CLASSIC ART: DANGER AMONGST THE CLOUDS!

 

He has his prize in the carbon frozen visage of his former enemy and bounty Captain Han Solo, his money awaits for the capture task from a hungry Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine - the slimy crime boss eager to receive his soon favourite decoration for the wall of his throne room, and he has clearance from the Imperials to depart the now captured Cloud City on Bespin. Fortune clearly favours the bold skillsets of the dangerous Boba Fett, in this great art that graced the cover of an early eighties issue of the UK's Star Wars Monthly comic strip magazine.  

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: DOOM-LADEN PROCESSION!

 

Hiding away, Luke watches a mysterious, clearly dangerous stranger and his escort, and soon decides to follow them... 

Is it possible that Luke recognises Boba Fett from their earlier animated encounter showcased in The Star Wars Holiday Special?

The scene has clever use of music by John Williams creating a sombre funeral march to accompany Fett and his carbonite escort on their way to Slave 1. Also, note in the long shot how Fett (walking with the sound of cowboy spurs added on in post production by Ben Burtt) turns his head after hearing the minutest sound of Luke unclipping his blaster - a clever visual touch.

Filming Luke's reactions...

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: TAKING HIS BOUNTY!

The slightest sound heard on his receptors can mean potential conflict for Boba Fett, unwilling to let his ultra-valuable prize in the carbon frozen Han Solo be taken away from him whilst making his way to Slave 1, and departure to Tatooine, in this super close-up image of the character from The Empire Strikes Back.

Amazingly, this brief image of the carbonite Han Solo made its way to an early teaser trailer but was scarcely picked up by fans at the time.

The two escorting Bespin guards would be played by regular stand-in from the original Star Wars, Alan Harris, and Quentin Pierre, fresh from his background role as a regular security guard for Space:1999. Pierre was recommended to the film by second unit director David Tomblin, who had worked with him as a writer/director on that popular British TV sci-fi series (Harris had also appeared as a Moonbase Alpha technician from time to time).

Behind the scenes on set continuity polaroid. 

Jeremy Bulloch interview:
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-identities-jeremy-bulloch-interview

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: IN PERFECT HIBERNATION!

Lando inspects the carbon frozen form of Han Solo and announces that he has indeed survived the freezing process. Against his wishes in seeing Han taken by Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt. Lando's other plans to keep Leia and Chewbacca under friendly house arrest at Cloud City are swiftly obliterated by Darth Vader, once more altering the deal, now planning to have them taken to his ship, with the news that his real prey, Luke Skywalker, has arrived. It soon proves a deal-breaker too far for the Baron Administrator...  

In the Marvel Comics Super Special adaptation of Empire, instead of having his prisoners transferred to his ship, Vader instead orders a Stormtrooper garrison to be stationed at Cloud City to keep watch over Leia and Chewbacca with Lando.

Kershner with Williams, whilst David Tomblin prepares for filming.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: SOLO'S NIGHTMARE FACE!

With the carbonite body frame previously sculpted from British supporting artist Alan Harris, Harrison Ford's face for the frozen visage of Han Solo would be separately moulded and attached to Harris's body by Stuart Freeborn at Elstree Studios at least a month prior to the studio filming at Elstree.

Graham and Stuart Freeborn apply some mucky business to Harrison Ford!

Back-up moulds later created by ILM.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CARBON HELL!

Our shocked heroes are witness to the living death inflicted on Han Solo by Darth Vader, in this memorable specially created cover for one of the UK issues of The Empire Strikes Back Weekly comic, from famed classic comics artist Carmine Infantino, himself a regular artist on the US Marvel Comics Star Wars monthly colour comics for the previous two years.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: THE CARBON NIGHTMARE!

Later described as 'a big wide awake nothing' nightmare by Han Solo, the smuggler's carbon frozen form is finally revealed -  its grim visage making for an eerie and unnerving sight to Star Wars fans as actor Harrison Ford's future participation in future sequels now seemed uncertain...

REMEMBERING THE 1983 HARRODS 'RETURN OF THE JEDI' EXHIBITION

Before they disappear into decayed oblivion, I thought I'd scan and post my Polaroids from my family's visit to the excellent RETURN OF THE JEDI costumes, props and artwork exhibition based for one month only at London's then prestigious HARRODS department store, during May 1983- packed with great items, a selection of that eagerly awaited first wave of PALITOY action figures with the new ROTJ logo on (Mum bought me a Royal Guard!), and a superb teaser trailer on a television loop that I just watched and watched gobsmacked alongside other kids (I'll always remember gasping when Han and Chewie were on the skiff as it overturns from laser fire, Leia getting wounded (I thought she was going to die!) and Wedge's X-wing and Falcon manoeuvring across the Death Star II landscape)- three years of waiting since TESB and I was finally seeing some new STAR WARS footage! Great times, of which I hope today's kids are just as excited now about THE FORCE AWAKENS as I was back then about JEDI.

Sorry about the overall quality, but I think you guys and gals will enjoy looking at them nonetheless. At the time, the newer characters/creatures got the most attention in front of the camera.

Love the McQuarrie diorama background, plus Endor Leia and Jedi Luke to the corner.

The UK's first proper look at the Royal Guards.

A Mon Calamari and those recognisable droids.

A special alcove recreation of Jabba's Palace, with Han in carbonite.

A Gamorrean Guard makes an ominous appearance.

Another fan has a more expansive set here: Return Of The Jedi Exhibition, Harrods, London, May 1983

CLASSIC IMAGE: EVIL HANDIWORK!

A powerless Leia and Chewbacca can only look on in horror and repulsion at the fate of their beloved Han Solo, now encased in carbonite as part of a successful "test" in Darth Vader's unique plan to ensnare Luke Skywalker- his one true prey.

A scene of genuine atmosphere and dread, truly putting the heart of darkness into STAR WARS- a flavour that would be attempted in subsequent sequels but never quite equalled.

British Cinematographer Peter Suschitzky was one of the key creative forces behind the scenes on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, helping director Irvin Kershner make it the visual classic it has become since its release in 1980. Find out more about his work on the film here: The Photography for The Empire Strikes Back

PENCIL UNIVERSE! 'STAR WARS' STORYBOARDS: DAY FIVE - "FAVOURITE DECORATION"

In eager anticipation of the UK release of the lavish new STAR WARS STORYBOARDS: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY hardcover by J.W. Rinzler, published by ABRAMS, AFICIONADO presents a six-day tribute to the incredible art works of the diverse visualists whose key contributions helped bring to life the defining three movies of 1977, 1980 and 1983.

Day Five showcases the ILM jack-of-all-trades David Carson, who contributed many superb storyboards for EPISODE VI, not just for the battle scenes but other all-important, character-related  moments, like this one, of which fans had been waiting three long years to see: Han Solo's carbonite thawing, and the beginning of his rescue from the vile Jabba the Hutt by Luke Skywalker and company.

Get hold of STAR WARS STORYBOARDS: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY here: Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy: Amazon.co.uk: J.W. Rinzler: Books

HAN SOLO WEEK: A TIMELY VISITOR

In Jabba the Hutt's darkened throne room, a mysterious bounty hunter with a secret identity comes to the aid of the now carbon frozen frame of Han Solo, in this atmospheric moment from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

ROTJ AT 30: FREE AT LAST!

The scene that STAR WARS fans had been waiting three anxious years for, as the mysterious bounty hunter Boushh frees our smuggler hero Han Solo from his carbonite encased trap. A celebratory moment, and an iconic scene, from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

ROTJ AT 30: THE LONELY CARBON SOUL

The cliffhanger from 1980's THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK that everyone wanted resolved: was Han Solo still in carbonite at the beginning of RETURN OF THE JEDI? And just as important: how would our heroes, led by Luke Skywalker, rescue him from that slimy gangster Jabba the Hutt? The answers to both those questions would be delivered in spectacular style by the filmmakers. But first, our imprisoned smuggler had to come down from his eerie, isolated wall plaque status within the main audience chamber of Jabba's decadent palace, as seen in this intriguing B/W reference image sent to KENNER TOYS circa 1982. Note: another reference to EMPIRE here: the Tauntaun head on Han's left side, whilst on the other, barely visible in the shadows, is the head of a creature from the original STAR WARS Tatooine exterior scenes: the little-seen Jerba Beast...

AFICIONADO exclusive feature on the Jerba beast:  

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRN1pmQjh5bUJkR0U/edit