CLASSIC INDY: 'TRUST HIM!'

UK quad poster art, possibly incorporating art by Tom Jung.

No matter how tight the spot, no matter how much danger he and Marion Ravenwood find themselves in whilst fighting the dreaded Nazis over the Lost Ark of the Covenant, you can always rely on the courageous and inspirational hero that is Indiana Jones to save the day. And if there's some fortune and glory to be had along the way, then so much the better!

Happy Forty-Fifth Anniversary this year to Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark!

CLASSIC INDY: FIRE FIGHTING!

Indy's rescue of Marion Ravenwood within her Tibetan-based bar turned inferno soon sees him face off against a dangerous force of Nazi acolytes (including regular stuntman Pat Roach as a brutal Mongolian) intent on murdering him without compunction. Cue breathless action, violence and humour as only a classic Indiana Jones movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark can deliver!

CLASSIC McQUARRIE: LUKE VS RANCOR!

Luke Skywalker has effectively fallen into Jabba the Hutt's creepy hands and now finds himself in the sights of the loathsome crime lord's special 'pet', the Rancor, in this great concept art painting by Ralph McQuarrie for Return of the Jedi, which effectively shows the size of the underground vault housing the ferocious and always hungry beast! 

AN 'EMPIRE' IN TRIBUTE. CELEBRATING THE ICONIC LAUNCH POSTER ART OF ROGER KASTEL...

In tribute to the superb movie poster art talent Roger Kastel, who sadly passed away on November 8th, 2023, we celebrate his greatest work for the Original Trilogy's The Empire Strikes Back with this special look at the many effective and memorable variations of his stellar piece, and the first worldwide released poster art for the film. A 'romance' poster, deliberately conceived by George Lucas in the 'Gone With the Wind' style, likely to potentially lure in more female/generic audiences, that would be loved and admired for decades to come...  

Roger Kastel with an Empire art variation and the classic Jaws image motif.

Roger Kastel, ‘Jaws’ Poster Artist, Dies at 92 - The New York Times

RogerKastel.com - The Official Website of Artist Roger Kastel - JAWS Movie Poster Artist

Sketch print idea.

Concept idea.

Concept idea.

Artist's 'practice sketch'.

Presumed Kastel art. Another variation piece heavy on character and incident elements.

Early art that would be revised. Lando, Boba Fett, Rebel weapons turret and Cloud City buildings would be removed from the first poster art released after numerous Lucasfilm meetings. Note Han's different costume in image.

Key release art used in selected magazine advertising, like Starlog magazine, in 1980. Cloud City is missing from this early poster, replaced by X-wing fighter images.

Spanish/Latin America variation poster. with Yoda added, presumably from 1981?

Revised horizontal version.

UK quad poster variation, with additional elements originally removed in concept planning then returned, including Cloud City.

Revised and rare UK quad movie poster, with the droids and Chewbacca's position altered and enhanced, that appeared on London Underground stations in May 1980 before being replaced with later poster art by Tom Jung.

Bannerless revised UK variation. Image via Matthew Shaw Collection.

Limited publicity New York Subway theatre listings poster release - May 1980.

Unknown publicity release or concept idea, possibly for planned subway advertising? 

Advertising/media poster of some kind, most likely for the UK, with revised art that strengthen Vader's background presence, May 1980.

American release listing.

American release listing using softened variation art.

US newspaper advert/ release listing info.

The image as used as part of the official fan club merchandising in 1980.

Another bannerless, lengthened variation.

International poster including Boba Fett, Lando and a Rebel turret.

French variation poster.

Reversed image for unknown magazine.

1980 Hong Kong poster, now with added AT-AT Walker firepower!

Yoda is added to the poster, with Lando, Boba and Rebel gun turret disappeared. Presumably a US re-release poster from 1981?

Yoda added to poster, as seen with banners.

'JEDI' AT 40: INTRODUCING SY SNOOTLES...

The most popular and acclaimed alien singer on the star circuit, it can only be the memorable big-lipped Sy Snootles, belting out the popular 'Lapti Nek' hit track to the delight of her audience within Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine.

Created by the ILM Creature Shop, Sy Snootles would become a popular monster by the time she reached the Elstree Studios set in early 1982, with extended red lips deliberately inspired by the iconic singer Mick Jagger. It's frame was operated by thin piano wire and rods from under the floor by puppeteers, whilst it's unique lips would sing to the microphone via a thin piece of piano wire that could pull them forward.

Maquette polaroid image by Phil Tippett.

Early under panel tests at ILM by Phil Tippett.

The fully conceived creature operated in more test filming by Tim Rose, presumably at ILM.

Some kind of test/rehearsal material. Close-up shots of Sy singing would also be performed by a puppeteer above set.

'JEDI' AT 40: PARTY TIME WITH MAX REBO AND THE BAND!

Slightly different outtake to the standard publicity released image.

Every night is party night at Jabba the Hutt's palace, and what better way to celebrate his ongoing criminal activities and continuous profit-making than a performance from Max Rebo and his music trio, performing the sensational and irreplaceable number 'Lapti Nek' to the great worm ridden filth of a gangster, alongside a special dancing performance to her master from his number one Twi'lek slave girl, Oola.

Created by the ILM team in California across Summer to Winter 1981, Rebo, horn/saxophone player Droopy McCool and singer Sy Snootles would be shipped to England for filming at Elstree for mid to late January 1982 onwards.

Original Max Rebo maquette.

Maquette with his electronic organ equipment.

The creature costume under construction at ILM.

Getting a paint job from Phil Tippett.

The costume and prop organ now arrived at the UK.

Positioned ion set for filming within Jabba's Palace.

Phil Tippett at Elstree supervises the puppet.

Filming the band on the Throne Room set at Elstree in January/February 1982.

Close-up filming.

With a drunk Bib Fortuna in a deleted scene moment conceived by David Tomblin with a second unit.

Richard Marquand gives on-set instructions.

Droopy McCool (Deep Roy) and Max Rebo (Simon Williamson) on the Throne Room set between takes.

Droopy McCool- a true musical talent!