Scenes We Love: The Empire Strikes Back
Filed under: Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
Thanks a lot, Harrison Ford. Between this and Raiders of the Lost Ark, the young Elisabeth Rappe was convinced adulthood would be filled with swashbuckling heroes and high romance. To this day, she has a weakness for a guy with a swagger and a crooked grin, who trusts his blaster more than the Force, and isn't afraid of tough girls who can repair spaceships.
In all seriousness, I don't think I'm alone on that -- how many of us young film fans were first introduced to romance (and sexual tension, though we didn't know what sex was) thanks to The Empire Strikes Back? Somehow, I think a lot of first kisses took place to clumsy re-enactments of this scene -- and probably a few first slaps too, come to think of it. I can think of no better scene to kick off Valentine's Day weekend with.*
And for some Han and Leia related trivia from IMDB:
* Actually, I can, but they're not on YouTube.
In all seriousness, I don't think I'm alone on that -- how many of us young film fans were first introduced to romance (and sexual tension, though we didn't know what sex was) thanks to The Empire Strikes Back? Somehow, I think a lot of first kisses took place to clumsy re-enactments of this scene -- and probably a few first slaps too, come to think of it. I can think of no better scene to kick off Valentine's Day weekend with.*
And for some Han and Leia related trivia from IMDB:
- When Lando is about to lead Han, Leia, and Chewie into the trap set by Darth Vader, Lando offers his arm to Leia, as a gesture to lead her down the hallway and she accepts it. Harrison Ford ad-libbed Han coming up behind Leia and offering his arm to her at the exact same moment to imply that Han was jealous.
- Carrie Fisher stood on a box for many of her scenes with Harrison Ford in order to make up for the height difference and have her appear in the frame with him. Fisher is about a foot shorter than Ford.
* Actually, I can, but they're not on YouTube.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-13-2009 @ 7:24PM
Julie said...
The world could do with a few more scoundrels with a swagger in their step and lopsided crooked grins. Sexy scars are nice too. ;o)
I think this IS the perfect film to open Valentines Day weekend.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 9:22PM
AndyIII said...
You ain't kidding...I can definitively say that as a young adult I wanted nothing more than to be a cross of Indiana Jones and Han Solo...and it's an amazing fact that both of these characters are played by Harrison Ford.
This movie also contains one of the coolest things ever said in a movie:
Leia: I love you.
Han: I know.
I mean COME ON! Awesome.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 9:22PM
Elisabeth said...
And ad-libbed too! Be still my heart. :)
2-13-2009 @ 9:28PM
AndyIII said...
Wow, I forgot about that. Ad-libbed...more awesomeness.
2-13-2009 @ 11:47PM
uforeader said...
Yeah, the original lines were:
Leia: I love you.
Han: I love you too.
They even filmed a few takes like that.
2-14-2009 @ 9:12PM
SunKing said...
It's a great piece of dialogue, and just goes to show what a bit of improv can do for a script. You can also really tell the difference in the quality of the dialogue between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. This is no doubt due to the influence of Kershner (from IMDb):
"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)."
2-13-2009 @ 10:00PM
Vactor said...
I want to be a Scoundrel :D
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 10:53PM
Chewie77 said...
The scene I've love the most for many years is the Carbonite sequence. That kiss, the music and poor Chewie crying.
"I know."
Reply