1977: CARRIE FISHER: "Lucas wanted a fighter" | STAR WARS | Classic Movie Interviews | BBC Archive

Carrie Fisher speaks to Nationwide reporter John Stapleton about Star Wars, the science-fantasy blockbuster described as "the most expensive low-budget film ever made". She discusses the qualities that made both the role of Princess Leia and the script appealing to her, some of the extraordinary techniques employed by the special effects department, and filming the rope swing scene with Mark Hamill.
This clip is from Nationwide, originally broadcast 6 December, 1977.
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[@fabianpatrizio2865]

She had the voice and the maturity of a 40-year old, when only 21 :-)

[@TreborPaulson]

Really? That’s the coke talking

[@robertwilson214]

Too many cigarettes...in fairness,she's got a lovely voice

[@Fuzzfooger]

@@TreborPaulson Nah, she's clearly pretty smart and talented. Why define someone by one thing they do, we are all pretty complex are we not

[@cygil1]

People were older younger back then.

[@ashemgold]

@@cygil1 A 60 year old today hasn't the simple wisdom children were raised on back then. In 50 years we would have 45 year old infants looking for this generation of whiners to coddle them.

[@Rich_H_1972]

One of the worse things about those sequels is we never got Carrie, Harrison and Mark in a scene together to reprise their relationship. And now we never will. Rest in peace, Princess.

[@GamerWho]

Would they mug and wink at the camera, and say "this is for you fans out there," or what?

[@YEAR-1-RELICS]

We didn't have writers or exects who actually are fans of George work. We have a agenda pushing exect, and a director who's a treky, not technically a star wars fan.

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

What got me was leah pushed right passed chewie to hug a girl she hardly knows lol

[@GamerWho]

@@YEAR-1-RELICS no we didn't. That's just made up by culture war crack pots.

[@Crom2000]

Film crime of the century that is.

[@djdoolittle1315]

She’s So beautiful

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

This is very touching, she was indeed a beautiful and intelligent girl. I guess Hollywood destroys many lives and it is still doing so today. RIP Carrie.

[@ChrisPollitt]

She was so sweet and kind!

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

She was doing coke while filming empire

[@jamesrowden303]

@@makeitsonumberone1358 Sure it wasn't Pepsi?

[@johnshawdocherty7594]

@@makeitsonumberone1358 Who Wasn't.

[@4rquivox]

Rest In Peace princess. So sad about her struggle with drugs.. it took her youth and her health.

[@davehallett810]

She was absolutely gorgeous ❣️

[@virgilblaze9090]

I think that's why Star Wars changed the trajectory of where films were heading in terms of the studios' fixation on demographics and what was 'popular' amongst audiences. Carrie touched on it, and it was George making a movie HE wanted to see. I don't see art in making movies that set out to please people. Filmmakers should have the freedom to chase their own passions.

[@josephstewart2821]

It feels like modern movies are mostly made by accountants, equating all these ticked boxes to revenue without a thought of whether it will actually be a good movie.

[@ouethojlkjn]

I saw a fascinating hour-long documentary here on KZbin about how Star Wars was saved in the editing suite? George Lucas’s wife at the time, did the editing.

[@dougmasters4579]

@@ouethojlkjn star wars was edited by like four people & lucas's wife did the end space battle.

[@joshdeal3127]

3:32 to 3:44 describes the disney trilogy perfectly.

[@MSDGAMEZ]

Im im 26 yo.... Been a fan of Star Wars for the past 10 years.... wow... Carrie is so beautiful. A very vintage type of beauty if you know what i mean

[@vladdrakul7851]

One of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. So smart, So passionate, so clear. She is missed!

[@SoloRenegade]

Star Wars was a passion of mine since I first saw it. Much later in life in Iraq and Afghanistan I would read Star Wars novels I found among books sent by the USO between missions. I'd often have one in my cargo pocket or in the truck while on patrol (we'd often time have stops along the way with nothing to do but wait). One day I was realizing I wanted a certain book to read, but couldn't find it. Coincidentally I heard a bit of advice from one of the Star Wars writers (I believe it may have been Aaron Allston) who said that, "if you can't find the book you want to read, write it". I immediately began work on a scifi story I'm still working on slowly in the background. A Star Wars-like epic, with enough material now for well over 3 books. I really like that Carrie echoed this idea of George Lucas making the movie "he wanted to see". Bring the passion to the work. Create something you're passionate about. As another author said, "no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader". Write what you know, and if you feel it when you're writing it, the audience will feel it when they read it. The lead female character in my story is also much as Carrie described George wanting Leia to be (I too am influenced and inspired by my favorite stories, movies, and TV shows like Lucas).

[@allendracabal0819]

Good luck! I wish you success with your project! You might want to read up on Andy Weir, who wrote The Martian, and how he went about developing a fan base for his first novel.

[@Docentino1914]

What a wonderful lady. She definitely had grace - and not a little grace. Hard to believe that she, at the time, had been going thru all those troubles. Rest in peace Carrie.

[@stewartmackay]

What a wonderful interview.

[@Geordie-rr2gq]

I've never understood what makes her so uniquely beautiful. She's quite plain by regular beauty standards. But she's an all time beauty somehow.

[@zoemayacastillo]

Her humor, wit and intellect probably

[@Geordie-rr2gq]

@@zoemayacastillo Partly.

[@primtones]

Being the daughter of Debbie Reynolds

[@chrisgreulich]

Carrie Fisher was my first crush. She was so beautiful. I try not to think what she did to herself with the drugs and alcohol and cigarettes.. From 1977 to 1983, there was nobody more beautiful than Carrie.

[@nelsonc6173]

Miss Carrie. The world is that much worse with her gone! RIP Carrie please say hello to your mom!!

[@donaldheisler4322]

Never seen this before. Thank you for posting this. We miss and love you Carrie!

[@jamalwashium5387]

We miss you queen

[@bxbank]

She did a great job. Love how she says 'guys'! Cool. :) Man, she speaks well. What fabulous enunciation. A lost talent these days. People really need to listen how she speaks as normal. Wonderful to hear.

[@stbrian1861]

Nowadays, it would be mostly Vocal Fry and Upspeak (HRT High Rising Terminal)...

[@Tangeriine]

She was georgeous....

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

She will always be the only Princess I recognize, support, and love.

[@Danuta628]

Always so brilliant. Even in the body of youth. She was just amazing

[@guyfaux900]

I miss her so much😥

[@sirequinox4874]

She always had a unique sharp wit. Good to see it coming through even here.

[@allendracabal0819]

"First they hung us from the ceiling to check the durability of the ... rope or the actors, I don't know which." Hilarious.

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

You Nailed it Carrie!!! We still love ya

[@TheCapedWanderer]

She closes with such a fascinating statement: “It’s got whatever you want it to be; it’s pure entertainment-like a roller-coaster ride-*and it can be interpreted, as long as you enjoy it,* which is the intention of it.” What do you think that means?

[@Danuta628]

Shes soo smart and so articulate… from a very young age. No doubt Carrie is an old soul. ❤

[@nolanwinter4711]

Love Carrie. Shes so cute here.

[@JK-Visions]

Even the actors were living the roles. And understanding the script and where it came from. Niceee.

[@philliplucas7631]

Rip carrie. Hope I meet you on the other side xx

[@BroughtCat]

70s Carrie Fisher was so pretty 😍😍

[@peterah7957]

What a lovely young lady.. No wonder Ford couldn't keep his hands off her

[@alanrogs3990]

If you look back at many older films from the 30's and 40's a great deal of the female characters weren't exactly damsels in distress. They were often tough and mouthy.

[@corunum71]

I thought that too! Norse myth has many very capable women warrior princesses. But "strong women" characters today aren't actually strong: just obligatory.

[@markborok4481]

That was what I hated about "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Willie Scott was not only annoying, she wasn't true to the wisecracking, worldly, fearless female characters in the adventure films of the period (just look at Lois Lane in the Superman cartoons of the era.)

[@alanrogs3990]

@@markborok4481 Well, I guess they all don't have to be tough.

[@peterbrown6434]

Amazing!!

[@shorerocks]

Pure class. RIP.

[@rendellbartholomew2742]

Carrie Fisher was Super cute 😍. Very good looking. 👍Even the sound of her voice was nice. Will never forget a face like that.

[@JonHuhnMedical]

Carrie's gorgeous young face is so mesmerizing here that I was two minutes into the interview before I noticed her right collar is popped up and out of place. Must be the same reason nobody else noticed it at the time, either :)

[@supercal333]

It's only out of place between 0:35 and 2:45. No one notices because at the start both collars are up.

[@clint9040]

Oh Carrie.. we miss you

[@Allen-eq5uf]

So lovely.

[@saiyansomething73]

I think Carrie touched on the key difference between the OT and the prequels. The first movies were a swashbuckling space adventure and thus more visceral. The prequels were more political theater and therefore more cerebral. Still good but a little harder to eat popcorn to. Don't even get me started the Disney abominations. And one more thing, rest in peace Senator Leia Organa; A.K.A. Carrie Fisher.

[@TearyEyesAnderson]

Have you seen the original sequel stories, before Disney "Legend'ized them? Here is a link to the 'Happy' continuation of those characters. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKTVn5ShhNqIl6s And a few moths ago a CGI version of the story was made with fans, instead of audio book readers preforming the lines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXScl4yLebZpea8 Hope you give them a watch.

[@markborok4481]

I expected the prequels to be different in tone, because a story about the events leading up to a civil war is going to be different from a story set in the middle of one.

[@paulapazos9317]

I don't understand a word she's saying. But how nice it is to listen to this interview and watch her.

[@wendalboy]

she was amazing

[@ashemgold]

"It's got everything in it." Yeah, pretty much.

[@matthieu2020]

Watching these archive videos is so relaxing as opposed to current media... I wish modern day television was more like this.

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Attention spans are to short. They would have made this video 3 times as long re-capping every 5 minutes

[@sinan_3384]

@@unnamedchannel1237 with a million fast cuts in it 🥴

[@johnashton4776]

Fantastic interview with a pretty lady.

[@fluorosco]

They really ballsed the sequels up didn't they

[@mooseyman74]

Love it when she tries to kill the Blues Brothers

[@MarcoAGJ]

Reporters used to turn their back to the camera and focus on their guests, now they want more attention than the people they're interviewing.

[@allendracabal0819]

Well observed.

[@SeymourClevage]

❤❤❤ wow, just wow ❤❤❤

[@r2153]

She's so soft spoken.

[@nickcolby1391]

So devastated when Carrie died , would loved to have seen leia,s story finished as it was planed , 😢

[@razvaz]

Shasm? 2:00

[@derekl2882]

Carrie is so beautiful, forever our princess.

[@andytalbot6719]

❤

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

So 😍

[@jasongoodacre]

Wow she's so unbelievably beautiful. I'm not surprised Harrison had an affair with her. Who wouldn't ?

[@peterrees9530]

Hard to believe she's 21 here, very mature responses

[@gonlyhlpz]

RIP carrie

[@ninjabearpress2574]

Leia: "I don't know who you are or where you came from but from now on, you do as I tell you." My nine year old niece: "You're right, that IS me."

[@lake_cooper]

🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@im3phirebird81]

"George made a film he wanted to see" Rian made a film he wanted to force you to watch and nod.

[@hansoloization]

😊❤️❤️👍👏

[@RHelenius]

Ashtray in the arms of the chair.

[@thecaveofthedead]

Charm for days.

[@Khultan]

Wish Carrie had her own Jedi costume.

[@rodhayes7777]

Would have loved to have seen Carrie Fisher in the many movies that I've seen Keira Knightley play in down through the years. And Knightley has been in them all!!! But Carrie was every bit as good. I hate it that she got trapped in Sci-Fi. She was better than that. Hollywood blew it. Hollywood aced it with stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Keira Knightley, but fell flat on its face by not involving the talented dark-headed Carrie Fisher more in the late 70s and 1980s. They missed this one!

[@karmasutra4774]

But she has her own fame and will always be Princess Leah.. always will have the scene with her and Jabba The Hutt that gave her fame around the world still today ..

[@rodhayes7777]

@@karmasutra4774 Sure. She was a great Sci-Fi actress.

[@BronchoGillespie]

So good looking

[@SevenDaysToNoon]

“Shazam!????” 🤣😂

[@the_best_of_times]

So it cost $10 million to make and a quick Google shows the total made from the franchise is $10 Billion. Not a bad days' work.

[@rickycinaz]

😘😘😘

[@MarkyD1967]

A $10 million film….and 30 years later Lucas sells the franchise to Disney for $4 BILLION !!!! What a classic interview. The late 70s, early 80s, when all we see of the interviewer is the back of his hairy head….😂😂😂

[@UpTheAnte1987]

2:02 All I can think about after this interview is who the hell pronounces chasm as shasm?! Has he only ever read the word and never heard it pronounced before?

[@pr9062]

She almost seemed a different person when you saw her in When harry met sally.

[@allendracabal0819]

That's exactly how I felt when I first saw WHMS.

[@marccarter1350]

I forget how great she looked back then. Its such a shame she chose the bottle as a way of dealing with her fame

[@wendyweaver8749]

marc carter - Carrie did not "choose the bottle as a way of dealing with her fame." Carrie suffered from a mental illness that as diagnosed in her mid-20s: she did not accept the diagnosis until she was 29 after an inpatient stay. It was not fame that bedeviled her. Both parents were famous performers; she was used to dealing with the effects and scandals associated with fame. Her use of alcohol and drugs were self-medication related to her bipolar disorder.

[@marccarter1350]

@@wendyweaver8749 I understand duel diognosis well. My comments were not an attack on Carrie, It was more that she is missed by many, me included. Alcohol is not a kind drug. Reguardless of how or why you use it!

[@johnandrews1769]

Original trilogy are the best movies ever made 👍

[@MarkyD1967]

A $10 million film….and 30 years later Lucas sells the franchise to Disney for $4 BILLION !!!! 1:55 What a classic interview. The late 70s, early 80s, when all we see of the interviewer is the back of his hairy head….😂😂😂

[@bradavon]

Carrie's intelligence in dealing with the silly questions is shining through.

[@yokaboka]

"george wanted a fighter not a typiocal princess" eeehhhh Noooooo that cant be right because im fairly sure that Disney invented the strong female character. they told me so themselfs!

[@dougmasters4579]

wow an actor who's actually talented and interesting to listen to. compare that to the black holes of charisma in all those newer crap star wars films.

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Disney ~ not good enougth we want a woman thats even better!

[@TearyEyesAnderson]

Well, there is Mara Jade if you don't like Rey. Have you seen the original sequel stories, before Disney "Legend'ized them? It has the 'Happy' continuation of Luke, Leia, and Han story lines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKTVn5ShhNqIl6s And a few months ago a CGI version of the story was made with fans, instead of audio book readers preforming the lines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXScl4yLebZpea8 Hope you give them a watch.

[@allendracabal0819]

The Mary Sue Awakens.

[@leedavies5611]

'Shasm'? WTF??

[@T--xk3hf]

Always found the fact she had a major coke habit during the filming of Star Wars a massive turn on, but it really did rob decades off her life

[@beachboy13600]

I bet its like a mouses ear

[@jozefbania]

Carrie why your nose is so white? Too much powder?

[@sageantone7291]

She was a spoiled princess, not a liberated feminist. ffs, the '70s were so cringe.