I wouldn't describe myself as a Star Wars goob by any stretch, but I am a fan. I've enjoyed the two previous seasons of Clone Wars cartoons and I'm looking forward to more of this one. I noticed something amusing, however, during last Sunday's episode, "Senate Spy" -- it was a total remake of Alfred Hitchcook's* brilliant film Notorious.
Let's compare the two.
Notorious: Ingrid Bergman is recruited by the CIA to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring by rekindling her relationship with an old flame (Claude Rains) who's part of said ring. Cary Grant is her CIA handler/protector.
Clone Wars: Padme Amidala is recruited by the Jedi Council to infiltrate a Separatist spy ring by rekindling her relationship with an old flame (Rush Clovis) who's part of said ring. Anakin Skywalker is her Jedi handler/protector.
Notorious: Ingrid Bergman marries the villain, then distracts him during a party so that Cary Grant can slip into the wine cellar and discover that Claude Rains is mining and smuggling uranium for the Nazis.
Clone Wars: Padme sneaks around until she discovers that Clovis is building a droid factory for the Separatists.
Notorious: The Nazis realize that Ingrid Bergman is a CIA plant and poison her.
Clone Wars: The Separatists realize that Padme is a Jedi plant and poison her.
Notorious: Cary Grant gets suspicious when Ingrid Bergman cuts off communication and goes to the house where she's been poisoned. He finds her dying and ropes Claude Rains into helping them escape by threatening to expose Rains's double-dealing to his vicious Nazi cohorts.
Clone Wars: Anakin gets suspicious when Padme cuts off communication and goes to the house where she's been poisoned. He finds her dying and ropes Clovis into helping them escape by making him feel guilty about poisoning the woman he loves.
Notorious: Cary Grant and Claude Rains carry Ingrid Bergman down a sweeping staircase, right past the three murderous Nazi traitors who are growing ever more suspicious.
Clone Wars: Anakin and Clovis carry Padme down a sweeping staircase, right past the three murderous Separatists who are growing ever more suspicious.
Notorious: When they reach the car, Cary Grant slams the door in Claude Rains's face as Rains pleads for mercy. Cary Grant drives off and Claude Rains turns to face the Nazis who he knows will now murder him.
Clone Wars: When they reach the ship, Anakin slams the hatch in Clovis's face as Clovis pleads for mercy. Anakin flies off and Clovis turns to face the Separatists who he knows will now murder him.
If you're going to steal, steal from the best.
Steve
* I know I spelled it wrong. The porn filter won't let me spell it correctly.
