The Empire Strikes Back (lost original Darth Vader line from "I am your Father" scene of space opera film sequel; 1980): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:59, 20 January 2023

The film's theatrical poster.

Status: Lost

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the second - and generally considered the best - film in the original Star Wars trilogy, and contains one of the most iconic plot twists in movie history: that villain Darth Vader is, in fact, the father of hero Luke Skywalker. Vader reveals this himself to Luke in a climactic scene, in the finished film saying simply that "I am your father." However, in an effort to avoid spoilers prior to the film's release, the producers & director inserted an entirely different reveal into the script for the scene. The footage of this alternate take is currently lost.

Background

As the long-awaited sequel to 1977's blockbuster hit Star Wars IV: A New Hope, Empire was subject to particularly intense media and fan scrutiny. Rumours of a dramatic plot twist had begun to circulate well in advance of filming the final scene, and the producers feared it leaking out to the public to the extent that they refused to divulge it even to the cast and crew until absolutely necessary. As part of this effort, the scripted reveal handed out to all was "You don't know the truth - Obi-Wan killed your father." The scene was filmed as such, actor Mark Hamill duly reacting with shock and horror in the full belief that it was the final version.

It was only afterwards, privately, that Hamill was told by director Irvin Kershner what the actual line would be. Hamill and Vader's voice actor, James Earl Jones (who fortunately recorded his lines separately from the rest of the production) were the only two castmembers let into the secret, and managed to keep it successfully for the entire one and a half years prior to the film's premiere. According to Hamill, he at least was under stern warning from Lucas & Kershner, who pointed out that if the truth did leak ahead of time, he would be the prime suspect.^[1]

Graham Norton Show Interview

In The Graham Norton Show in 2017 as part of the promotional tour for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Hamill revealed the original line and the rest of the cast's completely surprised reactions at the premiere, notably including Harrison Ford: "Hey kid, you didn't f***ing tell me that."

Availability

The version of the scene containing the decoy line - along with any audio of Jones recording it - is currently lost, rather surprisingly given its key spot in Star Wars history. Given which it is possible the film/audio still exists somewhere in the Lucasfilm/Disney vaults, waiting for the right moment to be released. Meanwhile, there are a few rather crude recreatings floating about online.

Gallery

Footage

The iconic "I am your Father" scene.

The poorly made reconstruction of the scene with the alternate line.

The Mark Hamill interview on The Graham Norton Show that mentions the alternate line.

Videos

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References

↑ Mark Hamill's tweet about him keeping the plot twist a secret for over a year. Retrieved 29 Mar '22

[1] Mark Hamill's tweet about him keeping the plot twist a secret for over a year. Retrieved 29 Mar '22

[1]

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ==Graham Norton Show Interview==
-In ''The Graham Norton Show'' in 2017 as part of the promotional tour for ''Star Wars: The Last Jedi'', Hamill revealed the original line and the rest of the cast's completely surprised reactions at the premiere, notably including Harrison Ford: "Hey kid, you didn't f***ing tell me ''that''."
+In ''The Graham Norton Show'' in 2017 as part of the promotional tour for ''Star Wars: The Last Jedi'', Hamill revealed the original line and the rest of the cast's completely surprised reactions at the premiere, notably including Harrison Ford: "Hey kid, you didn't f***ing tell ''me'' that."
 ==Availability==