For
Hammer fans, David Prowse is well-known as the only actor to reprise the role of
the Monster in the British studio’s Frankenstein franchise. For the rest of the
world, he is the hulking figure in the Darth Vader costume. You never see his
face in the Star Wars films, but that
apparently intrigues fans all the more. Prowse is one of several lesser-known
cast-members of varying degrees of fame or anonymity who discuss the science
fiction blockbuster and its influence on their lives in Jon Spira’s Elstree 1976 (trailer here), which opens this
Friday in New York.
As
one would expect, Prowse is by far the biggest marquee name appearing in Elstree 1976 (named for the Shenley Road
studio where some of the film was shot). Even relatively casual viewers can
probably rattle off his name. Arguably, the next most prominent Star Wars alumnus Spira interviews would
be Garrick Hagon, who still works regularly in British film and television, but
will always be known to fans as Biggs Darklighter (he had a moustache back
then). Paul Blake had a good run on the ITV serial Crossroads, but as Greedo, he played a role in one of the greatest
controversies surrounding Lucas’s special edition editing (did Han shoot
first?).
Angus
Macinnes also appeared fairly regularly in films like Witness and Judge Dredd,
but the balance of participants are essentially extras, albeit some who were
immortalized as action figures, such as Pam Rose (a.k.a. Mos Eisley barmaid Leesub
Sirln). However, Anthony Forrest is in a class by himself, having played both
the “these aren’t the droids we’re looking for” Stormtrooper and Laze “Fixer”
Loneozner, Luke’s snarky Tatooine friend, whose two scenes ended up on the
cutting room floor but still entered fan lore. Yet quite sadly, Koo Stark (yes,
that Koo Stark), who played Fixer’s girlfriend Camie Marstrap, does not herself
appear in Elstree.
There
is a lot of nostalgia in Elstree for “Warsies”
who will surely enjoy revisiting favorite minor characters like Greedo with the
actors who played them. Yet, it is also a rather sad film at times. Clearly, there
are supporting players who are clearly trying to hold onto their notoriety as
best they can. Inevitably, a rift emerges between those with speaking parts who
disdain the mere extras, who in turn resent the territoriality of the more
established cast-members.
