Mos Eisley
Encyclopedia
Mos Eisley is a setting in the fictional Star Wars
universe
. It is introduced as a spaceport town on the planet Tatooine
. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
, Obi-Wan Kenobi
(played by Alec Guinness
) describes Mos Eisley as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy." It is the home of the Mos Eisley Cantina
and Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes
.
From a distance, the spaceport looks like a haphazard collage
of low-grade concrete, stone and plastoid structures that spread outward from a central power-and-water distribution plant like the spokes of a wheel. Also, at a distance, the smooth circular depressions of launch stations look like craters pockmarking the landscape.
The town is really larger than it appears, as a good portion of it lies underground. In fact, the town has a population of around 40,000 to 60,000 people, varying seasonally. It was built from the beginning with commerce in mind. Even the oldest of the town's buildings was designed to provide protection from Tatooine's twin suns. The buildings appear primitive from the outside and most of them actually are. The Mos Eisley Cantina was one of the spaceport's original blockhouses.
The first view of Mos Eisley in A New Hope is actually a shot of Death Valley
in California
from near the "Dante's View" lookout, with a matte painting added in the distance. Also of note, one of the Imperial stormtroopers present in the scene carries an MG-34 machine gun
, used by Germany
in World War II
.
Until it housed the Millennium Falcon
in its hangar, Docking Bay 94 was the same as the other hundreds of docks in Mos Eisley. It is simply a circular area surrounded by white walls and had an opening on the top for ships to enter and exit. There is a sole door to the dock, which was flanked by Sandtroopers from the 501st Legion
in its most famous moment.
In A New Hope, Garindan, a spy working for the Empire
, tracked Han Solo
and Luke Skywalker
to the hangar where Solo's ship was parked. The squad of Sandtroopers from the 501st are called in and enter the bay. As the Sandtroopers file in and open fire, Solo, who evades their shots, lays down suppression fire in return until he boards the Millennium Falcon and takes off.
performs there.
The cantina was featured in the popular MMO game Star Wars Galaxies
, which revealed the cantina as having three back rooms and one entrance room with a seating area. In addition, the cantina has a strict anti-droid policy.
Chalmun's Cantina is the start location for Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
, where players can access both standard and unlockable levels and items. Mos Eisley as a whole is featured in the game as the setting of Chapter 3 of Episode IV: A New Hope, "Mos Eisley Spaceport."
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. It is introduced as a spaceport town on the planet Tatooine
Tatooine
Tatooine is a fictional planet and setting for many key scenes in the Star Wars saga, appearing in every Star Wars film except The Empire Strikes Back, although it is mentioned at the end of the movie...
. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
(played by Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai...
) describes Mos Eisley as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy." It is the home of the Mos Eisley Cantina
Mos Eisley Cantina
The Chalmun's Cantina is a fictional bar of the Star Wars universe located in the "pirate city" of Mos Eisley on the planet Tatooine...
and Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes is a fictional band from George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and were depicted as bald aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes, a race called Biths. They are seen in the...
.
From a distance, the spaceport looks like a haphazard collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
of low-grade concrete, stone and plastoid structures that spread outward from a central power-and-water distribution plant like the spokes of a wheel. Also, at a distance, the smooth circular depressions of launch stations look like craters pockmarking the landscape.
The town is really larger than it appears, as a good portion of it lies underground. In fact, the town has a population of around 40,000 to 60,000 people, varying seasonally. It was built from the beginning with commerce in mind. Even the oldest of the town's buildings was designed to provide protection from Tatooine's twin suns. The buildings appear primitive from the outside and most of them actually are. The Mos Eisley Cantina was one of the spaceport's original blockhouses.
The first view of Mos Eisley in A New Hope is actually a shot of Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from near the "Dante's View" lookout, with a matte painting added in the distance. Also of note, one of the Imperial stormtroopers present in the scene carries an MG-34 machine gun
MG 34
The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, is a German air-cooled machine gun that was first produced and accepted into service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. It accepts the 8x57mm IS cartridge....
, used by Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Docking Bay 94
Docking Bay 94 is a dock for parking ships in Mos Eisley for either maintenance or simply to take a break after a long day's work. It is also referred to as Dock 94.Until it housed the Millennium Falcon
Millennium Falcon
The Millennium Falcon is a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe commanded by smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca...
in its hangar, Docking Bay 94 was the same as the other hundreds of docks in Mos Eisley. It is simply a circular area surrounded by white walls and had an opening on the top for ships to enter and exit. There is a sole door to the dock, which was flanked by Sandtroopers from the 501st Legion
501st Legion (Star Wars)
The 501st Legion is a Clone Trooper unit from the Star Wars movies and Expanded Universe. They served under Darth Vader, and were considered to be the best soldiers in the galaxy...
in its most famous moment.
In A New Hope, Garindan, a spy working for the Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
, tracked Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
and Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
to the hangar where Solo's ship was parked. The squad of Sandtroopers from the 501st are called in and enter the bay. As the Sandtroopers file in and open fire, Solo, who evades their shots, lays down suppression fire in return until he boards the Millennium Falcon and takes off.
Mos Eisley Cantina
The Mos Eisley Cantina, officially named Chalmun's Cantina, or the "double-c" or "ceecee" (by city militia), is a bar located in Mos Eisley. It is the haunt of freighter pilots and a host of other dangerous characters and contains booths, a bar counter, and some free-standing tables. At times, a band of musicians named Figrin D'an and the Modal NodesFigrin D'an and the Modal Nodes
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes is a fictional band from George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and were depicted as bald aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes, a race called Biths. They are seen in the...
performs there.
The cantina was featured in the popular MMO game Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies is a Star Wars themed MMORPG for Microsoft Windows developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts.-History:...
, which revealed the cantina as having three back rooms and one entrance room with a seating area. In addition, the cantina has a strict anti-droid policy.
Chalmun's Cantina is the start location for Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a video game based on the Star Wars-themed toy line by the Lego Group. It is a combination of the game Lego Star Wars: The Video Game and its sequel Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy...
, where players can access both standard and unlockable levels and items. Mos Eisley as a whole is featured in the game as the setting of Chapter 3 of Episode IV: A New Hope, "Mos Eisley Spaceport."