John Williams leading the Boston Pops in 'John Williams' Film Night,' 8.13.16 (Hilary Scott).JPG

John Williams leading the Boston Pops in "Film Night" at Tanglewood on Aug. 13, 2016

(Hilary Scott | BSO photo)

LENOX - John Williams returned to Tanglewood on Saturday night and The Force was strong with the music legend.

Williams, Hollywood's most honored composer (five Oscars, 22 Grammys and the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award), had missed Film Night last summer due to a back injury. But the 84-year-old returned on a sweltering and stormy summer night to lead the Boston Pops through some of the most memorable pieces he has written for the "Star Wars" films.

Veteran pops conductor Richard Kaufman of Orange County, California's Pacific Symphony presided over the first half of the evening.

"Welcome to the Tanglewood Music Center and Sauna," he told the throng that packed the shed and filled the lawn at the start of an oppressively humid night.

Kaufman recalled his years as a young violinist in the fellowship program at Tanglewood and playing on the Williams scores for "Jaws" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Not surprising, the Kaufman-led set - entitled "Up, Up and Away: The Movies Take Flight" - was heavy with Williams classics: "Flying Theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Flight to Neverland" from the movie "Hook" and the "Superman March" and "Love Theme" from Richard Donner's "Superman."

A welcome treat was the inclusion of the seldom heard "Flight and Technology," written by Williams for Steven Spielberg's New Year's Eve 2000 multimedia presentation "The Unfinished Journey."

Some vintage, non-Williams compositions rounded out the first half - John Barry's lush "Flying Over Africa" from "Out of Africa," Fran Waxman's lilting "Ireland" from "The Spirit of St. Louis" and Henry Mancini's rousing "March from The Great Waldo Pepper."

Severe weather forced patrons on the lawn to seek shelter during a hour-long intermission.

When the skies cleared, Williams took center stage inside the Koussevitzky Music Shed and was greeted with a standing ovation.

Noting he was a longtime California resident used to ideal weather, he thanked the "intrepid New Englanders" for braving the storm and remaining on the rain-soaked grounds.

Surprisingly, Williams began his set with two non-film, but timely, compositions given recent headlines, his "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" and "Song For World Peace."

His subsequent 30-minute voyage through the "Star Wars" universe included the first Tanglewood performances of "Rey's Theme" and "The Jedi Steps and Finale" from the 2015 blockbuster "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."

Williams told the crowd he would begin work in a few weeks on the much-anticipated "Star Wars: Episode VIII" after seeing an early cut. (Sorry fanboys, Williams said he does not yet know who Rey's parents are.)

He said he accepted the invitation from Lucasfilm producer Kathleen Kennedy mainly because he was enchanted by actress Daisy Ridley's portrayal of Rey and does not want another composer scoring her scenes.

Older fan favorites were also served up, including the romantic "Princess Leia's Theme," exciting "The Asteroid Belt" and ominous "The Imperial March."

Fittingly, Williams ended the second set of the night with "The Throne Room & Finale," which had concluded the original "Star Wars" movie back in 1977. Images from the first six "Star Wars" movies played on giant screens.

As if six pieces from the "Star Wars" saga were not enough, Williams and the Boston Pops returned for an encore, performing "Luke and Leia" from "Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi."