John Williams and A New Hope

Returning to a full orchestra in Star Wars: A New Hope, John Williams draws from Korngold and Steiner in the ways he uses themes and instruments. Though the spectacular opening music is not quite a traditional overture that contains bits and pieces of music to be used throughout the film,this "Main Theme" does become an underlying theme. Likewise, Williams uses a lot of music in comparison to films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid(1969), returning to filler music that is not quite as rampant as that of The Bride of Frankenstein(Steiner). Also, brass is mainly highlighted in battle scenes and with the clearly evil Darth Vader as well as the Sand People.

Two of the most prevalent themes associated with Luke and his fellow allies, who, except for Han Solo, are presented as basically heroic, are variations on "Main Theme" and "Princess Leia's Theme." The first is the opening scene and reminds us of the narrative text following the opening that portrays the rebellion as just and courageous. Possibly the earliest reiteration of "Main Theme" occurs with R2D2 on the rebel ship because he holds the Death Star schematic crucial to the rebel's survival. There are many other instances of this theme with variations on the instrumental composition and tempo. For instance, the theme becomes urgent as Luke unwisely rushes back home in the landspeeder after he and Obi Wan conclude that the Storm Troopers have gone there to kill his aunt and uncle. "Princess Leia's Theme" debuts as Leia holds a blaster in anticipation of the Storm Troopers coming to capture her. It is a soft theme that is mostly strings, conforming with Hollywood standards on heroines even though she acts more like a manly hero than many heroines before her. The theme becomes more romantic as it's repeated while her holographic message to Obi Wan Kenobi entrances Luke, as well as when he rescues her from her Death Star cell.