Today marks the 40th ceremony of the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the first Star Wars sequel, and more often than not held past critics as the best motion-picture show of the series. One of its most famous scenes, in which Leia says "I love you," and Han Solo replies, "I know," drew a surprisingly negative reaction from one of the stars.

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

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

The "I know" scene was a perfect instance of this back-and-forth mentality. The whole thought of the middle moving-picture show in the original trilogy is that it was supposed to have a bit of a downbeat ending to set up the eventual triumph in the trilogy's final motion-picture show. The heroes are betrayed when visiting one of Han's quondam friends, Lando Calrissian, and Han is taken prisoner past the bounty hunter Boba Fett (working with Darth Vader). Han is and then encased in carbonite for his trip dorsum to Tattooine, where Jabba the Hutt is waiting for him (thereby completing the bounty on Han referenced in the original movie in the Greedo sequence).

Having ii of your stars declare their love for each other is already a large deal, no affair what else the circumstances are, but this was specially catchy considering Han was about to be encased in metal. Therefore, Kershner had to decide whether the scene should exist played as a death sequence or with a little more hope. Han being encased in carbonite didn't kill him, as "carbonite freezing" is supposed to exist similar to placing someone into cryogenesis, but if he were never released from suspended animation, and so he was effectively expressionless. So information technology was certainly a dour scene, and Kershner wasn't certain how, exactly, they should temper the bleakness.

The script originally had Han and Leia kiss, and then she says, "I love yous. I couldn't tell you before, but it'due south true." Han replies, "Just think that, 'cause I'll be back." Kershner at offset believed "I'll be back" was of paramount importance, equally it would ready upward fans for the terminal film in the trilogy. He even joked that the line was near "contractual" to include, because otherwise the scene was also depressing. The issue with Han telling Leia he'll be back is that apparently 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'southward amazing is that journalist Alan Arnold happened to be on set the twenty-four hour period Ford and Kersher were debating the line, and he recorded it all as part of his work on his volume, Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back.

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

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

Kershner: Absolutely. I don't intend to mess effectually … "What's up, buddy boy?" … in the love scene.

Ford: As I pass past her, I remember Leia ought to say very but, "I dearest you."

Kershner: (Tries information technology out) "I dear you lot." And you say, "Only remember that, Leia, because I'll be dorsum." You lot've got to say, "I'll exist dorsum." You must. It's nigh contractual!

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

Kershner: Right, correct.

And so that was how they developed the line. The problem, of form, is that major alter was developed without the involvement of the other major star in the scene. Fisher went on to get an acclaimed screenwriter, specifically as a script doctor whom filmmakers would bring in to exercise uncredited work improving dialogue. So to have her cutting out of such a major change in an important scene was pitiful for her.

Once again, 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, just I always feel that you do it behind my back.

Kershner: No, no, no, we haven't rehearsed it notwithstanding.

Fisher: But I didn't know until at present.

Kershner: I couldn't tell you before.

Fisher: I would simply like to exist there when you decide to change things.

Kershner: (Getting aroused) You weren't here to be there.

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: There's no reason for me to exist mad at Harrison.

Kershner: All right, all right. Okay!

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

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

She further explained:

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

Kershner: He was eager to.

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

Kershner: Your operation is not changed.

Fisher: All I'm asking is to be invited to lookout man you guys get a scene together. It may not center effectually me, like this 1 doesn't, but I'm involved in it.

Kershner: Okay. Are you clear well-nigh it now?

Fisher: Yes, the simply affair I'm not clear almost is…

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

Patently, Fisher so went and sold the scene beautifully, and it became an iconic moment in film history. However, you can certainly empathise where she was coming from, as it is a major change to a scene adult without her input. That she had a great ear for dialogue herself just compounded the bedevilment of not being included in the discussions.

KEEP READING: Did Luke and Leia Almost Kiss TWICE in The Empire Strikes Back?

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Brian Cronin (15419 Articles Published)

CBR Senior Writer Brian Cronin has been writing professionally about comic books for over fifteen years now at CBR (primarily with his "Comics Should Be Good" serial of columns, including Comic Book Legends Revealed). He has written two books almost comics for Penguin-Random House – Was Superman a Spy? And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Acquit Shark Repellent? And Other Astonishing Comic Volume Trivia! and one book, 100 Things Ten-Men Fans Should Know & Practice Before They Die, from Triumph Books. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, Nigh.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. He features legends virtually entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop civilisation features at Pop Culture 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 run into featured at brianc@cbr.com!

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