CLASSIC IMAGE: AWAITING ABSOLUTE POWER...

In one of the Death Star conference rooms, the many top Imperial officers gather for a secret meeting with Grand Moff Tarkin, of which the most impatient for action and most power-ambitious of the assembled must surely be Admiral Motti (played with relish by Richard LeParmentier), born with the kind of thirst for evildom with the soon completion of the battle station that knows no end...

'STAR WARS' AT 40: DETERMINING LEIA'S FATE...

Learning that Princess Leia lied about the location of the rebels on Dantooine from officer Cass (played by Patrick Jordan, voice dubbed by a US actor), the angry Tarkin orders her execution, but his scene with Vader in the conference room had some longer deleted dialogue- look carefully and you can see that Dave Prowse is clearly talking and gesticulating a point to Tarkin after James Earl Jones post production dialogue has finished, as seen in the above image.

Lines in yellow indicate the filmed but deleted dialogue.

This scene was ultimately split in two with the film's final editing, after Tarkin's "terminate her" line.

INT. DEATH STAR- CONFERENCE ROOM

Imperial officer Cass stands before Governor Tarkin and the evil Dark Lord Darth Vader.

OFFICER CASS: The scout ships have reached Dantooine. They have found the remains of a rebel base... but they estimate it has been deserted for sometimes. They are conducting an extensive search of the surrounding systems.

TARKIN: She lied! She lied to us!

VADER: I told you she would never consciously betray the rebellion... unless she thought she could destroy this station in the process.

TARKIN: Terminate her immediately!

VADER: And lose your only link to the rebel base? She can still be of value to us.

TARKIN: You'll get nothing more out of her. I'll find that hidden fortress if I have to destroy ever star system in this sector.

A quiet beeping tone interrupts the governor.

TARKIN: Yes (this line was added in filming)

VOICE: We've captured a freighter entering the Alderaan system. It's markings match those of the ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley.

VADER: They must have been trying to return the stolen data tapes to the princess... we might be of some help.

Vader's last line was changed in post to, "They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess. She may yet be of some use to us".

BEHIND THE SCENES: IMPERIAL GATHERING!

The Death Star is nearing fully operational status as Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader assemble to discuss the latest developments of the Empire and the Rebels stolen plans, in this great and iconic scene from the original STAR WARS.

Patrick Jordan as Cass (far left), with Richard LeParmentier far right as Motti.

Richard LeParmentier confers with Ann Skinner prior to filming.

Joining Peter Cushing's Tarkin and the Vader-suited Dave Prowse for the May 1976 filming at Elstree were a host of Imperial officers, diagram listed in Script Supervisor Ann Skinner's notes as played by Don Henderson (Tagge), Richard LeParmentier (Motti), Patrick Jordan (Cass) - fourth seat left from Tarkin, Charles Gray (not to be confused with BOND UK film actor Charles Gray), Ian Selby, and Robin Clarke. Another actor was listed, only as "Monk"? The empty seats around the conference table were always planned that way. Also noted and red ILM work underlined in her January 1st, 1976 script was the moment where "a cup mysteriously floats into Vader's hands"- a scene that was not filmed but made it to the Alan Dean Foster novel adaptation and the 1976 comic adaptation and has become a fan favourite legendary moment. Footage was shot of Dave Prowse as Vader referring to the Force as "the cosmic force", as written in the Revised Fourth Draft Script (15th March, 1976). ROGUE ONE director Gareth Edwards recently saw this scene/outtake material as part of his research in filming and directing upcoming scenes involving Vader.

The meeting continues.

Motti feels the Dark Side of the Force!

Skinner's costume notes for the "Imperial guards (human)"- "shiny wide hats with brim straps, gloves, boots, gun at hip".

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

Photo thanks to STAR WARS ARCHIVES and Chris Baker.