A “Star” is Born Again: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back”

By Michael Lyons

There are so many ways that “The Empire Strikes Back” could have gone wrong that it’s still amazing how right it went.

There was a lot riding on the sequel to 1977’s “Star Wars,” which, at the time, was the highest grossing and most popular film of all time that had punched a hole in our popular culture.  It would have been so easy, from a creative perspective, to simply duplicate the original, after all, fans would have come out to watch Luke Skywalker read the Tatooine phone book.

All involved with “The Empire Strikes Back” did just the opposite, creating a whole new and original movie that deepens the story, world and the characters from the original, in ways that film students still marvel at to this day. 

In fact debates rage among fans as to whether “The Empire Strikes Back” is the best of the “Star Wars” films as well as film critics who contend that it’s one of the best movie sequels ever made.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back” and with “Star Wars Day” (“May the 4th be with You”) just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate this first of the “Star Wars” sequels.

The film continues the saga of the Rebels fighting The Empire, but this time finds a story telling method to split up Luke, Han and Lea, sending them off on independent adventures, which not only provide great character development,but also allows the audience to meet new characters and see more of the Galaxy that George Lucas had created.

Luke (with R2D2) goes to planet Dagobah to train with the diminutive Jedi master Yoda, a character who would emerge as one of the most reflective, inspirational and popular in the series.

Han, Lea and Chewie (with C3PO in tow) head to Cloud City to enlist the help of old friend Lando Calrissien, while staying one step ahead of bounty hunter Bobba Fett.

Along the way, double crosses happen, love is revealed, characters are placed in carbonate and new family lineage is discovered (four decades later, still no spoilers).

The entire cast from the original - Mark Hamil, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, etc. - return, joined by impressive new comers, Billy Dee Williams all smooth as Lando and Frank Oz, through his masterful, Muppet skills, delivering a heartfelt performance as Yoda.

Irvin Kershner takes over the directing reigns from George Lucas and delivers some truly compelling moments, from the opening battle on the ice planet Hoth to the climactic duel between Luke and Darth Vader, as well as subtle, emotional sequences, like Han and Lea professing their feelings and Luke confronting his own past.

Released May 21, 1980, “The Empire Strikes Back” was a summer box-office behemoth, proving what many already knew: that audiences wanted more of this world that George Lucas had introduced us to just three short years prior.

The careful craftsmanship that went into “The Empire Strikes Back” also showed that this was a film that truly respected its audience and fan base, opening a world that continues to evolve and grow in popularity to this day.

As the familiar “camera iris” closed, the music swelled and the credits rolled at the conclusion of “The Empire Strikes Back” forty years ago, audiences  and “Star Wars” fans were left with a “cliff hanger” and would have to wait three years for the resolution.

But, we didn’t mind.  In fact, four decades later, we still eagerly await what will happen next in the “Star Wars” Galaxy.

Continue to stay safe everyone.  May the 4th and the Force be with us all.

Sources:

IMDb

Wikipedia