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.

'JEDI' AT 40: SUMMERTIME SPECIAL!

Remembering, but importantly celebrating, the very-much missed Carrie Fisher on the day of her sad passing back in 2016, these rarer images from the Rolling Stone magazine shoot taken at Stinson Beach. California in Summer, 1983 by Aaron Rapoport, show the talented actress/writer/singer and all-round gorgeous star in her lively, imaginative and exuberant, sexy prime alongside some old friends from the Original Trilogy, and Return of the Jedi... 

Rare photos of Carrie Fisher's 'Star Wars' beach photo shoot

More images here:

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: CLASSIC IMAGE: SUMMER FUN!

EPISODE IX: RETURN OF THE EWOK!

At the creature workshop at Pinewood, a fur body suited Warwick Davis inspects the all-new, older Wicket head, as the actor prepares to return to the Ewok hero role that launched him from childhood into an inspired film/TV career. And so there will be at least a few Ewoks of Endor about for EPISODE IX: a great surprise behind the scenes image from the recent, officially released The Rise of Skywalker online featurette.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SUMMER FUN!

What better way to celebrate the Summer heatwave currently spreading its glory across Europe this weekend, plus the greatness of Carrie Fisher in her iconic 'Slave Leia' outfit, than with these charming outtake images that have surfaced online from the infamous Rolling Stone magazine shoot of 1983, taken by Aaron Rapoport. This beach party has well and truly begun!

CLASSIC ART: MACHINE VERSUS EWOK!

A brave Ewok flees pursuit from two lethal blaster cannon wielding AT-ST 'Chicken' Walkers in this great concept art by Joe Johnston for Return of the Jedi circa 1981, where the brave furry heroes of the Endor forest moon were finally visually locked into as being Teddy Bear-like creatures. But Teddy Bears who could formidably crack Imperial Stormtrooper skulls open when they needed to!

Their popularity may have changed with the seasons across 35 years but Star Wars legendary composer John Williams and The London Symphony Orchestra gave the little critters a suitably grand, lovably rumbustious and inspiring main theme in Parade of the Ewoks, one of the main tracks of the original 1983 soundtrack album for Return of the Jedi that's now getting a well deserved remastering and re-release via Walt Disney Records, along with the rest of the Classic and Prequel Trilogies. Each CD comes at a nice price, and with a collectible mini-poster.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Return-John-Williams/dp/B075VNJCQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528651771&sr=8-1&keywords=return+of+the+jedi+cd

CLASSIC IMAGE: TURNING THE TIDE...

Two seemingly hapless droids lost in the forests of Endor? No problem in apprehending them, or so the Imperial Stormtrooper squad thought. Of course, that was before they had their heads clubbed in by a surprise force of intent-on-violence enthused Ewok warriors, in this fun scene from Return of the Jedi.

CLASSIC IMAGE: FUR POWER!

When you're friends with Ewoks, you're friends for life, as our Rebel commandos find when the furry critters become unlikely allies en masse in the battle against the Empire, during the climactic excitement of RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC IMAGE: WE SURRENDER!

Furry firepower has won the day, and with thanks to some ingenuity from Han Solo, as the impenetrable 'back door' to the Imperial shield generator finally opens and its legion of soldiers are surprised and captured by Endor's indigenous species, in this rare B/W image originally sent out to KENNER for toy reference back in 1982/83 for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

'FORCES OF DESTINY': WHEN LEIA MET THE EWOKS...

Filling in the story gap as to what happened when Princess Leia met the rest of the Ewok society beyond Wicket on Endor, check out the latest episode of the fun animated short series dedicated to the main female heroes of the STAR WARS saga in film and animation: Forces of Destiny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL6OPMp4IUY

Overall trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHgi3rGJyw

More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXLKvQya8c

CLASSIC IMAGE: AN EWOK OF STATUS AND INFLUENCE

The "Medicine Man" of importance, and a respected figure in the Ewok Village of Endor, Logray, as personified by the lively Mike Edmonds, poses for an early character reference shot from 1982, for the eventual KENNER action figure in the RETURN OF THE JEDI line.

Check out the film biography of the beloved Edmonds, featuring numerous well known stars and behind the scenes contributors: Under the Radar: The Mike Edmonds Story TRAILER - YouTube

Don't forget to check out our separate REVENGE OF THE JEDI tribute site:
STAR WARS AFICIONADO ARCHIVE - 'REVENGE OF THE JEDI'

GOODBYE, KENNY BAKER...

You'll believe a droid can bleep, bloop. Kenny Baker with his iconic STAR WARS alter-ego: Artoo Detoo.

Though the legacy of the original STAR WARS is shining brighter than ever, one of its most memorable candles has sadly flickered out today, as the news comes to AFICIONADO that the man who indelibly brought to life, character, quirky humour, and even pathos, to the original R2-D2 shell of the Classic Trilogy, and for the opening films of the later Prequels, Kenny Baker, has passed on into the great unknown ahead of us, at the age of 83.

Kenny Baker, the Actor Who Brought R2-D2 to Life, Passes Away | StarWars.com
Kenny Baker, Star Wars R2-D2 actor, dies age 83
Kenny Baker, Star Wars R2-D2 actor, dies aged 81 - BBC News
Kenny Baker who portrayed Star Wars' R2-D2 is dead at 81 | Daily Mail Online
Kenny Baker, actor behind R2-D2, dies | Film | The Guardian
Kenny Baker Dead: ‘Star Wars’ R2-D2 Actor, Dies 83 | Variety
Kenny Baker dead: Star Wars' R2-D2 actor dies at 83 | EW.com
Mark Hamill and others pay tribute: Epicstream

Early days with George Lucas and John Barry working out the R2 shell and its mechanics.

Though they were never close friends off camera, there was no denying that Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker made on screen magic together as droid buddies Threepio and Artoo across two sagas.

At camera level watching filming at Elstree in 1976.

Squaring up to the legendary Mohamed Ali, no less!

Though he'd been prior involved in showbusiness to varying degrees, Baker, would be a rising star in the entertainment world by 1975, via the diminutive Mini Tones television and cabaret double act he shared with his friend and career partner in the also late, great Jack Purvis, and wasn't originally all that keen on playing a robot, nor operating its often very uncomfortable (at one point almost terminal-bringing) internal mechanics, for some strange, hard to fathom at the time science fiction film with overseas location lensing in Tunisia and at London's Elstree Studios. But the coercion of Production Designer John Barry and his team, the presence of Sir Alec Guinness as a key cast member, and the commitment of having Purvis doing additional character role work in the film, soon had him jumping aboard for an endeavour that nobody really had any high hopes about it being a huge success. Two years later and beyond, it was an altogether different story- Baker going on to enjoy a terrific, life-altering, world encapsulating career, carrying on his STAR WARS work and publicity whilst appearing in a diverse array of further entertainment projects, including TV comedy such as THE GOODIES and THE DAVE ALLEN SHOW, as well as acclaimed films like Terry Gilliam's zany and beloved family adventure TIME BANDITS, the colourful and exciting Sam Jones starring FLASH GORDON (which was filmed shortly after THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK at Elstree Studios), and cult favourite LABYRINTH.

On murky ground on the Dagobah set in 1979.

Always by Luke Skywalker's side in his X-wing.

A vital part of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK publicity tour.

On location as Paploo the Ewok for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Back in the shell, and back in the Tunisian heat, for EPISODE I.

Always a friendly face at worldwide conventions, full of humour, anecdotes, cheeky charm, and loving the nightlife and a good seat at the bar, Kenny was much loved and respected by fans and filmmakers alike, and will be greatly missed by everyone in the STAR WARS community, of which he was such an important family member.

Official site: Kenny Baker | Actor Kenny Baker R2-D2

R2 D2 Actor 'Pleased' At News Of New Star Wars Films - YouTube
Kenny Baker interview - YouTube
R2-D2 builders wish Kenny Baker a happy birthday - YouTube

Always the fun centre of attention in Tunisia in 1976.

Making a visit to the EPISODE VII set, as an advisor, and for a photo shoot with R2.

R.I.P., Kenny, and thank you for the incredible mark you've made on film and genres history...

CELEBRATION 2017 clip tribute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnYR-QM0zAU