AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE DUEL BEGINS!

The moment has finally come for Luke Skywalker to face his demon, as personified by the brutal presence in the Dark Side of the Force that is his nemesis, Darth Vader, the man/creature who helped wipe the Jedi Knights out of existence and whom supposedly killed his father. This duel will not just be a test of Luke's skill, but also his character, physical and psychological strengths. He'll need all of that not just to stay alive against such an experienced and lethal duellist, but also for the disturbing and shocking revelation that the Sith Lord will impart to him at the worst possible time...

Superb Marvel Comics art by the legendary Daredevil writer/artist Frank Miller back in 1980, celebrating one of the The Empire Strikes Back's greatest and most intense-to-watch sequences.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE CARBON FREEZE NIGHTMARE!

The superb Carbon Freeze Chamber set designed by Norman Reynolds.

Darkness falls within the once beautiful Cloud City on Bespin, as our captured Rebel heroes face the worst of times under the brutal auspices of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, amidst his shocking plans to ensnare Luke Skywalker. But first off, as a trial run to the young Jedi's planned destiny at the captured hands of the fearsome Emperor, Han Solo must be put into a carbon freeze prison...

Ever loyal to his friends, Chewbacca must protect Leia in Han's absence.

Boba Fett and Darth Vader make their mark in this chilling sequence.

A last goodbye?

Leia prepares for the worst...

Han is prepared for Carbon Freeze by an Ugnaught.

The classic scene, which generated humour and sadness.

"It gave George pause. He had not written the scene with a laugh. But the laugh opens you up emotionally. You don't have another emotional outlet in that scene."

Harrison Ford on "I know" - Starlog interview - Issue 35, 1980

The terrifying process begins, as Chewbacca and Leia witness the fate of Han Solo...

The Carbon Frozen Solo is hauled up.

The shocking reveal...

"When the cast of Solo in carbon freeze was created the first time, he was standing straight up, looking normal. That's what the prop department thought I wanted. I said, 'No, he's got to be looking like he is fighting to get out; he has to look like he is in agony.' So we changed it to the way it looks in the film."

Irvin Kershner - Star Wars - The Annotated Screenplays - 1997

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: DARK DESCENT!

Posed publicity image of Luke looking down to find the elusive Vader...

Luke goes in pursuit of Vader, heading deep down into the lower levels of the Carbon Freezing Chamber...

Mark Hamill recalled in a late 1980 interview that he did a series of gymnastic moves that never made the final film. I'm assuming it was during this sequence, perhaps similar to something preconceived by artist Ivor Beddoes...

Ivor Beddoes storyboards of Luke's climb down to the lower level...

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: 'SABER DRAMA!

A selection of behind the scenes images of the intense Carbon Freeze lightsaber duelling captured on film between Mark Hamill and Bob Anderson.

Madelyn Most reads the clapperboard.

Bob Anderson gets ready for action.

Colin Skeaping (in Luke costume) watches as Mark Hamill duels Bob Anderson as Vader.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: LUKE FIGHTS BACK!

"Impressive, most impressive..."

Luke Skywalker returns to battle, distracting Vader with an overhead steam pipe burst then retrieving his lightsaber to battle on determinedly in this hot and hard-to-see environment around them, and despite the manipulative goading of his enemy, ever wanting the boy to fully release his hatred and anger to the Dark Side against him...

A terrific selection of images showing Mark Hamill as Luke fighting Bob Anderson as Darth Vader on set...

Retrieving his lightsaber to fight on!

Luke leaps from a savage lower thrust blow from Vader.

Towards the end of this section of the duel, Luke performs a Force move that sees him somersault over Vader. Presumably this was partly achieved by Kirby wire techniques attached to either Hamill or Colin Skeaping (who likely did the middle part of the stunt above Vader via his own gymnastic skills) that were slowed down or manipulated in post production editing.

Luke pushes Darth Vader back as the Dark Lord falls outside the perimeter of the chamber.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ESCAPE LEAP!

"All too easy.."

Darth Vader's preconceptions about Luke's lack of training in the Force are briefly challenged when the boy manages to Force leap out of the carbon freeze pit as it activates, a shot achieved by using a puppet filmed at ILM.

Dave Prowse is listed on call sheets as playing Vader (presumably for the non action part of the scene where Luke falls into the carbon pit) on the 29th June, 1979.

Vader Force-activates the carbon freeze mechanism but Luke escapes just in time!

An unused action idea from Ivor Beddoes as Vader strikes out and cuts varying pipes to injure and capture Luke.

The model as displayed for a Propstore Auction a few years back.

As used in the finished film.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: TRAPPED! (LUKE IN CARBON PIT)

 

Falling into the carbon pit, Luke has to react quickly before Vader can initiate the freezing process!

It's possible this small set could be a redress of part of the Millennium Falcon hold judging by some of the re-use of certain set decorations...

Posed image on the enclosed set.