BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGE: JABBA'S SAIL BARGE

The superb Sail Barge set was one of the many visual highlights of RETURN OF THE JEDI. As seen here in this reference image, its front side fully constructed in Buttercup Valley in Yuma, Arizona in April 1982 (alongside one of the smaller prisoner skiffs), it was the last major-league prop built for the Classic STAR WARS Trilogy, though it remains forever immortalised on the big screen with its incredible design and dedicated realisation.

For more on the Classic Trilogy's Production Design, look out for J.W. Rinzler's epic book on the subject, packed with blueprints and interviews with the films production designers and set decorators. see the trailer here: Star Wars: The Blueprints Trailer | Video | MTV

CLASSIC IMAGE: FAMILY CONFLICT...

Now more experienced and better able to handle himself with a lightsaber, the last of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, holds firm against the might of his father, Darth Vader, within the Emperor's Throne Room, in this terrific image from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ICON HEROES...

Pals through thick and thin, during Empire and Rebellion, Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookiee are quite an enduring team still very much loved by STAR WARS fans and film fans worldwide.

This is a shot I found online that I'd never ever seen before. Photographed for RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1982, it's one of the few posed studio pixs of the pair taken for that film that I've seen (and believe me, I've seen very little so far). There must be more B/W and colour variations of this image out there in the LUCASFILM Archives waiting to be published or released by OFFICIALPIX...

In the meantime, why not check out how to get hold of our AFICIONADO BEST OF ISSUES 1-4, with its major section devoted to the smuggling duo, here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO: THE BEST OF ISSUES 1-4

CLASSIC IMAGE: MINE'S A LARGE ONE!

On the Sail Barge, amongst the riotous entertainment cooked up by Jabba the Hutt, the Trandoshan Bounty Hunter, Bossk, enjoys the revelries prior to the planned execution of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookiee at the legendary Sarlaac Pit.

This image from the then filming of REVENGE OF THE JEDI may have been taken during an on-set rehearsal-note the large reptile hand outside of the costume.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ON ACKBAR'S WATCH

On the top deck command bridge of the immense Rebel Cruiser Home One, the skilled Mon Calamari tactician Admiral Ackbar, as voiced by the multi-talented Tim Rose, overseas the upcoming attack on the Death Star II.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PIETT'S PROGRESS!

Playing one of the few senior officers luckily not strangled by Darth Vader, and despite being on the side of the baddies as an Imperial, popular British actor Kenneth Colley would have a memorable supporting role, enjoyed by STAR WARS fans worldwide, as Admiral Piett in both THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (posing for the above publicity and costume reference image) and RETURN OF THE JEDI-coming back for the latter film because Lucas realised just how popular he'd become as Piett with the fans three years earlier...

CLASSIC IMAGE: GOLDEN "GOD"!

Celebrating the arrival of their Golden "deity" to the forest of Endor, the Ewoks carve out a wooden throne in his honour and take him to their tree top homestead. The others in Threepio's party aren't so lucky, tied to stakes and carried in a most undignified way by their captors. The majority of this scene, filmed at the Californian Redwoods in April/May 1982, in which the Ewok party traverse a large log/bridge, didn't actually make the final film. It looks as if this scene may be linked to the one and only sequence that famous Stuntman Vic Armstrong actually worked on for JEDI, as he confirmed to AFICIONADO contributor Ian Trussler last month at the launch of his new book on his incredible career in the stunt industry:

"I asked him to say exactly what he did on JEDI and he said he only did the long shot of the heroes being carried on the poles by the Ewoks, he doubled for Harrison/Han as Harrison had a bad back that day.

I then double checked and said, "that was it, you didn't do the Yuma shoot on the skiff?", to which he replied, "Sadly no, I did not do that."

So there you have it. Decades of speculation ended direct from the horses mouth."

For even more detailed info on the making of JEDI, check out our informative and exhaustive special issue, here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO ISSUE 14 - THE MAKING OF "RETURN OF THE JEDI"

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: THE KILLING BLOW!

As the re-emerged Anakin Skywalker saves his son from the Dark Force energy blasts of Emperor Palpatine, his former Master's energy bolts surround and bombard the once Dark Lord of the Sith servant-with one particular blast hitting a fateful spot, reaching into Vader's helmet and destroying a fragment of his brain...

Despite many STAR WARS fans thinking that the animated bolts hitting Vader's head and exo-skeleton were an addition put on during the SPECIAL EDITIONS re-vamps they were actually on the original 1983 version of RETURN OF THE JEDI all along, but subtly animated in quick as a flash moments- so as not to disturb younger audiences- which you have to pause your VCRs/DVDs to fully see (intriguingly the X-ray image shows a metal neck and shoulders making Vader even more cybernetic than would be seen in EPISODE III in 2005). The bolts were a last minute inclusion to the film asked of ILM's animators by George Lucas during the final stages of its 1983 post-production. A clever and original decision from the Saga's creator.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

For more on the making of JEDI, check out our special issue here: BACK ISSUE PDF CATALOG

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: IMPERIAL MATTE!

One of ILM's distinguished Matte artists during 1982/83 post-production of RETURN OF THE JEDI makes some last minute work to the Death Star docking bay long shot showing the now parked Imperial Shuttle escorting Darth Vader.

To find out more about ILM's incredible work on the movie, check out how to get hold of our special MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI PDF special issue here: BACK ISSUE PDF CATALOG

GOODBYE, KAZUHIKO SANO...

From last night up until mid-afternoon today my ISP was on the blink, so I've only just found out the sad news that 1983 RETURN OF THE JEDI poster illustrator/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC painter Kazuhiko Sano has passed away. His US poster work for JEDI (above) was a terrific composition and captured all the vital ingredients that would make this particular STAR WARS film -the spectacular conclusion of the saga-so popular both then and now...

He was also the talent behind one of the 1984 EWOK ADVENTURE posters, as well as numerous other STAR WARS related contribution pieces, like his work on the TOPPS CARDS MASTER VISIONS series from 1995.

In honour of Mister Sano's work, I think it would be great if LUCASFILM could perhaps put on their STARWARS.COM site some of his prior, and much liked in 1982/83 by Lucas, unseen art concepts for JEDI-at least five were done in all (B/W)- before the final poster was created, approved and released.

Our condolences to Mister Sano's friends and family. As a person and for his talents he will be greatly missed. The Force will be with him...always!

CLASSIC IMAGE: JABBA IN DA HOUSE!

Here's another classic B/W image sent by LUCASFILM to KENNER for reference use in 1982/83, this time of Jabba and friends from RETURN OF THE JEDI, inside the palace throne room on Tatooine. If ever there was a great image that should be released via OFFICIAL PIXS, this is certainly one worthy for consideration.

C'mon, OP, release more rare JEDI pics please!

And, check out this great and highly informative web feature from John Coppinger going behind the scenes at Jabba's creation : Star Wars - Passion4Makeup Magazine

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.


And, linked to JEDI, check out this rare interview material (including Richard Marquand conversation)/behind the scenes footage that has returned to YOUTUBE about the making of JEDI, and most importantly, the creation of Jabba's Palace creatures/ Sail Barge.

YouTube - mrjohnavery's Channel
YouTube - ROTJ Richard Marquand, Anthony Daniels

With thanks to the YOUTUBE posters for these great TV finds.

JEDI'S LOST MOMENTS...

As a hopefully nice little taster for tomorrow's exciting LUCASFILM announcement on the complete STAR WARS SAGA on Blu-ray, I thought readers might enjoy this fun little visual feature looking at the lost scenes/moments from REVENGE OF THE JEDI, as first seen in early trailers from 1982/83. Some of this footage, like the infamous Sandstorm, will hopefully make it into the new set....

Here's the link: JEDI'S LOST MOMENTS

RETURNING TO "JEDI"

I don't think there was any doubt that it wouldn't happen, but the great news was officially announced yesterday by J.W. Rinzler on TWITTER that THE MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI book is a "go" from DEL REY for publication fall 2013 (the 30th Anniversary-so I'm sure we'll see CELEBRATION VI that year, too!). Of all the three Classic Trilogy films, JEDI probably has the most intriguing behind the scene material yet to be revealed, and there are many thousands of photos on the film and its making in the LUCASFILM archives that have never been published. It has the potential to be the best book of the MAKING OF saga...

In the meantime, though, check out how to get AFICIONADO's own exhaustive publication on the making of the film here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/catalog/item/6975337/8512430.htm

Here's to 2013!

P.S. Having deliberately stolen acclaimed film-maker Jambe Davdar's title for his hugely successful MAKING OF JEDI documentary, if you haven't seen it, its well worth checking out here: YouTube - Returning to Jedi - Part 1 - By Jambe Davdar

CLASSIC CHEWBACCA: THE BOWCASTER.

Continuing our celebration of our favourite Wookiee's return to the STAR WARS saga with THE CLONE WARS, here's a great behind the scenes reference image of the Bowcaster, the distinctive crossbow/laser weapon hybrid which Chewbacca has but ultimately doesn't use in the first STAR WARS, though he soon proves an excellent shot with it in a very cool moment from RETURN OF THE JEDI, when he skillfully takes down an accelerating Speeder Bike pilot within the forests of Endor.

I'm not sure if the Bowcaster was a specially made prop for the films or an adapted weapon from a British armourers (I'm assuming the latter), so if anyone has any more info on it, please get in touch...

PREQUEL BUILDING. GEORGE LUCAS: THE 1983 "TIME" INTERVIEW

AFICIONADO contributor Linda Pellerito recently reminded me of a great 1983 interview with George Lucas that TIME magazine conducted with him just before JEDI's release. Lucas outlines his future plans- that he is pretty much burnt out from making the Classic Trilogy- and that he'll be taking a two year break from it all. He then talks about the Prequels and we discover how a lot of the elements he discusses in the interview would eventually make it in to those final films by the time of REVENGE OF THE SITH.

It's well worth checking out, or re-reading again if you haven't seen it in ages.

Here's the link. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953916-3,00.html

Thanks again, Linda!

CLASSIC IMAGE: THREEPIO'S RESCUER!

A cloaked Luke Skywalker, last of the Jedi, enters Jabba's Palace on Tatooine to demand the immediate release of his captured friends, in this atmospheric, and very cool, shot from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE THREE FACES OF PRINCESS LEIA

Here's a nice composite image that is on and off available from OFFICIALPIX, showing Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa in her acting and character journey across all three films, from captured but resolutely fiesty Princess in A NEW HOPE to lethal Hutt killer, maturing Rebel hero and Jedi-to-be in RETURN OF THE JEDI. Thirty four years on, both Fisher and Leia remain great screen icons for our time...

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: DEATH STAR DEATH POINTS!

An intriguing look at the uncompleted but prime weapon ready Death Star II, as built by ILM in 1982 for model filming use in the Classic Trilogy finale RETURN OF THE JEDI.

"You may fire when ready!"

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: MARIONETTE MASTER!

At ILM, Phil Tippett makes some Go-Motion filming adjustments whilst he and his crew film the brilliantly detailed miniature Luke on his Speeder Bike for the exhilarating Endor chase sequence for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "FIRE AT WILL, COMMANDER"

Under orders from The Emperor, Moff Jerjerrod (Michael Pennington) prepares to use the Death Star II battle stations primary weapon against the trapped Rebel fleet in this rare RETURN OF THE JEDI image, previously supplied to KENNER TOYS in 1982/3 in scratched reference form so that it couldn't be copied.

For more on Moff Jerjerrod's lost scenes in JEDI, head over to our previous article here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/raceagainsttime.html

And don't forget, our comprehensive MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI special issue is available in PDF form here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/backissuepdfcatalog.html