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: TATOOINE TOURISTS!

Awaiting news from their scout team entering the wild confines of Mos Espa, Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and Naboo Captain Panaka patrol the desert environs of Tatooine around their damaged, secretly landed Royal Cruiser in this scene from EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

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: LOVER'S PARADISE!

Senator in hiding Padme Amidala gets to spend a little quality time in the Naboo countryside with her Jedi protector Anakin Skywalker, in a "love haiku" scene filmed in the romantic and beautiful climes of Italy. In this image, actors Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen get ready to be photographed for their 2002 published VANITY FAIR cover shoot taken by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz.

For more detailed info on the EPISODE II location filming in Italy, Tunisia and Spain, check out our current AFICIONADO issue now available- THE BEST OF ISSUES 1-4.

To get it, head over here: BACK ISSUE PDF CATALOG

CLASSIC IMAGE: BAD DREAMS

On Coruscant, Padme Amidala tries to console worried husband Anakin about the dark and terrible dream he has just ordealed concerning her and their upcoming babies future...a prediction that the young Jedi is determined will not become a reality!

CLASSIC IMAGE: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WOOKIEE?

Peter Mayhew in his iconic Stuart Freeborn created Chewbacca costume poses for a side angle publicity/costume reference image from 1982 for his final Classic Trilogy STAR WARS appearance in EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PADME'S MISSION...

Here's a great shot of Padme (Natalie Portman) in what I call her Green Riding Hood outfit, during a deleted scene from EPISODE III, where she speaks to the DELEGATION OF 2000 on Coruscant about what can be done about ending both the Clone War and the all-too powerful rein of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine...

The deleted scenes may have already appeared on the 2005 DVD of REVENGE OF THE SITH but for completism they should be added to the upcoming Blu-rays regardless.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CONVERGENCE OF GOOD AND EVIL!

On the steps of an abandoned, rain soaked Massassi temple, on the faraway world of Yavin IV, Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker is taunted by the evil Sith wannabe Asajj Ventress in this great image from the second half of the CLONE WARS animated premiere series of 2003.

CLASSIC IMAGE: USED DROIDS FOR SALE!

Outside on the vast landscape plains of the Owen Lars moisture farm/household, those pesky but lovable Jawas begin to gather their odds and ends droids for possible sale, including two recent acquisitions: See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo!

Truly another magical scene from the original STAR WARS!

CLASSIC IMAGE: ESCAPE MOVES!

As Yoda and his arriving Clone Trooper forces make their much welcome appearance and provide cover fire, the core Jedi survivors of the Geonosian arena battle, plus the brave Padme Amidala, make their way to the escape transports in this fantastic and exhilarating action sequence, backed up with fine re-use of John Williams stirring EPISODE I music, for ATTACK OF THE CLONES.

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"

CLASSIC IMAGE: CHAMBER OF HELL!

In a dark and smokey medical chamber of horrors buried deep within the hidden realms of Coruscant, the damaged, deformed and brutalised body of Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, is worked on by a group of droid surgeons and technicians, to be re-imagined as an evil new form of artificial life support systems and heavy metal armour of the blackest, bleakest kind. A rampaging, hate fuelled force for evil will soon emerge, in this classic image from EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH...

CLASSIC IMAGE: BATTLE READY REBELS!

A group of loyal Rebel soldiers prepare to meet heavy Imperial resistance cutting its way into the Blockade Runner in search of the stolen data tapes of the Death Star. In the original script (and comic book), the Stormtroopers blast downwards from the ceiling and into battle-an intriguing image. Though what was finally seen on screen in 1977 with their explosive entrance would prove more than exemplary!

CLASSIC IMAGE: JUNGLE TREK!

On the strange but beautiful world of Felucia, a squad of Clone Troopers, prior to ORDER 66, traverse its wilderness en route to a new battle with Separatist forces.

CLASSIC IMAGE: HOMESTEAD ARRIVAL

Their gleaming Naboo craft parked in the not too distant Tatooine landscape (filmed once more on location in Tunisia), Anakin Skywalker, accompanied by Padme Amidala and the trusty Artoo Detoo, arrives at the wilderness boundaries of the Lars Homestead, desperate to find out news of his mother, Shmi.

A picturesque moment, leading to fateful tragedy, from EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A SHOULDER TO MOAN ON!

The battle damaged golden shell of See-Threepio rests uncomfortably on Chewbacca's furry back-an unlikely duo unique to STAR WARS- as they race to the Bespin landing pad sheltering Boba Fett's about to depart Slave One craft, in this classic race against time moment of comedy and suspense from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A JAWA TROPHY

With several additional/re-shoot scenes filmed in Death Valley, USA in early 1977, as well as a small amount of original footage the year before in Tunisia (the above shot filmed there in STAR WARS CANYON (the large rock, behind the Jawas, was, I'm sure, in the finale of RAIDERS, too!)), here's the classic scene audiences loved upon the films original release, where Artoo is sneakily captured by those little scavengers of the Tatooine desert: the Jawas!