I was so glad to read this article today. There are playback and download links for the original “Empire Hotline” recordings, as well as a brief history.
http://www.starwars.com/themovies/episodev/empire_hotline/index.html
-JT
That's cool. I'm a bit surprised that they actually have them available for download and not embedded in some kind of media player.
SO AWESOME. Clean, high quality dialog. I wonder if any fan edits can use them?
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That's exactly what I thought as well. I downloaded them right away, just in case! When I heard how nice the quality was, the first thing I did was come here to post this, just in case an editor might want them.
Oh boy, I called that number every month back then! And more than once, so it's a good thing it was a toll free number. Imagine having to explain those charges on the phone bill to your parents!
Nice to see they haven't been lost to time. And they sound a heck of lot better than I remember!
A proper preservation must include setting these up on answering machine and changing the message once a month. ;)
Where were you in '77?
Actually someone already did!
Posted by: akalsey | June 28, 2010 2:32 PMUsing Tropo (http://tropo.com) I created a phone app that plays the recordings so you can hear them as they originally were meant to be heard. Call (714) 643-2997 to hear one recording at random. Outside the US? Use SIP at 9991443239@sip.tropo.com or Skype to dial +99000936-9991443239.
Hehe, like They Might Be Giants old Dial-a-Song. :-)
Wow. These are AMAZINGLY cool.
I think they'd be good for trailers. Like the "One Whatever" campaign for TPM (that didn't really go anywhere). Han says Boba Fett, that's useful too.
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Doesn't sound like they put the filters over James Earl Jones' voice, but these are nice little treats. Being born mere months before the film's release, it's all new to me.
-NJM
These recordings made my day. There's one thing, though. All of them, no matter in what sequence you play them (although I'm pretty sure the C3PO is supposed to be the first one) always say at the end "Call next month for a new message". Shouldn't this mean that there should be more?
On the other hand, I can't think of any other character that could've recorded another message. I mean, we got all the main characters, Ben Kenobi was supposed to be dead (so having a recording with him would've spoiled the surprise), and I don't see the point in making a message with Chewie or Artoo...
That's just because you don't speak their language.
This was happening in the last six months leading up to the movie, so that's probably all there is. It's fun to speculate what other characters could have done messages though...
"Hi! This is Wedge Antilles, doomed to live forever in Luke Skywalker's shadow. What's my secret to surviving battles with the Empire, when all my fellow pilots seem to end up frozen chunks of meat orbiting Yavin? Find out when the Empire Strikes Back!"
"This is Boba Fett. I was the only good thing in the Holiday Special. Han Solo won't escape me, nor the wrath of Jabba the Hutt, when the Empire Strikes Back! And then I'll collect the bounty on Kenner for ruining my action figure. Enjoy my silky voice while you can, because someday, I'll be dubbed over by some guy from New Zealand."
Where were you in '77?
What about Lando?
-NJM
TV's Frink said:
That's just because you don't speak their language.
My point exactly. :p
Hey wait a minute. You could make a message with Chewie and Artoo, provided you have Threepio translating their sentences and/or talking back to them. That would work wouldn't it? I mean that's Goldenrod's job after all...
Edit:
Re: Lando
"Hi, I'm Lando Calrissian, and I'll be your best friend and I'll never betray you. Promise. What? No I'm not crossing my fingers. It's.. er... arthritis. You know, the disadvantages to live in Cloud City. Now pardon me as I'm off to meet some nice guy who loves capes just as much as me."
Great discovering!
Would make a cool extra feature on DVD or blu.
We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.
Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com
Agreed! If someone does do something with these, let us know!