This week’s Archive on 4 to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 is to feature The Empire Strikes Back ahead of its 40th anniversary next week. The 57-minute episode will air on Saturday 16th May at 20:00 BST. Unfortunately, due to BBC broadcasting restrictions, this may not be available in some territories.
The Empire Strikes Back
40 years ago George Lucas risked all on the creation of the first Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. On this the fate of the Star Wars universe and his dreams of an independent filmmaking empire rested. Having your first screen writer die on you whilst the ink had barely dried on the first draft was an inauspicious start. Then came ice and fire. The first weeks of filming in Norway (a.k.a. Hoth) were a white out and back in England, Elstree studios endured conflagration. The film that finally emerged in May 1980 has gone on to be a classy classic.
Mark Burman returns to a snowbound Finse, Norway to hear from some of the veteran crew, draws on rare archive of director Irvin Kershner, George Lucas, Mark Hamill and Yoda creator Stuart Freeborn and hears from fx geniuses at Industrial Light & Magic on bringing Imperial Walkers, Taun Tauns and a malfunctioning Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field and onto the screen.
Listen to this you must.
Producer: Mark Burman
If you miss the live broadcast, be sure to check it out via the BBC website or the BBC Sounds App.
