Kersh

Before it's too late, let's celebrate Irvin Kershner, who died a few days ago.  (He shares my birthday, btw.)

He first achieved success as a TV director (though he also did other projects, such as a short film warning about the dangers of comic books).  In the 60s, he became a feature director and worked on projects such as A Fine Madness, The Flim-Flam Man (good work from George C. Scott), Loving (with quite a climax), S*P*Y*S (sort of a follow-up to M*A*S*H) and The Eyes Of Laura Mars (which led to the critics' claim "beware the Eyes of Mars").

None of these films are classics, but they're all of interest.  Obviously George Lucas saw something in them, since he hired Kershner to direct the sequel to Star Wars.  Some believe Lucas just figured he was getting a pro who'd stick to the script, but he got something more.  The Empire Strikes Back takes the characters from the first movie and deepens them.  It's one of the most successful sequels ever shot, artistically and financially.  Now we figure that's how it had to be, but Lucas was overextended and the film could just as easily have ruined him and killed the franchise (which I realize some people would have liked).

I prefer A New Hope to Empire, but there's a large movement (often anti-Lucas) which claims it's the best of the series.  Well, it's certainly great.  It's also darker than the first.  In fact, many fans were quite troubled by it--they didn't get the lift they got last time around.  In Empire, everyone's happy just to be alive at the end. (It actually took some nerve for Lucas to stop the action more at a lull than a triumph--we don't even know if Han will survive).

I still remember standing in line to see it. It was Friday and the film opened Wednesday.  Believe it or not, a kid in front of me spilled the beans and said Darth Vader is Luke's father.  I could still kill him.

In the hands of a lesser director, the introduction of a character like Yoda could have been a disaster.   But the film introduces us to new characters and new worlds as if they've been around forever.  There's also new music, "The Imperial March," which seems as much a part of Star Wars as the main theme.



Having proved himself on big budget items, Kershner did a James Bond film next, but who cares?  If he did nothing else, he deserves to be remembered for his one great work.

PS  Just read Carrie Fisher's memoir Wishful Drinking.  Entertaining, if cynical.  It's just been turned into an HBO special.   She seems a bit bitter about the Star Wars experience.  I suppose it must be weird to have a movie take over your identity at such a young age.