The Empire Strikes Back (Movie)

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    Clive Revill, Original Voice of Emperor Palpatine in ‘Star Wars,’ Dies at 94

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    His voice can be heard for only a minute in “The Empire Strikes Back,” but it provided the first draft of a character that would be a mainstay of the franchise for decades.It was a minute that changed the course of the “Star Wars” franchise. In “The Empire Strikes Back,” the now-celebrated 1980 sequel, audiences were treated to the first on-camera sighting of Emperor Palpatine.After receiving only a glancing mention in the first movie, he could have looked and sounded like anything. A human. A Wookiee. A droid. A turtle. There was, instead, a disfigured, robed face — portrayed by the actress Marjorie Eaton — that terrified fans and etched the character into “Star Wars” lore.But Palpatine’s voice — cool, crisp and commanding — belonged to Clive Revill, who in about 60 seconds set the stage for one of the most feared and infamous characters in science fiction. Mr. Revill died on March 11 in Sherman Oaks, Calif., his daughter, Kate Revill, said on Thursday. The cause, she said, was complications of dementia. He was 94.Palpatine’s appearance, however brief, is pivotal. In the conversation with Darth Vader it is established that Vader, already an iconic villain, has a boss — one whom Vader himself fears. Additionally, Palpatine recognizes Luke Skywalker as a true threat.In just a few lines, Mr. Revill established Palpatine as a cold, dominant figure.When the original trilogy was rereleased in 2004, his voice was replaced by that of Ian McDiarmid, who played Palpatine in subsequent “Star Wars” films, starting with “Return of the Jedi” (1983). But in various iterations of Palpatine since the original — including the franchise films, the video game “Fortnite” and even Lego re-enactments — the character’s voice is built on Mr. Revill’s work.“Those voices are all influenced by this first example,” said Greg Iwinski, a writer on the animated “Star Wars” series “Young Jedi Adventures.” “That was 45 years ago. That’s the importance of that legacy. He was the first guy to do it.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Why Britain Keeps Giving Classic Movies New Ratings

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      As the attitudes of moviegoers evolve, so do the guidelines of the ratings board, which has reclassified dozens of films including “Mary Poppins” and “Rocky.”The British Board of Film Classification has been busy.Last year, the group rerated more than 30 older films to meet contemporary standards. In February, it gave a stricter rating to “Mary Poppins” because of racial slurs. And last week, it began using an updated set of guidelines after surveying thousands of British moviegoers to gauge shifting public attitudes.Based on that survey, the new guidelines acknowledge that audiences have grown more lenient about depictions of cannabis use but are more concerned about intense violence and, for younger viewers, bad language.“We follow what people tell us, and we update our standards as societal attitudes change,” said David Austin, the board’s chief executive.When distributors rerelease movies in theaters, on streaming services or on DVD, they may be required to resubmit the films to the ratings board. Many voluntarily choose to do so, Austin said, in hopes of receiving a lower rating or to ensure that the rating matches the content. What was once considered acceptable onscreen may no longer be.Under the newest guidelines, the board said, both the 2018 Transformers movie, “Bumblebee,” and the 1963 James Bond classic, “From Russia With Love,” would be rated 12A instead of PG if they were resubmitted for updated ratings.(The ratings for theatrical releases are U, for universal; PG, for parental guidance; 12A, 15 and 18, for certain age restrictions; and R18, for pornographic content.)We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Jeremy Bulloch, Who Played Boba Fett in ‘Star Wars’ Movies, Dies at 75

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      #masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Best of 2020Best ComedyBest TV ShowsBest BooksBest MoviesBest AlbumsAdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyJeremy Bulloch, Who Played Boba Fett in ‘Star Wars’ Movies, Dies at 75Mr. Bulloch said he based his performance as the menacing bounty hunter in part on a Clint Eastwood role as a laconic gunslinger.Jeremy Bulloch in 2017 with the Boba Fett suit he wore in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”Credit…Associated PressDec. 17, 2020Jeremy Bulloch, the British actor who helped to make Boba Fett, the menacing bounty hunter with the dented helmet and T-shaped visor, one of the most popular characters in the “Star Wars” firmament, died on Thursday. He was 75.Mr. Bulloch’s death was confirmed by a statement on his website, which said he had spent his final weeks at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London. Mr. Bulloch had health complications, including Parkinson’s disease, the statement said.Mr. Bulloch became an actor at an early age, starring in commercials before expanding into television, stage, and film.Among his credits were numerous TV shows from the 1970s and ’80s, including “Doctor Who” and “Robin of Sherwood.” He also played supporting roles in three James Bond features — “Octopussy,” “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “For Your Eyes Only.”But he was best known for playing Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”Mr. Bulloch landed the role thanks to his half brother, Robert Watts, who was an associate producer of “The Empire Strikes Back,” according to StarWars.com. “‘If the suit fits, the part’s yours,’” Mr. Watts once recalled telling Mr. Bulloch. “He came in and it fit.”Mr. Bulloch said that donning Boba Fett’s battered armor, jetpack and helmet was a pleasure and a life-changing experience, although the costume itself could be quite uncomfortable.He said he had modeled the mysterious mercenary’s slow, deliberate head nod and cold, imposing physicality on Clint Eastwood’s turn as the laconic gunslinging antihero in the classic Spaghetti western “A Fistful of Dollars.”“I thought of Boba Fett as Clint Eastwood in a suit of armor,” Mr. Bulloch once said, according to StarWars.com. Ben Burtt, the sound designer on “The Empire Strikes Back,” even added the sound of jangling spurs when Fett walked, the website said.Jason Wingreen, a character actor best known for playing the genial bartender Harry on the hit sitcom “All in the Family,” voiced Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back.” Mr. Wingreen died in 2016. He was 95.Mr. Bulloch said that he had terrific memories of portraying the character.“When I walked on to the set for the very first time in the costume, George Lucas looked at the costume and sort of looked out and said: ‘Mm-hmm. Yup. OK. Well, welcome aboard. It’s not a big role, but I’m sure you’ll have fun,’” he recalled in a 2015 interview with the Boba Fett Fan Club, one of many encounters he had with fans of the character and the series.Mr. Bulloch said he remembered going home after that first day and exulting to his sons: “Yes! I’m doing this.” Their response: “Dad, we’ve got homework to do. We’ll talk later.”Mr. Lucas said in a statement on StarWars.com that “Jeremy brought the perfect combination of mystery and menace to his performance of Boba Fett, which is just what I wanted the character to convey.”Born on Feb. 16, 1945, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England, Mr. Bulloch also appeared in “The Empire Strikes Back” without Fett’s helmet as an Imperial officer escorting a captive Princess Leia. He had a small role in “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” as the captain of the Tantive III, Captain Colton.Mr. Bulloch is survived by his wife, Maureen, three sons and 10 grandchildren.Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, said Mr. Bulloch “was the quintessential English gentleman.”“A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky enough to meet or work with him,” Mr. Hamill wrote on Twitter.Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, said, “Today we lost the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.”AdvertisementContinue reading the main story More

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      Dave Prowse, Man Behind Darth Vader’s Mask, Is Dead at 85

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      #masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }What to WatchBest Movies on NetflixBest of Disney PlusClassic Holiday MoviesHoliday TVBest Netflix DocumentariesAdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyDave Prowse, Man Behind Darth Vader’s Mask, Is Dead at 85Mr. Prowse went from being a weight lifting champion in Britain to helping portray one of the most memorable villains in movie history. But his voice did not make the edit.Dave Prowse, left, alongside probably his most famous character, Darth Vader, at a fan convention in Cusset, France, in 2013.Credit…Thierry Zoccolan/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesBy More