Today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the first Star Wars sequel, and generally held by critics as the best movie of the series. I of its well-nigh famous scenes, in which Leia says "I love you," and Han Solo replies, "I know," drew a surprisingly negative reaction from ane of the stars.

Carrie Fisher, who famously played Princess (after General) Leia Organa, had a major trouble when it came to how co-star Harrison Ford and director Irvin Kershner developed Han's response before he's encased in carbonite.

Throughout the original trilogy, there were constant debates and rewrites. Some of those decisions continued to perplex filmmakers even after release (like George Lucas' back and forth about whether Han should attempt to kill the bounty hunter Greedo before the mercenary tries to impale him).

The "I know" scene was a perfect example of this back-and-forth mentality. The whole idea of the middle film in the original trilogy is that it was supposed to accept a bit of a downbeat ending to gear up upwardly the eventual triumph in the trilogy'southward last film. The heroes are betrayed when visiting one of Han's sometime friends, Lando Calrissian, and Han is taken prisoner by the bounty hunter Boba Fett (working with Darth Vader). Han is so encased in carbonite for his trip back to Tattooine, where Jabba the Hutt is waiting for him (thereby completing the compensation on Han referenced in the original film in the Greedo sequence).

Having two of your stars declare their dearest for each other is already a large deal, no matter what else the circumstances are, only this was particularly tricky because Han was about to be encased in metal. Therefore, Kershner had to determine whether the scene should exist played as a decease sequence or with a little more promise. Han being encased in carbonite didn't kill him, as "carbonite freezing" is supposed to be like to placing someone into cryogenesis, but if he were never released from suspended animation, then he was finer expressionless. So it was certainly a dour scene, and Kershner wasn't sure how, exactly, they should atmosphere the bleakness.

The script originally had Han and Leia kiss, and so she says, "I honey you. I couldn't tell y'all before, but information technology's true." Han replies, "Simply remember that, 'cause I'll be back." Kershner at first believed "I'll be back" was of paramount importance, every bit it would set upwards fans for the final film in the trilogy. He even joked that the line was almost "contractual" to include, considering otherwise the scene was besides depressing. The event with Han telling Leia he'll be back is that obviously he had no idea whether he actually would be back and, thus, including it was perhaps likewise hopeful for the situation.

Harrison Ford and Irvin Kershner on the set up of The Empire Strikes Dorsum

What's astonishing is that journalist Alan Arnold happened to be on set the day Ford and Kersher were debating the line, and he recorded it all as part of his work on his book, Once Upon a Milky way: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Dorsum.

Here is how Kersher and Ford happened upon the "I know" line:

Ford: I think I should be manacled. It won't stop the love scene. I mean, I don't have to put my arms around Leia to kiss her. I can't see how they would indulge in more than a straight kiss in such circumstances. It has to be rough and brisk and over with.

Kershner: Admittedly. I don't intend to mess around … "What'due south up, buddy boy?" … in the beloved scene.

Ford: As I pass past her, I think Leia ought to say very just, "I love you."

Kershner: (Tries information technology out) "I love you." And you say, "Just think that, Leia, because I'll be back." You've got to say, "I'll be back." You must. It'south almost contractual!

Ford: If she says "I dearest you," and I say "I know," that's beautiful and acceptable and funny.

Kershner: Right, right.

Then that was how they developed the line. The trouble, of course, is that major alter was developed without the interest of the other major star in the scene. Fisher went on to become an acclaimed screenwriter, specifically as a script doc whom filmmakers would bring in to do uncredited work improving dialogue. Then to accept her cut out of such a major change in an important scene was distressing for her.

Once once more, Arnold was there to capture it all when Ford informed Fisher of the new dialogue. She went to Kershner to vent:

Fisher: You talk to Harrison about the changes, but I always feel that you do it backside my back.

Kershner: No, no, no, we oasis't rehearsed it even so.

Fisher: Only I didn't know until now.

Kershner: I couldn't tell you before.

Fisher: I would just like to be there when you determine to alter things.

Kershner: (Getting aroused) You weren't here to be at that place.

Fisher: (Shouts) I was in the studio!

Kershner: Okay. Okay.

Fisher: I yelled at Harrison about the changes.

Kershner: Don't yell at Harrison. Yell at me.

Fisher: In that location's no reason for me to be mad at Harrison.

Kershner: All correct, all right. Okay!

Fisher: Simply when he came to me with the changes, I got mad at him and it screws us upwards.

Carrie Fisher and producer Gary Kurtz on the set of The Empire Strikes Back

She further explained:

Fisher: Harrison shouldn't have to come to me with the changes. You should.

Kershner: He was eager to.

Fisher: I know he was. And now I accept to perform at half an hour'south notice scenes that have been all inverse.

Kershner: Your performance is not changed.

Fisher: All I'm asking is to be invited to watch yous guys get a scene together. It may not heart around me, like this one doesn't, but I'one thousand involved in it.

Kershner: Okay. Are you articulate about information technology now?

Fisher: Yep, the only thing I'm not articulate about is…

Kershner: (To himself) Jesus, what a day! I've got problems with the actors. Everybody'due south furious with everybody else…

Evidently, Fisher so went and sold the scene beautifully, and it became an iconic moment in film history. However, y'all can certainly empathise where she was coming from, as information technology is a major change to a scene developed without her input. That she had a great ear for dialogue herself just compounded the aggravation of not beingness included in the discussions.

Go on READING: Did Luke and Leia About Kiss TWICE in The Empire Strikes Dorsum?

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Brian Cronin (15405 Articles Published)

CBR Senior Writer Brian Cronin has been writing professionally virtually comic books for over fifteen years at present at CBR (primarily with his "Comics Should Be Good" series of columns, including Comic Book Legends Revealed). He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random Firm – Was Superman a Spy? And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Bear Shark Repellent? And Other Amazing Comic Volume Trivia! and ane book, 100 Things Ten-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Dice, from Triumph Books. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. He features legends almost entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop civilisation features at Pop Civilisation References. Follow him on Twitter at @Brian_Cronin and experience free to e-mail him suggestions for stories about comic books that you'd like to see featured at brianc@cbr.com!

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