'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - The Radio Drama' Episode Review: 'Dark Lord's Fury'
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| Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Cast:
- Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
- See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels)
- Han Solo (Perry King)
- Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs)
- Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Willliams)
- Artoo-Detoo
- Chewbacca
- Darth Vader (Brock Peters)
- Lobot
- Boba Fett
- Imperial Commander
- First Trooper
- Second Trooper
- First Guard
- Second Guard
- 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.
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, as the Empire hunts scattered and demoralized Rebel units across space. While Luke Skywalker has gone off on his own to further his training as a Jedi Knight, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and See-Threepio have been forced to seek refuge on Cloud City, a huge gas-mining complex floating in the atmosphere of the planet Bespin.
Sound: X-wing zooms
Narrator: But Luke is now speeding towards Bespin in his X-wing fighter, convinced by glimpses of the Force that his friends are in horrible danger.
SCENE 8-1 CLOUD CITY QUARTERS
Sound: The Rebels' luxurious quarters in Cloud City. Fountains. Wind chimes. A power door opens.
Han: (APPROACHING) Well, I just talked to the tech supervisor, Leia. Everything's goin' great!
Leia: Oh? Everything always seems to be going "just great" in Cloud City.
Han: (SIGHS) Things go bad, you worry. Things go good, you get suspicious. Why don't you try bein' happy for a change, Princess?
Leia: I will be - when we're out of here. And I hope that nobody finds out about the "princess" part.
Han: Hey, what more d'ya want from Lando? He took us in, he's gettin' the Falcon's hyperdrive repaired, and he's putting us up in luxury quarters.
Leia: Oh yes, Lando's been generous to a fault, I'll grant you that.
Han: I mean, look at this place; three times as much room as we need, all this art, view of the whole city, the works! Pretty classy even for a princess, isn't it?
Leia: And dazzling to a smuggler, I imagine.
Han: I take the good life when it comes my way, yeah! And I see you don't mind wearing those fancy robes he had sent over.
Leia: There's something about the way Lando Calrissian smiles.....
Dark Lord's Fury is the eighth episode in Brian Daley's radio adaptation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Produced for National Public Radio in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10-part series expanded the cinematic tale written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan for the eponymous space fantasy film in a rich audio-only format.
Directed by British director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Captain Corelli's Mandolin) and featuring performances by Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams in their Empire film roles of (respectively) Luke Skywalker, See-Threepio, and Lando Calrissian, Dark Lord's Fury tells a story full of intrigue, stunning betrayal, and reveals why Darth Vader has been chasing Han Solo (Perry King), Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs), and the overanxious protocol droid See-Threepio from Hoth to Bespin's Cloud City.
As Dark Lord's Fury opens, Leia is still uneasy about Han's old gambling buddy - and former owner of the Millennium Falcon - Lando Calrissian. Ever since their arrival on Cloud City, the Princess has resisted Lando's smooth-talking attempts to charm her. She refuses to address him as anything besides "Administrator Calrissian" and makes sarcastic asides when Lando tries to win her over with flattery.
In short, Leia senses that something is rotten in the luxurious and seemingly neutral Cloud City.
Even now, as Han tries to assuage Leia's worries with reports about progress in the Falcon's repairs, it's obvious that she's not convinced that Lando can be trusted. Everything is too perfect, too comfortable for the Princess' taste.
Furthermore, no one on Cloud City seems to know where Leia's faithful but worrywart protocol droid, See-Threepio, has been since the Millennium Falcon's landing on Bespin.
After a long conversation in which Han and Leia discuss several topics, including the Corellian "scoundrel's" plans to leave the Rebellion to pay off Jabba the Hutt and Leia's disappointment over this decision, Chewie enters their luxurious suite carrying the parts of a disassembled - and very familiar-looking - protocol droid.
Sound: Power door opens. Chewie enters, snarling, approaching point of view.
Han: Chewie! What's the matter? What d'ya got there?
Chewbacca: YOWLS.
Leia: Threepio!
Han: What's left of him. Boy, Threepio, somebody blasted you good.
Chewbacca: SNARLS.
Han: Chewie says he found the pieces in a reclamation center. He had to fight off a buncha those little "Ughnaughts" for 'em.
Leia: I told you something was wrong. Are all Threepio's pieces here?
Sound: Sorting through the junk.
Han: Looks like. Not too much damage.
Leia: Oh, what a mess! Can Chewbacca repair him?
Han: Uh, looks like his emergency releases blew when the blaster shot hit 'im, sluffed off most of the impact.
Leia: So he can be fixed?
Han: Yeah; Lando's got people who can do it.
Leia: No thanks! Wake up, Han! Lando's people probably did this!
Han: Look, there's no reason to think Lando was in on this; those Ughnaughts are nasty little creatures...
Sound: Power door opens.
Lando (APPROACHING) Good afternoon, folks. I came to see if you, uh....Am I interrupting something?
Chewbacca: WOOFS.
Leia: Not really, Administrator Calrissian.
Lando: Leia, you look absolutely magnificent in those robes! You truly belong with us here among the clouds.
Leia: (COOLLY) I can't agree, but thank you.
Lando: Would you care to join me in the banquet hall for a little refreshment? Everyone's invited, of course.
Chewbacca: AGREES.
Han: Sounds good, Lando. I'm always one for a free feed.
Lando: Splendid! By the way, Han: Are you having trouble with your droid there?
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| Cloud City production painting by Ralph McQuarrie (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Sound: The Rebels' luxurious quarters in Cloud City. Fountains. Wind chimes. A power door opens.
Han: (APPROACHING) Well, I just talked to the tech supervisor, Leia. Everything's goin' great!
Leia: Oh? Everything always seems to be going "just great" in Cloud City.
Han: (SIGHS) Things go bad, you worry. Things go good, you get suspicious. Why don't you try bein' happy for a change, Princess?
Leia: I will be - when we're out of here. And I hope that nobody finds out about the "princess" part.
Han: Hey, what more d'ya want from Lando? He took us in, he's gettin' the Falcon's hyperdrive repaired, and he's putting us up in luxury quarters.
Leia: Oh yes, Lando's been generous to a fault, I'll grant you that.
Han: I mean, look at this place; three times as much room as we need, all this art, view of the whole city, the works! Pretty classy even for a princess, isn't it?
Leia: And dazzling to a smuggler, I imagine.
Han: I take the good life when it comes my way, yeah! And I see you don't mind wearing those fancy robes he had sent over.
Leia: There's something about the way Lando Calrissian smiles.....
Dark Lord's Fury is the eighth episode in Brian Daley's radio adaptation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Produced for National Public Radio in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10-part series expanded the cinematic tale written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan for the eponymous space fantasy film in a rich audio-only format.
Directed by British director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Captain Corelli's Mandolin) and featuring performances by Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams in their Empire film roles of (respectively) Luke Skywalker, See-Threepio, and Lando Calrissian, Dark Lord's Fury tells a story full of intrigue, stunning betrayal, and reveals why Darth Vader has been chasing Han Solo (Perry King), Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa (Ann Sachs), and the overanxious protocol droid See-Threepio from Hoth to Bespin's Cloud City.
As Dark Lord's Fury opens, Leia is still uneasy about Han's old gambling buddy - and former owner of the Millennium Falcon - Lando Calrissian. Ever since their arrival on Cloud City, the Princess has resisted Lando's smooth-talking attempts to charm her. She refuses to address him as anything besides "Administrator Calrissian" and makes sarcastic asides when Lando tries to win her over with flattery.
In short, Leia senses that something is rotten in the luxurious and seemingly neutral Cloud City.
Even now, as Han tries to assuage Leia's worries with reports about progress in the Falcon's repairs, it's obvious that she's not convinced that Lando can be trusted. Everything is too perfect, too comfortable for the Princess' taste.
Furthermore, no one on Cloud City seems to know where Leia's faithful but worrywart protocol droid, See-Threepio, has been since the Millennium Falcon's landing on Bespin.
 |
| "Chewie says he found the pieces in a reclamation center." Concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
After a long conversation in which Han and Leia discuss several topics, including the Corellian "scoundrel's" plans to leave the Rebellion to pay off Jabba the Hutt and Leia's disappointment over this decision, Chewie enters their luxurious suite carrying the parts of a disassembled - and very familiar-looking - protocol droid.
Sound: Power door opens. Chewie enters, snarling, approaching point of view.
Han: Chewie! What's the matter? What d'ya got there?
Chewbacca: YOWLS.
Leia: Threepio!
Han: What's left of him. Boy, Threepio, somebody blasted you good.
Chewbacca: SNARLS.
Han: Chewie says he found the pieces in a reclamation center. He had to fight off a buncha those little "Ughnaughts" for 'em.
Leia: I told you something was wrong. Are all Threepio's pieces here?
Sound: Sorting through the junk.
Han: Looks like. Not too much damage.
Leia: Oh, what a mess! Can Chewbacca repair him?
Han: Uh, looks like his emergency releases blew when the blaster shot hit 'im, sluffed off most of the impact.
Leia: So he can be fixed?
Han: Yeah; Lando's got people who can do it.
Leia: No thanks! Wake up, Han! Lando's people probably did this!
Han: Look, there's no reason to think Lando was in on this; those Ughnaughts are nasty little creatures...
Sound: Power door opens.
Lando (APPROACHING) Good afternoon, folks. I came to see if you, uh....Am I interrupting something?
Chewbacca: WOOFS.
Leia: Not really, Administrator Calrissian.
Lando: Leia, you look absolutely magnificent in those robes! You truly belong with us here among the clouds.
Leia: (COOLLY) I can't agree, but thank you.
Lando: Would you care to join me in the banquet hall for a little refreshment? Everyone's invited, of course.
Chewbacca: AGREES.
Han: Sounds good, Lando. I'm always one for a free feed.
Lando: Splendid! By the way, Han: Are you having trouble with your droid there?
Han: No. No problem. He comes apart once in a while. Why?
Lando: Oh, nothing. Ready, Princess? Gentlemen? (MOVING OFF) Right this way!
Sound: Quarters fade.
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| "Greetings, Princess Leia; Captain Solo! It has been a long chase. Would you care to sit at my table?" Concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Dark Lord's Fury segues to one of the most important plot twists in The Empire Strikes Back: Boba Fett had tracked the Falcon and informed Darth Vader that the damaged freighter was heading to Bespin. As a result, Vader and his detachment of stormtroopers arrived at Cloud City, as Lando apologetically explains, "right before the Falcon. I'm sorry, Han."
Over the episode's next five scenes, adapter Brian Daley gives listeners expanded or all-new versions of some of the most memorable moments in Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, including:
- A scene where Boba Fett - who didn't have much dialogue in Irvin Kershner's 1980 film - and Lando argue heatedly over Vader's torture of a captive Han Solo
- Chewbacca's attempts to repair the damaged - and apparently unappreciative - Threepio
- The confrontation between Han, Leia, Chewie, and the seemingly treacherous Lando in which our heroes learn that Vader is not interested in them at all
- Vader's revelation to Lando about why he is interested in Cloud City's carbon freezing chamber, his plans for Captain Solo, and his intentions to capture a much more important prize for the Emperor
- Luke Skywalker's arrival at Cloud City
- Daley's version of Empire's famous "I love you...I know" exchange between Princess Leia and Han Solo
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| Early concept painting for the Cloud City carbon freezing chamber by Ralph McQuarrie. (C) 1980 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
My Take
This eighth chapter in Brian Daley's chilling and thrilling radio version of The Empire Strikes Back is Star Wars storytelling at its very best. It shows the heroes of the Rebellion at their very lowest point; Han, Chewie, Princess Leia, and See-Threepio are in the clutches of the evil Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker, the galaxy's seeming last hope for salvation, has cut short his Jedi training and is on his way to save his friends, not knowing that he is heading into Vader's trap. Even the double-dealing gambler, Lando Calrissian, now realizes, as Daley puts it, "what it means to strike a bargain with the Empire."
As the late Irvin Kershner stated in the 2004 documentary Empire of Dreams: The Making of the Star Wars Trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back is clearly the second act of a three-act drama. As a result, the story can't have a resolution; just an emotional climax. And while the climax of the Radio Drama is still two episodes away, Dark Lord's Fury is the high point of what a literature teacher would call the "rising action" phase of the story.
Once again, John Madden calls upon his previous experiences as a director of stage productions and radio dramas in his native England to bring George Lucas's space-fantasy saga to life as an aural experience. Aided in the post-production phase by sound mixer Tom Voegeli's skillful manipulation of the cast's performances, composer John Williams' symphonic score, and Ben Burtt's Academy Award winning sound effects, Madden creates a rich and entertaining experience for the imagination that takes listeners to that galaxy far, far away.
Of course, all the technical wizardry and directing ability in the world don't matter much without the core group of actors that breathe life into the late Brian Daley's radio script.
First and foremost, of course, are the three cast members that reprise their iconic Empire movie roles: Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams. Naturally, they play - respectively, the impulsive-yet-earnest Luke Skywalker, the fretful (and accident-prone) See-Threepio, and the charming-yet-treacherous Lando Calrissian. Hamill and Daniels had already performed in 1981's Star Wars: The Radio Drama, and although Williams was a newcomer to radio, he does a great job in this 1983 adaptation of the now-classic The Empire Strikes Back.
And although Star Wars: Radio Drama veterans Perry King (Han Solo), Ann Sachs (Princess Leia), and Brock Peters (Darth Vader) were not in the original Star Wars trilogy, they are world-class actors in their own right. King even has a close connection with the iconic space pirate with the heart of gold; he was one of the many young actors who tested for the role that would eventually go to Harrison Ford.
Dark Lord's Fury, as well as the rest of the Star Wars Trilogy radio drama episodes, proves that you don't need special visual effects or an IMAX theater to experience the triumphs and failures of Lucas's heroes - and villains. It is, by the nature of the story it tells, one of the darkest chapters in Daley and Madden's Empire radio adaptation. But it's also fun and exciting, with all-new scenes that add depth to the story brought to life in Irvin Kershner's 1980 film.
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