The Empire Strikes Back

The Rough Cut

Just over forty years ago, Paul Hirsch ACE took on the monumental challenge of editing The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to a film that not only redefined the word "blockbuster" but was also a worldwide cultural phenomenon. True to his nature of always "Looking to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was", Paul had not seen the film since its release in 1980...until now. On this edition of the Rough Cut, Paul not only gives his reactions to seeing it for the first time in four decades, but also his recollections of what it was like in the editing room back then. He also discusses; working with director Irvin Kershner, how George Lucas tore apart the first three reels Paul had cut, plus what he knew about the big Anakin Skywalker reveal at the end of the film. Paul also; does a reading from his favorite scene in Empire right from his copy of the original script, discloses for the first time a mistake Kirshner made at the end of the movie and gives us a first hand account of his secret project directing Harrison Ford!

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Go back to the beginning and listen to our podcast with Paul about his editing career.

Hear editor Bob Ducsay talk about cutting The Last Jedi.

Listen to Maryann Brandon talk about her work on The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker.

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