'SPECIAL EDITION' CLASSIC IMAGE: INSIDE DOCKING BAY 94!

The legendary scene once witnessed only briefly in its raw form within the classic From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga documentary of 1983, now enhanced with CGI, as Han Solo and Jabba the Hutt spar at Mos Eisley spaceport's Docking Bay 94, within the seemingly constantly revised Star Wars Trilogy Special Editions, all of which were truly enjoyed by fans upon original release during Jan-March, 1997 (but sadly became controversial over time), kickstarting the saga anew on the big screen whilst also generating a helluva lot of money, much of its tie-in profits ultimately going towards the production costs of the then eagerly awaited, upcoming Prequels, to debut in 1999.

https://www.slashfilm.com/845091/why-a-pivotal-harrison-ford-star-wars-scene-sat-unfinished-for-20-years/?fbclid=IwAR16aWpLTeUSBzohJoC3I0irThjqHQXW9n0iWW5zi8STfIaUepxqkyhaNts

This image and above: the  CGI sequence as seen and updated from 2004 onwards.

1990's storyboard for the revised scene.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: WITNESS THE 'PIRATE SHIP'!

Inside Docking Bay 94 at Mos Eisley spaceport, our heroes get their first glimpse of Han Solo's much-boasted-about smuggling vessel, the Millennium Falcon, as seen in this conceptual painting by Ralph McQuarrie that was soon altered- the craft having been given a rapid, massive redesign in late 1975 by Lucas and ILM, due to its similarities visually to the Eagle craft of the then airing TV series SPACE:1999.

Early thumbnail sketch by McQuarrie for the 'pirate ship' in Dockings Bay 94.

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/ilm-classic-image-first-falcon.html

Check out this great online feature about the creation of the Falcon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbFu0UNuf9Q

'STAR WARS' AT 40: INTRODUCING THE 'MILLENNIUM FALCON'!

Docking Bay 94 reveals the Corellian freighter the Millennium Falcon to its new charter, and Luke is particularly unimpressed with what he sees as an old junker. Han Solo promises a ship with "special modifications", but have our heroes been sold on false promises and egotism?

BEHIND THE SCENES: NEGOTIATIONS AT DOCKING BAY 94!

Han and Jabba the Hutt (Declan Mulholland) discuss the future. All colour images: Ann Skinner/BFI.

Prior to 1997 the most famous deleted scene of the original STAR WARS, Han Solo corners then confers with the grubby and greedy humanoid Jabba the Hutt (Declan Mulholland) and his thugs within Docking Bay 94 on Tatooine. One of the earliest scenes filmed at London's Elstree in April 1976, it was also one that had lots of problems and helped put the film off schedule- some of the footage was damaged, as was as an unforeseen camera glitch. The original plan had been to stop- motion a creature over the human Jabba in post production (of which a storyboard example was specially created to show audiences in 1985's FROM STAR WARS TO JEDI: THE MAKING OF A SAGA documentary), but it soon became apparent to George Lucas, and we assume Gary Kurtz, that there wasn't going to be any time or money to do that- important dialogue from this scene would instead be held over for use in re-edited/1977 re-shot footage linked to Han's confrontation with the alien Greedo (played by Paul Blake, and, in the US, Maria De Aragon), set for earlier in the film. In a 90s interview, Lucas revealed that Jabba was to have been a furry two-legged creature to have been superimposed over Declan Mulholland. Interestingly though, Lucas's Fourth Draft Revised Script doesn't really pin down whether Jabba is a creature or humanoid, but says this of him/it amongst his band at the Docking Bay: "Jabba is the grossest of the salivering hulks and his scarred face is a grim testimonial to his prowess as a vicious killer."

Jabba's thugs beneath the Falcon, including Ron Tarr (far right).

With time running out with the filming, a planned scene with Han and Chewbacca confronting the villainous security boss Montross in the bay was cut, despite an actor being cast, costumed and readied for the actual day of filming:

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: AFICIONADO EXCLUSIVE! DELETED SCENE: HAN vs MONTROSS!

Costume continuity shots for Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew.

As well as the images shown here, Script Supervisor Ann Skinner also took a so far unseen colour Polaroid full-length of one of the gun-holding Rodians (two of whom were played by female actors (including Diana Sadley Way), alongside Paul Blake) by one of the Falcon's struts. Miss Skinner's costume continuity description for Declan's Jabba: "Long fur = shirt sleeved cover over full sleeved brown shirt (elasticated at wrists), leather and tabard overguard (shirt open at neck), leather belt under fur and over tabard with bullets in front = blue topped centre (box to the right of the 2 silver topped ones). No gun".

Lucas watches the rehearsal as Script Supervisor Ann Skinner makes checks.

Filming the scene.

Kay Freeborn and colleague Robin Grantham assist Paul Blake on the set.

Script pages for the Jabba scene from Peter Mayhew's Twitter.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO was instrumental in helping SW film historian Jambe Davdar restore a key part of this once incomplete sequence for fans to enjoy in his STAR WARS BEGINS documentary from 2007- footage which has so far not been properly released in its entirety on either DVD or Blu-ray.

A publicity image shot on the Death Star hangar bay set, but with an interesting caption reference to Jabba.

Jabba Scene Original Cut - YouTube
Jabba The Hutt - A New Hope (1997 Special Edition) - YouTube
Episode Nothing: Star Wars in the 1970s: Star Wars: The Deleted Scenes #6: The original Jabba the Hutt

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI

BEHIND THE SCENES: MAYHEW's WOOKIEE PRIME!

Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

Peter Mayhew's first day of filming as Chewbacca on the Docking Bay 94 set at Elstree Studios, within Stuart Freeborn's superb yak hair material costume, is captured for continuity purposes on Polaroid by STAR WARS original Script Supervisor, Ann Skinner.

From Miss Skinner 's typed pre-filming character/costume continuity notes for Chewbacca, conceived at least a month or two before the character became the one we know and love: "Chewbacca. 8' savage looking creature - baboon-like, large yellow eyes, 2 chrome bandoliers and a flak jacket, brown cloth shorts, 200 years old WOOKIEE. Sc. 82 : Electric handcuffs put on and Sc. 88 undone- lost in that area. Takes a large rifle in that scene- ? keeps it." So, there were some early ideas for the Wookiee to indeed have worn pants!

A Wookiee takes shape in this conceptual art!

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI Special Collections.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends out Birthday greetings today to Peter Mayhew, and look forward to seeing him back in action as the 235-year old "fuzzball" for THE FORCE AWAKENS. 

AFICIONADO EXCLUSIVE! DELETED SCENE: HAN vs MONTROSS!

Between being caught in battle with Imperial Stormtroopers, and before his new bargaining with Jabba the Hutt (played in human form by Declan Mulholland), our space pirate hero Han Solo had one more problem leaving Docking Bay 94 with his Alderaan-bound charter. Trouble in the form of a snidey Imperial bureaucrat, Montross, and two of his armed officers. In the original shooting script for STAR WARS, Montross would be thankfully foiled by the smuggler's quick thinking skills, during what would have been an inconsequential but fun character showcase for Harrison Ford and Han Solo. Sadly, the Falcon interior scene, of which Bill Bailey (a friend of the late Richard Le Parmentier-originally considered for the role of Montross before being Motti) had been cast in the role and was ready on the day, apparently in costume, was ultimately cut because the Elstree filming on the Docking Bay set with Jabba had encountered problems, causing delays which were already pushing the film over schedule and costing money.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO proudly presents a PDF of this rare deleted scene exclusive in its scripted entirety, part of Ann Skinner's original continuity script for the movie, via the BFI SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRbnF4Q1VKbTZEa2s/view?usp=sharing

Original STAR WARS AFICIONADO PDF feature on Montross: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRbUU5T0xWMVd4bkE/view?usp=sharing

BEHIND THE SCENES: DOCKING BAY 94 AFTERMATH...

On the Docking Bay 94 set at Elstree Studios, circa April 1976, the veteran British extras and stuntmen playing Imperial Stormtroopers complete a heavy pyrotechnics action scene, for the scene where the Millennium Falcon makes its emergency blast off from Mos Eisley spaceport...

 A rare image that appeared in an Italian sticker set from 1977/78.

CLASSIC IMAGE: RODIAN VILLAINY

One of Jabba's distinctive Rodian hit-men waits for Han Solo inside Mos Eisley's Docking Bay 94, in a legendary deleted scene moment re-instated for the 1997 STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE - SPECIAL EDITION.

BEHIND THE SCENES: CORELLIAN ACTION!

With no time to stop and chat to Imperial Stormtroopers, Han Solo blasts back at their unwelcome arrival, rushing to the Millennium Falcon, and a swift take off, in this classic scene involving Harrison Ford as our famous smuggling hero being filmed at London's Elstree Studios in April 1976.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ESCAPE FLIGHT!

Making last minute adjustments to his beloved Millennium Falcon, currently berthed in Docking Bay 94, Han Solo is soon perturbed by a squadron of attacking Stormtroopers.

Check out below the STAR WARS AFICIONADO magazine lead-in to Han's adventure:

CLASSIC IMAGE: WOOKIEE LEGEND!

To celebrate the welcome return of Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca in THE CLONE WARS two part Season Three finale, here's a great pic you don't see much of these days of the legendary 200 year old Wookiee from the original STAR WARS, from the characters first filmed scene at Docking Bay 94.