A Thousand Stars: Episode VI, Part 7

[matril]

We return to the under-construction Death Star, again with an impressive array of stormtroopers. But then we see a new type of guard, imposing and chilling with their lance-like weapons and blood-red robes. And Vader is not the one commanding all the fear and attention this time. Even he is bowing.

This is our first look at the Emperor in person. In hologram form, he appeared as a massive figure hovering above Vader. So why is he somehow even more sinister as a hunched little man? Perhaps because he so effortlessly gives orders that are immediately followed, with some power far greater than the physical?

Perhaps also because, with some tricky camera work, we don't spend much time with both Vader and the Emperor in the shot. We switch back and forth between them, positioned as if they're matching eyelines.

And we can't discount the fantastic performance of Ian McDiarmid. What delightfully cackling ancient evil he portrays. He was only in his thirties at the time! Mark Hamill never saw him out of makeup on set, so when he invited him over for dinner he was truly startled to meet a friendly, mild-mannered fellow.

Next time, parting words from an old friend...

Comments

[krpalmer]

J. W. Rinzler's "The Making of Return of the Jedi" mentions Ian McDiarmid had been the second choice to play the Emperor, taking the role after an older actor had to decline at the last moment. When it comes to this scene I do remember Fernwithy suggesting Vader can be seen as only just hiding hatred for the Emperor. I have to admit to supposing myself "not able to pick up on subtlety" or something there. On the other hand, supposing Yoda's "always two there are" comment both correct to begin with and still applying all those Episodes after he made it, I'm at once swift and happy to suppose Vader proposing Luke be "turned" in The Empire Strikes Back was an open challenge to the Emperor acknowledged so casually there was no need to talk about it, a challenge still standing here for all that I then interpret this movie as having Vader indeed no longer certain that he can bully or talk Luke into joining the Dark Side...

[matril]

There’s definitely a lot going on beneath the surface, both Sith plotting against each other and knowing the other one knows it. You can interpret their specific motives a lot of ways since it’s not stated explicitly. But the one thing we know neither of them counted on is Luke refusing to be a pawn for either of them.