AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: FIRE AND ICE!

Cool under fire for the moment, the Rebel soldiers entrenched on the surface of Hoth take a heavy laser pounding from Imperial Walkers, in this superbly composed action image taken during the second unit crew's work on the Battle of Hoth sequence.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: READY TO FILM TRENCH WARFARE

Image: Alan Tomkins. 

The numerous international crew playing Rebel Soldiers (including members from the 32 Red Cross Norwegian volunteers) pose for a private image on location at the Hardangerjokulen Glacier location in Finse, Norway. Before the explosions and firings start!

Here's a selection of behind the scenes images linked to the Second Unit filming.

The numerous weapons props including a dish cannon and varying background size turrets are kept in location storage. 

As well as the Norwegian Red Cross, other members of the tight-knit second unit team who'd become Rebel ground soldiers for filming would include producer Jim Bloom, and stunt man Peter Diamond, playing the leader who informs Echo Base of the Imperial Walkers arrival (though his voice was dubbed for his two lines of dialogue: "Echo Station Three-T-8, we've spotted Imperial Walkers", whist his later "Rogue Leader, incoming" line was lost, replaced with ultimately different dialogue.

Bob Anderson as the Rebel solider leader. The stunt performer was also on hand to supervise some of the location stunt work. Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

Bob Anderson, as seen in the film.

Producer Jim Bloom as a Rebel.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: TRENCH WAR READINESS!

Out on the surface of Hoth to resist the heavily armed Imperial forces for as long as possible, and buy needed escape time for the evacuation transports, the Rebel soldiers man their defensive positions and trenches ready for battle, in these terrific on-location captured images. The people playing the Rebels would prove a diverse bunch on location, including a group of Norwegian Red Cross members who barely spoke any English, numerous behind the scenes UK crew members, and apparently even the local tea lady, who'd enthusiastically daily deliver food, soup and hot treats to the site. Varying weather conditions would prove problematic, and only a section of the Second Unit footage was in the can before filming was ultimately abandoned - the Editors' cleverly using and re-using different angle footage from what they had to create a spectacular ground battle.

The Rebel tank seen on location and as a set detail at Elstree.

A behind the scene moment. In the film we never see any close-up shots of a Rebel soldier peering out from the turret.

BEHIND THE SCENES: REBEL DEFENDERS!

Despite the cold, and costumes ultimately not good enough to endure the conditions, Associate Producer Jim Bloom settles into his role as a ground gunner alongside the Norwegian Red Cross and other UK crew members playing Rebel soldiers, whilst on location in Norway, April 1979, during key Second Unit filming for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Donning a fighter pilot costume, Bloom would also act as a hand double for Luke ejecting down from the belly of an AT-AT during insert work with the film's ILM post production.