'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - The Radio Drama' Episode Review: 'Fire and Ice'
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| "We have Imperial walkers on the north ridge." (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Cast:
- Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
- Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs)
- Han Solo (Perry King)
- Chewbacca
- See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels)
- Artoo-Detoo
- Darth Vader (Brock Peters)
- General Carlist Rieekan (Merwin Goldsmith)
- Too-Onebee (Russell Horton)
- First Rebel
- P.A. System
- Second Rebel
- Hobbie
- Third Rebel
- Controller (James Hurdle)
- Beta
- Technician
- Janson
- Zev, aka Rogue Two
- Dak (Peter Friedman)
- General Veers (Gordon Gould)
- Captain (later Admiral) Piett (David Rasche)
- Admiral Ozzel (Peter Michael Goetz)
- Imperial Technician
- Imperial Pilot (Jay Sanders)
- Narrator (Ken Hiller)
Reviewer's Note: All quoted material is from the 1995 Del Rey book Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - The National Public Radio Dramatization. This edition contains Brian Daley's complete radio play, which differs slightly from the version of the Radio Drama which aired on National Public Radio in 1983 and the original 1990s HighBridge Audio cassette and compact disc editions. The version in Daley's script was recorded, but as with the original 1981 Star Wars Radio Drama, edits were made at the request of NPR due to the needs of the radio format. The longer version is available in HighBridge Audio's more expensive Limited Edition CD collection of Star Wars: The Complete Radio Drama Trilogy.
Announcer: OPENING CREDITS
Music: Opening theme.
Narrator: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there came a time of revolution, when Rebels united to challenge a tyrannical Empire. Now, it is a dark time for the Rebellion. Its one major base, on the ice planet Hoth, has been located by an Imperial starfleet commanded by Darth Vader.
SCENE 4-1 DESTROYER BRIDGE
Sound: The bridge of Vader's mega-dreadnaught Star Destroyer. WILD LINES, BATTLE STATIONS, ETC. Vader's mask-breathing sounds come up.
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| "Com-scan has detected an energy shield protecting Hoth, where our probe droid was destroyed. (C) Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Veers: Lord Vader, the starfleet has moved out of lightspeed. All our ships made the transition without incident, but - that is . . .
Vader: You will pay a terrible price for your next hesitation, General!
Veers: Com-scan has detected an energy shield protecting Hoth, where our probe droid was destroyed. It is a defensive shield, strong enough to deflect any bombardment the starfleet can deliver.
Vader: Such a shield demands huge amounts of power. The Rebels can't possibly operate it constantly. So: They are now alerted to our arrival. Admiral Ozzel has brought the starfleet out of lightspeed too close to Hoth.
Veers: He - he felt that the advantages of surprise and a close striking distance were more vital. There is a give and take in any battle plan, My Lord, and -
Vader:Admiral Ozzel is as clumsy as he is stupid! This will be no easy victory.
Veers: No, Lord Vader. The Rebels are too well entrenched - in ice caverns; they've turned that part of Hoth into a fortress. But we have the troops and the ships. In the end, we will crush them.
Vader: But at what idiotic waste of Imperial resources? A simple act of conquest now becomes a needless and costly battle. And tell me, Veers, do you regard that as wisdom?
Veers: My Lord, Admiral Ozzel is my superior. Admiral Ozzel is -
Vader: Finished, General! Have him and Captain Piett contacted instantly. I wish to see their faces on the main communications screen.
Veers: Very good, sir! (TO OFF) Communications section! Lord Vader will speak to Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett at once!
Fire and Ice is the fourth episode of National Public Radio's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, a 10-part radio series adapted by Brian Daley from the screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. It was directed by film, stage, and radio dramatization veteran John Madden, who also helmed NPR's 1981 Star Wars: The Radio Drama for the network's NPR Playhouse program.
In contrast to the hopeful beginning of A Question of Survival, this episode opens on an ominous note aboard the Super Star Destroyer Executor, the massive Imperial flagship commanded by Lord Darth Vader (Brock Peters).
At the conclusion of Episode Three, Han Solo (Perry King) and Chewbacca destroyed an Imperial probe droid which was skulking just beyond the perimeter of Echo Base, but not before it sent out video and audio signals revealing the Rebels presence on Hoth to its Imperial masters. Although fleet commander Admiral Ozzel (Peter Michael Goetz) theorizes that the scans show a smugglers' camp, Lord Vader insists that this is not the case. ("That is the star system!" Vader tells his senior officers. "The Force tells me so. The Rebels are there, and Skywalker is with them.")
Now, Vader is furious. His ground forces commander, General Veers (Gordon Gould) has just informed him that an energy field is protecting the site of the suspected Rebel base and that the fleet has come out of lightspeed - perilously close to Hoth. Overriding Veers' lukewarm defense of his immediate superior, the Dark Lord says that Ozzel "is as clumsy as he is stupid" and tells the general that he wishes to speak to the admiral and the Executor's skipper, Captain Piett (David Rasche).
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| "You have failed me for the last time, Admiral!" (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
After Veers reports that the preparations for a ground assault are complete, Vader invites the general to join him to watch a video conference in his meditation chamber.
Vader: This is your opportunity to prove your value to me, Veers.
Imperial Technician: (FROM OFF) Lord Vader, Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett await your pleasure!
Vader: Watch the main viewscreen, General. What you will see there, you would be well advised to remember.
Sound: As Ozzel and Piett's images appear on the screen.
Ozzel: (ON SCREEN, OVER COMLINK) Greetings, Lord Vader.
Piett: (ON SCREEN, OVER COMLINK) I salute you, My Lord Vader.
Ozzel: My Lord, the starfleet has moved out of lightspeed, as I'm sure you're aware. Tactically, we're in a good - (BEGINS TO CHOKE)
Piett: Admiral Ozzel!
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| "You are in command, Admiral Piett." (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Vader: Stand where you are, Captain Piett! Admiral Ozzel, the power that closes in about your throat is the Force. It is my anger, reaching forth to end your life.
Ozzel: (CHOKING) Lord Vader - please! No . . .
Vader: It is pointless to merely punish someone so useless. You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.
Ozzel: UNINTELLIGIBLE, AS OZZEL CHOKES
Vader: Captain Piett!
Vader: Make ready for an assault landing beyond the Rebels' energy field, and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off the planet Hoth.
Piett: I - I - as you command, Lord Vader.
Sound: Ozzel hits the deck, still choking out his last moments.
Vader: You are in command, Admiral Piett.
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| (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Meanwhile, Echo Base is like a hornet's nest that some giant has kicked and stirred its occupants into a frenzy of activity. In Scene 3-2, Daley depicts a scene that was not in the original movie script by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan - a poignant farewell between the Star Wars saga's Laurel-and-Hardy robotic duo, Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels) in the Rebel hangar.
Sound: Rebel hangar sounds come up in the background.
First Rebel: (FROM OFF) Is that Artoo unit ready? Let's get him up there.
Threepio: (TO OFF) Just a moment longer, please! (TO ARTOO-DETOO) Now pay attention, Artoo-Detoo. Just because you're going to be flying in Master Luke's X-wing fighter is no reason to - to "get cocky," as Captain Solo might put it!
Artoo: POOH-POOH's HIM.
Threepio: Just you listen to me! I don't want you getting our Master into trouble, something for which you have an uncanny gift!
Artoo: STILL UNCONCERNED.
Threepio: Just take good care of him, do you understand?
Artoo: BEEPS.
First Rebel: (FROM OFF) Okay, hoist that Artoo unit up here!
Sound: Hoist lifting Artoo.
Threepio: And. . . do take care of yourself, too, you silly little plumber!
Artoo: (MOVING OFF - UPWARD) WHISTLES GOOD-BYE.
Threepio: Oh dear, oh dear; it's begun again.
Sound: Hangar fades.
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| "Go for their legs; it's our only chance of stopping them." Art by Ralph McQuarrie (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
As the episode title implies, Fire and Ice is an expanded version of the Battle of Hoth, beginning with the Empire's arrival in the Hoth system and ending with the Rebels' brave but futile attempts to stop Darth Vader's formidable ground assault led by All Terrain Armored Transports (walkers) and a legion of arctic-equipped snowtroopers.
As in director Irvin Kershner's 1980 film version of Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) discovers that the T-47 snowspeeders' blaster cannon are not strong enough to penetrate the walkers' thick armor plating. And even when the former farm boy from Tatooine comes up with a way to knock the Imperials' behemoths, his Rogue Squadron suffers too many losses and must concede the field of battle to the Empire in order to flee - and live to fight another day.
Fire and Ice also sees the dispersion of the five main Rebel characters. Luke is shot down by an Imperial walker, which he then uses his rudimentary Jedi skills to destroy before joining Artoo aboard his X-wing.
In the meantime, as Chewbacca waits aboard the balky Millennium Falcon, Han Solo (Perry King) is in the Rebel command center, hoping to get Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs) and See-Threepio aboard one of the Rebel transports before it's too late. The walkers have destroyed the shield generators, and the ice caves in and around Echo Base are crumbling due to the effects of the battle. Can the cocky Corellian smuggler get the Princess to safety before Vader's troops overrun the base defenses, or will the power of the Empire ensnare the small band of freedom fighters in its deadly trap? Stay tuned!
As in director Irvin Kershner's 1980 film version of Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) discovers that the T-47 snowspeeders' blaster cannon are not strong enough to penetrate the walkers' thick armor plating. And even when the former farm boy from Tatooine comes up with a way to knock the Imperials' behemoths, his Rogue Squadron suffers too many losses and must concede the field of battle to the Empire in order to flee - and live to fight another day.
Fire and Ice also sees the dispersion of the five main Rebel characters. Luke is shot down by an Imperial walker, which he then uses his rudimentary Jedi skills to destroy before joining Artoo aboard his X-wing.
In the meantime, as Chewbacca waits aboard the balky Millennium Falcon, Han Solo (Perry King) is in the Rebel command center, hoping to get Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs) and See-Threepio aboard one of the Rebel transports before it's too late. The walkers have destroyed the shield generators, and the ice caves in and around Echo Base are crumbling due to the effects of the battle. Can the cocky Corellian smuggler get the Princess to safety before Vader's troops overrun the base defenses, or will the power of the Empire ensnare the small band of freedom fighters in its deadly trap? Stay tuned!
My Take
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| This is where Darth Vader is at the beginning of Fire and Ice, not the bridge of the Executor. (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)) |
Although the script (as published for the general public) has one minor goof (Scene 4-1 is supposedly set on Vader's Star Destroyer bridge, when it should actually indicate that the action takes place in Darth Vader's meditation chamber), writer Brian Daley gets all the beats of the movie's darker tone and cliffhanger-filled plot just right.
A gifted and witty novelist, the late author manages to give Fire and Ice a balanced combination of action, suspense, and a cleverly-written (and touching) moment of comic relief in an episode where everything goes wrong for our heroes. Daley's affection for the characters (especially Han Solo) and situations created by George Lucas is evident in all three of the Radio Dramas, and it shows up clearly in this episode of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Everyone, including Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio, gets a moment or two to shine here, especially everyone's favorite villain, Lord Darth Vader.
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| From left to right: Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Bernard Behrens (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Perry King (Han Solo), and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) at a recording session of the radio series. (C) 1983 National Public Radio |
Of course, Daley's script needs a great cast of actors to make his adaptation of the Brackett-Kasdan screenplay come to life, and The Empire Strikes Back has it. Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Anthony Daniels (See-Threepio) reprised their iconic movie roles once again for an NPR series. They were joined by Star Wars: The Radio Drama veterans Ann Sachs (Princess Leia), Perry King (Han Solo), and Brock Peters (Darth Vader), all of whom were well-known actors of live theater, television, and theatrical films.
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| Brock Peters (Darth Vader) |
Director John Madden is perhaps now best known for helming 1998's Academy Award-winning (Best Picture) Shakespeare in Love. However, he also has worked on stage productions ("Wings") and radio dramas both in his native England for the BBC and all three Star Wars series for NPR and HighBridge Audio (the company that produced the 1996 Return of the Jedi adaptation). His skills as a director, as well as his respect for the source material, allowed Madden to bring that galaxy far, far away to Earth-bound radio sets in the 1980s and late 1990s.
Madden was aided in this challenging endeavor by sound mixer and post-production editor Tom Voegeli. It was Voegeli and his team of editors and sound recording engineers who took the recordings made with the cast members at the studio in New York, blended them with Star Wars' sound designer Ben Burtt's Academy Award-winning effects and John Williams' spellbinding Grammy-winning score, and brought Daley's script to vivid life.
The effect? Pure storytelling magic that can whisk listeners onto Darth Vader's Executor, the cockpit of Luke Skywalker's T-47 snowspeeder, or the dangerous crumbling ice corridors of Hoth's Echo Base.
As the behind-the scenes promotional brochure that comes with HighBridge Audio's 1993 CD set (which is still in print 24 years later) says:
[T]hanks to the dedication of the dedication and skill of the Empire radio team, we can all experience that wondrous sense of transformation - simply by listening and letting our imaginations run free.
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