Elstree 1976 (2015)

Perfect cast and a good story

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Actors and extras reminisce about their time on the set of "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977) and how making the film affected their lives.My interest in this film is that i believe in celebrating the "men in suits", the actors who are important to film but do not get the recognition. Although I am not a "Star Wars" fan (blasphemy!), I appreciate the role that Greedo plays in the series, as well as Darth Vader and Boba Fett. As one actor points out, there are action figures... you may not know the actor's name, but you have him immortalized in plastic! Die-hard fans might like the film. I found it interesting, but it didn't add a whole lot to the understanding of the "Star Wars" franchise, and even if it did that might not mean as much to me. I was interested in the convention angle. I am shocked how much people pay at conventions for a signature from an actor who had a small part decades ago, and was already paid for that part. (Going to annual horror conventions, I am certain many of the actors make more on signing fees than they ever did as actors!)

As a lifelong Star Wars fan I sat down and watched this DVD with great anticipation but other than a few positives it unfortunately fell way below my expectations and was very disappointing. As the name of the title suggests ..... Elstree, I was hoping to get an insight into the studio and get a better understanding of what it was like in 1976 working on the original film set with some behind the scenes original footage / photos etc but it didn't offer that. Having said that, I appreciate that the film was focusing mainly on the original extras and supporting actors as opposed to the studio itself and listening to each of their interviews there was some interesting stories particularly Dave Prowse but overall it just seemed to drag on and sadly became quite boring. Most of what they had to say was about what they did before been in Star Wars and what they did after. It including their appearances in the conventions which was one of the few highlights. This film had so much potential but I feel it was simply put together cheaply and in a hurry which is such a shame. If you are a genuine Star Wars fan you will find some parts of it interesting but in my opinion it's not one of the best documentary on Star Wars you will ever see.

Well, after reading the pouty petulance of half a dozen butt-hurt sci-fi nerds in this forum, I figured a grown-up ought to weigh in. This is a great movie. Yeah, it has "Star Wars" in the deck. No, it isn't really about Star Wars. It has that in common with life. Elstree 1976 has a novel premise: let's sit down and talk with several people who had uncredited bit parts in one of biggest smash hits in history. What is it like to have had a tiny, expendable role in a huge cultural event? In other words, it's not really about the movie. It's more about that old Patricia Rozema line: "Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?" This is a meditation on living, working, hoping, striving, failing, changing your mind, and growing old. The interviewees are engaging, funny, personable, and wholly aware they're "nobody". And a little bemused that anybody wants their autograph, or to interview them. And refreshingly grateful for that, every last one. In sum, Elstree 1976 is a pleasant evening spent with people not much older than those of us who saw Star Wars first-run, talking about things people our age can understand. I like Star Wars. I went into this expecting another rehash of Star Wars lore, which would have been mildly entertaining. What I found was something much rarer than that. If you're more than half an inch deep, you'll appreciate it.

There have been countless documentaries on the "Star Wars" movies over the years & most of the films, are pretty good. However, this kick-starter documentary directed by Jon Spira is not one of them. While, I'm a huge 'Star Wars' fanatic; I have to say, this documentary was very disappointing. It was a mess. While, the title of this film, refers to the studio, just outside London where director George Lucas shot the original 1977's masterpiece film, 'Star Wars'. The documentary does not really focus on, the actual production of that seminal space opera. Instead, the movie tells the mostly boring life-story of the bit actors and extras that were hired for the film. Talk about grasping for straws. The only sequence and interview that seem, somewhat interesting, was English bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, David Prowse whom played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, though the character's voice was provided by James Earl Jones. That man, had a great life-story of fighting childhood illnesses, working with director Stanley Kubrick as well as being a role-model for children as a crossing guard superhero. What a character! The others actor's life story were highly bland, even the man that create a derivative martial arts form. Look, I get that, they probably couldn't get, any of the main cast to be, part of this film, but there were hardly any interesting colorful supporting actors, here. Where is the interviews of Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Anthony Daniels (C3PO) or Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)? Is this, really the best, this film can often? Its sucks, that most of the interesting actors were long-past dead. It's get kinda worst, as some of the people that were being interview, weren't even credited in the film. God knows, if anything, they're talking about is honestly, true or not. Truly, as much, as I like, hearing about people talk about the production of 'Star Wars', this is pretty low on the entertainment chasm. What's next, a documentary about the jaintors who clean the studios toilets, where 'Star Wars' was filmed at!? Come on! They using the least desirable parts of the film. Another problem with this film, is how the title, doesn't relate to the subject, they're presenting. A good example of this, is how the film talks about actor Anthony Forrest, when in truth, he mostly filmed all of his scenes at Tunisia as both, the Stormtrooper and Laze 'Fixer' Loneozner. He barely step, foot at Elstree Studios at all. Another good example of an actor, not really being there was actor, Jeremy Bulloch, whom wasn't even in the original film, but in its 1980's sequel 'Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back'. The reason, why is pretty simple, when you think, deep about it. He couldn't be at Elstree Studios in 1976, because at that time, he was in Pinewood Studios, filming the James Bond movies in a minor role as Q's assistant. So, why is he in this film at all? It's probably, because he played one of the most popular, minor 'Star Wars' character of all-time, Boba Fett, the Bounty Hunter and fans wanted to see him. It's like the filmmakers, said to themselves, screw the premise of this film. Just add him in, so the movie would have, somewhat of an appeal. Yes, it somewhat work, but he seem like an out of place addition, comparing to the other people, being interview. In my opinion, I think the movie would had been more interesting, if they focus the spotlight on the film crew, rather than the extras and lesser supporting actors. After all, the costumes, the props, the locations and special effects of 'Star Wars' outshines the acting, big time! Sadly, this film doesn't do that, as it shows. It was very lackluster. Another problem of this film to me, is how it was made. The visuals of this documentary were really, below average. The weird badly grainy reenactment footage really, don't match well, with the behind-the-scenes footage of the actual 1977 film. It looks so fake. Also, the idea of having all of the bit part player's names, being shown on the screen alongside their 'Star Wars' action figure might sound cool, but it was delivered, really bad. It comes across, as confusing, as the film doesn't bother, showing their faces, screen presence or last names, until later. The editing for this film, was really, really horrible. There were plenty of botch interviews in the film, that should had been cut out from the final film. A good example is the actor, Angus MacInnes (Gold Leader) calling for his dog to stay still, while he talks. Honestly, did we really need to see that!? Another scene is when another actor, Derek Lyons was showing his 'Zen Swim' martial-arts moves, only to be distracted by the disappearing of people walking in the background, between shots. The way, the movie jump around, from person to person also felt a bit incomplete. It's pretty bad, for the film to start talking about somebody, only to have it, wait until another person finish talking, a little about his life. It was highly annoying. The director also unfortunately opts for this depressing ambient music throughout most of the film that makes everything seem really melancholy and bleak, even when it's not. It's less of a celebration of these actors and more of a show of bitterness. Overall: I have to say, this isn't the documentary, I was looking for. It barely gave any real insight of both 'Star Wars' and the background actors that starred in it. I really can't recommended, watching, not at all. Even if you're forced to watch it.