Monday 12 July 2021

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: GOODBYE, OLD FRIEND...


"Hey, hey! Listen to me, Chewie! Chewie, this won't help me. Hey! Save your strength. There'll be another time. The princess - you have to take care of her. You hear me? Huh?

Han Solo

Not going down without a fight, Chewbacca does his formidable best to stop the Imperial Stormtroopers from taking Han to the carbon freeze pit, but he s soon overwhelmed and has to be stopped by his old friend, who charges him with a new life debt, to look after the Princess with all the likely hardships ahead for them in Imperial charge. 

This scene would be a fine showcase for the acting skills of Peter Mayhew, who makes the audience care for the continuing friendship Chewbacca has on screen with Harrison Ford's Han Solo.


Coordinating the action on set.

Chewbacca fight the Stormtroopers in an unused angle ultimately seen in a teaser trailer.

Chewbacca throws a Stormtrooper (most likely Peter Diamond) out of the chamber perimeter.



On set, Peter Mayhew would voice Chewie’s growls, barks and shouts live. At one point, when the lights, long duration filming hours and the heat were building in intensity, and things were not going right on set, one of Peter’s growls would become quite intense, with Irvin Kershner making the actor laugh when he says, “have we got a human or an animal in there?” 

Being given more room for character and personality nuances, Mayhew likes the fact that in some scenes he becomes more of a protector and bodyguard to his friends, especially Han and Leia, greatly enjoying the direction he receives from Kershner. At one point, the Wookiee’s costume, knitted from angora wool and knotted with yak hair, gets so hot in studio that John Mollo and his costume team have to thicken his hair and re-knot him because he had molted!

More directing advice from Kershner.


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