I AM C-3PO: THE INSIDE STORY is the perfect gift for Star Wars fans. Many happy memories were reawakened in my mind while reading this wonderful book. I fondly remember taking my young wife to see the amazing new science fiction movie 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' on the silver screen back in 1977. It made such an impression on us that I took my two and a half year old son to see it a few days later. Although I had to hold my hands over his little ears because he said it was too loud, we watched it together. Needless to say, in the years that followed he accumulated the host of toys so he could recreate the events he saw that day. Decades later those same toys were the envy of his children's playmates.
There was so much interesting information in this book that I don't know where to begin and fear leaving some amazing stuff out.
Everyone knows who C-3PO was, though most never knew his human name. Of course if you watched the credits at the end of the movie instead of heading for the door, you would read that Anthony Daniels played C-3PO. But who was he? I mean, we all knew who Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and especially who Harrison Ford were. But who was the guy playing the lovable droid? This book was his story but it was much more, for he had a part in every Star Wars film and the host of events generated by them. Except for those rare times when the man himself was honored, he was always in costume.
And what a costume! It was tailor made to fit his body like a medieval knight. It literally took some two hours to buckle him all in! Once encased in his suit of gold, he sweated or froze while many a time blindly shuffling around in his familiar gait, bumping into things or almost falling down, resulting in scenes being repeated until he learned to triangulate where he needed to go and obstacles to avoid. And with the coming of every new movie he had to get back in shape to fit the costume. At a time when he was insured for $25,000 the suit was insured for $75,000!
Anthony was the one to give C-3PO personality and the movements. Sometimes, thinking in character, he offered changes in the script. His training helped him with the movements, which was in my opinion probably the only noteworthy thing to ever come out of mime classes.
When George Lucas made the original trilogy they had not yet developed the blue and green screen technology, so reading about how the movies were made and problems overcome were something else. He talked about such problems as dealing with unions and foreign governments. He also mentioned the stunt folks and extras. I thought the Jawas moved around like kids, because, well, they were. While Anthony was cooking in his Iron Maiden in the desert of Tunisia, the Jawas were saying, "I'm hot. I don't wanna do this no more!"
Everyone could get something out of this book, even aspiring actors and actresses as well. For one thing, they are never late for a shoot least someone else gets the part.
Some interesting facts: the puppeteer Frank Oz not only did Yoda, but Miss Piggy as well. Some scenes were shot inside old British zeppelin sheds to hide from pesky drones flying overhead. The iconic Millennium Falcon that could out fly and out fight everything the Empire threw at it met a sad end in a burn pile as it was no longer needed and too big to store.
I learned a few things about Anthony the man as well when reading this. Unlike many a memoir written today, this is not an expose. He has nothing but good things to say about everyone. Sure, he had a few complaints, but that makes him human. But on the whole, he would be a good friend.
While reading this book I just had to check out the DVDs of 'The New Hope' and 'The Empire Strikes Back' from the library as my VHS player is broken. This was probably the only time I watched the credits roll all the way to the end recognizing many of the names fondly mentioned.
Trivia: Was R2-D2 a robot or a costume for a small man? How did Anthony refer to his character? Was Anthony in every film? Answers below.
Included is a list of all the Star Wars productions. Color photos enrich this tribute to a happier time many of us remember. I will cherish my autographed copy.
R2-D2 was both, depending on the scene. Anthony refers to his character as See-Threepio. In two films he played a character instead of C-3PO.