Synopsis

With the Rebel Alliance pursued across the galaxy, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training while Han Solo, Princess Leia, and their companions seek refuge in Cloud City. The Empire closes in, forcing the heroes into a desperate confrontation with Darth Vader. This 1997 Special Edition revisits the 1980 classic with restored picture and sound, expanded effects, and several revised or newly inserted scenes.

Factoids & Trivia

• Released theatrically in 1997 as part of the 20th anniversary Special Edition revival of the original Star Wars trilogy, this version was based on the 1980 film.

• Of the three 1997 Special Editions, The Empire Strikes Back received the fewest alterations. The most visible additions include expanded footage of the Wampa, busier and more expansive views of Cloud City, and an added sequence showing Darth Vader returning to his fleet.

• The Special Edition replaced the original holographic Emperor scene with a revised performance and dialogue, later modified again for subsequent home-video releases.

• George Lucas financed much of the original production himself. The shoot ran substantially over schedule and budget, with the difficult Hoth material in Finland contributing to the delays.

• Yoda was operated as a complex mechanical puppet. The prop frequently required repairs, and the production team continued refining it very close to the time of filming.

• The film's famous family-revelation twist was kept extremely secret during production. According to Lucas, only a small group knew the actual line before the scene was shot and recorded.

• The 1997 re-release was commercially successful and helped establish the practice of revisiting older films with newly created digital effects, revised sound, and altered footage.