Wednesday 12 August 2020

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: 'WE HAVE A VISITOR'...


Luke Skywalker is recovering well, and the Wampa threat to Echo Base has been contained for the present. Now a new problem presents itself to our heroes as a mysterious signal, possibly of Imperial nature (according to communications specialist C-3PO), is revealed. The source of the signal must be investigated, and the volunteering Han and Chewie are the perfect duo to check it out.

In the original script, and filmed on location in Norway, was a sequence where a Rebel outpost was destroyed by the Probot, investigating the fiery wreckage- the sequence was abandoned from the final cut, in favour of the droid discovering the distant Rebel power generators, instead. In the film, General Rieekan has two snowspeeders Rogues 10 and 11 sent to Station 38. A clever in-joke reference to Lucas's THX-1138.

This scene sees the return of UK actor Burnell Tucker's Rebel communications officer from the original Star Wars, later given the Expanded Universe name of Del Goren.This time, however, his voice would be dubbed with an American actor in post production.

Filming the scene at Elstree.


John Birkinshaw keeps Threepio cool on set during the scene's filming.

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