BEHIND THE SCENES: BACK TO 'BLUE HARVEST'!

Image: via STAR WARS ARCHIVES site.

Near the end of their exciting and spectacular April 1982 location shoot for the short screen time but epic and complex Sail Barge battle being filmed in Yuma, Arizona, an ILM effects plate shot is about to be captured before the camera for Return of the Jedi, under its location filming secret cover name of 'Blue Harvest'.

Howard Kazanjian on the filming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbgYrLFFn0Q&feature=youtu.be

BEHIND THE SCENES: CAMERA COVERAGE!

With David Tomblin commanding the bullhorn speaker, and Richard Marquand heading up the various cameras, action is ready to roll on another section of RETURN OF THE JEDI's intense Sail Barge battle in Yuma, Arizona, during April 1982.

BEHIND THE SCENES: BATTLE-READY HAMILL!

On the Sail Barge set in Yuma, Mark Hamill, holding his lightsaber, prepares to film another moment in the well-planned battle over the Sarlaac Pit, during April 1982, for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

BEHIND THE SCENES: A SWINGING REUNION!

Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill have some fun in this great outtake posing for photographer Ralph Nelson, Jr. whilst getting ready to shoot one of RETURN OF THE JEDI's most memorable and widely used publicity images, taken atop the Sail Barge set/platform of Yuma, Arizona, from April 1982.

BEHIND THE SCENES: JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE SKIFF!

Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew watch as Harrison Ford gets to have a sunbathe whilst conferring with director Richard Marquand. Meanwhile, the alien baddies on Jabba's execution skiff are tended to or get ready for filming. A great image that recently surfaced in J.W. Rinzler's excellent book THE MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI, published by AURUM PRESS.

Meeting the very cool stuntman/actor Julius LeFlore, who played one of the Weequays (seen in this picture turning to face a costume/wardrobe assistant) at the London Film and Comic Con of 12th July 2014, Ian Trussler gathered some more behind the scenes info on the classic sequence. Le Flore confirmed the following stunt actors that appeared on the "Hero" skiff. Beyond the principles, these guards were: Peter Diamond as the Weequay who pushes Luke, Julius LeFlore - other Weequay, Dickey Beer - most fans refer to him as Barada, but actually it's Kithaba, as Barada is on the villain skiff, Paul Weston - Nikto, and Larry Holt - the masked human looking guard. Ian also cleared up the whole "who dived head first into the pit" filming mystery, which proved an interesting story. Apparently, Peter Diamond did NOT do any head-first dives into the pit- only LeFlore did those due to some problems that arose between the British and American stunt coordinators, arising from numerous injuries in the action sequences around the Sarlaac Pit. Le Flore did so on request from Glenn Randall, who directly asked him to do the dives. LeFlore was also the one who landed on Weston's leg, accidentally breaking it. 

Cheers for the info, Ian. LeFlore gave me (Scott Weller) similar BTS details when I also met him at the event, additionally telling me that he worked at ILM for around a month on JEDI's blue screen shooting, playing a Biker Scout. A really nice, laid back guy, LeFlore, in his first major event signing, was disappointed that he didn't get to see any Ewok actors at the LFCC, saying humorously that he had some "history" with them!

ROTJ AT 30: THE LAUGHING JEDI!

Capturing the youthful spirit and fun to be found in front of and behind the scenes of the Classic STAR WARS Trilogy, I have always enjoyed watching behind the scenes footage or looking at photos of Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher together on and off set. This is not a rare image by any means, but the look on Hamill's face is priceless as he enjoys Fisher's unique brand of witty humour and company on location in Yuma, Arizona for RETURN OF THE JEDI, circa April 1982.

▶ Mark Hamill & Carrie Fisher - Star Wars Celebration Europe | press conference 2013 - YouTube

ROTJ AT 30: A MAN AND HIS SAIL BARGE!

On location in Yuma, Arizona in April 1982, Production Designer Norman Reynolds stands proud in front of the immense Sail Barge outdoor set, in a reference image for RETURN OF THE JEDI sent to KENNER TOYS.

ROTJ AT 30: A DROID TO THE RESCUE!

Ready for action on the top deck of Jabba's Sail Barge, trusty Astro Droid R2-D2 shoots out the lightsaber contained in his head dome towards a waiting Luke Skyalker on the nearby execution skiff, in an audience rousing scene from RETURN OF THE JEDI. In reality of filming at Yuma, Arizona in 1982, the classic moment took a couple of takes for the practical effects to work successfully.

For more on the making of the classic action sequence, prior to the release of J.W. Rinzler's book later in the year, why not get hold of our detailed 2008 behind the scenes special on PDF:
STAR WARS AFICIONADO ISSUE 14 - THE MAKING OF "RETURN OF THE JEDI"

ROTJ AT 30: ALAN HUME REMEMBERED (2010 BLOG)

The sad news has come through from the film website CINEMA RETRO that legendary cinematographer Alan Hume has died. He was 85.

Hume was a most in demand and highly skilled talent in the film industry before his eventual retirement, and had many worldwide classic pictures, and several TV series (including the Linda Thorson/Patrick Macnee era of the colourful classic THE AVENGERS series), under his career belt. Of particular interest to STAR WARS fans would be the intriguing cinematic flavour he brought to RETURN OF THE JEDI for fellow Brit director, Richard Marquand (Hume was a regular member of Marquand’s movie making team (alongside film editor Sean Barton), both of whom had previously impressed Lucas).

Whereas the recent Prequel Trilogy all had the same kind of unified overall cinematic and directorial style (from George Lucas and David Tattersall), the nice thing about the Classic Trilogy of STAR WARS is seeing how each movie has its own unique distinctive look and flavour that sets each one apart from the other. Gilbert Taylor’s cinematography for STAR WARS is pin sharp and distinctive, Peter Suschitzky’s for EMPIRE has a very glossy and elegant style befitting the first sequel, whilst Alan Hume’s contribution to RETURN OF THE JEDI, though interestingly controversial with fans over the years, would add lots of atmosphere, gritty dark browns, blacks and blues to the films quasi-mixture look of light and dark, especially to the interior of Jabba the Hutt’s Palace and the Emperor’s Throne Room chamber on the Death Star II, where the important drama played out between Palpatine, Luke and Vader is at its most intense and dangerous.

Hume (right) with director Richard Marquand (left) on the Sail Barge set at Yuma. Image: via STAR WARS ARCHIVES website.

Beyond JEDI (which seemed to have been a bit of a bumpy ride for the British talent:
Alan Hume on "Return of the Jedi" - YouTube), Hume’s other cinematography work is well worth checking out, especially his Roger Moore JAMES BOND films (1977's THE SPY WHO LOVED ME in particular, with its explosive finale inside a submarine kidnapping sea tanker), and in director Richard Marquand’s pre-JEDI movie assignment, based on Ken Follett’s novel, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, which has some beautiful outdoor location photography and captures the realism of World War II era Britain very effectively, mixed with a Hitchcock-style mood noir sheen.

Goodbye, Alan Hume, and thank you for your superb contributions to both STAR WARS and the entertainment industry. Your work will always be remembered and admired by fans for a long time to come.

MORE ON 'THE MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI' BOOK...

Mark Hamill gets ready for action in a terrific rare behind the scenes image from the exciting new book.

Link to The Huffington Post features and the book's first trailer:
'Return of the Jedi' 30th Anniversary: The Exclusive 'Making Of' Trailer And The Proposed Death Of Han Solo

'Star Wars' Prequels Were Mapped Out By George Lucas & Lawrence Kasdan In 1981: Exclusive Excerpt From 'The Making Of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'

Previous STARWARS.COM features linked to the upcoming book:
How To Spot a Ralph McQuarrie | Star Wars Blog
Laying Out Jedi | Star Wars Blog

Thanks to Chris Baker for the heads up on this one.

ROTJ AT 30: FIRE AND LIGHTSABERS!

At last! The deadly, armoured skills of bounty hunter Boba Fett take on Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, in a memorable but all-too-brief action sequence from the Sail Barge battle of RETURN OF THE JEDI.

ROT AT 30: SOME VISIONARY ADVICE...

Described as the "King Lear" of STAR WARS by Richard Marquand, George Lucas helps RETURN OF THE JEDI's British director (wearing the Blue Harvest cap) with some angle advice during location filming in Yuma, Arizona-circa April 1982.

Star Wars Locations: Tatooine in the US | StarWars.com

ROTJ AT 30: TIME TO GO!

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher pose for one of the most famous images in the world from RETURN OF THE JEDI, as Luke and Leia prepare to make another infamous and breathlessly classic swing away from danger: this time departing Jabba's about to explode Sail Barge and onto a waiting skiff piloted by Lando Calrissian. It's a terrific end to an exhilarating action sequence.

This is surely one of my favourites images from the movie, and I'm presenting it in the fullest version possible, so as to preserve the integrity of photographer Ralph Nelson Jr.'s original composition.

CLASSIC IMAGE: WITH TENDRILS OUTSTRETCHED...

There's no such thing as an empty belly to the infamous Sarlaac Pit of the Tatooine Dune Sea, as it readies itself to make poor Lando Calrissian it's main course, in a rare image from RETURN OF THE JEDI which also shows a second tendril for the creature on the opposite side to the Skiff.

BEHIND THE SCENES: READYING THE PIT...

Lasting around three thrilling and iconic minutes on screen, the incredible amount of pre-production construction, stunt and camera planning necessary for the Sail Barge and Skiff sets sequence at Yuma, Arizona, was nearly seven months in the making. But it all looked fantastic on screen!

Another great B/W reference image sent to KENNER in 1982/83.

BEHIND THE SCENES: KEEPING IT IN THE 'STAR WARS' FAMILY...

An alien Klaatu poses for the camera on the Sail Barge set at Yuma, Arizona in April 1982. In actual fact, behind the mask, it's Corey Dee Williams, son of Billy Dee himself! In another rare shot, Corey can be seen mask off with Stephen Costantino as a Gamorrean Guard!

With thanks to Chris Baker for the info and photos.

CLASSIC IMAGE: LEIA'S 'REVENGE'!

Its a deleted scene we've always wanted to see, and, surprise surprise, it was one of many that still didn't make it into the Blu-ray release, our favourite gold-bikini clad Princess Leia takes out the second deck gunner on Jabba's Sail Barge whilst Luke presses his surprise attack on the rest of the Hutt's forces.

Some recent behind the scenes location footage has been unearthed by fan Jeff Broz, who was at Yuma in April 1982 for REVENGE OF THE JEDI when this sequence was being filmed-and you can catch the action scene in long shot within his recorded cine-footage here: A Documentary By Jeff Broz - YouTube  It's not new footage-some of it was included in fan Jambe Davdar's acclaimed unofficial documentary RETURNING TO JEDI a few years back, but it's great to finally see the material in its entirety.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SARLAAC DINNER TIME!

The Great Pit of Carkoon, containing the rather nasty Sarlaac creature, gets its chance to devour another victim from Jabba the Hutt's Sail Barge and Skiff for the next thousand years or so, in this great on-location action shot from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

BEHIND THE SCENES: UNWELCOME WEEQUAY!

One of the braided, fearsome Weequay warriors to challenge Luke Skywalker in the exciting Sail Barge battle above the Great Pit of Carkoon in RETURN OF THE JEDI poses for a few intriguing costume reference photos for LUCASFILM whilst on location in Yuma, Arizona during April 1982. Since ROTJ, the alien race have made several welcome re-appearances in THE CLONE WARS animated series.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A HAPPY GAMORREAN!

A bulky and distinctive Gamorrean Guard poses for an iconic publicity image for REVENGE (later RETURN) OF THE JEDI, against the red sails and mighty laser cannon on the top deck of Jabba's incredible Sail Barge, an exterior set constructed in all its visual grandeur on location in Yuma, Arizona during 1981/early 1982.