Book Review: I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels

I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story
by Anthony Daniels (Biography Daniels)

“I was hooked. Forget it was sci-fi. Forget Luke and Han and Vader. Threepio was the one for me !”

In this quote from his new book, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story, actor Anthony Daniels is not just speaking for himself. Legions of fans of the lovable, fish-out-of-water droid feel exactly the same.

Daniels tells the story of how he was cast and, with help from a dedicated crew and movie magic, brought the hapless humanoid to life. His style is warm and engaging, while still maintaining a wry British sense of the absurdity of it all. I laughed out loud many times while reading this book, and found myself going back to re-read particularly funny or fascinating passages.

C-3PO and the other inhabitants of George Lucas’ universe are so much a part of the fabric of popular culture, it’s hard to imagine anything new we could learn about them. Yet, I found myself wondering, along with Daniels. if the young director was even going to be able to complete the film. That’s the mark of a great memoir — you know the ending, but the author’s experience shows you how easily, at every turn, things could have ended very, very differently. Daniels does offer insight and analysis of the movie-making process he has gained with time. But, we feel the fear, doubt, trepidation and joy right along with him as the cast, crew and technicians struggle to bring the young director’s vision to the screen.

This book is perfect for the casual Star Wars fan as well as those who put the fan in “fanatic”. Even readers who know little or nothing about the film series (are there any of those readers?) would get a lot out of it. Just following Daniels’ trajectory from stage actor to the seasoned movie performer he became is compelling. I know that I’ll never watch Star Wars: A New Hope or any movie where Anthony Daniels plays his shiny alter-ego the same way again after reading “the inside story”…

[ publisher’s official I Am C-3PO web page ] | [ official Anthony Daniels web site ]

Recommended by Lisa V.
Eiseley Branch Library

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