AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: "APOLOGY ACCEPTED, CAPTAIN NEEDA!"

 

Failure is not an option for Darth Vader as he swiftly dispatches the doomed Captain Needa for losing the Millennium Falcon, a killing power gesture watched in shock and horror by the Dark Lord's bridge crew.

The beginning of the scene, which never made the finished movie.

Needa collapses dead in front of a shocked bridge crew.

Posed image of Dave Prowse as Vader on the set.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ELUDING PURSUIT!

Out of the asteroid field, the Star Destroyer Avenger, commanded by the eager Captain Needa, has the Millennium Falcon in its grasp, until it decides to turn around and head towards them at ramming speed, before ultimately disappearing off Imperial bridge sensor scopes. A mystery indeed for the dutiful (and soon doomed) commanding officer, especially when Darth Vader's pursuit enquiry communications demand updating...

Great angle from the pit area of the uncompleted set. The computer consoles would be sold off after re-use filming of Return of the Jedi and appear as set dressings in numerous episodes of Doctor Who.

With added matte painting ceiling and windows fill-in.

ILM storyboard of the Falcon flying over the Star Destroyer bridge and disappearing.

Ultimately bored by his time filming, and just another job amongst many in his varied career, British actor Michael Culver poses for a publicity image.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST...

An Imperial officer winks out of holographic existence in front of Darth Vader. Scene images: Star Wars Screencaps.com.

As the packed asteroid field brings damage and chaos to the Imperial Death Fleet continuing its search for the Millennium Falcon, another commanding officer is no more- an enormous asteroid having hit his Star Destroyer bridge area, leading to his winking out of existence whilst in communication with Darth Vader, who casually dismisses the passing whilst ordering his strained officers (including Captain Needa of the Star Destroyer Avenger) to continue on sweeping the field. Another great scene from The Empire Strikes Back.

In the holographic generator area, Vader issues his commands to the fleet sweeping the asteroid field.

George Lucas directs the death of the Imperial officer (effects supervisor Jim Veilleux) at ILM.

DELETED SCENE: MISTER MOTIVATOR RETURNS!

Angry that the Imperial war machine has once more failed to capture the elusive Millennium Falcon and its crew, Darth Vader administrates his orders to a group of diverse officers (including background artist Trevor Butterfield) for a deleted moment on the Star Destroyer Executor, set just after the Dark Lord has killed an apologetic Captain Needa, from The Empire Strikes Back.

Behind the scenes continuity Polaroid of the assembled British extras playing Imperials.

In this rehearsal/outtake image used for publicity, the extras can be seen behind Vader.

Irvin Kershner gets the scene ready for filming with Dave Prowse as Vader.

CLASSIC IMAGE: AN APOLOGETIC DEATH...

Despite his best efforts to please and make his apology, Captain Needa's incompetence at capturing the Millennium Falcon incurs Darth Vader's final, considerable wrath, in the classic scene from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. This brief moment where Imperial Troopers check to see if Needa was still alive didn't make the film's final cut.