Thursday, 29 September 2022

'STAR WARS' AT 45: INTRODUCING THE FIERY PRINCESS!


Fearless, dedicated to her cause, and a bold leader, Princess Leia of Organa was all these things, and more, as she fought against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire in service to the galaxy via the fledgling Rebel Alliance. Unlike fairytale princesses of our own past literature, who were mostly damsels in distress, the Princess of George Lucas's own unique space saga would be a modern and capable young woman always more intelligent than the two young men who'd come to rescue her! So who better to play Leia than an equally modern and capable young actress from 1976 Hollywood: then nineteen-year old Carrie Fisher, who soon gloriously made the part her own and helped create/see-in a new era of pop culture heroism.



Enjoy this selection of iconic posed images of Fisher as Leia taken during 1976 and 1977 from esteemed photographers Bob SeidemannTerry O'Neill and Douglas Kirkland.

 

Eight images from Bob Seidemann.





Image: via Star Wars Archives website.



Five B/W images from Douglas Kirkland's shoot.






One of the Kirkland images used as tribute to Carrie Fisher's sad passing.


Two lovely pics of Carrie Fisher taken during pre-filming of Star Wars late 1975, going into Summer, 1976.


Image by Terry O'Neill, though his licensing studio lists it as being taken in 1973, and not 1976.

With Mark Hamill mid-1976. Images taken at a London studio by Terry O'Neill.



Tuesday, 27 September 2022

'ATTACK' AT 20: ENTER THE FETTS!

Art by Tsuneo Sanda

His investigations having led him to the mysterious Cloners of the Kamino water world, Obi-Wan Kenobi goes on to discover the identity of the armoured flying humanoid who killed Zam Wesell on Coruscant, the mysterious Jango Fett (played by Temuera Morrison, then winning acclaim onscreen for his intense performance in the art flick success Once Were Warriors), a bounty hunter in Mandalorian armour hired ten years previously for Clone Army genetics by an equally shady and unknown figure named 'Tyranus' through the Kaminoans - a secret initiation, supposedly for the Republic, taking place ten years earlier, and shortly after the unusual death of a former Jedi Council member Sifo-Dyas, a friend and confidante to the now leader of the Separatists, the former respected Jedi now known as Count Dooku! 

Jango Fett concept art by Doug Chiang.

With the rapidly developed Clone Army nearing its order quota, Jango Fett's considerable payment from the Kaminoans would also see his take a unique additional prize - a biologically created clone son to call his own and surely train in his own unique lifestyle and skill sets: Boba Fett (as played by Daniel Logan, in his first acting work).

They mystery and danger linked to the mysterious creation of the army, needed for a future war foreseen only by unknown forces, deepens for the overwhelmed Jedi and the now-influenced Galactic Senate in this complex section of the story arc whose ultimate motivations aren't fully explained until Order 66 and the later events of Revenge of the Sith.

Daniel Logan and Temuera Morrison in character for a posed publicity session.

“He (the classic saga’s Boba Fett) is a background character, but I needed a device, a bounty hunter to do things. That particular bounty hunter had become a rather popular character, and even though people were writing all kinds of things about where he came from, in my mind he was always connected to the Stormtroopers. I realized I could use Jango Fett as the Bounty Hunter (in EPISODE II), and he would be Boba’s father, and then it all fell into place.” 

George Lucas - the British Star Wars magazine Number 39 - July/ August 2002 

“Yes, he is the bad guy, but at the same time he’s also a dad and he loves his son. He is a bounty hunter, of course, so I guess he doesn’t see himself as being bad. I think I have one line in the film which sums it up: “I’m just a simple guy trying to make my way in the universe.” I kind of like that.” 

Temuera Morrison on Jango Fett - Total Film magazine - June 2002



Sunday, 25 September 2022

'STAR WARS' AT 45: THE POWER AND THE FURY!


He may only have been on set for a week, resulting in all his scenes having to be shot in one go at Elstree Studios in May 1976, but legendary British actor Peter Cushing, well known internationally then and now for his many roles in the always popular Hammer Horror movies, recognised that Star Wars would be a success, though going far beyond anything he would ever anticipate. So much so, he'd wished that his evil character of Grand Moff Tarkin, a dark and twisted military persona desperate to find and eradicate the Rebel Alliance - in service of his Emperor, of course... - had survived for a sequel re-match.

Interestingly, despite his horror participations, Cushing, regarded by everyone who knew or worked with him as one of the nicest and most pleasant of people in the British film industry, was not a fan of science fiction in general- another primary reason he ultimately signed on for Star Wars was because he'd heard that Sir Alec Guinness was one of the film's headliner cast.

And if it was good enough for Guinness...


A selection of scenes filmed with Carrie Fisher and David Prowse within the Death Star Overview Bridge - Elstree Studios, May 1976






Friday, 23 September 2022

'INDY V' NEWS - SEP 2022

Back for an all-new quest in Indy V.

A burst of news on the upcoming final live-action adventure for Indiana Jones, as personified by Harrison Ford, but I think we're all kinda disappointed that the new adventure doesn't have an evocative sub-title beyond that of its hero's name. Adding further pangs of annoyance, can anything be more unfair to dedicated Indy fans that only insiders attending the recent Disney Expo event got to see the exiting teaser trailer that would soon be mouth-wateringly described online...?

Ford and Waller-Bridge welcome the teaser trailer at the D23 Expo.


Ford, Kennedy, Mangold and Waller-Bridge at the D23 Expo. Image: Frank Marshall.

Ford reunited with Ke Huy Quan backstage.


Here's the latest rundown...



Exhibits, designs and production paintings from the recent Disney D23 Expo. Images: Patrick Giroud/Facebook.

Mads Mikkelsen costume design.



A chase in Morocco.




Phoebe Waller-Bridge costume design.

More from FACEBOOK...





Wednesday, 21 September 2022

"HELLO THERE!", LUKE SKYWALKER!


A mysterious, soon nomadic protector from the desert wastes of Tatooine who will always be there for him if needed, young and (so far) oblivious to his importance farmboy and dreamer Luke Skywalker, well played in his brief scenes by Grant Feely, is introduced to the enigmatic Ben Kenobi during an iconic and emotionally resonant scene from the final episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi, airing exclusively on Disney+.

Having fun at the farmstead!

Who Is Grant Feely? About Young Luke Skywalker On ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ – Hollywood Life

Ewan McGregor Confirms Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Was Originally About Luke Skywalker and Ben - Jedi News

Find out more about the making of the popular series with the all-new documentary - A Jedi's Return, also airing exclusively on Disney+ 


Official promo image for the series.

Monday, 19 September 2022

THE CLONE WARS: THE FEMALE FACTOR!


The strength of the Star Wars franchise is its fine array of diverse intergalactic heroes, and here's a great piece of fan art celebrating the vast array of memorable female protagonists bravely fighting to save the galaxy from darkness during the long-running The Clone Wars animated series.

If anyone knows the artist's name, please get in touch.