Tuesday 6 April 2021

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: 'NO DISINTEGRATIONS!'


Darth Vader gives his instructions to the collected Bounty Hunters in searching for the elusive Millennium Falcon, but soon turns his specific notice to the infamous Boba Fett, warning him he wants the captured ship's occupants alive - 'No disintegrations!'

Filmed in early April 1979, great care was taken by Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz to get the visual look and menacing aura of new villain Boba Fett right for the sequence on the Star Destroyer bridge. Respected US film/TV character actor Jason Woodgreen would later provide the unique and truly slimy voice of Fett in Empire for several memorable lines during the film's American-based post production dubbing phase, and paid a minimal fee for his contribution- no one knew how successful the character of Fett was going to be in the days before release!

The close-up scene between Vader and Fett was additionally shot May 16th, 1979 by a second unit, as George Lucas wanted the 'no disintegrations!" line issued to him rather than Zuckuss, whom Vader originally talked to in the prior April filming.

A selection of various behind the scenes filming images from the bridge filming.







Unused shots showing Vader arriving to inspect the assembled Bounty Hunters.






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