Irvin Kershner isn't a household name. Often incorrectly billed as Irving, Ervin, or Irwin, the director's filmography includes such films as the uninspiring sequel
Robocop 2, the subpar "unofficial" James Bond film
Never Say Never Again, and
The Luck of Ginger Coffey, which, according to
Kershner's site has in recent years become a cult film, but whose cult status is hardly evident elsewhere on the internet. So why should we care that Irvin
Kershner has just died at age 78? Kershner directed the best of the Star Wars movies, and one of the best "second act" films ever,
The Empire Strikes Back. Just before he died,
Kershner spoke with Vanity Fair about the film, 30 years after its release in 1980.
posted by ocherdraco
on Nov 29, 2010 -
64 comments
In the months preceding the release of
The Empire Strikes Back, a telephone hotline was set up to allow callers to dial in and hear teasers for the movie. In the years since the Bantha Tracks story, fans savvy to the existence of the "Empire Hotline" have sought out recordings of the messages, performed exclusively for the hotline by actors Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), and James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader). Thanks to Craig Miller, Lucasfilm's first director of fan relations, these long-lost recordings can
now be heard and enjoyed for the first time in 30 years.
[more inside]
posted by albrecht
on Jun 29, 2010 -
55 comments
Cyberpal, i couldn't disagree more. ESB is actually the best of the 4 SW movies because the characters aren't encumbered with destroying the Death Star or flying back and forth to Naboo by way of Tatooine and Coruscant. A New Hope and Return end all happy with medals and Ewoks. i like the tougher ending of ESB, especially as i get older. it was a little depressing when i was a kid, but, hey, i'm not one anymore.
posted by Sean Meade
on Jul 24, 2000 -
5 comments