Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

May 25, 1983 (United States)

Return of the Jedi (also known as Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas from a story by Lucas, who was also the executive producer. It is the third installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, the third film to be produced, and the sixth film in the "Skywalker saga". It takes place one year after The Empire Strikes Back. The film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and Frank Oz.

In the film, the Galactic Empire, under the direction of the Emperor, is constructing a second Death Star in order to crush the Rebel Alliance once and for all. Since the Emperor plans to personally oversee the final stages of its construction, the Rebel Fleet launches a full-scale attack on the Death Star in order to prevent its completion and kill the Emperor, effectively bringing an end to his hold over the galaxy. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, now a Jedi Knight, struggles to bring his father Darth Vader back to the light side of the Force.

Steven Spielberg, David Lynch and David Cronenberg were considered to direct the project before Marquand signed on as director. The production team relied on Lucas' storyboards during pre-production. While writing the shooting script, Lucas, Kasdan, Marquand, and producer Howard Kazanjian spent two weeks in conference discussing ideas to construct it. Kazanjian's schedule pushed shooting to begin a few weeks early to allow Industrial Light & Magic more time to work on the film's effects in post-production. Filming took place in England, California, and Arizona from January to May 1982.

The film was released in theaters on May 25, 1983, six years to the day of the release of the first film, receiving positive reviews, although many felt that it did not match the cinematic heights of its predecessors. It grossed $374 million during its initial theatrical run, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1983. Several re-releases and revisions to the film have followed over the decades, which has also brought its total gross to $475 million. Following the release of the film, two trilogies were produced: the prequel trilogy, which consists Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005); and the sequel trilogy, which comprises Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Sound Effects Used

• Ben Burtt Bodyfall Sounds
• BEN BURTT PUNCHING SOUNDS
• DARTH VADER BREATHING
• George Lucas Astromech Critical Yell
• H-B SCI FI - ROCKET BY, NOISY
• Hollywoodedge, Bullet Bounces Off Fr PE115001 (debut)
• Hollywoodedge, Crash Metal Shatter PE110201 (debut)
• Hollywoodedge, Machine Gun Silence PE1103601
• Hollywoodedge, Thunder Rip Rumble PE1008603 (used for explosions and once for Force Lightning.)
• Hollywoodedge, Synth Gun Shot Ricoch PE206601/Sound Ideas, GUN, LASER - LASER GUN: SINGLE SHOT 01
• Pro Sound Effects, Crash Master, Compilation of Large Crashes, Smashes, Glass Breaking, Wood, Metal, Impacts, Destruction 01
• REN HÖEK SCREAM
• SKYWALKER, AIRPLANE - MILLENNIUM FALCON POWER UP
• SKYWALKER, ALARM - IMPERIAL SIREN
• SKYWALKER, ANIMAL, ALIEN - WOOKIEE CALL 01
• SKYWALKER BIG BELCHING SOUND 02 (debut; Used for the Sarlacc when it burps.)
• SKYWALKER BULLET RICOCHET 01 (debut)
• SKYWALKER BULLET RICOCHET 04 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - BULLETS STRIKING METAL (debut)
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - DESCENDING DOUBLE RICOCHET WHIZZING (debut)
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - HOTH BLASTER RICOCHET
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - PROBE DROID BLASTER, SCI-FI
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - RICOCHET WHIZZING BY 01
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - SMALL DOUBLE RICOCHET
• SKYWALKER, BULLET - VARIOUS ARRAY OF RICOCHETS (debut)
• SKYWALKER, CRUNCH - CRUNCHING CHOKE (Heard once in a normal and high pitch as Han is released from carbon.)
• SKYWALKER ELECTRICAL BUZZ SOUND (Heard once mixed with SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - PULSE SHRIEK 02)
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - THE FORCE WHINE
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - OLD-FASHIONED ELECTRICAL CRACKLES
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - PULSE SHRIEK 01
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - PULSE SHRIEK 02 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - SINGLE SPARK CHIRP 01 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - SINGLE SPARK CHIRP 02
• SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - SUDDEN ELECTRIC STATIC (debut)
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 01 (Many variants of this were used in addition)
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 02
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 03
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 04 (high-pitched)
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 05
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 07
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 12
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 21 (debut)
• SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 22
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - AT-AT STOMP
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - BIG CRUNCH
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - CRACKLING EXPLOSION, MEDIUM 01 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - EXPLOSIVE RICOCHET, HIGH RICCO, EXPLOSION ACCENT (debut)
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - SCREAMING EXPLOSION SOUNDS (debut)
• SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - THERMAL DETONATOR: CHARGE 02 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, FIRE - FLAMES QUICK ROAR BY 02
• SKYWALKER GLASS, SMASH - LARGE WINDOW CRASH 02
• SKYWALKER HIGH-PITCHED POW SOUND
• SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, LONG, MALE 01 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, LONG, MALE 02 (debut)
• SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, SHORT, MALE 01 (debut)
• SKYWALKER LASER BLAST SOUND (debut) (Part of a SFX cluster commonly used by most Skywalker sound creatives; used for explosions and beaming into hyperspace.)
• SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER SOUND
• SKYWALKER, METAL - AT-AT LEG ROAR
• SKYWALKER, METAL - BIG CLANK WITH SQUEAL
• SKYWALKER, METAL - HIGH-PITCHED TWANGY RING (debut)
• SKYWALKER, METAL - LID CLANKING (debut)
• SKYWALKER, METAL - LIGHT CRACKLE AND SQUEAK
• SKYWALKER, METAL - PROTOCOL DROID MOVING
• SKYWALKER, METAL - WEIRD CLANK
• SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - CHEWIE'S BOWCASTER GUN
• SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - ION CANNON GUN
• SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - TIE FIGHTER GUN
• SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - X-WING FIGHTER GUN
• SKYWALKER, SPACECRAFT - TIE FIGHTER ROAR BY 01
• SKYWALKER WHISTLING RICOCHET, EXPLOSION ACCENT
• SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - CARTOON FALL WHISTLE (debut; used for Boba Fett's jetpack and some fireworks near the end of the film.)
• SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - FIREWORK WHISTLE (debut; used for Boba Fett's jetpack and some fireworks)
• SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - SMALL FIREWORK WHISTLE (debut; used for the Skiff as it flies away from Jabba's place exploding)
• SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - ARTILLERY FALL 01
• SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - INDY'S WHIP CRACKS
• SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SCREAM-LIKE PASS BY
• SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SINGLE SWISH (reverse)
• SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SYNTHESIZED JET FLY BY
• SKYWALKER, WIND - HEAVY WIND WHISTLING
• SKYWALKER, WIND - REACTOR SHAFT EXPLOSION, WIND, WEATHER
• SoundDogs, Electric - Sparks & Hum - C U - Series Of Amazingly Creaky Sparks And Reverberant Decay
• SoundDogs, Guns Military, Battles - Grenade Launcher Sweetner; Synthy Zap Followed By Wavy Trail - Off. From
• Sound Ideas, AIRPLANE, JET - MILITARY FIGHTER JET: PASS BY 02 (debut)
• Sound Ideas, Animals - Baby elephant growls and trumpets
• Sound Ideas, BADGER - GROWL & HISS, ANIMAL
• Sound Ideas, COUPLING - FREIGHT CARS COUPLING IMPACT, TRAIN (various pitches/processed.)
• Sound Ideas, DOLPHIN - VARIOUS, SEPARATE CRIES W/WAVE, ANIMAL
• Sound Ideas, ELEPHANT - VARIOUS SNORTS, GROWLS, TRUMPETS, ANIMAL (Used for the Rancor.)
• Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - ENERGY BLAST, ELECTRONIC (debut)
• Sound Ideas, Explosions - Incoming Artillery - C U - Very Good, Explosions With Incoming Whoosh Of Shell, Large Concussive Whumps From Explosion, Some Whistles An
• Sound Ideas, FIRE, MISCELLANEOUS - SIZZLY, BUFFETING (debut)
• Sound Ideas, FIRE, ROARING - C.U. LOW RUMBLING INTENSE INFERNO
• Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - SMACK
• Sound Ideas, MOTOR, AIR - COMPRESSED AIR DIESEL STARTER (higher-pitched)
• Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 04 (Heard briefly / low volume)
• Sound Ideas, SPACE, WHOOSH - FAST WHOOSH BY, SCI FI 09 (debut)
• Sound Ideas, WEATHER, LIGHTNING - BOLT OF LIGHTNING STRIKES CLOSE BY, THUNDER 10 (debut)
• Sound Ideas, WIND - BLAST, MODULATION & HOWL, WEATHER (Only the first half of the sound is heard)
• Sound Ideas, WIND - DESERT WIND, LONELY, HAUNTING, OMINOUS, WEATHER
• Sound Ideas, WIND - WIND MACHINE: CLEAN, ARTIFICIAL BREATHY WHISTLES (Debut)
• TECHNICOLOR EXPLOSION 01
• WB BOULDER CRACK
• WB FIRE HISS/WHOOSH SOUND/SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 20
• WB SCI FI - MARVIN THE MARTIAN'S LASER GUN, SWOOSH
• Wilhelm Scream (4th scream; an Imperial officer played by Ben Burtt also imitates this when Han knocks him over)

Other Audio Used

• 20th Century Fox Fanfare (1980 John Williams Version)

Image Gallery

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)/Image Gallery

Audio Samples

The reversed variant of SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SINGLE SWISH as heard in the movie.