AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: MEANWHILE, ON THE COMEDY VARIETY SHOW PLANET!

Taking their first steps on a comedy variety show planet!

Frank Oz helped bring the magic of Yoda to the Star Wars saga, so it was only fair that the compliment was returned back to him, Jim Henson and the Muppet Show, as Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and the remote controlled Artoo Detoo made an hilarious special appearance on the UK/international comedy hit during 1980, filmed at the nearby ITC Elstree Studios. Hamill, notably, would get to stretch his comedy muscles in a double role (himself and Luke Skywalker) alongside Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear and the legendary Miss Piggy, give a notable 'Gargling Gershwin' rendition, and even indulge in a little bit of musical variety!

Hamill and Daniels rehearse the finale with Kermit.

Luke and Threepio discuss the bizarre universe they are in!

Mark/Luke with his new porky Princess!

Original preview press cutting, from the files of the Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS!

John Williams as the keeper of the Star Wars musical flame...

Bringing back the traditional orchestral movie soundtrack in a big way that no one truly expected, John Williams' score for the original Star Wars was an unmitigated triumph, of which the its 1977 released double album soundtrack (from Fox Records) was a must-have purchase for worldwide fans and the general public alike. Hearing Williams's music for the film was just as perfect as seeing it for the umpteenth time on the big screen, being so evocative, exciting and memorable, especially rich in character themes that would become iconic over nearly fifty years. 

Williams with friends Ken Wannberg and Lionel Newman, plus director Irvin Kershner, at a lively spotting session for Empire's score.

Going through a scene and timing it for the creation of his music, Williams with Wannberg in California, late 1979.

Empire’s complex, beautiful score would once more be recorded in the UK, with Williams conducting the 129 musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra. Recording for the December 1979/ January 1980 sessions are handled in three batches, split between Anvil Studios, where the Star Wars score had been recorded, and EMI studios at Abbey Road. Williams is supported by his regular team of friends - engineer Eric Tomlinson, orchestrator Herbert Spencer, music editor Kenneth Wannberg, and supervisor Lionel Newman, the Head of 20th Century Fox's music department. Gary Kurtz, Lucas and Kershner, plus Robert Watts, are on hand to watch the recordings. It is estimated that the score will cost a quarter of a million dollars to record (taking into account the fees of the arrangers, the musicians, the copyists, and the sound-recording crew), but the money will later be re-couped by sales of the film's soon-beloved RSO two-disc record, to be released by May, 1980.

Recording music for the film's fateful finale duel with the LSO.

Lucas, Kershner, Kurtz and Robert Watts attend the music recordings in London.

For The Empire Strikes Back, Williams had the then rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to revisit the George Lucas fantasy universe that had so enamoured itself to audiences, adding further new unforgettable themes to its saga, alongside incredible musical accomplishments with the stalwart LSO.

 

Japanese edition of the classic 2-LP soundtrack.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: A UNIVERSE OF DRAMA AND ADVENTURE...

The long-running commercial artist John Alvin's work on the original Star Wars films have become highly beloved and respected over time. None more so than the super 1995 work he did for the films on their uncut VHS release before the debut of the Special Editions, of which all the key successful character ingredients for The Empire Strikes Back would be well represented.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE DUEL BEGINS!

The moment has finally come for Luke Skywalker to face his demon, as personified by the brutal presence in the Dark Side of the Force that is his nemesis, Darth Vader, the man/creature who helped wipe the Jedi Knights out of existence and whom supposedly killed his father. This duel will not just be a test of Luke's skill, but also his character, physical and psychological strengths. He'll need all of that not just to stay alive against such an experienced and lethal duellist, but also for the disturbing and shocking revelation that the Sith Lord will impart to him at the worst possible time...

Superb Marvel Comics art by the legendary Daredevil writer/artist Frank Miller back in 1980, celebrating one of the The Empire Strikes Back's greatest and most intense-to-watch sequences.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE CARBON FREEZE NIGHTMARE!

The superb Carbon Freeze Chamber set designed by Norman Reynolds.

Darkness falls within the once beautiful Cloud City on Bespin, as our captured Rebel heroes face the worst of times under the brutal auspices of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, amidst his shocking plans to ensnare Luke Skywalker. But first off, as a trial run to the young Jedi's planned destiny at the captured hands of the fearsome Emperor, Han Solo must be put into a carbon freeze prison...

Ever loyal to his friends, Chewbacca must protect Leia in Han's absence.

Boba Fett and Darth Vader make their mark in this chilling sequence.

A last goodbye?

Leia prepares for the worst...

Han is prepared for Carbon Freeze by an Ugnaught.

The classic scene, which generated humour and sadness.

"It gave George pause. He had not written the scene with a laugh. But the laugh opens you up emotionally. You don't have another emotional outlet in that scene."

Harrison Ford on "I know" - Starlog interview - Issue 35, 1980

The terrifying process begins, as Chewbacca and Leia witness the fate of Han Solo...

The Carbon Frozen Solo is hauled up.

The shocking reveal...

"When the cast of Solo in carbon freeze was created the first time, he was standing straight up, looking normal. That's what the prop department thought I wanted. I said, 'No, he's got to be looking like he is fighting to get out; he has to look like he is in agony.' So we changed it to the way it looks in the film."

Irvin Kershner - Star Wars - The Annotated Screenplays - 1997

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: 'HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY' ISSUES...

Fun with Carrie and Gary in April, 1979.

Often seeming frail and acting erratically with the start of studio filming in London, Carrie Fisher's building drugs addiction off camera would become a serious health concern for the production team during The Empire Strikes Back. With such a delicate subject to broach to the mood-changeable Fisher, George Lucas is unable to get producer Gary Kurtz (at times acting on set as an unofficial kind of 'chaperone' to the actress) nor the film's unofficial shadow producer in Howard Kazanjian to converse with her about the problems. Thankfully, Marcia Lucas ultimately comes to her husband's rescue, cleverly using a screening of Fisher's dailies footage as Leia to subtly highlight her personal problems. The results are successful, with Fisher's health, improved weight and onscreen performance better by the mid-point of the film's shoot.

Make-up artist Kay Freeborn always found Carrie a mercurial figure on set.

Fisher was always fascinated by film camera technique during the shoot.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: INTRODUCING LANDO... KADAR?!

Super-smooth, with a smile like a supernova: introducing Billy Dee Williams as Baron Lando Calrissian, leader of Bespin's Cloud City realm. 

“He’s a very charming, cavalier, roguish character- he’s very much like Han. I think the difference between them is that Han in a pinch will use his guns and Lando will charm his way out of a situation.”

Billy Dee Williams interview - Starlog magazine - 1980

Originally starring life in George Lucas's storyline for Star Wars II as Lando Kadar, the Baron Administrator of Cloud City was originally a tougher, though charismatic, rival to Han Solo in many ways, of which respected actor Yaphet Kotto, who has just finished playing one of the lead parts in Fox’s other sci-fi hit then currently in 1978 production, Alien, is offered the role. Kotto turns Lando down, allegedly because of typecasting worries in the sci-fi genre - that it might be difficult for him to find work afterwards. 

"How ya doin' you old pirate?!" A warm greeting for Lando's old rival, Han Solo, at Cloud City.

With Lando beginning to evolve a few months later into a smoother type of character to the one previously created (soon conceived as an alternate version of what Han would be like had he not hooked up with the Rebellion), Lucas and Kershner look towards a different type of actor for the role. Billy Dee Williams, born and raised in New York City, where he studied at the Actors Workshop under the tutelage of Paul Mann (before receiving a scholarship to the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design, where he won many awards, including the Hallgarten award for painting - an interest which he continues with to this day, alongside his acting), is soon right at the top of Irvin Kershner’s thoughts to play the new Lando (the actor having also been considered at one point to play Han Solo back in George Lucas’s 1975’s screen tests - the young Lucas prior impressed with his performance alongside Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues), seeing so many of Calrissian’s charming, adventurous traits in the actor. Visiting Williams at his US home, Kershner, after several hours discussing numerous topics (including European-Western philosophy) tells Billy Dee about the role and offers it to him, without the need for a screen test. Instantly falling in love with the name Lando Calrissian (a surname which is actually of American origin), and liking his character description, Williams accepts the role and will soon be on his way to London for costume tests and filming (though given an incomplete script at that time) by April 1979.

Interviewed in the Star Wars Office at Elstree Studios by French cameraman/interviewer Michel Parbot, for documentary/publicity footage. 

The first officially released photo of Billy Dee Williams as Lando, from the first teaser trailer for TESB. Image composition: Chris Baker.

Early costume concept for Lando Kadar by Ralph McQuarrie, back when Yaphet Kotto was originally being considered for the role in 1978.

Various early costume designs by John Mollo, as showcased by Star Wars Insider magazine back in 2020.

The striking TESB posed cover for Williams' acclaimed autobiography from a few years ago.

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' - THE FIRST TRAILER DEBUTS!

The official teaser poster art composition by Daniel Landerman.

It's been a while now, but that dedicated Mandalorian Din Djarin and his beloved intergalactic foster child in Grogu are back for more diverse adventures, alien encounters, and battles against various Imperial Remnants within realms post Return of the Jedi. The first new Star Wars movie since 2020, this early trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu certainly looks like a fan pleaser after the underwhelmingly received third season of The Mandalorian, but fingers crossed that it will also attract the all-important general audiences worldwide at the same time...

Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver Star Wars Film

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: INTRODUCING A BOUNTY HUNTER...

Ready to take the bounty, Boba Fett, as special art personified by his visual co-creator, Joe Johnston. 

"George (Lucas) wanted a new trooper. The original idea behind Boba Fett was that he was going to be an army of super troopers. There was going to be 40,000 of these guys. He's sort of a bad guy but he's not on the Empire's side and he's not on the rebels' side. He's like a free agent, and he goes around the galaxy arresting people and bringing them back to justice or bringing them back to Jabba the Hutt or whoever. He's a mercenary. He'll do anything for money, and his outfit, the way he looks, should reflect that."

Joe Johnston, on the conception of the greatest Star Wars saga bounty hunter, Boba Fett, who debuted in live action form within the drama of The Empire Strikes Back.

Empire at 40 | Designing an Icon: Joe Johnston on the Journey to Create Boba Fett | StarWars.com

Fett on a speeder bike, in another original art piece by Joe Johnston.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: BOUNTY HUNTER ASSEMBLY!

On the command deck of his Super Star Destroyer, much to the irritant of the Imperial Officers under his command, Darth Vader has put the call out to the deadliest group of Bounty Hunters in the galaxy to search for the Millennium Falcon and its occupants. Amongst them, and at the very top of the tree in his chosen specialist field of 'business', the totally lethal and resourceful Boba Fett, soon to be a legend of the Star Wars universe.

Left to right: Dengar (Moray Bush), IG-88 (a prop operated by UK Effects technician Bill Hargreaves), Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch), Bossk (Alan Harris), 4-Lom (Chis Parsons) and Zuckuss (Cathy Munroe).