Am thrilled to read on the DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS site the
news that there is going to be a new book totally dedicated to Ralph
McQuarrie’s stunning pre-production and conceptual art for the STAR WARS films.
His previous book, THE ART OF RALPH MCQUARRIE, now sold out I understand, was a
personal essential purchase at CELEBRATION IV, and is absolutely superb for
it’s overview of all of his amazing work, not just on our favourite movies but
some of his beautiful book jacket and advertising work as well. Despite the
huge amount of material on the WARS films in that marvellous volume, however,
the greedy little devil with the pitchfork sitting on my left shoulder wanted
there to be more STAR WARS material within it’s pages, especially on JEDI,
which, I thought, was sadly lacking (though I now realise in my research for
the MAKING OF JEDI AFICIONADO issue that he wasn’t there for the full run of
pre-production anyway). As I’ve said, that this new/revised book is coming out
is great-fantastic!! Not only because it comes with thirty new pages of
material, and not only because it will be just as beautifully designed and
printed as the last one, but, even more importantly, I think it shows just how
appreciated McQuarrie is by LUCASFILM as the founding visual designer of the
saga. Normally a lot of people who have written or had books talking abut their
involvement in STAR WARS, I believe, are only allowed to publish their memories/talk
about their work on the saga if they are part of a more career encompassing
body of work (for instance, Jeremy Bulloch’s autobiography which has a section
on his Boba Fett career amidst a forty year, and continuing, acting lifespan,
and Dave Prowse’s STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH epic two book tome-in fact,
Dave probably still remembers what he had for Sunday breakfast back in
1968!!!), but with this, in equal celebration of Japan’s thirtieth anniversary,
the powers that be guarding the bearded one’s best interests, have, to a
grateful fandom, given permission for the most complete book attempted of his
groundbreaking work. DREAMS AND VISIONS revelation that more material has been
found in the artist’s house is even more exciting-more and more unpublished
stuff on EMPIRE too-the film that many fans feel is the greatest of the
saga-ole’ LUCASFILM better have some good celebration plans prepared for it’s
that movie’s own Thirtieth in 2010!!
And let’s also not forget Lawrence Noble’s stunning art poster
interpretation of one of McQuarrie’s unused 1976/77 poster concepts for
the original movie-also primed for release and sale exclusively at CELEBRATION
JAPAN. It’s a fantastic piece and a worthy tribute of Ralph’s name.
For more info on
Ralph’s new book, check out www.dreamsandvisionspress.blogspot.com
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