MVD Entertainment Group Presents
ELSTREE 1976
In Select Theaters May 6th
And DVD June 28th

With Star Wars back in full force thanks to The Force Awakens, Rogue One and the slew of other movies lined up it comes as no surprise that we’re starting to see more documentaries on the beloved franchise. I Am Your Father previously took a look at David Prowse and now ELSTREE 1976 will expand on that film by taking a look at not only Prowse but some of the other lesser known but still very important actors from the franchise.

This looks fascinating. I’m big on any documentary that explores film and it’s even better when looking at one of the franchises most responsible for shaping the landscape of cinema as we know it today.

ELSTREE 1976 explores the lives of the actors and extras behind one of the most celebrated Science Fiction films in cinematic history, Star Wars.

From the man behind film’s most iconic villain, to the actor whose character was completely cut from the final film, the documentary delves into the eccentric community these individuals have formed and how the Star Wars franchise – which spans five decades from A New Hope to The Force Awakens – continues to impact their lives decades later.

Many of the minor characters were merely part of the set design, but eventually gained recognition as the Star Wars universe expanded into books, comics, etc. Fans learned the history of masked characters like Boba Fett and Greedo, but the sci-fi blockbuster also had a lasting impact on the people inside the costumes.

Not all of the interviewees had minor roles in the series however. For example, David Prowse, whose six-foot-eight bulk filled out Darth Vader’s suit and provided the menacing movements of film’s most iconic villain, wouldn’t be recognized on the street by all but the most ardent Star Wars fans. In the final cut of the movie, his face and voice were replaced by Sebastian Shaw and James Earl Jones, respectively. Others got to work on what would become the biggest movie of all time, but saw their characters cut entirely from the finished film.

The movie will start a US theatrical run on May 6th in select cities including Los Angeles and New York City. For the full list of theaters and ticket information, check http://filmrise.com/elstree-1976

The DVD can be pre-ordered now at the MVD Shop or on Amazon.