A neat subtle effect almost completely overlooked, when the Falcon is caught in the tractor beam watch the interior lights. They dim as Han tries to break out of the beam.
A rarely seen prop is the stormtrooper’s space backpack. The troopers who watch the Falcon enter the Death Star are wearing these. Production photos in Star Wars Chronicle reveal these troopers to be played by effects artist Joe Johnston.
A special effects side-effect (called "artifacts" in the SPFX business) can be seen in the head-on shot of the Falcon entering the Death Star. Watch the glowing outline of the hangar bay doors. The space below the Falcon, where a rod would be, has no glow. Also, as the Falcon enters, watch its cockpit. A hard-edged shadow suddenly disappears from one frame to another. Surprisingly, these were not fixed in the Special Edition.
When the stormtroopers run to their stations, one of the troopers is clutching his helmet as he runs. It’s the shot that starts off looking at the mouse robot rushing along the floor and pans up to the trooper. He’s the third trooper back, on the right.
In the Special Edition, docking bay 327 gets a make-over to match the design seen in Return of the Jedi. Also, the matte painting of the Falcon has been replaced with the CG version of the ship. Note that even the interior of the platform shaft has been redone.
Captain Khurgee is in charge of security of Death Star Hangar Bay 327. He had served aboard the Star Destroyer Thunderflare, where he received commendations for bravery when he rescued fellow Imperial officers from the wreckage of a shuttle crash.
Another neat, subtle effect. The Imperial technicians that move the scanning device to the Falcon are moving it along on a repulsorlift cart. Watch the camera-right tech, he’s holding a small remote control that starts and stops the cart.
Gonk fans rejoice. This evil Imperial power droid is no doubt plotting his own rise to glory in the backgrounds of the Death Star hangar.
Watch the stormtroopers that march up into the Falcon, in response to Han’s ask for help. Notice that one trooper isn’t wearing the standard belt, with the cylinder on the back. The only stormtrooper ever to wear a grappling hook is one of the pair that inspects the Falcon. Convenient, isn’t it?
A slightly paranoid Imperial officer, Triedum feared Rebel infiltrators after seeing the havoc they wreaked on Ralltiir. Served as gantry officer aboard the Death Star. Charged with controlling the bay's magnetic field.
Try to find this frame in the Special Edition. Can't be done, because it was cut out of the movie. I guess watching a laser burst erupt in an Imperial's abdomen is too violent for 90s audiences. This is not the only incident of censorship, as witnessed in the next section.
Listen carefully to the lines: The tractor beam is the coupled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave. You can tell it was recorded separately from the rest of the dialogue, as Threepio’s voice sounds different. Years ago, before I owned my own Star Wars videos, I had a bootleg (gasp!) copy from a friend of mine, which included this scene but the lines were missing. The background sound effect (of the Death Star computer screen clicking) is still there, but Threepio is silent. I thought I stumbled onto something big, but when I eventually got my own copy, the lines were intact. Now, this is where it gets strange. I bring my new copies to my friend’s place, and his VCR doesn’t pick up the lines. Every version of Star Wars I own (I’ve got three) does not play this line on my friend’s VCR. It still remains silent. Wierd, huh?
Anthony Daniels recorded these lines, himself, in a broom closet in London. The tapes were then flown to LA, and inserted into the film at the last minute. The reason: to better explain exactly what a tractor beam is, and why the Falcon can’t leave.