The Empire Strikes Back: Behind The Scenes
Some might make the argument that The Empire Strikes Back remains at the top of the Star Wars pack. Some might also make the point that ESB is the top movie of all time.
We’ll leave those arguments for another day. Either way, the middle story in the Original Trilogy is one of the most seminal sci-fi/fantasy films of all time. And Episode V remains the standard by which all Star Wars films are measured.
So, when Lucasfilm began a year-long celebration of the Star Wars classic, it made sense that the fete for the film need be memorable. And, no doubt, most pieces about the sequel to 1977’s Star Wars captured my immediate attention.
However, a few of the pieces, including the nearly seven-minute clip from Good Morning America are memorable on their own.
Smiles, Stars, and Snow
EXCLUSIVE: I’m excited to share rare & never-seen footage, outtakes & bloopers from #StarWars “The Empire Strikes Back”! Amazing moments with Harrison & Carrie, plus @HamillHimself's "Tauntaun Dance". A gift to you from my favorite Lucasfilm elves. #ESB40 https://t.co/3Rfe1qyr2i
— Clayton Sandell (@Clayton_Sandell) December 15, 2020
My friend Clayton Sandell wrote for GoodMorningAmerica.com:
A collection of rare and never-before-seen outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers from the making of “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,” has been delivered to “Good Morning America” by Lucasfilm elves to help celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary.
A majority of the clips are being seen publicly for the first time, and include many lighthearted moments shot during production featuring lead actors Mark Hamill (Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo).
In 1979, cameras captured Hamill and the crew on location in Finse, Norway,—doubling as the planet Hoth— during a major snowstorm that hampered the production.
The Tauntaun Dance
Reading about the shoot, I laughed to notice that Sandell wrote about the same moments I remembered:
Wearing a blue crew jacket with a name tag that reads “HEY YOU,” Hamill jokingly invents the Tauntaun Dance, named after the planet’s furry lizards.
“Three steps like this, and then you fall over,” Hamill says with a laugh.
Lots of Laughs
Laughter is a key facet of the video. The piece is SO charming. And heartwarming. But sometimes there’s a tinge of sadness, too. So many of the people pictured are no longer with us.
Front and center in that list, and in the video, Carrie Fisher spread her smiles around the Norwegian snowscape.
“I’m only up here to irritate the crew,” she told the camera.
Doubtful. But oh so Carrie.
Snow Blast From The Past
Finally, enjoy the video: