39-3:30

0:35:56-0:36:11 = no music

0:36:11-0:37:11 = D1, T8, 3:30-4:30

0:37:11-0:39:06 = no music

0:39:06-0:41:00 = D1, T9, 0:00-1:54

0:41:00-0:41:02 = no music

0:41:02-0:41:59 = D1, T9, 1:54-2:52

0:41:42-0:42:48 = D1, T10, 0:00-1:06
0:42:48-0:43:07 = D2, T6, 2:20-2:38
0:43:07-0:43:24 = D2, T6, 2:58-3:15

0:43:24-0:43:28 = no music

0:43:28-0:44:20 = D1, T10, 1:20-2:13

0:44:20-0:44:52 = no music

0:44:52-0:45:22 = D1, T11, 0:00-0:29
0:45:22-0:45:54 = D1, T11, 1:57-2:29
0:45:54-0:46:59 = D1, T11, 0:00-1:05

0:46:59-0:47:16 = no music

0:47:16-0:47:34 = D1, T11, 0:00-0:18

0:47:34-0:47:41 = no music

0:47:41-0:47:51 = D1, T12, 0:04-0:14
0:47:51-0:47:53 = D1, T12, 2:59-3:01
0:47:53-0:48:25 = D1, T12, 0:04-0:27
0:48:24-0:49:53 = D1, T12, 0:00-1:28

0:49:53-0:49:58 = no music

0:49:58-0:51:14 =  D1, T12, 1:33-2:49

0:51:14-0:51:42 = no music

0:51:42-0:52:41 = D2, T2, 0:00-0:58
0:52:41-0:54:13 = music not included on soundtrack (presumably it's from the Return of the Jedi soundtrack, as the music is Jabba's theme).
0:54:13-0:54:49 = D2, T2, 0:58-1:33

0:54:49-0:55:03 = no music

0:55:03-0:55:42 = D2, T2, 1:34-2:12

0:55:42-0:55:47 = no music

0:55:47-0:57:24 = D2, T2, 2:16-3:52

0:57:24-0:58:09 = no music

0:58:09-0:59:30 = D2, T3, 0:00-1:21

0:59:30-1:04:28 = no music

1:04:28-1:05:51 = D2, T4, 0:00-1:21
1:05:51-1:05:55 = D2, T4, 1:21-1:25
1:05:55-1:06:11 = D2, T4, 1:22-1:38

1:06:11-1:07:14 = no music

1:07:14-1:09:11 = D2, T4, 1:38-3:35

1:09:11-1:21:32 = no music

1:12:32-1:16:35 = D2, T5 0:00-4:03

1:16:35-1:17:05 = no music

1:17:05-1:19:16 = D2, T6, 0:00-2:11

1:19:16-1:22:16 = no music

1:22:16-1:24:44 = D2, T7, 0:41-3:08

1:24:44-1:25:00 = no music

1:25:00-1:30:20 = D2, T8, 0:00-5:19
1:32:20-1:33:17 = D2, T9, 0:00-0:56
1:33:17-1:34:00 = D2, T9, 0:48-1:31

1:34:00-1:34:02 = no music

1:34:02-1:36:23 = D2, T9, 1:32-3:53

1:36:23-1:45:02 = no music

1:45:02-1:46:17 = D2, T10, 0:00-1:11
1:46:17-1:49:39 = D1, T10, 1:11-4:32

1:49:39-1:53:25 = no music

1:53:25-1:57:58 = D2, T10, 4:33-9:07

1:57:58-1:58:28 = no music

1:58:28-2:01:26 = D2, T11, 0:00-2:57
2:01:26-2:04:45 = D2, T11, 2:17-5:35

This blog will be a comparison of the "A New Hope" soundtrack with the music actually heard in the film, with the timings of the soundtrack (minute:second) on the left, followed by an equal sign (=) and the approximate corresponding timings where that cue is used in the film (hour:minutes:second) on the right. Sections followed by an asterisk (*) are briefly discussed further in the notes below each track's timings.

This comparison is made using the Special Edition DVD of the film, and the accompanying 2-disc soundtrack.


Disc 1 Track 1: 20th Century Fox Fanfare
0:00-0:21 = 0:00:02-0:00:23

Disc 1 Track 2: Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner
0:00-2:16 = 0:00:29-0:02:45

Disc 1 Track 3: Imperial Attack
0:00-0:04 = not used in film
0:04-6:44 = 0:02:39-0:09:16*
NOTE: This track is an instance where the music is heard ever so slightly faster in the film that it is on the recording to help precisely coordinate the two, accounting for the slight difference in timings (0:04-6:44 is a total of 400 seconds, while 0:02:39-0:09:16 totals 397 seconds).

Disc 1 Track 4: The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler
0:00-0:57 = 0:10:28-0:11:25
0:57-1:20 = 0:12:31-0:12:52*
1:20-1:37 = not used in film
1:37-1:51 = 0:12:52-0:13:06
1:51-2:44 = not used in film
2:44-4:54 = 0:13:06-0:15:16
NOTE: Where the previous track's discrepancies between the soundtrack timings and the film timings were the product of ever so slight adjustments in playback speed, this track's discrepancies are the result of editing (0:57-1:20 totals 23 seconds, but it occurs in the film from 0:12:31-0:12:52, totaling 21 seconds). But attempting to precisely dictate these edits using the format above would be tremendously tedious and not very informative, so I've chosen instead to write this note explaining in words rather than showing with timings why the soundtrack and film don't match perfectly.

Disc 1 Track 5: The Moisture Farm
Around 0:10 = 0:15:40-0:15:50*
0:00-1:53 = 0:15:50-0:17:41
1:57-2:23 = -0:19:16-0:19:42
NOTE: Once again, the editing of this track at around 0:10 is such that precise comparison would be both difficult to execute and unhelpful to a reader.

Disc 1 Track 6: The Hologram/Binary Sunset
0:00-1:53 = 0:21:08-0:23:00
1:53-4:10 = 0:25:11-0:27:28

Disc 1 Track 7: Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sand People
0:00-0:09 = 0:27:45-0:27:55
0:09-0:32 = not used in film
0:32-0:42 = 0:27:55-0:28:05
0:50-0:57 = 0:28:05-0:28:12
0:59-1:08 = 0:28:12-0:28:21
1:08-3:21 = 0:28:37-0:30:51

Disc 1 Track 8: Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force
0:00-1:39 = 0:31:05-0:32:45
1:39-2:39 = 0:34:08-0:35:06
2:39-3:30 = 0:35:06-0:35:56
3:30-4:30 = 0:36:11-0:37:11

Disc 1 Track 9: Burning Homestead
0:00-1:54 = 0:39:06-0:41:00
1:54-2:52 = 0:41:02-0:41:59*
NOTE: This music overlaps slightly with the next track in the film.

Disc 1 Track 10: Mos Eisley Spaceport
0:00-1:06 = 0:41:42-0:42:48*
1:06-1:20 = not used in film
1:20-2:13 = 0:43:28-0:44:20
NOTE: This music overlaps slightly with the previous track in the film.

Disc 1 Track 11: Cantina Band
0:00-0:29 = 0:44:52-0:45:22
0:00-1:05 = 0:45:54-0:46:59
0:00-0:18 = 0:47:16-0:47:34
1:05-1:57 = not used in film
1:57-2:29 = 0:45:22-0:45:54
2:29-2:47 = not used in film

Disc 1 Track 12: Cantina Band #2
0:00-1:28 = 0:48:24-0:49:53
0:04-0:14 = 0:47:41-0:47:51
0:04-0:27 = 0:47:53-0:48:25
1:33-2:49 = 0:49:58-0:51:14
2:49-2:59 = not used in film
2:59-3:01 = 0:47:51-0:47:53
3:01-3:50 = not used in film

Disc 1 Track 13: Binary Sunset (Alternate)
Alternate takes, not used in film.

Disc 2 Track 1: Princess Leia's Theme
Concert suite (not used in film).

Disc 2 Track 2: The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
0:00-0:58 = 0:51:42-0:52:41
0:58-1:33 = 0:54:13-0:54:49
1:34-2:12 = 0:55:03-0:55:42
2:12-2:16 = not used in film
2:16-3:52 = 0:55:47-0:57:24

Disc 2 Track 3: Destruction of Alderaan
0:00-1:21 = 0:58:09-0:59:30

Disc 2 Track 4: The Death Star/The Stormtroopers
0:00-1:21= 1:04:28-1:05:51
1:21-1:25 = 1:05:51-1:05:55*
1:22-1:38 = 1:05:54-1:06:11*
1:38-3:35 = 1:07:14-1:09:11
NOTE: There is repetition of 1:22-1:25. This extends the Stormtrooper motif so that it more closely parallels the visuals of the scene.

Disc 2 Track 5: Wookie Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush
0:00-4:03 = 1:12:32-1:16:35
0:39-1:02 = 0:15:16-0:15:40*
NOTE: 0:39-1:02 of this track is used much earlier in the film than the whole track, which is used later on. Presumably this is because the producers of the Special Edition needed music for the additional scenes, and this excerpt (which I assume was not used in the original film) was both available and fit the character of the added scenes.

Disc 2 Track 6: Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga
0:00-2:11 = 1:17:05-1:19:16
2:20-2:38 = 0:42:48-0:43:07*
2:23-2:58 = not used in film
2:58-3:15 = 0:43:07-0:43:24*
NOTE: 2:20-2:38 and 2:58-3:15 are used much earlier in the film than the rest of the track. Again, presumably this is because the producers of the Special Edition needed music for the additional scenes.

Disc 2 Track 7: The Trash Compactor
0:00-0:41 = not used in film?
0:41-3:08 = 1:22:16-1:24:44

Disc 2 Track 8: The Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire
0:00-5:19 = 1:25:00-1:30:20

Disc 2 Track 9: Ben Kenobi's Death/Tie Fighter Attack
0:00-0:56 = 1:32:20-1:33:17
0:48-1:31 = 1:33:17-1:34:00
1:32-3:53 = 1:34:02-1:36:23

Disc 2 Track 10: The Battle of Yavin
0:00-1:11 = 1:45:02-1:46:17 *
1:11-4:32 = 1:46:17-1:49:39
4:33-9:07 = 1:53:25-1:57:58
NOTE: The first minute plus of this track is slowed by about 5% in the film. This accounts for the timing discrepancy (0:00-1:11 is 71 seconds, while 1:45:02-1:46:17 is 56 seconds). Starting at 1:11, however, the track resumes full speed (so there is no such timing discrepancy between the soundtrack and the film).

Disc 2 Track 11: The Throne Room/End Title
0:00-2:57 = 1:58:28-2:01:26
2:17-5:35 = 2:01:26-2:04:45

The imperial attack immediately following the open scroll of "A New Hope" uses a chord that is note-for-note identical with the coda of "Mars" from Gustav Holst's The Planets. First, the Star Wars excerpt, lasting from 1:41-1:56 of the following clip:

Now compare that with 6:56-7:11 from "Mars":

For visual reference, here are the two score excerpts side-by-side:

Both pieces use the exact same dissonant chord: A-flat, D-flat, G from bottom to top, with a C in the bass. In Star Wars, for the last few measures Williams adds a C above the dissonant chord as well to keep the chord building in intensity.

This concordance of the music heard in the Special Edition DVD release of "Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope" dictates precisely what themes and motifs (as defined in my previous blog "A New Hope" Index of Musical Themes and Motifs") are heard in the film and when (give or take a few seconds). Mixed in, of course, is a great deal of incidental scoring that is NOT based on those repeated themes or motifs, and is thus not included in this timeline, which is only concerned with recurring musical material. For reference, approximately simultaneous quotes are listed on the right-hand side.


Episode IV: A New Hope
0:00:00      20th Century Fox Fanfare

0:00:30       Main Theme, parts a & b                Main titles
0:02:08       Rebel motif                                           
0:02:28       Rebel motif                                           
0:02:43       Rebel motif                                           "Did you hear that?"
0:03:46       Imperial motif                                     
0:04:17       Rebel motif                                            
0:04:54       Force theme                                         "R2-D2, where are you?"
0:05:07       Leia's theme                                          
0:05:33       Stormtrooper motif                          
0:06:18       Leia's theme                                          "There's one. Set for stun."
0:06:43       Imperial motif                                    "You'll be deactivated for sure."
0:07:30       Imperial motif                                     "Darth Vader. Only you could be so bold."
0:08:51       Death Star motif                                  "There'll be no one to stop us this time."

[0:09:01-0:10:29      No music]

[0:11:24-0:12:31      No music]

0:12:31       Jawa theme 1                                            "Utini!"
0:13:10       Jawa theme 2
0:13:38       Jawa theme 3
0:15:10       Imperial motif                                        
0:16:08       Jawa theme 1                                           "We're doomed."
0:16:32       Jawa theme 2                                           "Will this never end?"
0:16:54       Jawa theme 1                                            
0:17:15       Main theme, part a                                "Luke? Tell uncle if he gets a translator..."

[0:17:48-0:19:17      No music]

[0:19:41-0:21:08      No music]

0:21:40      Leia's theme                              "I think she was a passenger on our last voyage..."

[0:23:02-0:25:12      No music]

0:25:12       Main theme, part a                             "Owen, he can't stay here forever..."
0:25:39       Force theme                                         Binary sunset
0:26:11       Rebel motif                                           "What are you doing hiding back there?"
0:26:31       Main theme, part a                            "That R2 unit has always been a problem."
0:26:46       Force theme                                         "How could I be so stupid?"

[0:27:22-0:27:47      No music]

0:27:57      Tusken Raiders theme                          "Hit the accelerator."
0:30:16        Force theme                                             "Come here my little friend."

[0:30:46-0:31:04      No music]

0:31:04      Force theme                              "Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time."
0:31:51      Tusken Raiders theme                  "I think we'd better get in doors."

[0:32:43-0:34:09      No music]

0:34:09      Imperial motif                                  "How did my father die?"
0:34:39      Force theme                                      "The Force is what gives a jedi his power."
0:35:12      Leia's theme                          "Years ago you served my father int he Clone Wars"

[0:35:52-0:36:12      No music]

0:36:35      Force theme                                   "Learn about the Force, Luke."
0:36:54      Imperial motif                              "You must do what you feel is right, of course."

[0:37:08-0:39:05      No music]

0:40:04      Force theme                                      "Wait, Luke, it's too dangerous."
0:40:36       Force theme                                 
0:40:48       Dies irae
0:40:55      Death Star motif
0:41:02       Imperial motif
0:41:04      Leia's theme
0:42:13      Force theme                                        "I want to learn the ways of the Force."
0:43:27      Imperial motif                                   "How long have you had these droids?"
0:43:59      Force theme                                       "Move along."

[0:44:08-0:44:51      No music]

0:44:51       Cantina Band 1                                  

[0:47:00-0:47:15      No music]

0:47:15      Cantina Band 1

[0:47:33-0:47:40      No music]

0:47:40       Cantina Band 2

[0:49:53-0:49:56      No music]

0:49:57      Cantina Band 2

[0:51:13-0:51:42      No music]

0:52:13      Main theme, part a                       "Alright, give it to me. I'll take it."
0:52:42      Jabba's theme                                "Solo!"
0:54:12      Main theme, part a                       "If the ship's as fast as his boasting..."

[0:54:40-0:55:03      No music]

0:55:03       Imperial motif                          "Hello, sir."
0:55:23       Force theme                               "Stop that ship! Blast 'em!"
0:55:46       Force theme                               "Our passengers must be hotter than I thought."
0:56:59       Death Star motif

[0:57:18-0:58:09      No music]

[0:59:30-1:04:27      No music]

1:05:24      Rebel theme                                            "There are alternatives to fighting."
1:05:49      Stormtrooper motif                             "To your stations. Come with me."

[1:06:10-1:07:14       No music]

1:07:23       Force theme                                    "Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments."
1:07:44       Imperial motif        "If the scanners pick up anything, report it immediately."

[1:08:21-1:08:53       No music]

1:08:32      Imperial motif fragment              "Take over, we've got a bad transmitter."
1:08:51       Main theme, part a                        "Between him howling and you blasting..."

[1:09:05-1:12:30      No music]

1:13:54       Main theme, part a                           "This is not going to work."
1:14:43      Main theme, part a                           
1:15:55       Rebel motif                                          "Luke, we're gonna have company."
1:15:58       Leia's theme                                     "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper."
1:16:11       Main theme, part a                        "I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you."

[1:16:25-1:17:07     No music]

1:17:22       Imperial motif                            
1:17:39       Rebel motif            "Looks like you managed to cut off our only escape route."
1:18:36      Imperial motif                                     "Get in there you big furry oaf."

[1:19:08-1:22:15      No music]

1:22:27       Imperial motif                                                "Look! There!"

[1:24:35-1:24:58      No music]

[1:25:42-1:25:55      No music]

1:27:00      Main theme, part a                                       "There she is."
1:27:35      Stormtrooper & Imperial motifs                      
1:28:24      Main theme, part a
1:28:42      Main theme, part b
1:28:58       Main theme, part a                                         "Here they come."
1:29:08       Leia's theme
1:29:18       Stormtrooper motif                                        "We think they may be splitting up."
1:29:32       Main theme, part a                                         "Where could they be?"
1:29:45       Stormtrooper & Imperial motifs             "Close the blast doors"

[1:30:10-1:32:17      No music]

1:32:20      Force theme
1:32:30      Leia's theme
1:32:59      Rebel motif                                        "I hope that old man got that tractor beam..."
1:33:27      Force theme                                       "Coming up on their sentry ship."
1:34:33     TIE Fighter attack & Rebel motif                  "Here they come."
1:35:57      Death star motif

[1:36:07-1:44:59      No music]

1:45:59     Death Star motif
1:46:33     Force theme                                         "This is Red 5. I'm going in."
1:46:56      Imperial theme                                  "We count 30 rebel ships, Lord Vader."
1:48:44     Force theme                                         "Whatch your back, Luke."
1:49:07     Force theme                                         "I can't shake him."

[1:49:38-1:53:26      No music]

1:53:59      Imperial motif                                          "What about that tower?"
1:55:19      Main theme, part a                                 "Hang on R2."
1:55:38      Force theme                                               "Use the Force, Luke."
1:55:56     Main theme, part a                 "Luke, you switched off your targeting computer."
1:57:33       Rebel motif                                "Remember, the Force will be with you. Always."

[1:57:40-1:58:24      No music]

1:58:24       Throne Room, part a (Force theme)                Medal ceremony
1:59:20      Throne Room, part b (independent)
1:59:37      Main theme, part b
1:59:53      Throne Room, part c
2:00:09      Main theme, part a                                                     End credits
2:00:20      Rebel motif
2:00:47      Main theme, part a
2:01:05      Main theme, part b
2:01:28      Main theme, part a
2:01:45      Main thee, part b
2:02:03      Main theme, part a
2:02:25      Leia's theme (+ Rebel motif)
2:03:11      Main theme, part a
2:03:27      Main theme, part b
2:03:43      Rebel motif

Here is a list of all the musical themes and motifs (i.e. recurring musical patterns - I am not including the extra incidental music that is heard once and then never reprised) used in "Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope", with a brief musical score excerpt included for reference, roughly in order of significance.

Tusken Raiders Theme (no score, but audio example):
http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/6/60/Tusken_Raider_Theme.ogg

NOTE: Throne Room, part a is not included here because it is identical to the Force theme illustrated above.