The Empire Strikes Back: Behind the Scenes - IRVIN KERSHNER (1979)

A collection of rare outtakes, printed dailies and interviews from behind the scenes of Star Wars Episode IV: The Empire Strikes Back…
George Lucas discusses relinquishing control as director of The Empire Strikes Back to Irvin Kershner.
Hamill and Ford are asked what they think are the differences between the respective directing styles of Lucas and Kershner.
A behind-the-scenes look at Kershner (with viewfinder) on the Hoth hangar set as it’s being constructed on the Star Wars Stage, with producer Gary Kurtz. Note the panorama of the set in progress.
Actor Peter Mayhew (as Chewbacca) shares a scene with Harrison Ford. Mayhew speaks his dialogue for Ford to respond to before being redubbed with Chewbacca ‘growls’.
Kershner directs extra John Ratzenberger and then Carrie Fisher (Leia) as they prepare to shoot a scene on the Hoth hangar set in which she debriefs rebel pilots, late May 1979. The organised chaos of filmmaking is apparent here.
Finally, is a printed daily from March 21, 1979, with the camera on Luke (Hamill), with extended dialogue from the medcenter scene shot at Elstree Studios. Note that Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew speak their dialogue through their masks. Director Irvin Kershner makes a “beep, beep” sound for Han coming through the automatic door. (Coloured slugs in the sequence indicate where film has been cut to be used in an actual edit; the slug allows sound to stay in sync with the remaining footage.)
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[@spitfiremark1a768]

Incredible footage yet again. Thank you so much for posting. Love to hear Peter Mayhew talking "Chewie". And to think that was 1979. Me at school and this was taking place 120 miles up the road at Elstree. Thank you once again.

[@SwatZombie]

Chewie yelling "where the hell have you been" is my new most favourite thing

[@bradleylovej]

Ikr, I have been a Star Wars fan since probably '94 when my cousin showed me Return of the Jedi. And hearing Peter talking in the Chewbacca suit is something I hadn't ever experienced. Love it

[@seniorslaphead8336]

It's great that he and Ford actually had acting dialogue together, must have made it much easier for both. The idea that Chewbacca was the space equivalent of a working class bloke from Croydon is also somehow appropriate...

[@chitown1782]

Irvin Kershner's poetic masterpiece.

[@jasonbrown6113]

I'm never going to be able to get Chewie yelling at Han in a British accent out of my mind, it's great to know what he was saying though.

[@tomservo5007]

there needs to be a Peter Mayhew audio track on the blurays

[@jazzarmada2161]

man the set for the rebels base on hoth looks massive

[@spitfiremark1a768]

Love the STAR WARS wallpaper during the Carrie Fisher interview. I had that on my bedroom wall. It's still there. The new owner of my parents house wants to keep it up.

[@kukujun]

Watching that last shot felt like finding gold.

[@bradleylovej]

They all look so full of life. I really, really miss Carrie. I always wanted to meet her. She reminds me of my aunt, but with talent

[@ImmortalArts33]

But with talent lmao

[@KrisBryant99]

@@ImmortalArts33 hahahahahahaha

[@yamatotakeru9078]

The 80s movies are magic times, they are the best Hollywood ever produced! Empire is the best Star Wars movie EVER! And the best MOVIE EVER! And now we have Disney Woke Crap Star Wars, i miss the 80s so much😭

[@bradleylovej]

@@yamatotakeru9078 Yeah man, I agree. Empire is the best Star Wars movie, and my vote for the best movie of all time

[@jnnx]

@@yamatotakeru9078It’s a 70’s movie.

[@Gredran]

It’s really interesting how different the directing styles are apparent and even the actors say it was a bit of an adjustment since Kershner is a lot more specific and particular. And it’s just interesting to see HOW particular he is, when sometimes when a director is too specific it can come across as rigid and unnatural, yet Kershner was the large part that made Empire so amazing. Awesome video!

[@inisipisTV]

Kershner is old school director (one who would construct a film by "playing" with the camera on scene in finding the right shot, instead of sticking to storyboard) who’s also professional cameraman, so he knows how to frame and took beautiful camera shots. If you watch all the three Originals you can see Empire has the best cinematography and has a much different framing a shot than Hope or Return. It later became the criterion for what the Prequels, Sequels, etc… would base their ‘look’ on.

[@portman8909]

Still the best director star wars has ever had.

[@yamatotakeru9078]

True

[@PhilipReeder]

7:43 8:02 8:32 Boy, Luke was really out of the loop.

[@OllieJonsson]

Nice!

[@gohanrebelde9888]

No le sabe al lore 😂

[@fanssolperez3430]

irving kershner gary kurtz the true geniuses who made possible the best movie about the saga of star wars the empire strikes back.

[@scottburns2600]

This one always stood out and by far my favorite. Funny how years later, we understand why it was so good

[@bootyshortsband]

doesn't look like a set. that's a real-ass garage on hoth

[@jerryziegner]

Incredible work. Gosh, Carrie was a dream! Beautiful face, amazing smile. Mark and Harrison were so young. I miss those magical days of cinema.

[@qweqqweq2090]

I always wondered how Harrison Ford played han so well, but now I see it clearly, he literally IS han!

[@spitfiremark1a768]

What a massive undertaking they had. The Rebel base set is incredible , even by today's standards. In my opinion superior to what they could do today. However, I always thought they went a bit "Hollywood" on the Falcon. They built the entire thing. For STAR WARS, they built about half of it. Watching Empire, I am sure they could still have gotten away with building sections of it again. Never used again as a whole. Jedi used sections and matte paintings. They even used a natte painting in TESB for its upper half on Bespin where the lighting was not to their liking.

[@blakestone75]

It would be absolutely stunning to be on that set. Just so amazingly well done.

[@johnbleakley4125]

Nice too see Cliff from Cheers here!(aka John Ratzenburger) : The Starship hanger were everybody knows your name!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@mandalorian23]

Damn that was so awesome! Carrie Fisher is just so damn beautiful!!

[@simonfarrell6585]

As usual, the best thing I've seen all weekend

[@sandal_thong8631]

"That's two you owe me," was a good line. They should have given him a good one leaving Tatooine in RotJ, like "You still owe me one more, kid."

[@sussygussy1138]

The set design is actually nuts

[@paulbateman858]

Love it, nice mix, no logo - that's me happy! Thanks! :)

[@TeddyLeppard]

4:03 That's John Ratzenberger (aka Cliff Claven from Cheers and from numerous Pixar films fame).

[@trueman4590]

“It’s a little known fact…”

[@mantovatube]

Época incrível para o cinema, from Brazil.

[@roberteubank8240]

What did Harrison say ? I couldn't understand after said Kershner

[@TreadwellJay]

"Kershner's much taller"

[@robertbeckman2054]

It’s a treat to see stuff like this. But even better when you’re 8 years old watching the movie in the theater.

[@MrTuco40]

Where is this footage from?