Filming Empire

Hidden History of The Empire Strikes Back

Irvin Kershner

Training a
Monkey to be Yoda

When “Empire Strikes Back” went into production, Irvin Kershner, the director, was given full control of filming because Lucas wanted to focus on the effects. Kershner had originally turned down the role as director, but Lucas wanted someone with experience who was not a Hollywood bigshot. Kershner didn’t think he could improve on the original film but he worked hard and the crew loved him for it.

          There first big problem for Kershner was how to create Yoda. It was a real puzzle trying to figure out how they were going to bring him to life. Originally they thought about putting a person in a suit and even tried to put a monkey in a suit, but in the end it was decided that a Muppet would be best.  Make-up artist Stuart Freeman used his own face while designing Yoda and added some Albert Einstein-like wrinkles. 

Stuart Freeman & Yoda

            The Dagobah scenes were difficult to film. The set was built five feet from the floor so that Frank Oz and other puppeteers could control Yoda from below. Mark Hamill was the only actor on set for months but Kershner commended him on his work. Even today while watching these scenes, they are the heart of the movie. Audiences don’t notice that it’s just Hamill, a puppet, and a robot. When you hear the amazing voice work of Oz combined with John William’s epic score everything comes to life. Yoda is real to us, even more real than his CGI counterpart in the prequels.

Kershner on Dagobah

        

    By the time Kershner was filming the Bespin scenes the film was beginning to fall apart. It was over-budget and tension was rising on set. During the Carbonite scene it was scorching hot. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were in a big argument. Peter Mayhew was giving out signed copies of his book “Fitness is Fun” while wearing his Chewbacca-costume. Kershner was trying to keep things from spiraling out of control.

Kershner on Bespin

            While filming the “I love you” scene, Harrison was very angry that Han’s line was “I love you too”. According to Harrison, Han simply wouldn’t say that line. When Kershner started the scene, instead of saying “I love you too” Harrison said, “I know”.  The crew was furious, but Kershner calmed everyone down and told them to go to lunch. The line was filmed and Kershner would have to face Lucas later.

           

When Lucas saw the scene he was not happy. He felt the audience would laugh to which Kershner responded “Wonderful”. Lucas agreed to release two test screenings, one with “the line” and one without. In the end audiences responded to the line, citing it as "the best one in the entire film".

Notice mattresses below Luke

          

  While filming the lightsaber duel, there was huge secrecy on the set. Only certain people were given the script. Even David Prowse’s script had the false line “Obi-Wan killed your father”. Daivd, who played Vader, said the false line on set and no one knew that it wasn't true. Even Mark Hamill was not told what the real line was until moments before filming. Before the release only Kershner, Lucas, Hammil and James Earl Jones knew what Vader really said and Jones thought that Vader must have been lying.

          

  Irvin Kershner died a few years back but was happy that Empire is seen as the greatest Star Wars film. In a 2010 interview published just before his death he cited “Ratatouille” as his favorite modern American film. I think Kershner would be happy to see “Star Wars” in hands of Disney.