Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has revealed that Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in George Lucas’ Star Wars trilogy, will open the 16th annual TCM Classic Film Festival on Thursday, April 24th.
Celebrating its 45th Anniversary, the gala presentation will bring Lucas in to present the film. The opening night launches an exhilarating weekend in the heart of Hollywood, showcasing exclusive programming themed around “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film.”
Ben Mankiewicz, TCM Primetime Anchor and Official Host of the TCM Classic Film Festival said in a statement: “The Empire Strikes Back is like The Godfather Part II. Yes, technically, they’re sequels, the second movie in a series. But they are so much more.
“Empire not only dazzled and delighted Star Wars fans, it pushed the boundaries of moviemaking, further deepening its characters and expanding the most popular cinematic universe of all time.
The first Star Wars picture in 1977 ignited a new era in Hollywood and turned a generation of young people into passionate movie fans for life. Then, somehow, three years later, along comes Empire, which might even be better. It’s a stunning accomplishment and surely stands one of the great achievements in the history of film.”
Widely considered one of the greatest sequels in film history, and winner of two Academy Awards, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back explores themes of reliance, self-discovery, sacrifice, and the consequences of betrayal.
The film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, James Earl Jones, and Frank Oz.
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