AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: INSIDE THE CARBON FREEZE CHAMBER!

It may be hot on set but relations between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are very frosty indeed at this point in the filming.

The scenes set inside the restrictive, steam-filled, temperature-soaring Carbon Freezing chamber are dramatic enough, but behind the scenes for the week that the main cast and crew of The Empire Strikes Back are filming the possible last goodbye between lovers Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, things are even tenser. Carrie Fisher in unhappy with continuing dialogue changes decisions affecting her character being made without her knowledge, and often at the last minute, by Irvin Kershner and co-star Ford. And there is a general air of friction on and off between the actress and her former affair instigator in Ford, strained relations going back to their original liaisons from 1976. Kershner also feels the mood swings of Fisher during the dramatic sequence, of which producer Gary Kurtz acts as a friendly barrier between their clashes. 

Kershner meticulously checks his script for the upcoming filming.

Carrie Fisher has some rare on-set fun on the Carbon Freeze Chamber.

Conferring with Peter Suschitzky.

Dark times for the doomed lovers?

The cast in breaks between long bouts of filming.

Carrie gets ready for her sad scenes as Leia.

Kershner gives Peter Mayhew advice on deepening Chewbacca's character moments in this memorable scene.

Kershner with Williams, Jeremy Bulloch and Milton Johns as an Imperial Officer.

Fett, Lando and the Imperial Officer watch the horror unfold in the chamber in this superb still shot.

Rehearsals continue for the main actors.

Trying to keep things upbeat, Dave Prowse talks to people about his newly released keep- fit book whilst Jeremy Bulloch suffers from the heat inside his costume but gamely delivers a memorable performance as the deadly Boba Fett.

Directing Billy Dee William's now out of his depth Lando Calrissian.

Lucas and Kershner together, likely discussing the story/character mechanics of the scene ahead.

British film publicist Alan Arnold charts a brilliant behind the scenes look at the entre filming of the all-important Carbon Freezing goodbye scene within the engrossing and illuminating pages of his 1981 released book, Once Upon A Galaxy - a Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: RESTRAINING FETT!

Showing a kind of respect for his captured heroes, Darth Vader stops Boba Fett from dispatching the noble Chewbacca, who has shown great bravery against the Imperial Stormtroopers in protecting Han Solo. But it is to no avail - Solo will be carbon frozen...

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.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: DOUBLE TROUBLE!

Not yet known as the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo's 'Pirate Ship' comes under attack from sentry TIE fighters in this great storyboard from late 1975 for The Star Wars, an angle that never made the final film, though there was a shot of the ship being attacked near its underbelly in a different direction.

'THE BAD BATCH': WIN, LOSE OR DIE!

Making a welcome and exciting return for a pivotal mid-series episode of The Bad Batch, airing exclusively on the Disney+ channel - that skilled and resourceful bounty hunter with the mean voice and even meaner disposition, Cad Bane, out to acquire young clone fugitive Omega with the conclusion to Reunion.

https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2569513/star-wars-the-bad-batch-producer-talks-bringing-back-big-clone-wars-villain-cad-bane

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CARBON REHEARSAL!

A busy day on the Carbon Freeze Chamber set, what with a huge amount of supporting extras alongside the main cast and a whole host of continuity and filming issues to be handled for each scene filmed within the hot and steamy Elstree Studios environment.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: "WHAT'S GOING ON, 'BUDDY?"

Within the doom laden aura of the Carbon Freeze Chamber, Han Solo finally discovers the macabre fate planned for him by Darth Vader.

The opening dialogue between Han and Lando was improvised by the actors along with Irvin Kershner, the trio thinking that the scene opening needed some dramatic clarification.

Posed publicity image taken during on set filming rehearsals.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: DELIVERED UNTO DARKNESS!

Escorted to the Carbon Freezing Chamber by Boba Fett and Imperial Stormtroopers, our captured heroes are brought before Darth Vader, who has special plans for Han Solo...

An ominous set for an ominous and darkly memorable sequence from the film, beautifully designed by Norman Reynolds, bolstered by supremely atmospheric cinematography by Peter Suschitzky and requiring constant special attention by First Assistant Director David Tomblin, working with the many actors/extras required on set.

Our escorted heroes arrive in the Carbon Freeze chamber.

Darth Vader arrives in the chamber.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ON FINAL APPROACH...

Having pushed the craft's speed to the limit, Luke Skywalker's X-wing fighter approaches Cloud City on Bespin. The skies around him seem eerily clear of traffic, but what hidden dangers lurk for Luke and a nervy Artoo at the mining colony?

Michael Pangrazio with the Bespin mattes- foreground cloud and background showing Cloud City.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: COVERING THE ANGLES!

Spring, 1979: At Elstree, director Irvin Kershner works out the potential filming angles on Production Designer Norman Reynolds key design maquette for Bespin's Carbon Freezing Chamber, to be built and seen in the darkly dramatic finale to The Empire Strikes Back. Though early plans were to use a concept by Ralph McQuarrie and encouraged by George Lucas, Reynolds ambitious set ideas, though complex for access and cinematography, won through for filming.