I got invited to a do, where one of the attractions was squad of real life Imperial Stormtroopers (the Belgian chapter of 501 legion, actually). So naturally I asked one of them what the body armour was for. It turns out that even they don't have a clue, other than that is looks cool.
It didn't do much good against the Ewoks' slingshots.
Yeah, but if they didn't have slingshots, and just threw small stones at you...underhand maybe.
I think it was for looks, because it sure as hell never stopped anything from killing one of them. It also made them faceless drones so no one would get upset when the intreped heroes slaughtered them by the dozen.
Post Edited (02-26-05 22:24)
What would a Stormtrooper body armour cost ?
As a kid, one of my dreams was to wear a stormtrooper outfit.
Actually, the various stuff about the stormtroopers armour says it's shockproof - meaning that Ewoks slingshots would do nothing - but then Lucas never let that get in the way of victory for good.
If you want to be a stormtrooper, join the 501st Legion. They're everywhere.
"It also made them faceless drones so no one would get upset when the intreped heroes slaughtered them by the dozen."
I think geezer just nailed it. The squeamish Lucas would solve this problem 25 years later when computer generated imagery would enable him to make lots of realistic looking droids. Uncalled for, if you ask me. Children should learn that bad people deserve death. :)
"Actually, the various stuff about the stormtroopers armour says it's shockproof - meaning that Ewoks slingshots would do nothing - but then Lucas never let that get in the way of victory for good."
Protection against small subsonic projectiles -- while nice -- hardly justifies the egregious compromises made in visibility, mobility and comfort. In real life, those guys would never wear their helmets - especially when walking patrol and standing guard on a (as far as they know) totally secure space station.
I seem to recall the one bit of humanity for Stormtroopers was that scene where Ben overhears two of them talking and sounding bored.
I think part of it was just being able to use the same actors over and over, and just being able to quickly suit up mobs of cheap extras if necessary. No need for makeup or acting skills. Jus put on the suit and march.
I believe I had also read somewhere that the stormtrooper armor and Vader's breathing mask were both included in early concept drawings by Ralph McQuarry. Apparently, understanding that the opening would have them blasting their way into another ship in space, McQuarry decided they would need some protection against the vacuum. So Vader and flunkies got helmets and breathing aparatus.
I'm not a huge starwars fan, but I've always enjoyed looking at the early concept drawings and seeing how all the ideas evolved. I saw a matt painting once with a character that looked like a stormtrooper holding a light sabre. I dont think it was an early Darth Vader, but still it was interesting to see.
Stylistically the stormtrooper armour is a stroke of genius. It does a great job of dehumanising them by turning them into faceless fiends. The human brain is very much focused on face recognition, we even have a specialised brain area for it, so anything that has an expressionless mask becomes extra threatening. Plus, you can shoot them in droves without compulsion, rather like the Buffy rule that only vampires with fangs and full make up get dusted.
The boldest move for me was to mould them in white. It gives a very SF space suit look, to say nothing of the contrast with Darth Vader's outfit. Bad guys usually don't wear white, however.
I thought the white gave them a very skeletal look - menacing and reminiscent of death. I thought the white faces and gaping black eyes were the best part of the costume.
Actualy, that was a McQuarry concept pic., and that was Darth Vs. an early version of Luke.
Intresting how the idea morphs before final production of sets, props, and costumes.
The armor, as i've read, is supposed to be mainly blaster proof. How...i donno. A two part EMPIRE comic had a company ot troopers ona planet with spear chucking aliens, and they kacked a lot of troopers.
Well, the re-enactor told me that according to the brochure, the armour is supposed to be blaster proof. How that squares with the performance in the movies, nobody knows. The man from 501 Legion thought the Empire was sold short.