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

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
Leigh Brackett (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The Adventure Continues...

Plot:

While Luke takes advanced Jedi training from Yoda, his friends are relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Empire | Training | Rebel | Rescue

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 4

3:00 PM

SPIKETV

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	...	General Rieekan
Christopher Malcolm	...	Zev - Rogue 2
Denis Lawson	...	Wedge - Rogue 3 (as Dennis Lawson)
Richard Oldfield	...	Hobbie - Rogue 4
John Morton	...	Dak - Luke's Gunner
Ian Liston	...	Janson - Wedge's Gunner
John Ratzenberger	...	Major Derlin
Jack McKenzie	...	Deck Lieutenant
Jerry Harte	...	Head Controller
Norman Chancer	...	Rebel Officer
Norwich Duff	...	Rebel Officer
Ray Hassett	...	Rebel Officer
Brigitte Kahn	...	Rebel Officer
Burnell Tucker	...	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 - Capt. Needa's Communications Officer (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)
Tiffany L. Kurtz	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie	...	General McQuarrie (uncredited)
Ralph Morse	...	Stormtrooper (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)
Robin Scobey	...	Imperial Officer (uncredited)
Tony Smart	...	Snowtrooper (uncredited)
Harold Weed	...	Wampa (special edition) (uncredited)
Treat Williams	...	Jess Allashane, Echo Base Trooper / Jerrol Blendin, Cloud City Trooper (uncredited)
Jason Wingreen	...	Boba Fett (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Irvin Kershner

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

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

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky

Film Editing by
T.M. Christopher		(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	....	key makeup artist
Kay Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup and special creature design
Nick Maley	....	makeup artist (actually: special makeup effects crew)
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist
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
Roy Button	....	second assistant director
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director: studio second unit
Steve Lanning	....	second assistant director
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
Peter MacDonald	....	second unit 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
Dave Carson	....	model maker
Steve Cooper	....	draftsman
Richard Dawking	....	draftsman
Joe Dipple	....	property dressing supervisor
Rob Gemmel	....	model maker
George Gunning	....	head carpenter
Fred Hole	....	assistant art director
Michael Lamont	....	assistant art director
Pat McClung	....	model maker
Ralph McQuarrie	....	design consultant and conceptual artist
Dave Middleton	....	construction storeman
John Pakenham	....	model construction
Edward Rodrigo	....	chief buyer
Bert Rodwell	....	head plasterer
Tom Rudduck	....	model maker
Ed Tennler	....	draftsman
Charles Torbett	....	property supervisor
Bill Welch	....	construction manager
Samuel Zolltheis	....	model maker
Andy Aitken	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Mark Harris	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Peter Mann	....	constructor (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	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Teresa Eckton	....	sound editor
Ken Fischer	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Hecker	....	foley editor
Craig S. Jaeger	....	assistant sound editor (as Craig Jaeger)
Nancy Jencks	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Kelly	....	sound effects editor
Steve Kinsey	....	sound mix technician (special edition)
Bonnie Koehler	....	sound editor
Laurel Ladevich	....	assistant sound editor
Gregg Landaker	....	re-recording
Steve Maslow	....	re-recording
Kevin O'Connell	....	recording technician
Gary Rizzo	....	digital sound mix technician (special edition) (as Gary A. Rizzo)
John Roesch	....	foley assistant
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist: special edition
Robert R. Rutledge	....	foley editor (as Robert Rutledge)
Curt Schulkey	....	dialogue editor
Leslie Shatz	....	dialogue editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley assistant
Howard Stein	....	assistant sound effects editor
Lisa Storer	....	assistant sound editor (special edition)
Gary Summers	....	re-recording mixer (special edition)
Gary Summers	....	recording technician
Peter Sutton	....	production sound
Randy Thom	....	sound effects recordist
Bill Varney	....	re-recording
Don Wortham	....	boom operator
Fred Clemons	....	machine room operator (special edition) (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	machine room operator (special edition) (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	mechanical effects supervisor
Carol Bauman	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
Don Bies	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
Giovanni Donovan	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
Wendy Morton	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
Anne Polland	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
Mark Siegel	....	model and creature maker (special edition)
David H. Watkins	....	senior effects technician (as Dave Watkins)
Harold Weed	....	chief creature maker (special edition) (as Howie Weed)

Visual Effects by
Julie Adrianson-Neary	....	digital effects artist (special edition) (as Julie Neary)
Peter Amundson	....	optical line-up
Okan Ataman	....	digital effects technical assistant (special edition)
Charles Bailey	....	model maker
Craig Barron	....	matte photography assistant
John Bartle	....	assistant visual effects editor (special edition)
Randall K. Bean	....	digital scanning operator (special edition) (as Randall Bean)
Greg Beaumonte	....	machinist
William Beck	....	stage technician
Wendy Bell	....	video assistant (special edition)
David Benson	....	sofware research and development (special edition)
David Berry	....	optical printer operator
Earl Beyer	....	digital scanning operator (special edition)
Ken Beyer	....	production engineering (special edition)
Andrea Biklian	....	negative lineup (special edition)
Mike Bolles	....	design engineer
Ed Breed	....	stage technician
Daniel Brimer	....	digital effects resource assistant (special edition)
Ronn Brown	....	digital matte artist (1997 special edition)
Thomas Brown	....	digital animator
Conrad Buff IV	....	visual effects editorial supervisor (as Conrad Buff)
Chris Bushman	....	optical supervisor (special edition)
Donald S. Butler	....	digital effects artist (special edition) (as Don Butler)
Dave Carson	....	visual effects supervisor (special edition)
Eric Chauvin	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Peter Chesloff	....	digital effects technical assistant (special edition)
Donald Clark	....	optical printer operator
Michael Conte	....	digital effects artist: ILM (special edition)
Caitlin Content	....	sabre artist (special edition)
Ken Corvino	....	production engineering (special edition)
Julie Creighton	....	visual effects production staff (special edition)
Fon Davis	....	model maker: ILM (special edition)
Dick Dova	....	stage technician
Loring Doyle	....	optical line-up
Lisa Drostova	....	digital paint & roto artist (special edition)
Selwyn Eddy	....	effects unit assistant camera
Richard Edlund	....	special visual effects
Harrison Ellenshaw	....	matte painting supervisor
Mike Ellis	....	digital scanning operator (special edition) (as Michael Ellis)
Robert Elswit	....	matte photography assistant
Phillip Feiner	....	optical supervisor (special edition)
Rick Fichter	....	effects unit assistant camera
Robert Finley Jr.	....	stage technician (as Bobby Finley)
Brian Flora	....	digital matte artist (special edition)
Warren Franklin	....	optical line-up
Roberta Friedman	....	optical coordinator
Michael Fulmer	....	model maker
Steve Gawley	....	modelshop foreman
Tim Geideman	....	laboratory technician
Tim Geideman	....	negative lineup (special edition)
Howard Gersh	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
David Grafton	....	special optical designer
Timothy Greenwood	....	projectionist (special edition) (as Tim Greenwood)
Grant Guenin	....	sabre artist (special edition)
James Hagedorn	....	3D matcmove artist (special edition)
Aaron Haye	....	model maker: ILM (special edition)
Wendy Hendrickson	....	digital plate restoration (special edition)
Edward Hirsh	....	stage technician
Jim Hourihan	....	software research and development (special edition)
George Hull	....	visual effects art director (special edition)
Paul Huston	....	model maker
Tom L. Hutchinson	....	CG supervisor (special edition) (as Tom Hutchinson)
Brian Johnson	....	special visual effects
Joe Johnston	....	art director visual effects
Doug Jones	....	negative supervisor (special edition)
Ed Jones	....	laboratory technician: ILM
Zoran Kacic-Alesic	....	software research and development (special edition)
Florian Kainz	....	software research and development (special edition)
Tom Kennedy	....	visual effects producer (special edition)
Marshall Richard Krasser	....	digital compositor: ILM (special edition)
Neil Krepela	....	matte photography
Peter Kuran	....	animation and rotoscope supervisor
Michael Lawler	....	additional matte photographer
Angela Leaper	....	video editor (special edition)
James Lim	....	optical line-up
Leo Loverro	....	stage technician
Joshua Marks	....	visual effects production staff (special edition)
Scott Marshall	....	model maker
Tia L. Marshall	....	digital effects artist (special edition) (as Tia Marshall)
Dawn Martin	....	video assistant (special edition)
Stuart T. Maschwitz	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Terrence Masson	....	visual effects
Bill Mather	....	digital matte artist (special edition) (as William Mather)
Dawn Matheson	....	digital effects technical assistant (special edition)
Michael J. McAlister	....	effects unit assistant camera (as Michael McAlister)
Mary McCulloch	....	sabre artist (special edition)
Mickey McGovern	....	visual effects editor (special edition) (as Michael McGovern)
Dan McNamara	....	Sabre group supervisor (special edition) (as Daniel McNamara)
Ralph McQuarrie	....	matte artist
Gary Meyer	....	production engineering (special edition)
Duncan Meyers	....	laboratory technician
Ted Moehnke	....	supervising stage technician (as T.E. Moehnke)
Thaine Morris	....	miniature pyrotechnics
Dennis Muren	....	effects director of photography
Bruce Nicholson	....	optical photography supervisor
Ken Nielsen	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Ease Owyeung	....	model maker
Clint Palmer	....	effects unit assistant camera
Udo Pampel	....	machinist
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist
Eddie Pasquarello	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Lorne Peterson	....	chief model maker
Dave Pier	....	miniature pyrotechnics
Tam Pillsbury	....	optical line-up
Josh Pines	....	digital scanning supervisor (special edition) (as Joshua Pines)
Ricardo Ramos	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Nilo Rodis-Jamero	....	assistant art director visual effects
Thomas Rosseter	....	digital effects artist (special edition) (as Tom Rosseter)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up
Jonathan Rothbart	....	animatic artist (special edition)
Stanley W. Sayer	....	matte photography consultant (as Stanley Sayer)
Wesley Seeds	....	model maker
Kenneth Smith	....	optical printer operator
Tom St. Amand	....	stop-motion technician
Howard Stein	....	assistant visual effects editor
Lawrence Tan	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Chad Taylor	....	Sabre artist: ILM (special edition)
Paul Theren	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Marc Thorpe	....	model maker
Lisa Todd	....	visual effects coordinator (special edition)
Hans Uhlig	....	digital effects artist (special edition)
Mark Vargo	....	optical line-up
Bruce Vecchitto	....	visual effects editor (special edition)
Laurie Vermont	....	optical coordinator
Joe Viskocil	....	miniature pyrotechnics
Gene Whiteman	....	equipment engineering supervisor
Heidi Zabit	....	digital paint & roto artist (special edition)
Rita E. Zimmerman	....	Sabre artist (special edition) (as Rita Zimmerman)
Giovanni Donovan	....	Wampa lair construction (special edition) (uncredited)
Ben O'Brien	....	Sabre artist: ILM (special edition) (uncredited)
Nina Saxon	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Matt Wallin	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Anderson	....	stunt double: Darth Vader
Peter Diamond	....	stunt coordinator
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt double: Luke Skywalker
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
Chris Anderson	....	assistant camera: effects unit
Maurice Arnold	....	assistant camera
Frank Batt	....	dolly grip: location second unit
James Beaumonte	....	camera and movement designer (as Jim Beaumonte)
Mike Brewster	....	assistant camera: location second unit
John J. Campbell	....	assistant camera: location second unit (as JohnCampbell)
Terry Chostner	....	still photographer
John Clark	....	rigging gaffer
Don Dow	....	camera operator: effects unit
Greg Dupre	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Richard Fish	....	assistant camera: effects unit
David Garfath	....	camera operator
Geoff Glover	....	director of photography: location second unit
Ron Goodman	....	aerial camera operator
John Hatt	....	electrical engineer
Margaret Herron	....	assistant aerial camera operator
Paul Huston	....	assistant camera: effects unit
John Keen	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Martin Kenzie	....	second assistant camera: second camera
Red Lawrence	....	head rigger
Dennis Lewis	....	dolly grip
Chris Menges	....	director of photography: studio second unit
Madelyn Most	....	second assistant camera
Bill Neil	....	camera operator: effects unit
Brian Osborn	....	dolly grip
Kelvin Pike	....	camera operator
Ken Ralston	....	effects camera operator
Peter Robinson	....	second assistant camera
Laurie Shane	....	gaffer
Bob Smith	....	camera operator: location second unit
Chris Tanner	....	assistant camera
Jim Veilleux	....	effects camera operator
Jody Westheimer	....	assistant camera: effects unit
George Whitear	....	staff photographer
Miles Cook	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Brian Q. Kelley	....	photographer: additional footage for special edition (uncredited)
Paul Kenward	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jon Sorensen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Chris Casady	....	animator
Samuel Comstock	....	animator
Kim Knowlton	....	animator
Nina Saxon	....	animator
Rick Taylor	....	animator
Phil Tippett	....	stop motion animation
John T. Van Vliet	....	animator (as John van Vliet)
Gary Waller	....	animator (as Garry Waller)
Diana Wilson	....	animator
Jon Berg	....	stop motion animation (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 (special edition)
Bob Hart	....	negative cutter (special edition)
Samuel H. Hinckley	....	first assistant editor (special edition)
Darrell Hixson	....	negative cutter
Mike Jackson	....	assistant editor: avid (special edition)
Robin Lee	....	assistant editor: avid (special edition)
Ed Lemke	....	color timer
Robert Marty	....	first assistant editor (special edition)
Robert Raring	....	color timer (special edition) (as Robert J. Raring)
Ray Sabo	....	negative continuity (special edition)
Phil Sanderson	....	assistant film editor
Steve Starkey	....	assistant film editor
Jonas Thaler	....	apprentice editor (as Jon Thaler)
Paul Tomlinson	....	assistant film editor
Brian Q. Kelley	....	editor: additional material for special edition (uncredited)

Music Department
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist
Kenneth Wannberg	....	supervising music editor
John Williams	....	conductor
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	....	music producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Martin	....	transportation

Other crew
Bunny Alsup	....	assistant to producer
Alan Arnold	....	unit publicist
John Barry	....	director: studio second unit
Jane Bay	....	assistant to executive producer
Doug Beswick	....	stop motion technician
Patricia Blau	....	production secretary
Leon Briggs	....	film restoration consultant (special edition)
Kris Brown	....	system programming
Thomas Brown	....	production associate
Alan Bryce	....	location unit supervisor: effects unit (as Allan Bryce)
Ron Butcher	....	production maintenance
Gilly Case	....	effects secretary (as Gill Case)
Harley Cokliss	....	director: studio second unit
Pete Comandini	....	film restoration supervisor (special edition)
Ron Cook	....	location accountant
Laura Crockett	....	assistant accountant
Rob Dickinson	....	electrical consultant
Brian Eke	....	effects technician
Kathryn Farrar	....	production controller (special edition)
Tim Fox	....	archivist (special edition)
Dick Gallegly	....	production administration
Martin Gant	....	effects technician
Ken Gordon	....	set cost controller
Barbara Harley	....	production assistant
Miki Herman	....	production coordinator
Ron Hone	....	robot fabricator and supervisor
Howie	....	recording technician
Guy Hudson	....	effects technician
Jerry Jeffress	....	electronic systems designer
Andrew Kelly	....	robot fabricator: effects unit
Phil Knowles	....	effects technician
Philip Kohler	....	location manager
Michael Larkins	....	assistant accountant
Nick Laws	....	production assistant
Gary Leo	....	electronic engineer
Steve Lloyd	....	effects engineering
Dennis Lowe	....	effects technician
Peter MacDonald	....	director: location second unit
Mike MacKenzie	....	electronic engineer
Pamela Mann	....	continuity
Roberto McGrath	....	laboratory assistant (as Roberto McGraith)
Robert McLaren	....	effects assistant
Lhary Meyer	....	electronic engineer
Wendy Midener	....	yoda fabricator
Digby Milner	....	effects assistant
Kathryn Mullen	....	performing assistant: "Yoda"
Roger Nichols	....	effects engineer (as Roger Nicholls)
Jenny Oznowicz	....	production assistant
Chris Parsons	....	stand-in: "4-LOM", "K-3PO" and "C-3PO"
Glenn Phillips	....	assistant accountant
Ron Phipps	....	production accountant
Gary Platek	....	special projects
Alan Poole	....	effects assistant
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity
Arthur F. Repola	....	assistant effects editor (as Arthur Repola)
Ray Scalice	....	production accountant
Debbie Shaw	....	assistant to director
Neil Swan	....	senior effects technician
Pam Traas	....	assistant accountant
Charles B. Wessler	....	production assistant (as Charles Wessler)
Barry Whitrod	....	effects technician
Kristen Wing	....	assistant publicist
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot (as Mark Wolfe)
Stuart Ziff	....	special project coordinator
David Alan Barclay	....	assistant puppeteer (uncredited)
Des Carey	....	film archivist (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)

Production Companies

• Lucasfilm

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1980) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1980) (Japan) (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 Home Entertainment Japan (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (Argentina)
• 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) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1990s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Gativideo (1980s) (Argentina) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Showtime (1985) (Finland) (VHS) (rental)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (????) (Netherlands) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
• White Horse Toy Company (R2-D2 bodies)

Other Companies

• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Bruce Hill Productions  ultra high speed camera
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints by (as DeLuxe)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Flying Pictures  helicopter pilot provided by
• Fries Engineering  optical printer component engineering
• George Randle Co.  optical printer component manufacturer
• J.L. Wood Optical Systems  special optical fabrication
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Lookout Mountain Films  additional opticals
• Lowry Digital Images  digital restoration (2004 re-release)
• Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program  digital restoration
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Mitchell Camera  high speed camera movements
• Modern Film Effects  additional opticals
• Ray Mercer & Company  additional opticals
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  re-recording at
• Skywalker Sound  special edition digital remastering
• Sony Classical  soundtrack released by
• Van der Veer Photo Effects  additional opticals
• Westheimer Company  additional opticals

Also Known As:

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (USA) (video box title)
The Empire Strikes Back (USA) (short title)
El imperio contraataca (Chile) (Colombia) (Mexico) (Spain) [es]
O Império Contra-Ataca (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Звёздные войны: Эпизод 5 - Империя наносит ответный удар (Soviet Union: Russian title) [ru]
Империята отвръща на удара (Bulgaria: Bulgarian title) [bg]
A birodalom visszavág (Hungary) [hu]
Das Imperium schlägt zurück (West Germany) [de]
El imperio contra ataca (Panama) [es]
Guerra nas Estrelas 2 - O Império Contra-Ataca (Brazil) [pt]
Gwiezdne wojny: Imperium kontratakuje (Poland) [pl]
Ha-Emperia Maka Shenit (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
I aftokratoria antepitithetai (Greece) [el]
Imparator (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Imperiet slår igen (Denmark) [da]
Imperiet slår tilbake (Norway) [no]
Imperiumin vastaisku (Finland) [fi]
L'empire contre-attaque (France) [fr]
L'impero colpisce ancora (Italy) [it]
La guerra de les galàxies: L'Imperi contraataca (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
La guerrre des étoiles V: L'empire contre-attaque (Canada: French title) [fr]
Ratovi zvezda - Imperija uzvraca udarac (Serbia) [sr]
Razboiul stelelor - Imperiul contraataca (Romania) [ro]
Rymdimperiet slår tillbaka (Sweden) [sv]
Star Wars - Episódio V - O Império Contra-Ataca (Brazil) [pt]
Star Wars: Epizoda V - Impérium vrací úder (Czech Republic) (reissue title) [cs]
Star wars V - imperiumin vastaisku (Finland) (video box title) [fi]
Star wars: åÐÉÚÏÄ V - éÍÐÅÒÉÑÔÁ ÏÔ×ÒßÝÁ ÎÁ ÕÄÁÒÁ (Bulgaria: Bulgarian title) (reissue title) [bg]
Star wars: Episodio V - El imperio contraataca (Spain) [es]
Star wars: Epizóda V - impérium vracia úder (Czechoslovakia: Slovak title) [sk]
Sutâ wôzu: Teikoku no gyakushû (Japan) [ja]

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action violence. (special edition, DVD version)

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) | DTS (special edition) | Dolby Digital (special edition) | SDDS (special edition) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

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 | 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

Filming Locations:

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Company:

Lucasfilm

Trivia:

Yoda's iconic manner of speech (i.e: "begun the war has" and things like this) is actually most always what you get if you translate English literally from Latin.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Darth Vader uses the Force to throw things at Luke, one of them breaks the glass blowing Luke outside. This indicates Cloud City is pressurized. However, when the Millenium Falcon lands earlier, Lando is able to easily walk out the door, indicating there is equal pressure.

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 "Drawn Together: The Lemon AIDS Walk (#2.12)" (2006)

The best film in the original trilogy.

The Empire Strikes Back is the best film in the original Star Wars trilogy. It has all the great qualities that the original Star Wars has: great effects (at the time of its release), appealing characters, and lots of spellbinding action. It also has eliminated some of the problems that plagued the first: the storyline is tighter, and goes much deeper into character development. The performances are terrific, especially by Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. George Lucas has also remembered to include a spellbinding battle sequence with the snowspeeder sequence near the beginning of the film. The conclusion, with a lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, is truly one of the most suspenseful and dramatic scenes in the entire series. This is a truly wondrous film, and serves as a constant reminder that just because a movie is expensive and a blockbuster doesn't mean that it has to be shallow and two dimensional. This film will undoubtedly entertain viewers of all ages from start to finish.