# The Empire Strikes Back dialogue **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184 "2008-08-16T03:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/1 "2008-08-16T03:38:13Z")
So … how involved was George Lucas in writing the dialogue for _The Empire Strikes Back_? Because this movie has some great lines. Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” Luke: “I don’t believe it!” Yoda: “And that is why you fail.” Princess Leia: “Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder.” Han Solo: “Who’s scruffy-looking?” Princess Leia: “I love you.” Han Solo: “I know.” Darth Vader has some of the best lines, of course: "Apology accepted, Captain Needa. " “Perhaps you think you’re being treated unfairly?” “I am altering the deal. Pray I do not alter it further.” But watching it again last night I caught something I had never noticed before. When the Millenium Falcon’s hyperdrive fails as it is leaving Hoth, Han says, “ **It’s not my fault!** ” Later in the movie, when the hyperdrive fails again while escaping Cloud City, Lando says, “ **It’s not my fault!** ” And that struck me as a pretty clever way of removing any doubt that Han and Lando are two of a kind 😃 Another question: Why was Han so quickly granted the rank of General in the Alliance? I’ve heard he was an Imperial officer who went AWOL … was he a general there, and the rebels simply decided to give him the same rank? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/2 "2008-08-16T04:19:37Z")
[QUOTE=Mister Rik] Another question: Why was Han so quickly granted the rank of General in the Alliance? I’ve heard he was an Imperial officer who went AWOL … was he a general there, and the rebels simply decided to give him the same rank? [/QUOTE] I’ve always chalked it up to Protagonist Prerogative, myself. I actually just posted about this in the Clone Wars thread. The prequels, with their stilted, wooden dialog, are often defended by claiming the originals were just as bad, it’s just that those who grew up with the movies see them through rose-colored lenses. But it ain’t really so. ESB is a _good_ movie, by nearly any metric. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/3 "2008-08-16T04:29:14Z")
The cool dialogue in ESB was written by Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/4 "2008-08-16T04:31:44Z")
I just figured that, like many other revolutions, the rebels don’t have much to reward people with beyond empty titles. Besides, it keeps the minions from hassling the major players if they’re all “Generals”. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/5 "2008-08-16T05:38:30Z")
It’s a generally accepted fact that Lucas was less involved with the production of ESB than he was with any other SW movies; is there any surprise that it’s the best? [QUOTE=Mister Rik] Another question: Why was Han so quickly granted the rank of General in the Alliance? I’ve heard he was an Imperial officer who went AWOL … was he a general there, and the rebels simply decided to give him the same rank? [/QUOTE] Fucking a Princess can get you that. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/6 "2008-08-16T05:49:28Z")
[QUOTE=Mister Rik] Princess Leia: “I love you.” Han Solo: “I know.” [/QUOTE] That one is widely credited to Harrison Ford, who felt that it was more in character than “I love you too.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/7 "2008-08-16T05:50:00Z")
[QUOTE=Mister Rik] Princess Leia: “I love you.” Han Solo: “I know.” [/QUOTE] Harrison Ford was the one who came up with this one. The original line was the pedestrian response you’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/8 "2008-08-16T05:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Fucking a Princess can get you that. [/QUOTE] Ah, but they weren’t up to any actual nookie until probably after RotJ. Maybe the brass just didn’t like the idea of the Princess spending so much time consorting with enlisted men. Was Luke ever given a rank? I don’t recall hearing him called anything but “Luke” or “Skywalker”. What about Chewbacca? > [@TWDuke](#): > > That one is widely credited to Harrison Ford, who felt that it was more in character than “I love you too.” > [@Leaper](#): > > Harrison Ford was the one who came up with this one. The original line was the pedestrian response you’d expect. Coolness! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/9 "2008-08-16T06:08:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mister Rik] Ah, but they weren’t up to any actual nookie until probably after RotJ. Maybe the brass just didn’t like the idea of the Princess spending so much time consorting with enlisted men. [/quote] Huh. I always assumed they started doing the bantha with two backs before they even reached Bespin. Look at their rapport in Cloud City. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/10 "2008-08-16T08:02:55Z")
“Do or do not. There is no try.” is possibly the stupidest line ever written. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/11 "2008-08-16T08:32:15Z")
Please. One does not “fuck” a Princess. One may be permitted to place one’s genitalia in close proximity to Her Majesty’s, with her royal permission. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/12 "2008-08-16T10:49:38Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Please. One does not “fuck” a Princess. One may be permitted to place one’s genitalia in close proximity to Her Majesty’s, with her royal permission. [/QUOTE] Clearly you never met Princess Diana. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/13 "2008-08-16T11:00:07Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] One may be permitted to place one’s genitalia in close proximity to **Her Majesty’s** , with her royal permission. [/QUOTE] You mean “Her Highness’s”. Only the one at the top of the tree gets called “Majesty”. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/14 "2008-08-16T11:15:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mister Rik] Was Luke ever given a rank? I don’t recall hearing him called anything but “Luke” or “Skywalker”. What about Chewbacca? [/QUOTE] He was referred to as “Commander Skywalker” on at least one occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/15 "2008-08-16T11:20:51Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] You mean “Her Highness’s”. Only the one at the top of the tree gets called “Majesty”. [/QUOTE] Actually, the correct address in this case is “Your Worshipfulness.” ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/16 "2008-08-16T13:24:26Z")
I think it would have made a very interesting story if Luke had of nailed Leia and maybe have a few kids by her and THEN find out that she was his sister. But its always the same,offer Hollywood an original plotline and they look at you like your mad or something! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/17 "2008-08-16T13:34:59Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Huh. I always assumed they started doing the bantha with two backs before they even reached Bespin. Look at their rapport in Cloud City. [/QUOTE] She’s called ‘layer’ for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/18 "2008-08-16T13:43:52Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] Clearly you never met Princess Diana. [/QUOTE] Neither did anybody else; at least in the UK, there’s never been a Princess Diana. (If we’re going to joke around about princesses, we might as well use proper nomenclature.) The dialogue we’re talking about is mediocre-to-good movie dialogue; nothing remarkable. It’s always puzzled me that people quote pretty unremarkable lines as if they were the St. Crispian’s Day speech. Things were looking pretty good, though, fiction-wise, at the end of _The Empire Strikes Back_. (Maybe we can thank the dying Leigh Brackett for that.) All went to crap after that. ETA: **Scissorjack** , you beat me to it. “Do or do not. There is no try.” What the fuck does that mean? There’s a good reason the word “try” is in the English language (as well as putting the object after the verb). Maybe they don’t have that word on Yoda’s freaky-deaky homeworld, but it comes in handy around here, Bub. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/19 "2008-08-16T14:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] ETA: **Scissorjack** , you beat me to it. “Do or do not. There is no try.” What the fuck does that mean? There’s a good reason the word “try” is in the English language (as well as putting the object after the verb). Maybe they don’t have that word on Yoda’s freaky-deaky homeworld, but it comes in handy around here, Bub. [/QUOTE] Well, of course, it means that Luke (huh, Star Wars used to be about that guy) can’t afford to even have the possibility to fail. His self-confidence and connection with the Force must be total: \*\*trying \*\*implies that there’s a risk of not succeeding, so he can only _do_. Yoda certainly sounds like a bit of a wisecracker when he says it, but in the circumstances they are in (universe at stake, et c.), it’s pretty solid advice. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184/20 "2008-08-16T14:17:29Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] Well, of course, it means that Luke (huh, Star Wars used to be about that guy) can’t afford to even have the possibility to fail. His self-confidence and connection with the Force must be total: \*\*trying \*\*implies that there’s a risk of not succeeding, so he can only _do_. Yoda certainly sounds like a bit of a wisecracker when he says it, but in the circumstances they are in (universe at stake, et c.), it’s pretty solid advice. [/QUOTE] Well put. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire-strikes-back-dialogue/460184.md?page=2)