Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

Leigh Brackett (screenplay) and
Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Adventure Continues...

Plot:

As Luke trains with Master Yoda to become a Jedi Knight, his friends evade the Imperial fleet under the command of Darth Vader who is obsessed with turning Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force.

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Empire | Rebel | Escape | Training

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 12 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Mark Hamill	...	Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford	...	Han Solo
Carrie Fisher	...	Princess Leia
Billy Dee Williams	...	Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels	...	C-3PO
David Prowse	...	Darth Vader
Peter Mayhew	...	Chewbacca
Kenny Baker	...	R2-D2
Frank Oz	...	Yoda (voice)
Alec Guinness	...	Ben 'Obi-wan' Kenobi
Jeremy Bulloch	...	Boba Fett
John Hollis	...	Lando's Aide
Jack Purvis	...	Chief Ugnaught
Des Webb	...	Snow Creature
Clive Revill	...	Emperor (voice)
Kenneth Colley	...	Admiral Piett
Julian Glover	...	General Veers
Michael Sheard	...	Admiral Ozzel
Michael Culver	...	Captain Needa
John Dicks	...	Imperial Officer
Milton Johns	...	Imperial Officer
Mark Jones	...	Imperial Officer
Oliver Maguire	...	Imperial Officer
Bruce Boa	...	Rebel Force General Rieekan
Robin Scobey	...	Imperial Officer
Christopher Malcolm	...	Rebel Force Zev - Rogue 2
Denis Lawson	...	Rebel Force Wedge - Rogue 3 (as Dennis Lawson)
Richard Oldfield	...	Rebel Force Hobbie - Rogue 4
John Morton	...	Rebel Force Dak - Luke's Gunner
Ian Liston	...	Rebel Force Janson - Wedge's Gunner
John Ratzenberger	...	Rebel Force Major Derlin
Jack McKenzie	...	Rebel Force Deck Lieutenant
Jerry Harte	...	Rebel Force Head Controller
Norman Chancer	...	Other Rebel Officer
Norwich Duff	...	Other Rebel Officer
Ray Hassett	...	Other Rebel Officer
Brigitte Kahn	...	Other Rebel Officer
Burnell Tucker	...	Other Rebel Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Anderson	...	Imperial Officer (uncredited)
Lightning Bear	...	Stormtrooper (uncredited)
Richard Bonehill	...	Stormtrooper / Snowtrooper / Rebel Soldier / Tauntaun Handler (uncredited)
Stephen Buchanan	...	Holographic Officer (uncredited)
Morris Bush	...	Dengar (uncredited)
Mark Capri	...	Officer M'kae - Captain Needa's Communications Officer (uncredited)
Martin Dew	...	Cloud City Guard (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	...	Snowtrooper Gunner (uncredited)
Tom Egeland	...	Hoth Trooper (uncredited)
Stuart Fell	...	Snowtrooper (uncredited)
Michael A. Frandy	...	Imperial Shuttle Mechanic (uncredited)
Alan Harris	...	Bossk / Bespin Security Guard (uncredited)
Susie Hudson	...	Bespin Woman (uncredited)
James Earl Jones	...	Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Arve Juritzen	...	Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
Paul Klein	...	IG-88 - The Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Tiffany L. Kurtz	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie	...	General McQuarrie (uncredited)
Ralph Morse	...	Stormtrooper / Imperial Comms Officer / Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
Cathy Munro	...	Zuckuss / E-3PO (uncredited)
C. Andrew Nelson	...	Darth Vader (special edition) (uncredited)
Chris Parsons	...	4-LOM / K-3PO / Stormtrooper (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	...	Snowtrooper (uncredited)
Michael Santiago	...	Voice (uncredited)
Tony Smart	...	Snowtrooper (uncredited)
Harold Weed	...	Wampa (special edition) (uncredited)
Treat Williams	...	Echo Base Trooper (uncredited)
Jason Wingreen	...	Boba Fett (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Irvin Kershner

Writing credits
Leigh Brackett		(screenplay) and
Lawrence Kasdan		(screenplay)
George Lucas		(story)

Produced by
Jim Bloom	....	associate producer (as James Bloom)
Gary Kurtz	....	producer
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Rick McCallum	....	producer (1997 special edition)
Robert Watts	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
T.M. Christopher		(1997 special edition)
Paul Hirsch
George Lucas		(uncredited)
Marcia Lucas		(uncredited)

Casting by
Bob Edmiston
Irene Lamb
Terry Liebling

Production Design by
Norman Reynolds

Art Direction by
Leslie Dilley
Harry Lange
Alan Tomkins

Set Decoration by
Michael Ford

Costume Design by
John Mollo

Makeup Department
Graham Freeborn	....	chief makeup artist
Kay Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup and special creature designer
Nick Maley	....	makeup artist
Barbara Ritchie	....	chief hairdresser
David Barkley	....	special makeup effects trainee (uncredited)
Nick Dudman	....	special makeup effects trainee (uncredited)
Bob Keen	....	special makeup effects trainee (uncredited)

Production Management
Patricia Carr	....	assistant production manager
Sven Johansen	....	production manager: location second unit (as Svein Johansen)
Bruce Sharman	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Barry	....	director: studio second unit
Roy Button	....	second assistant director
Harley Cokeliss	....	director: studio second unit (as Harley Cokliss)
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director: studio second unit
Steve Lanning	....	second assistant director
Peter MacDonald	....	director: location second unit
Andrew Montgomery	....	second assistant director: studio second unit
Ola Solum	....	assistant director: location second unit
David Tomblin	....	first assistant director
Bill Westley	....	assistant director: location second unit
Derek Harrington	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Paul Tivers	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ted Ambrose	....	draftsman
Ivor Beddoes	....	sketch artist
Michael Boone	....	draftsman
Reg Bream	....	draftsman
Frank Bruton	....	property master
Steve Cooper	....	draftsman
Richard Dawking	....	draftsman
Joe Dipple	....	property dressing supervisor
Fred Evans	....	modeller
George Gunning	....	head carpenter
Fred Hole	....	assistant art director
Michael Lamont	....	assistant art director
Ralph McQuarrie	....	design consultant and conceptual artist
Dave Middleton	....	construction storeman
Allan Moss	....	modeller
Edward Rodrigo	....	chief buyer
Bert Rodwell	....	head plasterer
Janet Stevens	....	modeller (as Jan Stevens)
Charles Torbett	....	property supervisor
Bill Welch	....	construction manager
Andy Aitken	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Gerry Bourke	....	props (uncredited)
Mark Harris	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Peter Mann	....	constructor (uncredited)
Kieron Mcnamara	....	props (uncredited)
Per Mørk	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Benson	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Burrow	....	sound editor
Ben Burtt	....	sound designer
Ben Burtt	....	supervising sound effects editor
Joanna Cappuccilli	....	assistant sound editor
Joanne D'Antonio	....	dialogue editor
Don Digirolamo	....	consultant: Dolby
Teresa Eckton	....	sound editor
Ken Fischer	....	assistant sound editor
Howie Hammerman	....	recording technician (as Howie)
Scott Hecker	....	foley editor
Craig S. Jaeger	....	assistant sound editor (as Craig Jaeger)
Nancy Jencks	....	assistant sound editor
Bonnie Koehler	....	sound editor
Laurel Ladevich	....	assistant sound editor
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recordist
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recordist
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound recording technician
Gary Rizzo	....	digital sound mix technician (1997 special edition) (as Gary A. Rizzo)
John Roesch	....	foley assistant
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist (1997 special edition)
Robert R. Rutledge	....	foley editor (as Robert Rutledge)
Curt Schulkey	....	dialogue editor
Leslie Shatz	....	dialogue editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley assistant
Lisa Storer	....	assistant sound editor (1997 special edition)
Gary Summers	....	sound re-recording mixer (1997 special edition)
Gary Summers	....	sound recording technician
Peter Sutton	....	production sound
Randy Thom	....	sound effects recordist
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recordist
Don Wortham	....	sound boom operator
Fred Clemons	....	machine room operator (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Steve Kinsey	....	sound mix technician (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	machine room operator (1997 special edition) (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	mechanical effects supervisor: production and mechanical effects unit
Alan Bryce	....	location unit supervisor: production and mechanical effects unit (as Allan Bryce)
Gilly Case	....	effects secretary: production and mechanical effects unit (as Gill Case)
Rob Dickinson	....	electrical consultant: production and mechanical effects unit
Brian Eke	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
Martin Gant	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
John Hatt	....	electrical engineer: production and mechanical effects unit
Ron Hone	....	robot fabrication and supervision: production and mechanical effects unit
Guy Hudson	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
Andrew Kelly	....	robot fabrication and supervision: production and mechanical effects unit
Phil Knowles	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
Stephen Lloyd	....	effects engineering: production and mechanical effects unit (as Steve Lloyd)
Dennis Lowe	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
Robert McLaren	....	effects assistant: production and mechanical effects unit
Digby Milner	....	effects assistant: production and mechanical effects unit
Roger Nichols	....	effects engineer: production and mechanical effects unit
John Pakenham	....	model construction: production and mechanical effects unit
Alan Poole	....	effects engineer: production and mechanical effects unit
Neil Swan	....	senior effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit
David H. Watkins	....	senior effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit (as Dave Watkins)
Barry Whitrod	....	effects technician: production and mechanical effects unit

Visual Effects by
Julie Adrianson-Neary	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Julie Neary)
Peter Amundson	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Chris Anderson	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Okan Ataman	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
Charles Bailey	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Craig Barron	....	matte photography assistant: miniature and optical effects unit
John Bartle	....	assistant visual effects editor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Carol Bauman	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Randall K. Bean	....	digital scanning operator: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Randall Bean)
Greg Beaumonte	....	machinist: miniature and optical effects unit
James Beaumonte	....	camera and movement design: miniature and optical effects unit (as Jim Beaumonte)
William Beck	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Wendy Bell	....	video assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
David Benson	....	sofware research and development: ILM (1997 special edition)
Jon Berg	....	stop motion animation: miniature and optical effects unit
David Berry	....	optical printer operator: miniature and optical effects unit
Doug Beswick	....	stop motion technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Earl Beyer	....	digital scanning operator: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ken Beyer	....	production engineering: ILM (1997 special edition)
Don Bies	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Andrea Biklian	....	negative line-up: ILM (1997 special edition)
Patricia Blau	....	production secretary: miniature and optical effects unit
Mike Bolles	....	design engineer: miniature and optical effects unit
Ed Breed	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Daniel Brimer	....	digital effects resource assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
Kris Brown	....	systems programming: miniature and optical effects unit
Ronn Brown	....	digital matte artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Thomas Brown	....	production associate: miniature and optical effects unit
Conrad Buff IV	....	visual effects editorial supervisor: miniature and optical effects unit (as Conrad Buff)
Chris Bushman	....	optical supervisor (1997 special edition)
Donald S. Butler	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Don Butler)
Dave Carson	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Chris Casady	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Eric Chauvin	....	digital matte artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Peter Chesloff	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
Terry Chostner	....	still photographer: miniature and optical effects unit
Donald Clark	....	optical printer operator: miniature and optical effects unit
Sam Comstock	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit (as Samuel Comstock)
Michael Conte	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Caitlin Content	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ken Corvino	....	production engineering: ILM (1997 special edition)
Julie Creighton	....	visual effects production staff: ILM (1997 special edition)
Laura Crockett	....	assistant accountant: miniature and optical effects unit
Giovanni Donovan	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Dick Dova	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Don Dow	....	camera operator: miniature and optical effects unit
Loring Doyle	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Lisa Drostova	....	digital paint & roto artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Selwyn Eddy	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Richard Edlund	....	special visual effects
Harrison Ellenshaw	....	matte painting supervisor: miniature and optical effects unit
Mike Ellis	....	digital scanning operator: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Michael Ellis)
Robert Elswit	....	matte photography assistant: miniature and optical effects unit
Phillip Feiner	....	optical supervisor (1997 special edition)
Rick Fichter	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Bob Finley III	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit (as Bobby Finley)
Richard Fish	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Brian Flora	....	digital matte artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Warren Franklin	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Roberta Friedman	....	optical coordinator
Michael Fulmer	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Dick Gallegly	....	production administrator: miniature and optical effects unit
Steve Gawley	....	modelshop foreman: miniature and optical effects unit
Tim Geideman	....	laboratory technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Tim Geideman	....	negative line-up: ILM (1997 special edition)
Rob Gemmel	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Howard Gersh	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
David Grafton	....	special optics designer: miniature and optical effects unit
Timothy Greenwood	....	projectionist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Tim Greenwood)
Grant Guenin	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
James Hagedorn	....	3D matchmove artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Wendy Hendrickson	....	digital plate restoration: ILM (1997 special edition)
Edward Hirsh	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Jim Hourihan	....	software research and development: ILM (1997 special edition)
George Hull	....	visual effects art director: ILM (1997 special edition)
Paul Huston	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Paul Huston	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Tom L. Hutchinson	....	computer graphics supervisor: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Tom Hutchinson)
Jerry Jeffress	....	electronic systems designer: miniature and optical effects unit
Brian Johnson	....	special visual effects
Joe Johnston	....	art director visual effects: miniature and optical effects unit
Doug Jones	....	negative supervisor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ed Jones	....	laboratory technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Zoran Kacic-Alesic	....	software research and development: ILM (1997 special edition)
Florian Kainz	....	software research and development: ILM (1997 special edition)
Michael Kelly	....	effects editor: miniature and optical effects unit
Tom Kennedy	....	visual effects producer: ILM (1997 special edition)
Kim Knowlton	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Marshall Richard Krasser	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Marshall Krasser)
Neil Krepela	....	matte photography: miniature and optical effects unit
Peter Kuran	....	animation and rotoscope supervisor: miniature and optical effects unit
Alexander Laurant	....	assistant visual effects art director: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Alex Laurant)
Michael Lawler	....	additional matte photography: miniature and optical effects unit
Angela Leaper	....	video editor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Gary Leo	....	electronic engineer: miniature and optical effects unit
Joshua Levine	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
James Lim	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Leo Loverro	....	stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Mike MacKenzie	....	electronic engineer: miniature and optical effects unit
Joshua Marks	....	visual effects production staff: ILM (1997 special edition)
Scott Marshall	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Tia L. Marshall	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Tia Marshall)
Dawn Martin	....	video assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
Stuart T. Maschwitz	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Terrence Masson	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Bill Mather	....	digital matte artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as William Mather)
Dawn Matheson	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM (1997 special edition)
Michael J. McAlister	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit (as Michael McAlister)
Pat McClung	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Mary McCulloch	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Michael McGovern	....	visual effects editor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Roberto McGrath	....	lab assistant: miniature and optical effects unit
Dan McNamara	....	Sabre group supervisor: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Daniel McNamara)
Ralph McQuarrie	....	matte artist: miniature and optical effects unit
Gary Meyer	....	production engineering: ILM (1997 special edition)
Lhary Meyer	....	electronic engineer: miniature and optical effects unit
Ted Moehnke	....	supervising stage technician: miniature and optical effects unit (as T.E. Moehnke)
Melissa Monterrosa	....	digital plate restoration: ILM (1997 special edition)
Thaine Morris	....	miniature pyrotechnics: miniature and optical effects unit
Wendy Morton	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Dennis Muren	....	effects director of photography: miniature and optical effects unit
Duncan Myers	....	laboratory technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Bill Neil	....	camera operator: miniature and optical effects unit
Bruce Nicholson	....	optical photography supervisor: miniature and optical effects unit
Ken Nielsen	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ease Owyeung	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Jenny Oznowicz	....	production assistant: miniature and optical effects unit
Clint Palmer	....	assistant camera: miniature and optical effects unit
Udo Pampel	....	machinist: miniature and optical effects unit
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist: miniature and optical effects unit
Eddie Pasquarello	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Lorne Peterson	....	chief model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Glenn Phillips	....	assistant accountant: miniature and optical effects unit
David Pier	....	miniature pyrotechnics: miniature and optical effects unit (as Dave Pier)
Tam Pillsbury	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Joshua Pines	....	digital scanning supervisor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Gary Platek	....	special projects: miniature and optical effects unit
Anne Polland	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ken Ralston	....	effects cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Ricardo Ramos	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Arthur F. Repola	....	assistant effects editor: miniature and optical effects unit (as Arthur Repola)
Nilo Rodis-Jamero	....	assistant art director: miniature and optical effects unit
Thomas Rosseter	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Tom Rosseter)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Jonathan Rothbart	....	animatic artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Tom Rudduck	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Nina Saxon	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Stanley W. Sayer	....	matte photography consultant (as Stanley Sayer)
Ray Scalice	....	production accountant: miniature and optical effects unit
Wesley Seeds	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Dan Shumaker	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Daniel Shumaker)
Mark Siegel	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition)
Kenneth Smith	....	optical printer operator: miniature and optical effects unit
Tom St. Amand	....	stop motion technician: miniature and optical effects unit
Howard Stein	....	assistant effects editor: miniature and optical effects unit
Lawrence Tan	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Chad Taylor	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Rick Taylor	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Ed Tennler	....	draftsman: miniature and optical effects unit
Jonas Thaler	....	apprentice editor: miniature and optical effects unit (as Jon Thaler)
Paul Theren	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Marc Thorpe	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Phil Tippett	....	stop motion animation: miniature and optical effects unit
Lisa Todd	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM (1997 special edition)
Pam Traas	....	assistant accountant: miniature and optical effects unit
Hans Uhlig	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Michael Van Eps	....	digital plate restoration: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Mike Van Eps)
John T. Van Vliet	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit (as John Van Vliet)
Mark Vargo	....	optical line-up: miniature and optical effects unit
Bruce Vecchitto	....	color timing supervisor: ILM (1997 special edition)
Jim Veilleux	....	effects cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Laurie Vermont	....	optical coordinator: miniature and optical effects unit
Joe Viskocil	....	miniature pyrotechnics: miniature and optical effects unit (as Joseph Viskocil)
Garry Waller	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Steve Walton	....	model and creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Steven Walton)
Harold Weed	....	chief creature maker: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Howie Weed)
Li-Hsien Wei	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Ken Wesley	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Jody Westheimer	....	assistant cameraman: miniature and optical effects unit
Gene Whiteman	....	equipment engineering supervisor: miniature and optical effects unit
Diana Wilson	....	animator: miniature and optical effects unit
Ron Woodall	....	digital effects artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Jeffery Yost	....	software research and development: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Jeff Yost)
Heidi Zabit	....	digital paint & roto artist: ILM (1997 special edition)
Stuart Ziff	....	special project coordinator: miniature and optical effects unit
Rita E. Zimmerman	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (as Rita Zimmerman)
Samuel Zolltheis	....	model maker: miniature and optical effects unit
Bruce Cardozo	....	optical line up (uncredited)
Fon Davis	....	model maker: ILM (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Giovanni Donovan	....	Wampa lair construction (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Aaron Haye	....	model maker: ILM (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Pete Kleinow	....	stop motion animator (uncredited)
Todd Mitchell	....	scanning operator: ILM (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Ben O'Brien	....	Sabre artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Matt Wallin	....	digital artist: ILM (1997 special edition) (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Anderson	....	stunt double
Peter Diamond	....	stunt coordinator
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt double
Lightning Bear	....	stunts (uncredited)
Marc Boyle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Dowdall	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stuart Fell	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Stuart Fell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Reg Harding	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Arnold	....	assistant cameraman
Frank Batt	....	dolly grip: location second unit
Mike Brewster	....	assistant cameraman: location second unit
John Campbell	....	assistant cameraman: location second unit
John Clark	....	rigging gaffer
Greg Dupre	....	second assistant cameraman: second unit
David Garfath	....	operating cameraman
Geoff Glover	....	director of photography: location second unit
Ron Goodman	....	aerial cameraman
Margaret Herron	....	assistant aerial cameraman
John Keen	....	second assistant cameraman: second unit
Red Lawrence	....	head rigger
Dennis Lewis	....	dolly grip
Chris Menges	....	director of photography: studio second unit
Madelyn Most	....	second assistant cameraman
Brian Osborn	....	dolly grip
Kelvin Pike	....	operating cameraman
Peter Robinson	....	second assistant cameraman
Laurie Shane	....	gaffer
Bob Smith	....	operating cameraman: location second unit
Chris Tanner	....	assistant cameraman
George Whitear	....	still photographer
Steve Blake	....	lighting chargehand (uncredited)
Miles Cook	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Brian Q. Kelley	....	photographer: additional footage (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Paul Kenward	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Martin Kenzie	....	second assistant camera: second camera (uncredited)
Billy Merrell	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jon Sorensen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe supervisor
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Duwayne Dunham	....	assistant film editor
Barbara Ellis	....	assistant film editor
Ted Gagliano	....	post-production executive (1997 special edition)
Bob Hart	....	negative cutter (as Robert Hart)
Samuel H. Hinckley	....	first assistant editor (1997 special edition) (as Samuel Hinckley)
Darrell Hixson	....	negative cutter
Mike Jackson	....	assistant editor: avid (1997 special edition)
Robin Lee	....	assistant editor: avid (1997 special edition)
Ed Lemke	....	color timer
Robert Marty	....	first assistant editor (1997 special edition)
Mark Nakamine	....	colorist (digital color correction)
Robert Raring	....	color timer (1997 special edition) (as Robert J. Raring)
Ray Sabo	....	negative continuity (1997 special edition)
Phil Sanderson	....	assistant film editor
Steve Starkey	....	assistant film editor
Paul Tomlinson	....	assistant film editor
Brian Q. Kelley	....	editor: additional material (1997 special edition) (uncredited)

Music Department
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist
Kenneth Wannberg	....	supervising music editor
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
George Lucas	....	music producer (uncredited)
Angela Morley	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice Murphy	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Lionel Newman	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
John Williams	....	conductor (uncredited)
John Williams	....	music producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Martin	....	transportation: miniature and optical effects unit

Other crew
Bunny Alsup	....	assistant to producer
Alan Arnold	....	unit publicist
Jane Bay	....	assistant to executive producer
Ron Butcher	....	production maintenance
Ron Cook	....	location accountant
Kathryn Farrar	....	production controller (1997 special edition)
Tim Fox	....	archivist (1997 special edition)
Ken Gordon	....	set cost controller
Barbara Harley	....	production assistant
Miki Herman	....	production coordinator
Philip Kohler	....	location manager
Michael Larkins	....	assistant accountant
Nick Laws	....	production assistant
Pamela Mann	....	continuity
Wendy Midener	....	yoda fabricator
Kathryn Mullen	....	performing assistant: Yoda
Ron Phipps	....	production accountant
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity
Debbie Shaw	....	assistant to director
Charles B. Wessler	....	production assistant (as Charles Wessler)
Kristen Wing	....	assistant publicist
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot (as Mark Wolfe)
David Alan Barclay	....	assistant puppeteer (uncredited)
Des Carey	....	film archivist (1997 special edition) (uncredited)
Liz Coke	....	stand-in: Ms. Fisher (uncredited)
Jack Dearlove	....	stand-in: Mr. Ford (uncredited)
Alan Harris	....	stand-in: Mr. Daniels (uncredited)
Mark Marshall	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Chris Parsons	....	stand-in: "4-LOM", "K-3PO" and "C-3PO" (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lucasfilm (as A Lucasfilm Limited Production)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1980) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Twentieth Century-Fox Release)
• 20th Century Fox (1980) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1980) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1980) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• 20th Century Fox (1980) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical) (special edition)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox Films (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox Video (1984) (Belgium) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (1980s) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1980s) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (VHS)
• Europa Vision (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1990s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Fox Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD) (special edition)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (special edition)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1998) (Greece) (VHS) (Special edition)
• Laserland (1995) (Finland) (video) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Showtime (1985) (Finland) (VHS) (rental)
• SubTV (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Complete Saga)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (????) (Netherlands) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)
• YLE Teema (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects produced at)

Other Companies

• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• Fox Fanfare Music  original music copyright © 1980 by
• Bantha Music  original music copyright © 1980 by
• Lee Lighting  lighting equipment and crew (as Lee Electric)
• George Randle Co.  optical printer component manufacturer
• J.L. Wood Optical Systems  special optics fabrication
• Fries Engineering  optical printer component engineering
• Mitchell Camera  high speed camera movements
• Bruce Hill Productions  ultra high speed camera
• Van der Veer Photo Effects  additional optical effects
• Modern Film Effects  additional optical effects
• Ray Mercer & Company  additional optical effects
• Westheimer Company  additional optical effects
• Lookout Mountain Films  additional optical effects
• Wesscam Camera Systems (Europe)  aerial camera system
• Dollar Air Services  helicopter supplied by
• Continental Camera Systems  cloud plates photographed with Astrovision by
• Aktiv Fisher  snow vehicles supplied by
• White Horse Toy Company  R2 bodies fabricated by
• Giltspur Engineering and Compair  special assistance
• Anvil Studios  music recorded at
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  re-recording at
• RSO Records  original soundtrack on
• Ballantine Books  novelization
• Skywalker Sound  digital remastering (1997 special edition)
• Pacific Title  optical restoration (1997 special edition)
• YCM Laboratories  film restoration (1997 special edition)
• RCA Victor  soundtrack available on (1997 special edition)
• Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program  quality assurance (1997 special edition)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies (uncredited)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Flying Pictures  helicopter pilot provided by (uncredited)
• IVC  digital mastering (uncredited)
• Lowry Digital Images  digital restoration (2004 re-release)
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording (uncredited)
• Sony Classical  soundtrack released by (2004 re-release)

Also Known As:

"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" - UK (promotional title), USA (promotional title)
"Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back" - USA (video box title)
"The Empire Strikes Back" - USA (short title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action violence

Runtime:

124 min | USA:127 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (special edition) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 (special edition) | Denmark:12 (original rating) | Finland:K-10 (special edition) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | France:U | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | Netherlands:AL (video rating) (special edition) (1990s) | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 (re-rating) | Norway:12 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (special edition) | Spain:T (special edition) | Sweden:11 (special edition) | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:U | West Germany:12 | Mexico:AA | USA:PG (certificate #26034) | Iceland:12 (original rating) (theatrical release) | Iceland:12 (special edition) | Iceland:LH (original rating) (video release) | Germany:6 (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | South Africa:PG | Netherlands:12 | Peru:PT | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Company:

Lucasfilm

Trivia:

In an interview with Cinescape magazine, director Irvin Kershner said that he thought the first film was trashy and how he had no interest in films with special effects. However, he was won over by George Lucas, although Kershner was determined to make the film more about characterizations than hardware. Kershner spent several months working on the script, pushing the writers into humanizing the characters more (something that Lucas has often been criticized for failing to do).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Millennium Falcon enters the asteroid field, a shot shows the asteroids through the Falcon's cockpit window. One of the "asteroids" coming from the lower left is the Falcon itself.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Luke:Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?
Han Solo:Loud and clear, kid. What's up?
Luke:Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life readings.
Han Solo:There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. Sensors are placed. I'm going back.
Luke:Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take long.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to George Lucas (2005) (TV)

Even though he wasn't at the director's helm this time, George Lucas has done it again.

In a film like The Empire Strikes Back, especially a few years on the heels of such a mind-bogglingly great film like the original Star Wars, there is something that comes immediately to mind that would at first seem to count against the film, but instead only winds up increasing the respect that it commands. In the 1977 Star Wars, there is a clear reliance on simplicity in some parts. Obviously, it is much more than a simply made science fiction film, but like I said in my review of it, there was a lot of highly effective reliance on things that were not put on screen, such as Obi Wan's description of The Force to Luke. In The Empire Strike Back, the first thing that we are treated to is the traditional scrolling text along a background of stars, depicting what has happened between the last film and this one, and reminding us of the things that were mentioned in the last film but never explained.

At first, this would almost seem to be a way to save money to get more information across to the audience without having to actually put it on screen, but this is really an ingenious way of furthering the story. The very fact that we are so willing to read all this information and forgive our inability to actually see it is a testament to the quality of the series, even at this early stage in its presentation, and we know the story so well from the first film that we are glad to see such a large change in what's happening in the films, not for a second lamenting the fact that we have obviously missed so much action. And besides that, if and when George Lucas runs out of new prequels to release, and maybe if he someday begins to run low on how many hundreds of millions of dollars he has, he could go right back and make these in-between scenes into full length films. What would he call these, if he did that? Introquels? Who cares! The names themselves would be interesting enough, and if you go back and read the stuff that introduces this film, it's obvious that there's an entire film there just waiting to be made. I guess the question of actors would be a formidable one, though.

The Empire Strikes Back is the film where we are first introduced to the great Jedi master Yoda (`Away put your weapon!'), as well as some of the most thrilling battle sequences of the entire Star Wars series, and that includes the prequels. The battle scene where the rebels fight the Imperial Walkers on the ice planet is an incredibly well-made battle scene, not only in the way that it was put together so convincingly using models, but that the machines themselves are so creatively made. Indeed, the Imperial Walkers are some of the most recognizable machines from the entire Star Wars saga, right up there with the Millennium Falcon and the Death Star.

I have just watched this film again, having already seen Episode I and Episode II, and not having seen any of the original Star Wars films for maybe 10 years (except for the original 1977 Star Wars, which I saw and reviewed a few days ago - and these aren't even the Special Edition versions!). When I first saw Yoda when watching The Empire Strikes Back again, I was really struck by how different he looked from in the newer movies. Obviously, he's completely computer generated in the new films, but here in Episode V he looks like a muppet! Even so, I would like to express my opinion that Yoda is more realistic and more interesting here as a puppet than in the newer films as a computer generated image. At least here in the older films you know that he's actually THERE, and that he's not just added into the film later.

Oh yeah, speaking of Yoda, can I just complain for a minute? What the hell was up with the Jedi training? Yes, I realize that I'm just a lowly IMDb reviewer, while The Empire Strikes Back is a part of the greatest science fiction series of all time, but would it have killed George Lucas to write in a little more creative training for Luke? The thing that struck me first about the Star Wars films when I first started watching them was how incredibly imaginative they were, but then Luke started his training. You know, when I was in high school I played football. I was a wide receiver/tight end and I hardly ever got to play because I was too tall and too skinny, but part of my workout was to carry the linemen up and down the stairs to the weight room. Some of these guys weighed 100 pounds more than me, and I still almost never saw the field, and here's Luke Skywalker. He carries Yoda around this boggy swamp and he gets to be a Jedi! What the hell!

There is also the addition of a surprisingly fitting love story. First of all, anyone who has ever read my review of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie will know that I am not the biggest fan of cramming a love story into a movie where it doesn't belong. I can't seem to write anything about Bruckheimer movies without complaining about the idiot love story, and now it's even worse because here's this movie that was made so long before, from which Bruckheimer could obviously have at least learned a LITTLE bit about how to do it right. Han Solo and Princess Leia maintain the personalities that they developed in the first Star Wars film and there is now a sort of love/hate relationship between the two of them, where neither one of them wants to admit their feelings for the other. This romantic subplot is characterized perfectly in the scene just before Solo is carbon frozen, when Leia risks approaching a cheesy romantic moment by saying `I love you' just before Han is lowered into the freezing chamber, and he saves the moment by responding, `I know.' Han Solo. Smart-ass to the last drop.

Before I end I would like to point out that the goofs that can be found on the IMDb for this film are some of the most blatant that I've ever seen in a film. The scene where you can see someone giving a woman at the tactical maps a cue to deliver her lines is amazingly obvious, and some of the other ones, such as the stage hand swinging the light saber prop briefly into view as he switches it for an `off' prop with Luke just after he knocks Darth Vader over backwards, are just as much fun to look for. I have one question about the goofs, though. There's one where Luke looks off into the fog just after R2-D2 is eaten by the sea monster, and you can CLEARLY see a person running to the right a little ways off in the fog. Is that meant to be Luke? It seems that it's supposed to be him running in his search for R2, because you can even hear the FOOTSTEPS of the person running. I can't even IMAGINE how they could have missed THAT!!

It is, however, a testament to the quality of a film when such tremendous oversights in editing do nothing to take away from the overall quality of the film. The Empire Strikes Back remains an extremely powerful and well-made installment in the Star Wars series, not taking even a single step backwards in the sheer breathtaking adventure of the original film. It's not often that a film as good as Star Wars can be released and then followed up with a sequel that is just as great, as is clearly the case here. Star Wars was a gigantic film upon its release, and with The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas has begun the formation of one of the greatest film series' in cinematic history.