BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGE: AN "EMPIRE" IN DEVELOPMENT!

On one of the deserted sound stages at ELSTREE Studios in London circa late 1978/early 1979, construction work continues for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK on the Millennium Falcon's cockpit and interiors, whilst a Rebel laser cannon is readied for ultimate shipping to the cold climes of Finse, Norway for its battle against Imperial Walkers.

To check out more on the behind the scenes construction blueprints of the STAR WARS saga's legendary ships, droids, and planets interiors and exteriors, J.W. Rinzler, acclaimed author of THE MAKING OF STAR WARS and EMPIRE books has a lavish, if pricey, new tome out at the end of the year, full of never before revealed info and interviews with some of the top behind the scenes names to have worked on the amazing and influential production design side of the film. Check out the links to STAR WARS: THE BLUEPRINTS here: Star Wars: The Blueprints  and how to get it in Europe here: Star Wars: The Blueprints (Limited Edition Hardcover) @ Forbidden Planet

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: REBEL ESCAPE- STAGE ONE

As the Imperial Death Fleet begins to blockade their Rebel hideaway on the planet Hoth, Princess Leia Organa and General Rieekan, working quickly within their command centre: Echo Base, initiate a daring escape plan for their forces.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: GOING IN FOR THE KILL!

Above the Death Star planetoids surface, two deadly TIE fighters move speedily to intercept a Rebel X-wing fighter (possibly Luke's, from looking at the Fourth Draft script) in a lovely ILM 1976/77 storyboarded image by artist unknown (presumably Joe Johnston).

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

STAR WARS BLUEPRINTS: REBEL EDITION

If you love all the cool fighter craft and technology of the Rebel Alliance, especially from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, then you're gonna want to get hold of DORLING KINDERSLEY's recently released STAR WARS BLUEPRINTS: REBEL EDITION book/posters.

Here's our review link:

http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/blueprints_rebel_edition.html

CLASSIC IMAGE: IMPERIAL ARRIVAL!

As our Rebel heroes within the Millennium Falcon try to blast away from the dying remnants of their once Echo Base, a force of newly arrived Imperial Snowtroopers wades into the deserted hangar, setting up their heavy weaponry in an attempt to stop their targets from escaping. Lord Vader wants them alive!

CLASSIC IMAGE: "THE STAR WARS STAGE"

Built for filming in the Summer of 1979, THE STAR WARS STAGE at ELSTREE would then be the biggest studio soundstage in the UK, and, bar some inconvenient shooting linked to Stanley Kubrick's THE SHINING (due to an unfortunate fire which had previously raged on another stage and burnt it down), was primarily first built for use by George Lucas and his teams on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and, three years later, RETURN OF THE JEDI. Supervised by Production Designer Norman Reynolds and his skilled team of craftsmen, the completed stage would first house the enormous Rebel base ice hanger, comprising a full size X-wing fighter prop, numerous prop snowspeeders and the biggest and best creation, the Millennium Falcon, previously built in Wales and sent to ELSTREE in sections for full re-construction. This great establishing shot, seen near the beginning of EMPIRE, shows not just the scale of the set and the incredible props, droids, costumed extras and backgrounds for the film but also evokes the feeling of awe and wonder of spirit in watching a STAR WARS adventure-the likes of which you won't see anywhere else, that there's nothing else out there capable of matching its emotional grandeur. Not in the whole wide world of cinematic entertainment!

BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGE: A BATTLE TO COME!

An unknown UK film clapperboard man signals the start of a new scenes filming at ELSTREE for the sequence where brave but ultimately doomed Rebel Blockade Runner soldiers attempt to hold off a boarding party of overwhelming Imperial Stormtroopers, in a sequence filmed during July 1976. According to Gary Kurtz, lots of action footage was shot for the sequence, as well as other parts of later scenes on the Blockade Runner corridor sets, and not all of it made the finished film.

CLASSIC IMAGE: GENERAL MADINE- (DELETED) MAN OF ACTION!

OFFICIALPIX have been opening up LUCASFILM's picture treasure vaults and recently put out this image of UK actor Dermot Crowley as General Madine, sat in his command chair on the top deck bridge of his Rebel warship from RETURN OF THE JEDI. Madine's scenes directing the epic space battle against Imperial forces over Endor, filmed by Richard Marquand and Lucas (with his second unit), were sadly all cut from the finished film, though thankfully lots of stills from the sequences were released for publicity on the filsm release in 1983 (including one great colour image used for the characters KENNER action figure card).

Will those scenes, and other classic lost moments, eventually make an appearance on the upcoming ultimate Blu-ray set of STAR WARS? Lets hope so.