@pandora_parrot - I'm more of a mind that Star Wars was saved in the re-writing. Mainly because I've read all the early drafts. The kind of stilted over-wrought dialogue we see in the sequels is what Star Wars was originally. Just before shooting, Lucas gave the script to Willard Hyuck and Gloria Katz to make it work better.

That said, I've never seen the Lucas Rough cut...just bits and pieces, and most of the cuts seem to be mostly removing dodgy effects. Given the prequels, though, I'm fairly sure Marcia Lucas' edits helped the movie tremendously. George can edit action. Everything else...well.........