ELSTREE 1976

UK, 2015, 90 minutes, Colour.
Paul Blake, Jeremy Bullock, John Chapman, Pam Rose, David Prowse.
Directed by Jon Spira.

This is a documentary particularly interesting for cinema buffs but, especially, for the Star Wars Fans. It was released at the time of the new Star Wars film, 2015, The Force Awakens.

The director has gone back to Elstree studios in London in 1976, George Lucas coming from the United States to make a science fiction film, which nobody knew much about – nor so much about George Lucas himself, though he had just directed American Graffiti which the studios were puzzled as to how to promote.

Elstree provided vast sets and this film takes us onto the sets, some glimpses of the main stars, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and sequences from the film along with some of John Williams’ music.

The bulk of the film is interviews with nine men and one woman who had bit parts or brief characterisations in the film. There are glimpses of at the time and long interviews with each of them almost 40 years later. Most of them are interesting personalities, communicating well to camera, indicating their situation at the time they were auditioned and cast in Star Wars, appearing in small roles, having other jobs, doing technical work around the studios, as was Pam Rose, the only woman interviewed.

It is interesting to hear these characters reflect on their experience, the importance of the long retrospect, their subsequent careers, appearing in films, or moving away from show business, even to writing and publishing books.

Those who know Star Wars in detail will recognise the people being interviewed.

Of major interest is David Prowse, who was the figure of Darth Vader, interviewed 40 years later, reminiscing, having fallen out with George Lucas, but giving an insight into his career of a weakly boy becoming a bodybuilder, appearing in Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, carrying Patrick Magee in the home sequence, and his subsequent work.

Many of these actors go to the conventions where the fans thronged, dressed up, sought the memorabilia, and wanted autographs – enabling these characters to be celebrities for those moments.

1. A film for film buffs in general, for fans of Star Wars?

2. The film produced in 2015, for the new Star Wars Film, The Force Awakens?

3. The retrospect of Elstree in 1976, the British film industry, the studios, the filming of Star Wars, the presence of George Lucas, sets, cast, action? The musical score and use of John Williams score?

4. The inclusion of actual sequences? The title, the focus on 1976, the beginning of the new Star Wars era?

5. The audiences, memories of Star Wars, after 40 years, the age of people at its first release, the subsequent 20 years, the next trilogy, audience knowledge, able to repeat lines and scenes, the merchandise and souvenirs, the science-fiction conventions and meeting the actors, dressing up as characters? The influence of Star Wars on the imagination?

6. Going back into the past, the young men and Pam Rose and their being cast? The scenes of them at the time? Hopes, ambitions, acting, non-actors? The interviews almost 4 decades later? Seeing some of them at the conventions?

7. Their contribution to understanding the myths of Star Wars from their own experience, the background of making the film, discovering George Lucas and his imagination? Wars, myths, heroism, characters, chivalry, in space, conflicts of good and evil, the importance of The Force? And the presence of a Guinness?

8. The world not prepared for Star Wars? George Lucas and his career, imagination? His plans, the interviews, his interviewing the cast, the presence of the stars, the details of the production, the sets? The personality of George Lucas?

9. The range of interviewees, men and one woman, their careers, subsequently, bit players, character actors, their life stories, their roles and the effect on them, the impact of the experience, the later careers, film careers and other careers?

10. The focus on David Prowse, his being Darth Vader, young, weak and ill, strengthening his body, the bodybuilding, his work Stanley Kubrick and the scenes from A Clockwork Orange? Overcoming illness, a stronger man, in the film? Yet his observations on his clash with George Lucas and the falling out with him?

11. The conventions, the actors and their presence, the admiration of the fans, the memorabilia, the costumes, the autographs, their becoming celebrities for the moment?

12. Insights into show business and filmmaking and the impact of Star Wars?