'JEDI' AT 40: AT THE PALACE GATES!

"We'd better knock, I suppose..."

Now arrived at Jabba's Palace main shield door entrance, Threepio's attempts to escape their upcoming visitation predicament come to now avail. After communicating with a strange droid communications probe, the two are soon given access to the interior, with the bold Artoo Detoo striding into the unknown first...

Threepio talks Huttese to the palace gate keeper!

The sequence would be filmed around the 12th and 13th January, 1982 at Elstree Studios (of which the set was constructed directly in the middle of Stage 6), supervised and directed by Richard Marquand. Only the remote controlled Artoo would be used during this filming.

The droids on set at Elstree Studios.

Knocking on the door, watched by the crew.

Principal Threepio Costume/Prop Assistant Toby Lofthouse helps Anthony Daniels on set as filming continues, captured in continuity polaroid.

"We'd better go!" Too late for Threepio, the stronghold door is already ascending...

Artoo takes the initiative.

Wide shot enhancement with ILM matte painting. Image via Ben Ageros Collection.

The scene as captured in the MARVEL Comics adaptation of 1983. Art by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon.