STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: GOODBYE, GARY KURTZ

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

GOODBYE, GARY KURTZ - A PHOTO TRIBUTE (PART ONE)

Ready to capture the next scene: the late Gary Kurtz at Shepperton Studios in 1976 for Star Wars.

In my eyes, and despite the many problems and hurdles of getting the Classic Trilogy to the screen, Gary Kurtz was the best producer of the entire Star Wars saga by far- the man who was there almost from its conception alongside writer/creator George Lucas, and whom was to prove himself a keen, meticulous, intelligent and respectful custodian of it during and after its release, and especially when it went on to become a phenomenon. Gary Kurtz sadly passed away last Sunday 23rd September after a year-long battle with cancer. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends, and all fans worldwide will miss yet celebrate his presence linked to the still-evolving franchise.

Classic interview footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmhjvkj8_aw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kt7RCD5oSw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZAYE_ROc9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ8C3vVvS64

French 1977 TV interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsBwI99OZ_0

Retrospective (2017):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quRtCcieNm8&t=882s

As AFICIONADO Editor, I got to meet Mister Kurtz four times over the course of ten years and always found him a well-mannered, professional and very interesting man, if still coming across as a little shy at times. Over those four encounters in halls and behind convention tables, I probably asked him way too many behind the scenes questions needed to fill out the blanks in the behind the scenes history of the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back than I should have, but he always responded in kind and in such great detail that proved enlightening and fascinating. We really, truly don't appreciate how difficult it was getting those first two films made back in the day, and his contribution to preserving the films by the time they were relaunched with The Special Editions in 1997.

The Kurtz/Joiner Archive tribute:
https://www.fanthatracks.com/news/film-music-tv/gary-kurtz-1940-2018/

Recent tributes:

https://www.starwars.com/news/gary-kurtz-passes-away

https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gary-kurtz-dead-dies-star-wars-1202954316/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/gary-kurtz-dead-star-wars-producer-dies-at-78-1146427

As a tribute to the late producer, AFICIONADO presents a two-part photo selection of him at work primarily from 1976 to 1980, in which we've tried where possible to pick images that haven't been as seen or as well used in comparison to those many out there on other tribute pages. We hope you enjoy them. Thank you, Gary Kurtz, for being one of the most important makers and enthusiasts of movie magic!

A fine creative partnership- Kurtz and Lucas circa 1973.

With Sir Alec and Lady Merula Guinness on location for Star Wars in March 1976.

With daughters Tiffany and Melissa as Jawas, alongside wife Meredith, on location in Tunisia, behind the Jawa Sandcrawler scaffold prop- March 1976.

On location for the filming of Tatooine's Dune Sea sequence.

With Lucas and UK cinematographer Gil Taylor behind the camera.

The on-location Artoo Detoo three legged prop designed to be pulled on piano/fishing wire.

With the UK camera crew and assistant directors at Star Wars Canyon.

Celebrating Sir Alec Guinness's April 1976 birthday in Djerba, near the end of location filming.

Filming Luke's deleted scene arrival at Tosche Station. Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

Together at Shepperton Studios for the May 1976 medal ceremony shooting.

With stars Hamill and Ford at Shepperton between takes. Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

Ever the talented lensman, Kurtz takes many key publicity images from the floor during filming.

Back in the US at ILM late 1976, enjoying the promising dailies effects footage with the youthful team.

Capturing some now classic masked alien reference images- January 1977.

Checking over to-be-released publicity images with Charles Lippincott (far right).

Checking an image that may need cropping before release.

The now pop culture history Mann's Chinese Theatre footsteps cementing event from Summer 1977, of Gary Kurtz with a presumed Kermit Eller as Darth Vader.