Thursday 16 February 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: INSIDE THE DEATH STAR HANGAR!


Stormtrooper squads are mobilized around the Death Star hangar as Darth Vader (Dave Prowse) and an Imperial officer (UK actor unknown) walk towards and inspect the apparently "empty" pirate ship vessel. A classic and very busy image from the original STAR WARS. At least thirty extras were needed as Stormtroopers for this scene (though fifty Stormtrooper costumes were built overall across the 1976 filming), on the immensely impressive set constructed around the partial Millennium Falcon shell, of which Chris Muncke played the Imperial officer conferring with Vader about the apparently "abandoned" ship. I like the working elevator rising up discharging its Stormtroopers, adding an extra layer of believability and functionality to the set and the overall environment.

A great colour variation shot.

Two technicians race past, as extra Stormtroopers appear, in footage first seen in the original 1977 STAR WARS trailer.

During the filming of this scene, UK Script Supervisor Ann Skinner took a colour reference image similar to the one above middle shot, so far unseen to the public, featuring the Stormtroopers assembled at the left side of the image.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

1 comment:

NickMan the Blogger Man said...

I had never seen these shots awesome thank you