Talk:The Empire Strikes Back/Archive 4

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Alec Guinness Return

There's a portion of the Casting section which could use some work:

"Alec Guinness could not return as Obi-Wan because his failing eyesight required him to avoid bright lights.^[56] Recasting him was considered but, determined to recruit him, Lucas agreed to a deal in late August 1979, just before filming finished. Guinness was paid 0.25% of Empire's box office gross for his few hours of work.^[94]"

It's a strange segment, because first we are told that Guinness cannot return period, but then a deal is struck that allows to return in a small way. We know from the film that he returns as a force ghost, but it appears that Lucas wanted him to return in a bigger way. It would be nice to have that information: how did Lucas originally envision Guinness's participation in the film? Also, the segment sort of implies that Guinness made the decision to return because Lucas paid him enough, but it's not 100% clear if that's the case. I don't have access to the Rinzler text, so I can't do additional research to see if there is more information about this. Maybe someone who has access to the book can do it? Wafflewombat (talk) 08:23, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Page 34: "During the making of Star Wars, George and Gary asked me if I would reappear in a sequel," says Alec Guinness. "I told them, 'Yes, absolutely.' I was quite emphatic about it-but I've developed wretched eye trouble. It's threatening to blind my left eye. Specialists told me that under no circumstances must I go into bright light. So I've sort of withdrawn, feeling I had no option."

Page 210: One item still not resolved per the bog planet was whether it would feature the ghost of Obi-Wan or not. "It's up in the air at this particular point in time," Lucas says. "We're not quite sure what Alec's situation is in terms of his health, but we're hoping that he'll do the picture. We could find somebody who could do his voice with makeup. Ben Kenobi can still be there without Alec Guinness, it's just that we prefer the real thing."

PAge 236: On Friday, August 24, Sir Alec Guinness confirmed that he would reprise his role as Ben Kenobi... "I spent last evening with him," says Lucas. "He told me that his doctors say he is getting better every day." "I really need him for just some shots against bluescreen, not on any set," Kershner says... New script pages were issued that shortened his role; some lines were cut and some="Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor"-were given to Yoda...Lucas left that Sunday, having secured Guinness's participation..."

Page 241: his contract, for one quarter of 1 percent of Empire's gross receipts, is dated September 10...During the rehearsal, Guinness raised a hand to shade his eyes from the harshlight...his important contribution to the film had taken mere hours. Darkwarriorblake (talk)

This is great, thanks for all the info. I created a new version of that segment. It's longer, but I feel it makes more sense. I'll post it here for you to review:

Alec Guinness had told Lucas he "absolutely" wanted to return as Obi-Wan, but he had developed a health condition (in his words, "wretched eye trouble"), which required him to avoid bright lights. Hoping to avoid recasting him, Lucas met with him in late August 1979, just before filming finished. The two agreed to a deal in which Guinness would only be filmed against a bluescreen, and would have fewer lines than originally planned. Guinness was paid 0.25% of Empire's box office gross for his work, which took "mere hours". Wafflewombat (talk) 01:40, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

Segment is now more clear.

Resolved

Helicopter flight

Darkwarriorblake (or anyone with the Rinzler text), can you please confirm that the helicopter used in Finse flew to 49,000 feet? Google tells me that helicopters normally don't fly above 25,000 feet, but in some cases can go higher. 40,000 feet is the height airliners travel at, so I'll be surprised if the crew's helicopter went that high. The citation provided about the helicopter is Rinzler 2010, p. 141.

Thanks! Wafflewombat (talk) 05:05, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

I found a digital copy of the Rinzler text, and discovered that the helicopter flew to 15,000 feet. Typo has been corrected. Wafflewombat (talk) 10:26, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

Resolved