ACTION HEROES! THE REBEL COMMANDOS OF 'RETURN OF THE JEDI'

Two of the Rebels' finest commandos work alongside the small but indomitable Ewoks of the Endor forests to attack an approaching AT-ST, during the epic battle finale to Return of the Jedi - a great deleted scene image (likely improvised/planned during filming) from the photo collection of ILM veteran Stuart Ziff that was recently put on auction. I think it was a great shame that the shot footage of the Commandos was cut down to the bare minimum in the final film. I would have preferred a bit more screen time rewarded to them rather than the Ewoks during the battle, as they bravely brought cover fire to Han and Leia at the back door to the Imperial bunker. It would have been nice to have had a supporting character role for the Commandos squad leader too, liaising with Han and Leia, or for the specialist group to have had their own scene/s in the forest before rendezvousing with Han and Leia for the bunker conflict.

Enjoy this selection of images featuring the Commandos, primarily from the Redwoods location filming circa May, 1983....

Tracey Eddon, Dickey Beer and an unknown actor with the droids on the newly arrived Endor.

Capturing a Speeder Bike Trooper guarding the Imperial Bunker back door.

One of the seasoned warriors wears the captured Imperial disguise so as to buy time for Han, Leia and the others to infiltrate the bunker.

Close-in shot of several commandos used for marketing and merchandising from 1983 onwards.

It's a trap! Han, Leia, Chewbacca and the commandos (including Larry Holt and Dickey Beer) are caught by the Imperial legion.

Our heroes (including Tracey Eddon) briefly captured by the Imperials.

A great posed capture shot (also featuring Tracy Eddon) used for early magazine pictorial promotion.

A terrific posed shot for the battle at the bunker.

Primarily appearing in the UK filming deleted scene.

Cliff Alliston at the location.

Other extras captured in continuity reference polaroid images during location filming.

Costume continuity image.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO PREVENT A TRAP!

A Wookiee's belly never stops being hungry, resulting in Chewbacca, and the leaders of the Rebels' small  band of heroes newly arrived on on Endor, into an archaic but nonetheless totally effective trap, despite a too late warning from Luke Skywalker, during a fun moment from Return of the Jedi.

'JEDI' AT 40: SPEEDY PURSUITS!

The chase is on for Luke and Leia as they commandeer a speeder bike to pursue and stop Imperial Scout Troops from giving away the Rebels secret arrival on Endor, during one of the many highlight action sequences beloved by fans worldwide from Return of the Jedi.

Check out this great from-animatics-to-shooting comparison of the exciting sequence from filmmaker Luke Asa Guidici. 

'JEDI' AT 40: THE IMPERIAL SHUTTLE!

The sleek Imperial Shuttle carrying its important lone occupant arrives at the Death Star II and one of its primary hangars, whilst a trio of always visually impressive Star Destroyers stand sentinel distant above the forest moon of Endor.

Special image by ILM for publicity/merchandising use.

Model reference images.

Though a barely visible Imperial shuttle was briefly seen in The Empire Strikes Back (a model likely hurriedly put together from various existing Imperial vehicle parts), this new iteration for Return of the Jedi, having more important screen time, proved a great realisation success, and was one of the most popular new model vehicles created for the effects-ambitious movie. Supervisor Ken Ralston particularly liked the Imperial shuttle, noting that "it had nice lines, was fun to light, and photographed well."

Early concept design, The art on the right would later be adapted for use as the Emperor's shuttle in Revenge of the Sith.

Kit-bashing at its finest.

Bill George and colleague at work on the model.

The unpainted version of the model which would impressively boast internal wing mechanics.

Bill George adds more fine detailing to the model.

ILM talent Rob Bailey with the model.

Don Dow is one of the key ILMers overseeing of Imperial shuttle model shooting scenes used by the Empire and, later in the film, the Rebels.

'JEDI' AT 40: UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL!

Above the forest moon of Endor, the ominous construction continues of the second Death Star space station, boasting even more dreaded destructive firepower than the its predecessor. But the pace of such important construction is not proceeding as fast as the Emperor would like in his ongoing need to destroy the small but effective band of Rebel Alliance outlaws plaguing the galaxy. The solution: send the ultimate force for 'increased productivity' to the station. And that can mean only one unique figure, the all-powerful Lord Darth Vader!

A lovely, specially created model composite image establishing angle by ILM for publicity and merchandising of the film during 1983.

BEHIND THE SCENES: INSIDE THE EMPEROR'S FINEST!

Image: via Star Wars Screen Caps.

Captured inside the Endor bunker, our Rebel heroes are now taken outside to witness the immensity of the enemy forces around them, in this classic moment from Return of the Jedi.

Though many of the Imperials in the scene were played by then out of work local lumberjacks and factory men in the Redwoods during US location filming in April/May 1982, there would also be a sizeable presence of talented UK/US stuntmen and one lone equally accomplished UK stuntwoman (Tracey Eddon, playing both Rebel Commando and, suffering for her art, forced into an Imperial Stormtrooper costume) ready for the subsequent major action sequences against the surprise Ewok enemy. Amongst those dutiful but ultimately defeated on screen Imperial Stormtroopers would be the late Frank Henson, whom Aficionado was sad to hear of his passing a while back.

Ted Grossman, Larry Holt and Julius LeFlore. Image: Larry Holt.

Larry Holt would play both a Stormtrooper and Rebel Commando in location filming. Image: Larry Holt.

Frank Henson and buddy.

Two images featuring Larry Holt, Julius LeFlore, Ted Grossman and an unknown stunt actor? Image: Larry Holt.

Bob Yerkes, Dan Zormeier as Peter Mayhew's stand-in, and Larry Holt. Image: Larry Holt.

CLASSIC IMAGE: HAN FIGHTS BACK!

Captured no more, thanks to the war-bringing arrival of the diminutive but tough Ewoks, our Rebel squad takes the surprise initiative against the Empire, led by Commander Solo, in this great action image from Return of the Jedi. 

CLASSIC IMAGE: WHERE'S LEIA?

With the new disappearance of Leia, having previously pursued an Imperial Biker Scout, Luke and Han ponder their next move in this scene from Return of the Jedi filmed in the Redwoods of California during late April/May 1982.

Behind the scenes on ROTJ, and some rare imagery:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8070021/Star-Wars-scenes-Candid-photos-Mark-Hamill-Harrison-Ford-sell-4-000.html?fbclid=IwAR1S-1LeFC0gmg8RSBsT24vQP4HfcFq8AUn2UDrRi2FDvTVUT5ujbMWi8ik

CLASSIC IMAGE: FAST TARGET!

Once more proving himself an excellent shot with a bowcaster, Chewbacca efficiently disposes of an escaping Speeder Bike pilot during a very cool moment from Return of the Jedi, when we finally get to see the wookiee use the weapon onscreen properly (having barely seen him shoot a Mynock previously, during The Empire Strikes Back).

With thanks to Ian Trussler for the image.

EPISODE IX: FIGUREHEAD OF EVIL!

On the storm-battered exterior wreck of the second Death Star, the complex villain that is Kylo Ren prepares to do battle once more with his counterpoint in the Force, Rey, in an action-packed sequence from The Rise of Skywalker...

More on Adam Driver/EPISODE IX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxAjStgxJw

https://ew.com/movies/2019/12/05/adam-driver-kylo-ren-rise-of-skywalker/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTSn0-yZmxM

https://ew.com/movies/2019/12/05/adam-driver-kylo-ren-rise-of-skywalker/

EPISODE IX: STORM BREAKERS!

Traversing the choppy waves of one of the expansive oceans on Endor, in some kind of flying powered air sled, our heroes head towards the stormy environs surrounding the ominous wreckage of the second Death Star, in this intriguing shot from The Rise of Skywalker.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PINNED DOWN!

The shield bunker backdoor now firmly closed, Han Solo and Princess Leia, with a trio of battle-hardened Rebel Commandos, hold fire against the enemy, in this great photo composition from Return of the Jedi filmed on location in Southern California.