ELSTREE 1976 – Review

The fact that the documentary doesn’t mention STAR WARS in the title is a telling indication of the kind of film Jon Spira has made. With the focus on the people behind the masks and costumes, Spira deliberately has focused his lens on the lives of these actors and not the characters that they became famous for. Fans of STAR WARS might be disappointed by this decision, but the result is a film that is more thoughtful than just another look at the legacy of the iconic series.

Minor characters and some that really aren’t even considered characters (sorry, stormtrooper who knocked his noggin against a blast door) step into the spotlight in ELSTREE 1976. While some of these actors or actresses may not mean much to the casual STAR WARS filmgoer, the super fans will delight in watching the guy who play Greedo, the former bodybuilder who filled out the Darth Vader suit, and even a woman who played a random character in the background of the Mos Eisley cantina scene, share stories from their time on set and watching them now attend conventions.

The STAR WARS stories are only a part of the focus of ELSTREE 1976, though. Spira is more interested in seeing how the experience affected their lives after the film’s release. While some of these post-film “Where are they now?” stories are compelling, it’s hard not to feel like the film doesn’t quite deliver the goods. The most memorable moments in the documentary come from when the actors talk about stories on set.

One of the main take-aways from listening to these actors is the level of uncertainty that everyone felt while making the film. No one knew if this was going to be a B, C, or D movie. In fact, even one person assumed it was going to be a made for TV flick. Even George Lucas seemed to be uncertain or unsure at times. George’s advice to actor Paul Blake (who plays Greedo) when asked how to play a particular scene, “Play it like they do in the movies.”

An hour into the film, an actor emerges who didn’t play a big role in the STAR WARS series, but an iconic one. Jeremy Bulloch is the man who portrayed the famous bounty hunter Boba Fett. Many fans, such as myself, adore the character and have analyzed the few phrases the character has spoken on screen. Like so many of the individuals interviewed in ELSTREE, even listening to him so unenthusiastically recount his story lends the film a somewhat sullen tone. However, some of these bitter remarks are quite funny, as is the case with the actor who was in the suit as Darth Vader. David Prowse is a former English bodybuilder who also appeared in a couple of Hammer Horror features and the classic Stanley Kubrick film A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. “They don’t call you one take Kubrick do they?” David Prowse fired back after Stanley Kubrick asked too much of him during filming. Behind the scenes stories such as this is one of the main draws of the documentary.

The opening moments of ELSTREE 1976 features stunning camerawork of the action figures of these characters – the fictional and goofy looking creatures and villains than fans obsess over. The STAR WARS fandom is a fascinating universe where the die-hard fans think there is intention behind every character or decision made in the film. It’s a rude awakening then to hear some of these actors speak so dispassionately about their characters, while others let their ego get the most of them as they hang on to every frame they were featured. Spira’s documentary proves that STAR WARS was just a film – it was a gig for paid actors who then went on with their normal lives (for better or for worse). It’s not some magical universe in a galaxy far, far away. In fact, it’s very much a collaborative effort of thousands of workers, extras, artists, and actors, who worked together on a job very much grounded on Earth. Life is more than a few lines or 10 seconds on-screen in a sci-fi film, even if some don’t want to accept that.

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

ELSTREE 1976 is now playing in select theaters