VIDEO: Leonard Maltin Interviews George Lucas, Part 2: The Empire Strikes Back

Once again we get a retro gem from the official StarWars Youtube channel. This time it's part two of the Leonard Maltin interview with George Lucas

In the second installment of Leonard Maltin's interview with Star Wars creator George Lucas, the two discuss the critically acclaimed Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.
Maltin calls The Empire Strikes Back "a totally successful film in its own right, as well as one of the most popular sequels ever made." After the release of Star Wars, a success beyond Lucas' expectations, Lucas was ready to continue his story. Originally, his script for Star Wars was massive, and he cut it into segments; The Empire Strikes Back was just the next phase of a story he'd already plotted.
Maltin asks about the biggest overall difference between Episode IV and Episode V, noting that the latter is considered a darker picture. "It is a darker film," Lucas says, "because in the first act you introduce everybody, the second act you put them in the worst possible position they could ever get into in their lives...and then the third act, they get out." There was no major technological advance, the filmmaker says, just refinement. But The Empire Strikes Back gave him an opportunity to do more stop-motion effects and expand the scale of the Star Wars universe.
When Lucas created Yoda, he wanted him to be very small, but then had to figure out how to translate that to film. The idea was to bring him to life as a puppet, and he asked his friend Jim Henson to play the role. Henson was busy at the time, and suggested his longtime collaborator Frank Oz. Lucas loved that idea, and notes that everyone involved was excited about Yoda.
Maltin and Lucas also talk about the saga's music, with Lucas revealing that Steven Spielberg suggested John Williams as composer, and dispelling the rumor that he originally wanted to use existing classical music.
And as for the classic cliffhanger involving who Darth Vader really is? Lucas intentionally left it ambiguous, wanting people to debate whether or not it was true.

THE BEARDED TRIO ON FACEBOOK
THE BEARDED TRIO ON TWITTER
THE BEARDED TRIO ON GOOGLE+

Comments

Did Paul Freeman Accidentally Eat A Fly In Raiders of the Lost Ark?

The Famous Indiana Jones Fly In Belloq's Mouth Scene. Did It Really Happen? I've always wondered if Paul Freeman unintentionally consumed a fly in this scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark ? It's the scene where Indiana Jones shouts down to Bellosh...I mean Belloq and threatens to blow up the ark. Did a fly go in his mouth? I remember watching this scene back in the early eighties and my ten year old mind thought he definitely had a snack while filming. I recall talking about 'flygate' in my school playground at the time and the general consensus with my friends was that Freeman definitely had a sneaky snack. Paul Freeman talks about the famous 'fly' scene in an interview with TheIndyExperience.com and settled 'flygate:' This is a bit of a dicey question so don’t get too upset. (Laughs) A movie’s always got bloopers in it, some have a lot, and some only have three or four. And the most remarkable blooper was right before the opening of th...

Star Wars VII Movie Poster - Every End Is A New Beginning

Star Wars VII Movie Poster Just saw this Star Wars VII movie poster on Kyle Newman's Facebook fee d. The poster is by Lyndon Berresford and Paul Bateman. I am loving this. Who do you think the two characters are? Lando and Leia? Han and Leia's children? Have you seen other Star Wars VII movie posters? Let me know. Rob Wainfur @welshslider

Explaining That "Weird" Cut In Poltergeist. Read The Missing Scene

Why Is There A Strange Cut In The 1982 Horror Classic, Poltergeist? If you're a fan of the 1982 Horror classic, Poltergeist then you will be very familiar with that "weird" cut in the movie. It's 32 minutes and 47 seconds in to the movie and the scene is where Diane is explaining the strange phenomenon that is happening in the kitchen. First, she shows to Steve a chair scraping across the floor all on its own then she does the same with Carol Anne. Steve leans up against the kitchen wall and is completely shocked at what just happened. It's at this point Diane starts to explain the sensation of being pulled and then...A very abrupt cut. One moment we are listening to Diane and suddenly it cuts to Diane and Steve at their next door neighbours door. Why the sudden cut? It's on the VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and even the streaming versions. Why does this awful and weird cut exist in the movie, Poltergeist? Watch the clip below to see the cut...

The Bearded Trio

Search This Blog