Star Wars Secret ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Millennium Falcon Build Film Screened

falcon11

In 1979, inside the Western Hangar on Pembroke Dock’s dockyard in South West Wales the iconic Millennium Falcon was built for the ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ movie. The project was given the code name The Magic Roundabout and workers on the project were sworn to secrecy. Now, one of the “best kept secrets” is the subject of a new community arts film. Read on for more!

 

In the winter of ’79 a huge spacecraft was built in an old giant aircraft hangar in South West Wales, United Kingdom. For three long months construction people worked on what turned out to be the only full-scale Millennium Falcon prop ever built for the Star Wars film series.

 

A small town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales is now celebrating its links with the giant prop and is set to premier a 10 minute short film that chronicles the construction of the iconic ‘Falcon’. The secret of how the legendary Star Wars spaceship was built for the blockbuster smash hit will finally be revealed in a tell all tale.

 

The short story follows the adventures of a group of children who happen to stumble across the secret spaceship. The film will feature interviews with the men who constructed it, never before scene footage, unseen photographs and an inspired ‘Millennium Falcon’ song created by musician Andy Brindley.

 

falcon6

falcon5

 

Sharron Harris, from Curious Ostrich Productions spoke about creating the interesting untold story. It seems that not everyone in the town even knew about the build or the history behind it.

“Our last film took three days, but this one took about a year as we got totally embroiled in people’s stories and everyone from 80 year-old’s to children wanted to be in it.” she said. “It’s a fascinating story. You’d think everybody in Pembroke Dock would have known about it, and I’m surprised very few people did.”

 

2645b20700000578-2977265-engineering_foreman_john_clark_and_two_friends_are_pictured_besi-a-19_1425391633439

falcon1979

 

Jeff Waterman, whose stories inspired the script for the short film, was part of the original team which built the famous ship from the ground up.

“It all started with a friend of mine coming to my house one night and asking if I wanted a job. Knowing him as a prankster, I asked what sort of job? He told me he was building a spaceship and that I should meet him at the dockyard.” he said. “Into the hangar I went and there it was in front of me.”

 

falcon9

falcon44

2645b20b00000578-2977265-a_group_of_workers_go_over_the_plans_for_the_massive_spaceship_d-a-18_1425391633408

falcon8

 

After the construction was complete, the giant Millennium Falcon ship was carefully moved to the film studios in Hertfordshire, where The Empire Strikes Back was being filmed and the rest was history. Thirty-five years later, the blockbuster era ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ film is considered (to some) the best Star Wars film to date.

 

falcon10

falcon-kershner
Director Irvin Kershner on the set of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’

star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back-20100521030841288

 

The film premiered at the Pembroke Dock’s Pater Hall on Saturday 11/19. We’ll keep you up-to-date as new information as to when/ if a release of the short film becomes available to the public.

 

May the force be with you!

 

Source: BBC..com

 

 

+ posts

12 thoughts on “Star Wars Secret ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Millennium Falcon Build Film Screened

  • November 20, 2016 at 5:10 pm
    Permalink

    OMG! What a document! What a treasure!
    Thanks for the news! Keep us updated.

    • November 21, 2016 at 5:51 am
      Permalink

      Just don’t go looking for pics of what became of her after Jedi – it’s heartbreaking seeing the Falcon sitting in a junkyard in pieces.

  • November 20, 2016 at 5:30 pm
    Permalink

    wait a sec. In episode IV They didn’t have a full scale Falcon?

    • November 20, 2016 at 6:39 pm
      Permalink

      Built half of it.

    • November 21, 2016 at 5:50 am
      Permalink

      Or in 5 or 6 either. The Falcon was built 3/4 scale, so….in effect…the world’s biggest miniature 🙂

      • November 21, 2016 at 3:45 pm
        Permalink

        I don’t think In 6 they had it. There’s a matte painting of the falcon, but not any scenes requiring a full scale falcon.

  • November 20, 2016 at 6:16 pm
    Permalink

    This film sounds corny – And yet I really wan’t to see it!

  • November 20, 2016 at 9:19 pm
    Permalink

    It’s crazy to think how much material and effort goes into those things and we see it for a hand full of minutes in shots.

  • November 20, 2016 at 11:21 pm
    Permalink

    Real sets, practical effects, plywood.

  • November 21, 2016 at 11:26 pm
    Permalink

    wow cool i used to be a bouncer in pembrock dock

  • November 22, 2016 at 4:45 pm
    Permalink

    ‘people worked on what turned out to be the only full-scale Millennium Falcon prop ever built for the Star Wars film series’ – isn’t the Falcon they are using now full scale?

Comments are closed.

LATEST POSTS ON MOVIE NEWS NET