52 Times When Historical Events Overlapped That Seem Completely Implausible

It’s hard to believe the last execution by guillotine in France was as recent as 1977, and it’s even stranger to think about how such a dark time existed at the same point that the movie that would define cinema and pop entertainment for generations to come was released the same year. Star Wars came roaring into theaters and hasn’t been forgotten since.

There’s some poetic irony in Christopher Lee’s presence, as he witnessed this final public execution (which had been in 1939) and even used it as a reference when discussing his character’s end with the director in the second The Lord of the Rings movie. Coincidentally, he would also play Count Dooku in the Star Wars sequels decades later.