MisterWhiplash
Maybe slightly too long (yeah, even at 100 minutes), but there's a lot of wonderful anecdotes from all of these 'walk-on' players and actors and people-behind-masks, and it's not completely about the making of Star Wars either. I think that was what pleasantly surprised me the most; not only that, the people talk about where they came from and their personal lives to an extent - all of them, from what I could tell, came from working class backgrounds, had sometimes sick/dead family members, and it was not necessarily always a 'I'm going to be this kind of actor' let alone any kind of recognizable entity - and, after Star Wars, how their lives fared.Some kept on working in movies (there's one guy who went on to be in a number of films as the sort of 'oh, hey, background guy' in films like Living Daylights and Last Crusade), some didn't (the one actress, who barely considers herself that, found that she was more keen on getting her walk-on roles and not really seeking anything more), and some went on to being other iconic figures (Dave Prowse as... cross-walk guy?) There's also a good deal of time spent talking about fans and conventions, and the reactions to how these cons go isn't anything too out of this world (as one of them says, 95% of the people are terrific, the rest are... weird), but it adds another level on to the proceedings.Most interesting is the bit about how there is a sort of tier system as far as people going to these conventions, with one man being interviewed (I forget his name but he's the guy that gets blown up in the X-Wing after shouting "Loosen up!" and recalls not remembering his lines out of order) saying that at one con a guy came trying to make himself into a thing when he wasn't even credited... and then this same guy, one presumes - or someone like him- is interviewed, and I mean, hey, that briefing scene on the Death Star on Yavin had a LOT of guys, you know. And meanwhile a guy like Prowse says with only a bit of bitterness that he isn't asked to conventions anymore, certainly not the official SW ones, but it doesn't seem as anything sad, like he knows he's made some bad blood along the way ...(the context, in case anyone's curious, Prowse used to be really terrible when it came to leaking info about the sequels when they were in production, to the point where he wasn't given the pivotal line in 'Empire' due to his loose lips, so that may be a reason he neglects to mention, but I digress)...The key thing with Elstree is that you don't have to be a major Star Wars fan to see it. I'm sure it helps, and having listened recently to the 'I Was There Too' podcast with Anthony Forrest (the 'Mind-Trick' Stormtrooper, and another character cut from the final version), there's some extra things to find out about these people that make them interesting all within this context. Stylistically it's talking heads and a sprinkling of film clips, stills, (mostly from SW, and sometimes, to emphasize a character as the one neat trick, the film does a kind of back and forth loop like one might see on, of all places, Instagram, but it works as a 'here's this guy or woman').What it comes down to is that these people would be great fun to talk to in sum, and that's the important thing. While the fandom is nice for these people, it's not everything (not even for Prowse, not anymore, or Jeremy Bulloch, the one actor interviewed here that wasn't there in 76), so in a way this is more like a series of human interest stories that happens to have as the connecting thread of 'Oh yeah, that sci-fi movie that the quiet bearded guy was directing). It works for both crowds, even as it's special up to a point, a 'good for one watch' thing.
rkhen
Well, after reading the pouty petulance of half a dozen butt-hurt sci-fi nerds in this forum, I figured a grown-up ought to weigh in. This is a great movie. Yeah, it has "Star Wars" in the deck. No, it isn't really about Star Wars. It has that in common with life. Elstree 1976 has a novel premise: let's sit down and talk with several people who had uncredited bit parts in one of biggest smash hits in history. What is it like to have had a tiny, expendable role in a huge cultural event? In other words, it's not really about the movie. It's more about that old Patricia Rozema line: "Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?" This is a meditation on living, working, hoping, striving, failing, changing your mind, and growing old. The interviewees are engaging, funny, personable, and wholly aware they're "nobody". And a little bemused that anybody wants their autograph, or to interview them. And refreshingly grateful for that, every last one. In sum, Elstree 1976 is a pleasant evening spent with people not much older than those of us who saw Star Wars first-run, talking about things people our age can understand. I like Star Wars. I went into this expecting another rehash of Star Wars lore, which would have been mildly entertaining. What I found was something much rarer than that. If you're more than half an inch deep, you'll appreciate it.
ironhorse_iv
There have been countless documentaries on the "Star Wars" movies over the years & most of the films, are pretty good. However, this kick-starter documentary directed by Jon Spira is not one of them. While, I'm a huge 'Star Wars' fanatic; I have to say, this documentary was very disappointing. It was a mess. While, the title of this film, refers to the studio, just outside London where director George Lucas shot the original 1977's masterpiece film, 'Star Wars'. The documentary does not really focus on, the actual production of that seminal space opera. Instead, the movie tells the mostly boring life-story of the bit actors and extras that were hired for the film. Talk about grasping for straws. The only sequence and interview that seem, somewhat interesting, was English bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, David Prowse whom played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, though the character's voice was provided by James Earl Jones. That man, had a great life-story of fighting childhood illnesses, working with director Stanley Kubrick as well as being a role-model for children as a crossing guard superhero. What a character! The others actor's life story were highly bland, even the man that create a derivative martial arts form. Look, I get that, they probably couldn't get, any of the main cast to be, part of this film, but there were hardly any interesting colorful supporting actors, here. Where is the interviews of Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Anthony Daniels (C3PO) or Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)? Is this, really the best, this film can often? Its sucks, that most of the interesting actors were long-past dead. It's get kinda worst, as some of the people that were being interview, weren't even credited in the film. God knows, if anything, they're talking about is honestly, true or not. Truly, as much, as I like, hearing about people talk about the production of 'Star Wars', this is pretty low on the entertainment chasm. What's next, a documentary about the jaintors who clean the studios toilets, where 'Star Wars' was filmed at!? Come on! They using the least desirable parts of the film. Another problem with this film, is how the title, doesn't relate to the subject, they're presenting. A good example of this, is how the film talks about actor Anthony Forrest, when in truth, he mostly filmed all of his scenes at Tunisia as both, the Stormtrooper and Laze 'Fixer' Loneozner. He barely step, foot at Elstree Studios at all. Another good example of an actor, not really being there was actor, Jeremy Bulloch, whom wasn't even in the original film, but in its 1980's sequel 'Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back'. The reason, why is pretty simple, when you think, deep about it. He couldn't be at Elstree Studios in 1976, because at that time, he was in Pinewood Studios, filming the James Bond movies in a minor role as Q's assistant. So, why is he in this film at all? It's probably, because he played one of the most popular, minor 'Star Wars' character of all-time, Boba Fett, the Bounty Hunter and fans wanted to see him. It's like the filmmakers, said to themselves, screw the premise of this film. Just add him in, so the movie would have, somewhat of an appeal. Yes, it somewhat work, but he seem like an out of place addition, comparing to the other people, being interview. In my opinion, I think the movie would had been more interesting, if they focus the spotlight on the film crew, rather than the extras and lesser supporting actors. After all, the costumes, the props, the locations and special effects of 'Star Wars' outshines the acting, big time! Sadly, this film doesn't do that, as it shows. It was very lackluster. Another problem of this film to me, is how it was made. The visuals of this documentary were really, below average. The weird badly grainy reenactment footage really, don't match well, with the behind-the-scenes footage of the actual 1977 film. It looks so fake. Also, the idea of having all of the bit part player's names, being shown on the screen alongside their 'Star Wars' action figure might sound cool, but it was delivered, really bad. It comes across, as confusing, as the film doesn't bother, showing their faces, screen presence or last names, until later. The editing for this film, was really, really horrible. There were plenty of botch interviews in the film, that should had been cut out from the final film. A good example is the actor, Angus MacInnes (Gold Leader) calling for his dog to stay still, while he talks. Honestly, did we really need to see that!? Another scene is when another actor, Derek Lyons was showing his 'Zen Swim' martial-arts moves, only to be distracted by the disappearing of people walking in the background, between shots. The way, the movie jump around, from person to person also felt a bit incomplete. It's pretty bad, for the film to start talking about somebody, only to have it, wait until another person finish talking, a little about his life. It was highly annoying. The director also unfortunately opts for this depressing ambient music throughout most of the film that makes everything seem really melancholy and bleak, even when it's not. It's less of a celebration of these actors and more of a show of bitterness. Overall: I have to say, this isn't the documentary, I was looking for. It barely gave any real insight of both 'Star Wars' and the background actors that starred in it. I really can't recommended, watching, not at all. Even if you're forced to watch it.
