Thursday, 24 June 2021

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: LOT OF TORTURING TO DO!


Han Solo faces his darkest hours yet on Cloud City. Firstly, suffering a bizarre and brutal interrogation from Darth Vader in which no questions are asked of him. But the worst is yet to come for our brave smuggler...

The torture sequence (which featured lots of sparks and screaming from Harrison Ford) was ultimately cut down by Irvin Kershner in the editing process- the film was already approaching its darkest point story-wise, and this scene would already upset younger audiences if dwelled on too long. The screaming sounds were instead transplanted to the next scene, now heard in the background as Vader confers with Boba Fett and Lando Calrissian.

A selection of images from the sequence...


Part of the torture device prop at Elstree.

UK FOX boss Peter Beale watches the preparations to film the scene.





Vader departs as the torture continues...

...then looks back one last time to see Solo's suffering in either a deleted scene moment or posed publicity image.


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