AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CARBON DESIGN!

Colin Skeaping (holding mock lightsaber), Gary Kurtz and Peter Diamond stunt safety inspect the Carbon Freezing Chamber set prior to filming - Summer 1979.

Uniquely designed by Norman Reynolds at Elstree Studios, the superb Carbon Freezing Chamber facility set is a genuine nightmare spot for our captured heroes, amplified by superb lighting, steam and cinematography from Peter Suschitzky, as they are intimidated by Darth Vader and his forces, of which Han Solo faces a grim, uncertain future. 

The set would be a tricky one to film on. Playing a Stormtrooper extra on the set, Alan Flyng would recall to the Star Wars Interviews blog site: 

"On this particular set, you will have no doubt seen the images of the circular gantry surrounding the central lift platform. What you cannot see is that the area beneath was a tangle of steel scaffolding poles and heavy black electrical cables strewn all over the place. Lighting beneath the set was Spartan and moving through the area in armor was dangerous and difficult. In addition, the access route to the set was a planking and scaffolding staircase which was permanently blocked by members of the crew trying to remain as close as possible to the set in stand-by mode and the cameras and attendant crews! 

Inevitably, we, the lesser mortals in this situation, were directed to make our entrance to the gantry level by ladder! This was even more taxing than navigating the area below as the ladders were not easy to climb with helmet in one hand or on the head! Nevertheless, it was achieved and over a period of a few

days, as the action played out, it became necessary for us all to be brought into various pieces of interaction with the cast. We had marched them on on another set and we carried the action on down a flight of Perspex stairs, which were extremely slippery and we couldn’t see through our helmets! 

My action culminated in manhandling Harrison Ford with a stuntman into position. Others, supplemented by stunts fought with Chewbacca as he resisted the action."

Early concept work linked to Norman Reynolds design for the chamber, replacing an earlier idea conceived by Ralph McQuarrie.