Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back

### Rating

**Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back** is a UK VHS release by CBS/Fox Video. It was first released on Rental on 19th October 1984. It was re-released on Sell Through on 9th May 1988. It was once more re-released by CBS/Fox Video on 23rd October 1989. On 5th October 1992 it was released in Widescreen by CBS/Fox Video. It was re-released in both Pan and Scan and Widescreen by Fox Video on 5th September 1994 with a Digital Remaster. The Original Theatrical Version had a final re-release in both Pan and Scan and Widescreen by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and CBS/Fox Video on 29th August 1995, this was a new Digital Remaster by THX. On 6th October 1997 The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition was released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

## Description

**THE BATTLE CONTINUES AND THE UNIVERSE SHUDDERS**

The battle to save the galaxy from the evil of Darth Vader rages on in this spellbinding STAR WARS sequel that is one of the highest-grossing films of all time.  In a spectacular opening battle the Rebels suffer a devastating attack by an Imperial army using At-At Walkers.  Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca survive, and fight a running battle against Imperial ships while Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) seeks out Yoda, the ancient Jedi master, to be trained as a true Jedi knight.  Meanwhile Darth Vader is scheming to lure Luke to the Dark Side of the Force, or kill him in their final showdown – a stunning duel in which Luke learns the secret of his destiny.  This dazzling adventure introduced the charming, shifty rogue Landon Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and Yoda, one of the most delightful, ingenious and instantly  successful characters to ever light up a movie screen.  An awesome array of special effects, blazing action, and imagination, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is hailed as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

Running Time Approx. 119 Minutes

Copyright 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd

## Cast

* Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker: A Jedi in training, who is powerfully connected with the Force.
* Harrison Ford as Han Solo: A smuggler and Captain of the Millennium Falcon.
* Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa: A leader of the Rebel Alliance, the former Princess of the destroyed planet Alderaan.
* Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian: Administrator of Cloud City and an old friend to Han Solo.
* Anthony Daniels as C-3PO: A humanoid protocol droid in the Rebel Alliance.
* David Prowse as Darth Vader: Luke's father and a warrior of the dark side of the Force and the Emperor's second-in command. The character's voice is provided by James Earl Jones.
* Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca: A Wookiee and loyal friend to Han Solo.
* Kenny Baker as R2-D2: An astromech droid in the Rebel Alliance and long-time friend to C-3PO. He also portrays a GONK power droid in the background.
* Frank Oz performing Yoda: The wise, centuries-old Grand Master of the Jedi, who is Luke's self-exiled Jedi Master living on Dagobah. Oz was assisted by several other performers, including Kathryn Mullen, David Barclay, Wendy Froud, and Deep Roy.
* Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett: A bounty hunter, hired by the Galactic Empire. Jason Wingreen provided Fett's voice in the film's original theatrical cut and the 1997 Special Edition. In the 2004 and 2011 special editions, Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in *Attack of the Clones* and all his clones, replaced Wingreen as Fett's voice. Bulloch also makes a cameo appearance as the Imperial officer who grabs Leia when she tells Luke to avoid Vader's trap with John Morton doubling as Fett in this scene.
* Multiple actors have portrayed the Emperor: The evil ruler of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader's powerful Sith Master, who appears via hologram. Clive Revill originally provided his voice, while actress Marjorie Eaton portrayed him physically, wearing a mask. Ultimately the actress and voice actor were replaced by Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the character in later films, for the 2004 DVD edition and subsequent releases.
* Alec Guinness appears briefly as Obi-Wan Kenobi's Force ghost: Luke's deceased mentor, who guides him to Yoda.

Denis Lawson reprises his role as Wedge Antilles from the first film. John Hollis plays 'Lobot', Lando's personal aide. Julian Glover appears as General Veers, a general who leads the Empire in the battle of Hoth; Kenneth Colley portrays Admiral Piett, the Empire's top admiral; Michael Sheard as Admiral Ozzel, Vader's previous admiral; Michael Culver appears as Captain Needa, one of the Empire's captains who failed to catch the Millennium Falcon; John Ratzenberger portrays Major Derlin, one of the officers who led the rebels in the battle of Hoth; Bruce Boa appears as General Rieekan, Princess Leia's military advisor on Hoth; Christopher Malcolm plays Rebel snowspeeder pilot Zev Senesca, who finds Skywalker and Solo on the surface of Hoth; and John Morton portrays Dak Ralter, Luke's gunner in the battle of Hoth who was killed by an AT-AT. Richard Oldfield is Rebel pilot Hobbie Klivian.

Morris Bush portrays the bounty hunter Dengar, Alan Harris portrays the bounty hunter Bossk and Chris Parsons portrays the robotic bounty hunter 4-LOM.

## Credits

* Directed by George Lucas & Irvin Kershner
* Screenplay by George Lucas, Leigh Brackett & Lawrence Kasdan
* Story by George Lucas
* Produced by Gary Kurtz
* Cinematography Peter Suschitzky
* Edited by Paul Hirsch
* Music by John Williams
* 20th Century Fox Presents
* A Lucasfilm Ltd. Production

Theatrical Release Date: 21st May 1980 (US) / 20th May 1980 (UK)

## Opening (1997 Re-release) (with no trailer)

* 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen
* 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Ident (1995-1999)
* Video Piracy Warning (20th Century Fox) [announced by Peter Dickson]
* The Making of The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition title card
* 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Ident (silent)
* The Making of The Empire Strikes Back (1997) (Full Video) [announced by Ringo Starr]
* THX Ident
* 20th Century Fox Ident (Fast 20th Century Fox Version)
* Lucasfilm Ident (20th Century Fox Version)
* Start of Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

## Closing (1997 Re-release) (with no trailer)

* End of Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
* Closing Credits Film
* 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Warning Screen

## Gallery

The Empire Strikes Back 1984 VHS CoverThe Empire Strikes Back 1984 VHS CoverThe Empire Strikes Back 1995 VHS Cover
## Trailers and info

### Widescreen Re-Release (United States low pitch)

1. Two Classic Science-Fiction Series-Lost in Space and The Twilight Zone (Now Available for you to own on videocassette)
2. The Widescreen Collection with clips of "Star Wars", "The Empire Strikes Back and "Return of the Jedi" in the Star Wars Trilogy

### 1994 Re-release (United States low pitch)

The Star Wars Trilogy with clips of "Star Wars", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi"