The Empire Strikes Back (1980) ft. Robb Conlon and Andrew Corns

Dana and Tom with 10x club member, Robb Conlon (Founder of Westport Studios and Host of B2B Business Class), and 5x club member, Andrew Corns (Host and Creator of the Revisionist Almanac), discuss the sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) for its 45th anniversary: directed by Irvin Kerschner, written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, music by John Williams, cinematography by Peter Suschitzky, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Alec Guinness, and James Earl Jones.

Plot Summary: After their triumphant but costly victory against the Empire, the Rebel Alliance struggles to evade Darth Vader’s relentless pursuit. Forced into hiding on the remote ice planet Hoth, they soon find themselves under attack, prompting a desperate escape across the galaxy. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), guided by visions of wisdom, seeks out the reclusive Jedi Master Yoda to sharpen his abilities and prepare for the battles ahead. As Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer) attempt to evade Imperial forces, they seek refuge in the seemingly safe Cloud City—only to find betrayal lurking within. When Luke abandons his training to confront Vader, he faces a chilling revelation that will shake the foundation of his destiny and alter the course of the Rebellion forever.

Guests:

Robb Conlon

• Founder of Westport Studios and Host of B2B Business Class
• LinkedIn: Robb / Westport Studios
• Previously On: Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Die Hard (1988), The Godfather (1972), John Wick (2014), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Man on Fire (2004), The Incredibles (2004), Gladiator (2000)

Andrew Corns

• Host and Creator of the Revisionist Almanac
• @revalmanac on IG, X, YouTube, TikTok, and Letterboxd
• Previously on Gaslight (1946), Do the Right Thing (1989) Revisit, and Fight Club (1999), Barry Lyndon (1975), 2025 Post Oscars Reaction Show

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back to Robb and Andrew

03:08 15 Appearances Gift?

06:30 Robb's Sequelitis

09:33 Why Does Empire Work as a Sequel?

12:09 Where Does Darth Vader Rank Among Cine-Villians?

13:46 Cast and Background for The Empire Strikes Back

16:57 Relationship(s) with The Empire Strikes Back

22:48 What is The Empire Strikes Back About?

31:51 Plot Summary

33:15 Did You Know?

34:54 First Break

35:34 What's Happening with Robb and Andrew?

38:56 Corns Watched Bronco Billy

43:22 Best Performance(s)

01:02:04 Best Scene(s)

01:15:36 Second Break

01:16:20 Best/Funniest Lines

01:23:31 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:25:31 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:30:28 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:44:30 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:48:07 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

02:00:45 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

02:04:24 Remaining Questions for The Empire Strikes Back

02:18:20 Thank You to Robb and Andrew

02:20:50 Credits

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For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list

Keywords:

Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, movie analysis, sequels, character development, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, film history, cinematic twists, movie podcast, movie quotes, character development, cultural impact, film legacy, rewatchability, classic films, humor in cinema, iconic dialogue, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Billy Dee Williams, John Williams, Lawrence Kasdan

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