Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: An important collection of production letters, budgets, and awards information

Lucasfilm, 1980, Qty

Lucasfilm, 1980,
including; a Lucasfilm memo on letter-headed paper discussing the nomination of The Empire Strikes Back for the 1980 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films awards known as the Saturn Awards, a Lucasfilm note of 'thanks' for John Mollo's contribution to the official publication The Art of The Empire Strikes Back with a copy of the book, an invitation to the crew screening of The Empire Strikes Back dated 1st April 1980, a letter from Twentieth Century Fox inviting John Mollo to their charity screening along with the ticket and programme for the event, a BAFTA nomination letter, a BAFTA invitation letter dated March 1980, a shooting schedule for the film dated 9th February 1979, a comprehensive wardrobe budget listing costings for all Principal Artistes, Small Parts, Rebels, Imperialists, Bounty Hunters and Crowd, costs documented as production photocopies of original costume budgets for the film, examples of costings are; 'Princess Leia' new outfits & doubles £3000, 'Chewbacca' revamp £3000, 'Yoda' puppet costume £250, 'Darth Vader' revamp £2000, finishing with Repairs required to make 24 old 'Imperial Stormtroopers' serviceable @ £100 each, also included is a hand written Christmas Card from 1979 to Mollo from Producer Gary Kurtz at Lucasfilm, also included is a crew/promotion t-shirt provided to Mollo by Lucasfilm at around the time of production/prior to the films release, and two Polaroid prints; one of the AT-AT helmets another of an Imperial Officer (sold without copyright), (Qty)

The Empire Strikes Back is set three years after Star Wars. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous 'Darth Vader' and the mysterious Emperor, is in pursuit of 'Luke Skywalker' and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. Following a difficult production, it was released on May 21, 1980. It received mixed reviews from critics initially but has since grown in esteem, becoming the most critically acclaimed chapter in the Star Wars saga; it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. It became the highest-grossing film of 1980 and, to date, has earned more than $538 million worldwide from its original run and several re-releases. When adjusted for inflation, it is the second-highest-grossing sequel of all time.

For the sequel Lucas had decided to fund the complete production himself and so therefore, costs were tight (even less than the first film) so where possible, costumes would be reused or upgraded (£2,000 for 'Vader', but a mere £250 for then recently-deceased 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'). Furthermore, of the original 50 'Stormtrooper's' from A New Hope, a dozen had been salvaged, repaired and spruced up, such that they could be reused, introduced later in the film as their cold-weather fatigued 'Snow Troopers' took centre stage for the opening act featuring the unforgettable Imperial attack on the ice planet of 'Hoth'. Similarly a couple of 'TIE Fighter Pilots' were resprayed grey and became 'AT-AT drivers', responsible for piloting the behemoth walking Imperial All Terrain Armoured Transport's.

Provenance:
From The John Mollo Archive