The Best Scene Using the Imperial March

This is something I have been thinking about for a while and I wanted to know your thoughts. What single scene in Star Wars uses the Imperial March in the best way. Since it is used in so many scenes I narowed it down to what I think are the best, which are:

The first time we hear it in ESB when Vader is standing on the bridge of the star deystoyer.

When the Emperor arrives in ROTJ.

When Anakin confesses to Padme about killing the Tuskens.

And at the end of AOTC when Palpatine is looking over the clone army.

I can't figure out which one works best, but after hearing your thoughts maybe I can make up my mind. And if you feel another scene deserves credit please tell why.

 

It's used a LOT more than those times, trust me.


My 3 faves are:

"Grave danger I fear in his training." -TPM

"No, I am your father!" -TESB

The Emperor arrives on the second Death Star. -ROTJ



AOTC's ending rendition comes close, but not close enough to the ROTJ one I listed.

[image=http://bestanimations.com/Sci-Fi/StarWars/Emporer-01.gif]
~Sithman~

 

It has to be Anakin's confession scene to Padme in AOTC. It's not full blaring like in ESB, but it's used so well and at the right moment where we start to see Anakin's feelings changing. It's such a significant and awesome part.

 

Sooo many good Imperial March cues....

Hard to choose, this is:

1. The Emperor Arrives. I still like the movie intro (The Lightsaber on the cd) better than the cd version
2. "Dawn of the Empire" (very close: totally awesome scene that really had me fired up after opening night)
3. Anakin's Confession
4. The Emperor's Throne Room as the elevator opens and Luke & Vader enter.
5. Vader's fleet in ESB.
6. The Clash of Lightsabers (see Synchronicity)
7. Carbon Freeze
8. Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor: love how the brief cue segues into Force Theme. A very underrated track IMO.
9. "Anakin, Anakin, Noooo!!!"
10. Approaching The Deathstar
HM. The Battle of Hoth (11:14 mark)

EDIT: Almost forgot-- check my sig!

 

Just to mention two of the best variations of the theme that haven't been mentioned before, I'd go with Vader's death and Rescue from Cloud City.

 

I love Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor, Ken!

My favorite track on ROTJ disc 1.

[image=http://bestanimations.com/Sci-Fi/StarWars/Emporer-01.gif]
~Sithman~

 

Listening to it as I type, Sithy!!

 

I would have to say anytime you see vader.

 

Thanks for the replies. Right now I think my choice would be the Anakin confession. It's very subtle and I really didn't notice it until the second time I saw AOTC (I still don't know how I missed it). But even though it's soft it has such an impact on the scene. Anakin is still mostly good in AOTC but we see the hatred in him and the Imperial March exemplifies that hatred. But I still love the Emperor's arrival in ROTJ.

 

My favorite would have to be the end of AOTC. Caught me totally off guard, and left me with one thought in my head: "Sweet!"

Honorable Mentions:
Its very first usage (I think), the shot of the Executor dwarfing the other ships followed by Vader on the bridge.
The Emperor Arrives
The confession scene
Right after Anakin begins the slaughter and it cuts to Yoda, followed by Mace entering. Mace says "What is it?" and the scene cuts to Yoda, and quietly in the background, IM starts playing. It's subtle but noticeable, and it's the first time (if you don't count Anakin's Theme) it plays in the PT.
Clash of Lightsabers

 

I have to go with the March played by harp as Vader dies. Beautiful.




Mace Windy,
instant poster, gust add wind!

 

Actually, Lord_H, the first appeaance of the theme occurs in TPM when Yoda tells Obi-Wan "Grave danger I fear in his training".

 

Ken, I think he meant the first time it ever appeared according to EARTH's way of telling time.

Not in the Star Wars saga.

[image=http://bestanimations.com/Sci-Fi/StarWars/Emporer-01.gif]
~Sithman~

 

I absolutely love the IM rendition at the beginning of "The Asteroid Field". It's so fast and furious and really demonstrates the power of the Empire.

Also, the very end of "Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale". It's a damn shame GL didn't use this version of the cue in the end credits of the film.

 

Right after Anakin begins the slaughter and it cuts to Yoda, followed by Mace entering. Mace says "What is it?" and the scene cuts to Yoda, and quietly in the background, IM starts playing. It's subtle but noticeable, and it's the first time (if you don't count Anakin's Theme) it plays in the PT.

EARTH time, Sithy? I think you misread.

 

I think I'm just stupid.

[image=http://bestanimations.com/Sci-Fi/StarWars/Emporer-01.gif]
~Sithman~

 

Sorry, Sithy, I must have been contagious!

 

"I am your father", no doubt. The sense of oerhwelming shock and tragedy in that rendition is amazing.

Come to think of it, all of the ESB Soundtrack SE disc 2 is amazing.

 

First - The Emperor's arrival at the Death Star II
Second - Darth Vader's Death
Third - Finale of AOTC
Fourth - *I* am your father

 

I adore IM in the confession scene. That little rendition was *chilling*--the first real moment where I could really see Darth Vader forming in Anakin's annoying personality.

Other than that: love the ROTJ versions, especially "The Emperor Arrives" and "Approaching the Death Star"--and "Rescue from Cloud City" (ESB) is absolutely brilliant.

 

in chronological order, because I don't dare to make a ranking:

- Yoda-Scene after Anakin's slaughter
- view over the departing Clone Troopers and Palpatine on the balcony (Dawn of the Empire?)
- end of Confrontation (yup, the unused one)
- Battle of Hoth
- Emperor's Arrival (is it my failing memory or DOES it sound very much like ^the end of AotC^?)
- The Death of Darth Vader (although it was Anakin's Death) (the very last tunes on the harp(?))

or: EVERYTIME

 

I completely forgot to mention Darth Vader's death. That is DEFINITELY one of my favorite moments...

 

I think I have two personal favorites

1- not quite the full theme, but in TPM when Anakin is saying goodbye to his mother, he turns away, and we hear The Force play and build up the last note of the second phrase, and you hear a flute play a decending line based off of the second half of the IM. I remember hearing that in the theater on my third viewing, and I went nuts..

2- and this definately is my favorite, in Carbon Freeze When the smoke clears, and you see Vadar's head take up the whole screen with the IM playing, I get chilles every time!!!
definately one of the best in my book.

 

- view over the departing Clone Troopers and Palpatine on the balcony (Dawn of the Empire?)
- end of Confrontation (yup, the unused one)

Huh? What unused Confrontation? The IM in "Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale" was used at the end of AOTC that you call Dawn of the Empire.

 

Yeah, the track on the CD doesn't start in the movie until the collumn starts to fall, and takes you through Dooku in space, him landing, and through to the end credits. That is why you hear it.