This film is part of Rentals

Elstree 1976
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, ten actors landed small roles in a mysterious project called Star Wars. This is the story of how their lives changed forever.
Documentary 2015 101 mins
Director: Jon Spira
Overview
When George Lucas began work on a mysterious project named Star Wars in North London back in 1976, no one could have predicted how it would go on to shape cinema as we know it, least of all the legions of on-screen extras. In this affectionate documentary, we meet ten of those bit performers who appeared, however fleetingly, in Lucas’ box office behemoth.
Rather than the standard ‘making of’ – the likes of which have been seen countless times before – Elstree 1976 paints an intimate portrait of these performers, examining how their brushes with Lucas shaped the paths of their lives. With a cast ranging from Darth Vader himself (or David Prowse as he’s better known to his friends), to a performer whose character was cut entirely from the finished film, this is not so much a film about Star Wars as the story of a group of people united by one life-changing experience.

Accessibility
Related
Documentary

IWOW: I Walk on Water IWOW: I Walk on Water
Documentary 2020 199 mins Director: Khalik Allah
The monumental new diary film from New York-based director and photographer Khalik Allah.

A Glitch in the Matrix A Glitch in the Matrix
Documentary 2020 109 mins Director: Rodney Ascher
What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? Acclaimed documentarian Rodney Ascher (Room 237) dives down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory.

The Capote Tapes The Capote Tapes
Documentary 2019 95 mins Director: Ebs Burnough
This intimate documentary reveals the rise and fall of Truman Capote, one of America’s most iconic writers.

Assassins Assassins
Documentary 2020 104 mins Director: Ryan White
Extraordinary documentary of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korea’s Leader Kim Jon Un, that sparked a worldwide media frenzy.

76 Days 76 Days
Documentary 2020 93 mins Director: Weixi Chen
A raw and intimate documentary that captures the struggles and human resilience in the battle to survive the pandemic in Wuhan, China.

MLK/FBI MLK/FBI
Documentary 2020 106 mins Director: Sam Pollard
Sam Pollard's resonant exploration of the US government's surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Inside Film

David Lynch: The Art Life David Lynch: The Art Life
Documentary 2016 88 mins Director: Rick Barnes
An exquisitely textured and reflective documentary about Lynch as a visual artist.

The Story of Film part 9: New American Cinema The Story of Film part 9: New American Cinema
Documentary 2011 60 mins Director: Mark Cousins
American movies grow up, courtesy of Schrader, Scorsese and Nicholson, Buck Henry, Coppola and Charles Burnett.

The Story of Film part 4: The Great American Movie Genres and the Brilliance The Story of Film part 4: The Great American Movie Genres and the Brilliance
Documentary 2011 61 mins Director: Mark Cousins
The Talkies begin, bringing new genres and new masters like Hawks and Hitchcock. Written and presented by Mark Cousins.

Memory: The Origins of Alien Memory: The Origins of Alien
Documentary 2019 93 mins Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s Alien, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic shockers.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Documentary 2019 95 mins Director: Midge Costin
Faders on stun: Hollywood sound editor Midge Costin’s immersive, educational and hugely enjoyable documentary exploring the power of sound in cinema.

An Accidental Studio An Accidental Studio
Documentary 2019 93 mins Director: Ben Timlett
Charting the rise of one of Britain's most distinctive film companies, HandMade Films, producer of classics such as Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday and Withnail and I.
New

White Colour Black White Colour Black
Drama 2016 83 mins Director: Joseph A. Adesunloye
A young mixed heritage man confronts the psychological complexities of his identity in this essential, truly cinematic discovery for anyone interested in Black British cinema.

IWOW: I Walk on Water IWOW: I Walk on Water
Documentary 2020 199 mins Director: Khalik Allah
The monumental new diary film from New York-based director and photographer Khalik Allah.

Synchronic Synchronic
Science Fiction 2019 102 mins Director: Justin Benson
Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan star as a pair of New Orleans paramedics who encounter a series of bizarre deaths linked to a new designer drug with otherworldly effects.

In the Mood for Love In the Mood for Love
Drama 2000 100 mins Director: Wong Kar Wai
Wong’s masterpiece is a heartbreaking story of illicit love that pulses with the ache and agony of repressed desire.

Happy Together Happy Together
Drama 1997 98 mins Director: Wong Kar Wai
A trip to Buenos Aires reveals the dark side of love as a gay couple (Leung and Cheung) struggle with jealousy, co-dependency and possessiveness as their turbulent relationship falls apart.

2046 2046
Fantasy 2004 129 mins Director: Wong Kar Wai
A sequel of sorts to In The Mood For Love, 2046 delves into the pain of romantic heartache and the emotional wreckage it leaves behind.