WHIP CRACK AWAY! 'RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK' HITS 45!

Poster concept art by Drew Struzan.

I'll never, ever forget the buzz of seeing a special midnight screening in London for Raiders of the Lost Ark back in 1981, several weeks before it went on general release. The first eagerly-awaited creative team-up by Lucas and Spielberg, it blew me away with its humour, superb action, relentless pace and terrific storytelling/direction. And it was the film in which Harrison Ford truly became a super star. Forty-five years on, its aura of rollercoaster Saturday afternoon serials atmosphere always delivers the cinematic goods to me whenever I watch it. The first ones are always the best!

Back in UK cinemas this month for an all too limited release, enjoy this visual celebration of the film that started the Indiana Jones phenomenon, as Raiders celebrates its Forty-Fifth Anniversary...

Early conceptual painting for the film by acclaimed artist Jim Steranko.

The 'Dream Team' confer on location in Hawaii.

Ford, cinematographer Douglas Slocombe and Spielberg work out how to film the opening sequence.

Ford as Indy prepares to make the transfer, which proves deadly.

The trap begins!

Indiana and fellow explorer Satipo (Alfred Molina).

Gary Kurtz captures a classic pose on camera at Elstree.

Three heads are better than one in this great image with Spielberg and Alfred Molina.

One of the earliest publicity images of Harrison Ford as Indy.

Ford clowns around with Spielberg.

Filming the Tibetan bar scene.

A close-up of Karen Allen as Marion.

Not a happy reunion for Indy and Marion!

Filming the Cairo set scenes in Tunisia.

Lovely shot of Ford and Allen in the street scenes.

Conferring with Howard Kazanjian and Spielberg.

Indy uses the bull whip to great effect.

Laughs aplenty during filming.

John Rhys-Davies amuses Harrison Ford at Elstree.

Indy contemplates the Tanis Map Room's secrets.

Inside the Well of the Souls!

'Asps! Very dangerous!'

Another gorgeous image of Karen Allen.

Together again, and back in danger!

Presumably production art for Marion and Indy's escape from the main chamber in the Well of Souls.

Marion, trapped in the Well of Souls!

Surviving illness by eating canned food, Spielberg directs on location.

Lucas and Kazanjian ponder the weather?

The amazing location filming with the Nazi flying wing vehicle.

Watched by a captivated crowd of extras, Spielberg goes through some rehearsal action with Pat Roach playing a Nazi.

Indy takes a bite from the nasty German!

Then goes on horseback to purse the Ark.

Filming the superb truck chase sequence.

Indy and Marian leave Sallah and journey away with Captain Katanga (a memorable performance from  George Harris).

Michael Sheard as the deleted scene U-boat captain.

Rehearsing Indy's moment in threatening to destroy the Ark. Filmed within the legendary Star Wars Canyon.

Spielberg directs the film's key villains before their ultimate demise from opening the Ark of the Covenant!

Manipulating the Belloq puppet for his demise.

Operating the dummy Belloq at ILM.

The eerie finale sequence.

Michael Pangrazio at work on the matte painting.

Conceptual poster art.

Spielberg with one of the original release posters.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO SOUND A RETREAT!

With the Rebel base around them shattered by ongoing Imperial heavy weaponry, bringing many losses, and their main power source about to fall, Han Solo rushes to what's left of the Command Centre determined to see Princess Leia away from Hoth as soon as possible, now that only a small amount of evacuation transports remain.

A dramatic end to this particular Rebel cell led by the Princess and Luke Skywalker after the previous positive ending to the original Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back, by comparison, is already a different, darker kind of sequel continuance...  

CLASSIC ART: THE DARK SIDE ASSEMBLES...

Led by the ultimate monster in Darth Vader, the ultimate villains of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, whom we so love to hate, come together in all their might for evil and destruction, in this superb Celebration Convention art by Doug Wheatley.

EPISODE VII: GALACTIC DEBT COLLECTORS!

They think they've finally got Solo cornered for the debts that the smuggler and his partner haven't paid back, but the Kanjiklub criminal enterprise are soon in for a brutal beastial shock in this memorable confrontation scene from The Force Awakens.

EPISODE I: LOCKED IN COMBAT!

Their mysterious Sith assassin enemy now fully revealed, and armed with a lethal double-edge lightsaber no less, the last Jedi standing, Obi-Wan Kenobi, faces his ultimate trial in combat against Darth Maul within the environs of the Theed power room. Another great behind the scenes image from EPISODE I.

CLASSIC ART: RAISING THE 'STAR WARS' BARR!

Ken Barr's classic 1978 magazine cover for the short-lived Questar magazine has now become a classic in original Star Wars art history. Here's a look at some other variations on a theme from the artist, before the final cover was green-lit and crafted so beautifully.