Friday, October 5, 2012

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #27: Treat Williams in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

I guess a lot of you die-hard Star Wars fans already know about this, but I just discovered it last night. So... the story goes that back in 1979, up-and-coming actor Treat Williams (Prince Of The City, Flashpoint) stopped by the set of The Empire Strikes Back at Elstree Studios to visit his pal, Carrie Fisher. Just for the hell of it, the production staff dressed him up as rebel officer, and he spent the day as an uncredited extra during the Echo Base (Hoth) scenes. It is believed that he is visible on screen during those sequences, but fans don't seem to agree as to where and when he might appear.

As for me, I had never heard of Williams' involvement (however minor) in the Star Wars franchise until just recently (when I found this pic), but I do know that next time I spin my Empire Blu-ray on my 55" TV, I'm going to keep an eye out for him!
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16 comments:

  1. jasonOctober 5, 2012 at 7:00 PM

    For what it's worth, I've known about Williams' cameo for years but never been able to spot him in the film. Just saw Empire on Blu Ray a couple weeks ago... still didn't see him. Just so you don't feel bad if you can't find him! ;)

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  2. Desert ScribeOctober 5, 2012 at 9:39 PM

    I still get a kick out of seeing John Ratzenberger ("Cliff Clavin" from the TV show Cheers as the Rebel major in charge of the hangar door. Did Lucas dub in someone else's voice for that character?

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    1. DakOctober 7, 2012 at 10:45 AM

      Nope! That is John Ratzenberger's original voice.

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    2. DakOctober 7, 2012 at 10:50 AM

      Not only is Treat Williams in the background (where, who knows), and Cliff of Cheers barking orders, but when the Rebel commander is saying "Groups 7 and 10 will stay behind to fly the Speeders. As soon as each transport is loaded, Evacuation Control will give clearance for immediate launch", the elderly Rebel walking behind him from Right to Left is none other than Ralph McQuarrie.

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  3. dicecipherOctober 5, 2012 at 10:48 PM

    Thats a hoot.

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  4. Thunderbird 7October 6, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    "that next time I spin my Empire Blu-ray on my 55" TV"

    Traitor! We old school star kids are supposed to all boycott the original trilogy until Lucas gives us the choice to buy the theatrical cuts instead of the Special/Extra Special/Whatever Editions he insists are the only official versions of the movies.

    At least Spielberg regained his senses and the upcoming ET Blu-ray doesn't have any of his 20th Anniversary changes. Even Paramount was smart and gave us the 1960s version in addition to the "remastered" episodes on the Star Trek TOS Blu-ray discs.

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    1. Christopher MillsOctober 6, 2012 at 1:45 AM

      I bought them second-hand. Does that help at all?

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    2. AnonymousOctober 6, 2012 at 8:28 AM

      Tough to avoid the Lucas Special Editions though. I'm a big fan of 'THX 1138' and the only version currently available is the heavily CGI-tweaked one. No choice but to watch that one

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    3. Thunderbird 7October 6, 2012 at 10:55 AM

      Nope. We're still coming over to your house to toss you into the pit of sarlacc. The pit without the extraneous tentacles.

      And Han shot first.

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    4. SaturdayMorningFanOctober 9, 2012 at 2:31 PM

      Yes, it does. Now you can enjoy the movie with a clean conscience knowing George didn't get any of your hard-earned money. And you paid closer to what it's worth.

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  5. UnknownOctober 6, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    To my mind, Treat's performance in Stephen Sommers' Deep Rising liberally channelled the great Han Solo. Maybe he picked up some tips from the mumblesome Ford in person whilst at Elstree! J.W. Rinzler's fantastic coffee table publication, The Making of the Empire Strikes Back, features further evidence of Mr Williams' brief rebel cameo, and is well worth tracking down, if you love "The Wars".

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    1. AnonymousOctober 6, 2012 at 5:31 PM

      Rinzler's is the whopping big hardback isn't it? Been trying to track down a cheap, decent, second edition of that one. However, I do remember having a paperback also called 'The Making of The Empire Strikes Back' from 1980. Long gone now. Never seen a copy since either

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  6. TimOctober 12, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    Great photo, probably about the time he was making "1941" with Spielberg. As to the Star Wars blu-ray debate...I'll admit that George's constant alterations are annoying as crap to old school fans like myself (I mean, was it really necessary to conceal Artoo behind digitally-added rocks when he's hiding from the Sandpeople? Really?), but the superb quality of the films themselves (plus the deleted scenes and vintage TV docs, if you can afford the megaset) is a definite plus. That said, I do feel it's a shame the only non-Special Edition release of the original trilogy on dvd was sourced from original unrestored theatrical prints. But I guess that's better than nothing, considering Lucas didn't even bother making the original (better) version of THX-1138 available on dvd, which is why I kept my old laserdisc copy. Btw, the original book published in 1980 about the making of Empire was Alan Arnold's "Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of the Empire Strikes Back."

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    1. AnonymousOctober 14, 2012 at 4:47 AM

      Good comments Tim. I agree about the original 'THX', it's much better. The CGI additions really jar with the stark 70's look. I don't have the laserdisc though so I'm pretty annoyed I can't see it anymore.
      Re: Old 'Star Wars' books, does anyone remember a quiz book written by a kid in the early 80's?

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    2. Dan The Man March 29, 2013 at 8:07 AM

      Anonymous, YES! I have that book still... "Jedi Masters Quiz Book!?" I found the book in my junk the other day and wondered what that kid is doing now...

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  7. Dan The Man March 29, 2013 at 8:05 AM

    Ratzenberger is all over Superman and SII, he plays two different character and his voice is heard throughout.

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