CLASSIC IMAGE: WHEN HUNTERS GATHER...

Two of the rarer explored alien bounty hunters of the live-action Star Wars Original Trilogy, though they have thrived in comics and book adventures over the years, the insect head-like droid 4-Lom (Chris Parsons) and the more humanoid Zuckuss (Kathy Munro aka Catherine Munroe) assemble with the rival likes of Boba Fett and IG-88 on the Star Destroyer Executor's bridge, awaiting instructions from their new potential pay master in the notorious Darth Vader, a fearsome individual not afraid to use the scum of the universe for his own means. 

The Empire Strikes Back not just got a whole lot nastier and darker with this scene, but also opened up a much wider universe full of shady evil beyond the Emperor's dominion...

Wearing the 4-Lom mask at Elstree.

One of Stuart Freeborn's studio team works on the Zuckuss head.

Behind the scenes in April, 1979 at Elstree Studios, the two alien's heads would be created by Stuart Freeborn's dedicated team, though the costumes and weapons were adapted from stock, or rented items from costumers/armourers.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: FROM THE ENEMY'S VANTAGE POINT!

Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

The trusted leader of the Walkers ground battle on Hoth against the Rebels, General Veers knows that it won't be long before the enemy force attacking them will fall to overwhelming opposition.

Costume reference photo of Julian Glover in his battle command outfit.

On a minimalist set - literally a futuristic back wall, with a drop down periscope of sorts - built at Elstree, actor Julian Glover, having won the part of Veers thanks to his neighbour in TESB producer Robert Watts, would deliver the majority of his battle scenes dialogue perfectly, even if the popular actor had no clue what he was actually talking about in the context of the film. Though one line, "Target the main generator", would hilariously use-up sixteen takes before Glover remembered it properly!

UK actors Paul Jericho and Ian Liston played the Walker cockpit pilots at Elstree.

Costume reference test images taken between filming. 

The forward cockpit shot angles were filmed separately with an unknown performer as General Veers, most likely in the UK, as one ILM storyboard would indicate in July 1979.

Regular background artist Chris Parsons would cameo as a Snowtrooper alongside Veers in the film's first viewing of that Stormtrooper type.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: SOLO'S FAREWELL!

The new Rebel Command Centre on Hoth is a hive of activity.

With a recent incident to his life via a bounty hunter on the world of Ord Mantell, Han Solo knows he has to leave the Rebels and pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt sooner rather than later. Informing General Rieekan (played by British/Canadian actor Bruce Boa, whose voice was later dubbed in post production) of his imminent departures, the news comes as a shock and disappointment to a soon angry Princess Leia Organa.

Continuity polaroid by Pamela Mann.

Bruce Boa as General Rieekan.

Han strides off after Leia gives him a goodbye cold shoulder, in an angle not seen in the film.

The Rebel Command centre scenes were mostly filmed over early Spring 1979, of which George Lucas was an on set visitor/advisor during the start of principal photography for The Empire Strikes Back.

Rehearsing Han and Leia's early verbal conflict.

Right from the start, Harrison Ford enjoyed working with new director Irvin Kershner.

Going through the scene with Kershner and Kurtz.

Chris Parsons as the other droid of Echo Base, K-3P0, watched behind by a female technician (Brigitte Kahn) and Kershner.

Lucas's old friend Walter Murch visits the early filming.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40:C-3PO RETURNS!

With his skills in communication and protocols handy to the Rebel Alliance, golden droid See-Threepio is now in his purposeful element, despite the harsh environment around him on the ice planet of Hoth. Soon enough, though, the universe comes crashing down on the droid via Imperial attack, separating him away from Master Luke and his buddy Artoo Detoo, and instead finding Threepio saddled with the much less appreciative Han Solo and Chewbacca, as their Millennium Falcon, with an unhappy Princess Leia also in tow, makes a series of perilous, never- tell-them-the- odds escapes, only for them all to ultimately step into the worse kind of trap - and literally a body breaking experience for the golden droid - at Bespin's Cloud City!

A valuable assistant to Princess Leia during the Rebel base evacuation from Hoth.

With a fellow droid operative K-3PO (Chris Parsons) in a posed publicity image.

Buying some escape time for his comrades linked to the Wampa storage area in an ultimately deleted scene.

Going for an unforgettable trip through an asteroid field!

'The Professor' at work!

Blundering into a trap at Cloud City!

Threepio's gone all to pieces!

Atop Chewbacca in the film's doom-laden Cloud City scenes.

A deleted moment of the near-helpless droid from an early movie trailer.

Almost back together again after being reunited with Artoo!

Together again for the film's sombre finale.

Back in the golden suit it was his destiny to inhabit and bring to life so uniquely in the Star Wars universe, British actor Anthony Daniels wins deserved new respect with his return to the role of galactic butler-type C-3PO from the original 1977 movie. Now he gets a better made and less painful to wear costume, a better financial situation, and has a bigger crediting on The Empire Strikes Back's film posters and media publicity.

A posed image at Elstree Studios circa 1979.

Mask and costume test at Elstree, circa 1979.

Mask and costume test images at Elstree, circa 1979.

CLASSIC IMAGE: WHO'S THE BOSS(K)!

Not ready to take insults from a lowly human, no matter what his Imperial rank, bounty hunter Bossk gives Admiral Piett a reptilian glare to remember, in an always cool moment from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, seen here in rehearsal- note the costume dresser behind Alan Harris inside the Bossk outfit.

CLASSIC IMAGE: BUG-EYED DROID!

Looking more like a giant fly's face than a droid, here's a close-up examination of the intriguing mask worn by actor Chris Parsons as the bounty hunter 4-LOM, during April 1979 filming of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK at Elstree.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DEAD OR ALIVE SQUAD!

Seen ever so briefly but quickly making an incredible impact with STAR WARS fans in the Expanded and Animated Series Universes: the pantheon of diverse and lethal bounty hunters, most notably including the ultra-cool Boba Fett, assembled by Darth Vader to find our fugitive Rebel heroes and the Millennium Falcon, from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

AFICIONADO STAR WARS MYSTERY: THE UNKNOWN PREMIERE

I recently found this image during an internet trawl, but am slightly mystified with it as to where and when its from. Someone online listed it as a premiere for the original STAR WARS, but I can't find any records of a premiere like this for 1977/78. I think its more likely a premiere for EMPIRE in 1980-it may be the UK Royal Premiere held in May that year at London's ODEON Leicester Square (the exterior certainly looks like it could be their outside foyer), with Chris Parsons filling in for Anthony Daniels (who was ill in hospital) inside the golden suit, alongside the remote controlled Artoo which was used at the event (a picture exists from the premiere of the droid with Mark Hamill and his wife). If that's the case, who played Chewbacca (I wasn't aware that the character was at the premiere)? Peter Mayhew can be seen at the UK premiere in his evening suit, but could he have briefly played Chewie before the film started? Mayhew had played the lovable Wookiee that week for the UK children's programme BLUE PETER, alongside Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in promoting EMPIRE, so the costume was in the country. Or his stand-ins during Empire's 1979 UK filming - Steven Meek or Steve Calcutt - could have inhabited the costume for the special evening

If anyone has info on this intriguing image, please get in touch...