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Info: BBC Special - The Empire Strikes Back

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 (Edited)

Another recent find! Was going through the net today and came across this gem!

More information here:
http://www.mahawa.jw-music.net/films/films_index1.htm

This show was broadcast in the UK a week before the release of The Empire Strikes Back and runs an hour long!

Narrator: Antony Horder
Written & Produced by David Buckton

Does anyone else have more information about it?

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Well done on finding this.

The guy also has "20/20 The Music of Jedi" which appears to be a much better copy than the one I've seen. Have you requested a copy of this too?

JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Great find digitalfreak!

I've just did a search of the very handy BBC online archive catalogue, and it has it listed here: http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LMAF076L

Looks like it's actual title is "STAR WARS, MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS " which tallies with the screenshot on the site you found: http://www.mahawa.jw-music.net/films/bbc.htm

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STAR WARS, MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS

* A television programme
* BBC Programme Number: LMAF076L
* First broadcast on 1980-05-18

Description

(reveal extra detail) (hide extra detail)

* JOHN WILLIAMS has the composer credit for some 45 feature films. Prog looks at the craft & the pressures of film music through his work & has extracts from a number of his films. We see him at work on the "Empire Strikes Back".

Broadcast history

* 18 May 1980 19:15-20:14 (BBC 2)

Contributors

* Steven Spielberg
* George Lucas
* John Williams (composer)
* Gary Kurtz
* Irvin Kershner
* Herb Spencer
* Lionel Newman
* Ben Burt
* Claudine Carlson
* Ken Wannberg
* Antony Horder (Narrator)
* David Buckton (Producer)


Extra details:
# Intvs with Williams, Steven Spielberg & other film industry personnel. WILLIAMS received classical training. First started composing for films in late 50s: has written 45 feature film scores in 20 yrs. Prog shows him in process of composing & conducting music for 'The Empire Strikes Back', sequel to 'Star Wars'. Talks thruout abt process, style, inspiration. Incs clips from some of best known films to illus his technique. s thruout Williams at piano composing. Seqs thruout composing, recording process. Intvs: Williams thruout (inc 18.24-18.49, 19.04-19.28, 21.44-22.00, 33.49-34.05, 40.44-41.23)

# Gary KURTZ (Dir Empire...) change in style from 60's-'Star Wars' needed trad romantic music (3.44-4.00) Irvin KERSHNER (Prod Empire...) music as dialogue (4.00-4.29, 15.23-15.39) Steven SPIELBERG (Dir): film dead without music: integral part. 60's: realism-lack of music. Now back to 'full blown symphonic music' (34.05-35.44) on 'Close Encounters' music (38.33-39.32) Incs seqs: vars 'The Empire Strikes Back' shooting on location in Norway crew, equipment, spec vehicles, shooting in snow (0.00-1.18); WILLIAMS conducts London Symphony Orchestra at Anvil Studios Denham (1.49-2.59, 16.24-18.24, 52.00-53.33) WILLIAMS in control room at Anvil with George LUCAS, KERSHNER & KURTZ (3.28-4.29)

# WILLIAMS at 'spotting sessions' (pre-composing viewing of film)(6.05-7.14, 13.08-15.23), in sound effects dubbing room (24.59-25.44), viewing seqs on Moviola with Ken WANNBERG (music editor), composing, with orchestrator Herb SPENCER & re-viewing with WANNBERG (46.24-52.00). Lionel NEWMAN (C20th Fox's Head of music) et al at recording session at Anvil (53.33-55.09), WILLIAMS relaxing at home accompanying singer Claudine CARLSON on piano (32.19-33.49) Ben BURT (demos how sound effects for spaceship in trouble)('Star Wars') (25.44-28.34)

# Film Clips: Star Wars (4.29-6.05)(28.34-28.59); 'How to Steal a Million' (7.14-11.18); 'The Empire Strikes Back' (56.34-58.40) & without music track (15.39-16.24) 'Images'(19.28-21.39); 'Jane Eyre' (22.00-24.59); 'Towering Inferno' (25.59-31.28); 'Jaws' (35.44-38.12); 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (39.32-40.44, 41.23-42.12); Superman (43.08-45.44). All clips demo aspects of Williams' music.




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I also found this edition of blue peter listed, which might be of interest: http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCHA150K

"ITEM 02:EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: Simon GROOM & Chris WENNER [meet?] the robots from 'The Empire Strikes Back'. R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca & Darth Vader appear. Clip from 'The Empire Strikes Back'. Interview with Mark HAMILL & Carrie FISHER, finishes with guests given 'Star Wars stew'. "
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Ah yes! I knew I had seen it listed somewhere. My friend over at Star Wars Aficionado sent me those details some time ago.

I like the way they list Kurtz as the director and Kershner as the producer. I wonder if the footage of the crew in Norway is anything new. My mouth is watering

I have also been looking for the Blue Peter programme for some years. I did manage, with the help of a friend, to track down some other UK Star Wars related gems a little while back. Babyhum is releasing them soon.

JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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It's worth have a hunt through that bbc catalogue for other star wars related gems - no sign of the Michel Parbot or the Making of ESB doc, unfortunately. No real suprise there, as I don't think anyone was expecting it to be a BBC programme.

Here's a few more I've uncovered:

A 1977 edition of Blue Peter
ITEM 03:STAR WARS:Mark HAMILL joins John & Lesley wearing a Star Wars helmet in the studio, includes cpyrt clip of Star Wars.
http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCH9488Y



ARENA (1978)
CINEMA, THE FORCE IS WITH US?:HOWARD HAWKS
# Star Wars - Howard Hawks
Gavin MILLAR pres mag prog on the cinema with items on the phenomenal success of "Star Wars"; & an intv with dir Howard HAWKS, filmed shortly before his death.
extra details
# STAR WARS: (0.2-10.26) This film is now the worlds biggest movie, it has cost 9.5million dollars & grossed over 200million dollars in the USA alone. It had a film crew of 900 & four million dollars was spent on special effects. GAVIN MILLER intvs producer GARY KURTZ & actor MARK HAMILL in London & they speak about the story & the filming. JOHN BARRY with designer speaks on howt the robots wre made, var s GAVIN MILLAR with models of actors & robots (0.2-0.58) SIR ALEC GUINNESS & GEORGE LUCAS director with technicians & robots on the set (0.58-1.38) it workshop (10.08-10.27) vars thruout of filming in Tunisia on location.
http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LMA1670F


and I think someone - was it you Jambe? - mentioned this one previously

THE RISK BUSINESS
THE MOVIE
* A television programme
* BBC Programme Number: LSFE030X
* First broadcast on 1980-04-09
* Media: FILM
* Next in series: MR CUBE FIGHTS BACK
* Previous in series: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...?
* See more THE RISK BUSINESS programmes (48)

Seq 1 : Michael Rodd at Elstree studios on set of 'Star Wars' sequel 'The Empire Strikes Back'
(0-2.59); comments from actors HARRISON FORD, ANTHONY DANIELS & MARK HAMILL (0.59-1.25),producer
GARY KURTZ (1.25-1.44) & director IRVIN KERSHNER (1.44-2.05) on working with British technicians in UK. http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LSFE030X



TONIGHT
15 November 1977
# Barry Norman intvs. Kurtz producer of Star Wars.
# Subjects covered; How Stars Wars was originally set up; Reasons for the film's enormous appeal....i.e. traditional John Wayne type heroes; The use of British technicians for the special effects; Work already being done on the sequel.http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCA1829T_B


There's also this radio programme, which would be great to hear, and valuable addition to Jambe's Star Wars Project.
KALEIDOSCOPE
22 December 1977
# SBH:Sir Alec GUINNESS, actor, interviewed on his role in the film "Star Wars".:Interviewer: Paul Gambaccini. From Kaleidoscope
# PRE: Difficulties in playing magical role; interpretation of same; people believed character was real & got letters to prove this; would like to appear in another "Star Wars" film TXN/TDT:R4 22-Dec-1977 CON:GUINNESS Alec, Sir (spkr) GAMBACCINI Paul (int) Complete programme now available on T 98620.
http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/SX+13624_4
EDIT - found it online - very brief but worth it. Just listen for his pronunciation of Jedi Knight: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/869896.stm

I'm sure there's lots of other stuff in the catalogue waiting to be uncovered, although a lot of it will likely be a mixed bag of chat show appearances and movie review shows.

Apologies to digialfreaknyc for turning this thread into an 'other rare gems' thread.

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S7en,

Yeah, that BBC site is great isn't it. 'The Risk Business' will be a babyhum release at some point. A friend managed to find a great quality beta-max tape of it.

As for the other things on your list, I think it's unlikely that we will find the 1977 tonight or the 1978 Arena unless the BBC re-broadcast them (wouldn't that be great though!). I have contacted to the BBC in the last few months to ask if they had any plans to celebrate Star Wars' 30th Anniversairy. The replies saying "we have no current plans". I kicked myself for not getting on this quicker, perhaps we could have got something done.

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Maybe for the 31st anniversary?
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Originally posted by: digitalfreaknyc
Another recent find! Was going through the net today and came across this gem!

More information here:
http://www.mahawa.jw-music.net/films/films_index1.htm

This show was broadcast in the UK a week before the release of The Empire Strikes Back and runs an hour long!

Narrator: Antony Horder
Written & Produced by David Buckton

Does anyone else have more information about it?


All I can say is that this looks frickin' sweet.
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I'd also love to see that "The Making of Star Wars" documentary on his site too. Does anyone know of a working torrent for that? Mininova has one but with no seeds.
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I managed to get a response from the site owner and set up a trade for the Empire & Jedi Discs. I am due to send him copies of 'BE' and 'RTJ'.

The JW Empire doco is on VCD so I am going to try to track down the original owner to see if we can get a better copy.

I will keep you posted. Once again, a fantastic find Digitalfreaknyc!!

JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Jambe, w/ your permission I am hoping (w/ aid hopefully of the other 'SW' Aficionado lads) to travel w/ copies of 'RTJ' & 'BE' to C4 in Los Angeles (in May)

But do not want to steal any of your thunder .... just promote it .... whaddya think? (at least for the Celebs that won't b present at C-Europe)
'And you call yourselves human'

- Leia to Tarkin
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I finally got round to sending the guy copies of 'BE' and 'RTJ'. Hopefully when I return from my business trip in a couple of weeks I will have copies of the ESB and ROTJ John Williams docos.

Ciao for now
JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Well I am back and I have the docos.

I am passing them on to babyhum who is kindly going to release them. I'm watching TESB doco now (see my running commentary below). It's actually called "Star Wars, Music By John Williams. Though it was broadcast a week before TESB was released in London. It will need some tweaking as there is a lot of noise on the soundtrack. There are however some very nice interviews and some of the only footage I've ever seen with Lucas, Kershner, Williams and Kurtz all in the same room chatting.

There are small snippets of on set dialogue:

- "Luke, it's a trap"
- "The Empire will compensate you if he dies" etc
- "Stop Chewie Stop.. Chewie listen to me, there's nothing you can do" etc (with Mayhew's growls included!)

Kershner talks about the carbon freezing as a love seen and how the music is really the dialogue of that scene.
We are then treated to the sight and sound of the track being played by the London Symphony as we watch the film, complete with John's visual cues.

This doco also looks extensively at some of William's lesser known works. It is certainly interesting to hear his signature score style in some earlier films.

Ben Burtt also talks about his job as sound editor/designer and in particular the sound effect of the Falcon's hyperdrive failing. This is again a first for me. I don't think I've seen Burtt break down any sound into it's component parts before (eight parts in this case).

John W and Spielberg discuss the importance of music in films and how Jaws is such a different movie without Johnny's music. The composer then talks about the development of the Close Encouters five note signature.

Next, John sits at a Moviola with Kenneth Wannberg, supervising music editor who edits together sequences and prepares cue sheets for John to work with. Interestingly they look at the scene inside the space slug, a scene not really remembered for it's score, in fact much of the score here wasn't used. Again we are treated to more on set audio.

Much of this footage was re-used in the American 20/20 Music of the Jedi show. But it's much more extensive here and without a voice over spoiling the best bits.

Why didn't I have this when I was making 'Building Empire'!? I am saying that a lot lately!

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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There's always Builing Even More of an Empire!
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“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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Can anyone invite me to Demonoid, please?