BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MARCIA LUCAS FACTOR!

 

George Lucas, needing morale support, with then wife Marcia, perched against a Djerba beast background player. An image taken during the final days of Tunisian location filming for Star Wars in early April, 1976.

Behind every great man, there has to be a great woman, as the song goes, and back in 1976 as writer/creator George Lucas developed, and filmed the original, difficult to make Star Wars he had the thankful support and backing of his wife Marcia Lucas during many affecting times, herself a much in-demand and trusted filmmaking talent within the world of editing, and known for her strong creative instincts and individual flair. She was and is a gregarious person who recognised peoples' talents and knew how to bring them out to the benefit of everyone, especially in Hollywood circles, where she was much admired by the likes of director friends including Martin Scorsese and Brian De Palma, who'd use her editing talents/opinions for their own groundbreaking projects. Both George and Marcia would prove to be a popular couple during the period they were together, whose chalk and cheese natures seemed to blend perfectly in the early to mid seventies era of innovative and unforgettable movie production. Marcia would also be a key voice in editing and helping George lock in the 'spirit' of his hit comedy, American Graffiti.

Marcia Lucas's Star Wars-related postcard from Tunisia to Lucy Autrey and the Parkway team in 1976.

Though not originally to have been part of the film's editing (instead to have acted as a consultant), during Star Wars 1975-1976 pre-production she favoured the casting of Hamill, Ford, and Fisher, was key to the development of the Force in the movie's original script, which she found fascinating (even writing some of the extra dialogue needed during Kenobi and Vader's duel), helped her husband realise that Kenobi's death was indeed vital to keep the film's drama in the final script (and not leave a great actor like Sir Alec Guinness with nothing important to do), whilst in her own editing high ground, she brought in the idea of 'wipes' transitions for scenes (used effectively for TV commercials at that time). 

Designing both the Lucasfilm Ltd  and ILM logos. Marcia travelled to Tunisia and was regularly at London's Elstree Studios. It was alongside her husband looking at the film's dailies that they knew that the assigned UK editor John Jympson wasn't picking the right take prints to be used in the editing process before his role in the film was terminated in July 1976. Ever gregarious, she regularly had dinner with the film's main cast, especially Sir Alec Guinness, whom she often found scandalous and funny away from the set (George sadly never attended the dinners). She was greatly impressed with Carrie Fisher (loving her spontaneous, clever wit) and Harrison Ford, who looked every inch the 'soldier of fortune' to her. It was Marcia, alongside US casting advisor Fred Roos, who championed Luke Skywalker to be played by Mark Hamill.

When a desperate-for-help Lucas needed Marcia's editing skills and keen eye for character after the replacement of Jymoson (whom Marcia felt used too broader takes of actors performances that did not bring a sense of reality to the piece and felt too humorous), she was key to making the final Death Star space battle as tight and exciting as possible in what became a monumental task (generating the idea and tension of the Death Star preparing to fire at the Rebel Base, alongside fellow editor Paul Hirsch's contribution - an edge-of-your-seat countdown to the finale), of which ILM needed the assembled footage as quickly as possible for ongoing model filming. She also fought Brian De Palma's wanting George to remove the concept of the Force from the film, which she was adamant should stay (De Palma may even have had his friend Paul Hirsch remove some of its references in Post Production, most of which were then re-instated by a determined Marcia). Beyond getting the hilarious moniker of 'The Queen of Death' in killing off characters across the Star Wars saga during editing, Marcia also recognised the value of small unique moments of humour, like the Mouse Robot sequence showcasing Chewbacca, which was almost entirely excised from the film before she put her foot down.

Visiting the Death Star hangar bay set at Elstree circa May/June 1976, Mark Hamill demonstrates his then ongoing toe infection to Marcia and colleague. Image: Robert Watts.

Cast and crew gather at the Elstree Studios bar/restaurant. Image: Robert Watts.

Fondly known by the 1977 Lucasfilm team as 'the heart' of its expanding family, and recognised as 'the smartest pair of hands in the galaxy', Marcia was sadly not able to work on the editing for The Empire Strikes Back (part of a sequel series that she had no idea George Lucas had any plans for beyond what was thought to be the one-off 1977 film) due to other commitments (though she clearly saw and/or gave opinions during the film's post production process, and visited the London Elstree Studios filming at least once in mid 1979, alongside her then husband) and to also start looking after her and George's adopted baby, though she was able to come back to help her again desperate husband for a short period on Return of the Jedi's end of Post Production period, despite having now retired from the editing field, when it's original cut (crafted by director Richard Marquand and his own specially chosen editor Sean Barton) needed a major creative boost in key dramatic areas, especially linked to Mark Hamill's scenes as Luke Skywalker, and his eventual destiny as a Jedi, plus the vital moment when Vader transitions back to Anakin Skywalker and defeats the Emperor. Marcia would further be a part in reshaping the film's already edited Sail Barge battle, so as to bring viewing clarity.

Earlier this year, Marcia Lucas was a key contributor to a documentary series linked to the making of the Original Trilogy, which aired on Vice TV (July 12th): 

Vice TV-Nacelle ‘Star Wars’ Series Lands 1st TV Interview With Lucas’ Ex-Wife – Deadline

Filming at the top of the Sidi Driss hotel in Tunisia with Mark Hamill looking down into the sinkhole, and watched by the crew (including Marcia Lucas, centre, with Gary Kurtz). Image: the Ben Ageros Collection.

Visiting the location specifically to bolster her husband's low spirits with the problematic start of filming Star Wars, Marcia watches George direct a Landspeeder motion sequence.

 Marcia, at bottom left of image with Gil Taylor, and Meredith Kurtz, as the crew (including George Lucas, Anthony Waye and Ann Skinner), from a small scaffold, film the Landspeeder entrance into Mos Eisley at Djerba, Tunisia, at the end of March, 1976.

Conferring with, and enjoying the company of, Garrick Hagon and Mark Hamill, watched by George, on the last day of location principal photography at the Djerba fishing village, Tunisia- April, 1976.

Both Marcia and George had a natural passion for the craft of film making and editing and were much respected for their successes in the 1970's.

A proud Oscar winning Marcia with her husband at the 1978 Academy Awards, enjoying the success of the original Star Wars.

With fellow Star Wars editors Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch, with the iconic Farrah-Fawcett at the 1978 Oscars.

Going through some footage of The Empire Strikes Back in late 1979, alongside respected director Irvin Kershner.

Marcia hated the original script created for Revenge of the Jedi, which featured two Death Stars (as seen in this Ralph McQuarrie painting. Soon enough, George dropped the idea and brought Lawrence Kasdan back to the fold to help him draft a better story.

As seen in a recent Star Wars related six-part 2023 documentary on the US Vice TV channel: Icons Unearthed.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/star-wars-editor-slams-disney-films-jj-abrams-1234666134/?fbclid=IwAR14fJW4wZuyQHxak_GpAa7a81Ce3NuXArGI2vG0-a6p-wTzjs4XQB3bDS8

DELETED SCENES: THE DENIZENS OF MOS EISLEY

Stormtroopers gather at the main entrance road to Mos Eisley. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI Special Collections.

The Imperial hunt for the fugitive droids carrying the stolen Death Star data tapes intensifies as Mos Eisley is plagued by Stormtroopers, in this classic sequence from STAR WARS shot in the Djerba fishing village as location filming neared its completion in Tunisia circa April 1976. At a checkpoint, Luke and his party are questioned by a squad (their leader played by Anthony Forrest, happily and specially recruited to the location to work with Sir Alec Guinness, quickly retrieved from the hotel's swimming pool!) before the elder Jedi Ben Kenobi uses his powers to free them from their predicament.

Mos Eisley Streets - Star Wars - Ajim. Tunisia - 1976 - YouTube

A Stormtrooper commander (Anthony Forrest, wearing the orange patch) questions our newly arrived heroes. Image: Ann Skinner/ BFI Special Collections.

Two droids that make background appearances in the sequence. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI Special Collections.

Three UK crewmembers have some fun on location.

Outside the Cantina as Luke and Ben make negotiations for a star pilot for their journey to Alderaan, and meet Chewbacca, Threepio and Artoo observe a seedy human (Peter Diamond), later named Garouf Lafoe in the Expanded Universe, heading towards two Stormtroopers...

Part of a deleted scene of the droids outside the Cantina.

Reference image of Anthony Daniels as Threepio at the location. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI Special Collections.

From the Fourth Revised Draft of THE STAR WARS, dated 15/3/76

SCENE ZA50. EXT. MOS EISLEY CANTINA STREET DAY

Threepio paces in front of the cantina as Artoo carries on an electronic conversation with another red R2 unit. 

THREEPIO: What could be taking them so long?

A patron comes out of the cantina and approaches two stormtroopers.

THREEPIO: I don't like the look of this.

Garouf Lafoe (Peter Diamond) confers with Stormtroopers. Note the middle trooper without his helmet band.

From Ann Skinner's continuity notes (handwritten) on Diamond's costume: Peaked cap- googles on hat above peak. Grey plastic of glasses. One flap keeping it up. Off white grey shirt laced up in front and held in place by w/coat and khaki coloured. 

One of the Stormtroopers in this scene does not have the black band marking on his helmet. This is noticeable on one of two continuity Polaroid images that Skinner takes of these two backpacked Stormtroopers (one front full length, the other rear full length) at the street location and in the above image. One of the troopers also bears a long tipped rifle/blaster seen in earlier filming at the abandoned escape pod.

Skinner's hand written info on the scene also highlights another particular human extra whom she thought was worthy of note for his costume: Beige colourless long-sleeved shirt leather with coat open, but loosely held together at waist. Key belt pouches at back. Gun on hip.

Kenny Baker taking a break on location in the Artoo shell, with a Power Droid opposite.

A colour Polaroid at the street location by Skinner additionally shows Artoo and Threepio with a power droid in front of them. In the distance is the cantina with an unknown human standing far right.

A landspeeder travels the road.

Spacecraft wreckage assembled at the location to hide a native building from shot.

A used space ship dealer (presumably played by a local Tunisian extra) beckons people on in this posed image.

On set photographer John Jay captured images of other varied extras and droids in and around the Tunisia location, whilst Skinner's Polaroids additionally show the Cantina and its street empty, plus a wide shot of the ship wreck damage, featuring a round shell droid in front (which had appeared previosuly in the Lars Homestead Jawa droid sale sequence) and a human far left walking rightwards.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI Special Collections.

With thanks to Chris Baker for additional images.

DELETED SCENE: WORMIE'S REFUGE!

Before "Wormie" arrives! Image via STAR WARS ARCHIVES website.

The most detailed image yet showing the interior of the Tosche Station at Anchorhead- scenes filmed in April of 1976, upon THE STAR WARS cast’s return to Elstree from Tunisia. Camie (Koo Stark) and Fixer (Anthony Forrest) get a little bit of quality time together whilst the caped Biggs (Garrick Hagon, to their right) plays a futuristic game version of Pool (a lit table board of electronics, according to hand written production notes) opposite friends Deak (played by Jay Benedict) and Windy (actor unknown). Beyond the outside window can be seen a landspeeder (Luke's redressed, with the full exterior transparent dome (previously dropped) now atop and two extra power pods added-this new craft presumably belonging to Fixer), the head of a droid (played by Jack Purvis) that can be seen behind Windy and walks across shot (left to right) at the start of the deleted scene (available on the 2011 Blu-ray), and an outline of some kind of beast of burden-possibly the relatively inert Jerba beast prop that had been prior used on location.

 

Interior stage shot at Elstree, taken by John Jay.

Script Supervisor Ann Skinner’s continuity notes for this scene are thin, of which she only took two Polaroids (one of the lit table in front of Camie and Fixer, and another of the spare parts shelves to the far left of the shoot near them), but we at least have her important costume character details/notes for Deak and Windy, a pair who seemingly had no reference photos taken that we are aware of. 

Deak: High yellow shirt, fastener undone and front side hanging down off waist jacket, one belt with pouches over, short beaker. (Note: of which Deak can be seen holding drink in the above top shot- Editor).

Windy: Blue shirt/jacket-over black round neck sweater under, tall beaker.

Overlapped background dialogue for Deak and Windy as Luke talks abut the space battle:

Deak: Not again, forget it!

Windy (impatiently to Biggs): Will you come back here and play the game?

Fixer had an additional line to Camie when waking up: 'What's all the noise about?

Ann Skinner's notes-packed script pages for the scene.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI SPECIAL COLLECTIONS for their help and assistance.

▶ 6-minute unedited 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' b-roll behind-the-scenes footage (1976) - YouTube

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 7: ANCHORHEAD GRAFFITI!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: JERBA BEAST

SUMMER WITH 'STAR WARS' - 1978 UK STYLE

Carrie Fisher has fun with the British press aboard the cuddly Jerba Beast prop created for use in the original STAR WARS 1976 Tunisian filming (for more on the creature, check out our PDF feature here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRN1pmQjh5bUJkR0U/edit?usp=sharing), during a Equestrian/Charity event, The Star Wars Cross Country Team Event, circa October 1978, held at Daventry, Northamptonshire, hosted and organised by Captain Robert Hawkins and his wife Ann.

This would be a FOX/LUCASFILM/STAR WARS CORPORATION sponsored venture with Imperial Stormtroopers in attendance, as well as other props from STAR WARS and the upcoming THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK to be seen in an outdoor display (including one of the larger remaining prop pieces used in various larger Death Star sets filming from 1976). Also present for what looks like a very enjoyable day were Dave Prowse and Peter Mayhew, plus producer Gary Kurtz and other representatives from the UK division of 20th Century Fox.

Peter Mayhew and Dave Prowse are reunited. Behind them stands a Jerba Beast prop.

Mayhew would hand out unique competition prizes of Rumph's made Chewbacca mugs. Image: STARWARS.COM.

Fisher was most likely the key invite, though-not only linked to her STAR WARS popularity, but also due to the fact that, earlier in the year (May 14th), she had played a horse trainer in a US ABC TV MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Leave Yesterday Behind, alongside the late John Ritter.

Carrie enjoys some refreshment whilst a lady rider dressed in Vader-ish clothes races past. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie hands out some winning medallions. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie and Peter Mayhew (background) sign for fans. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie with two of the event riders/charity supporters.

Handing out a Chewbacca mug to a lucky competition winner.

If anyone out there has any more info on this UK event, please get in touch...

One of the Artoo shells was showcased to the public, within an exhibit tent at the event. The girl seen here may be the daughter of TESB's production team member Alan Tomkins.

Collection of merchandise and images from the event, from the collection of Darren Simpson/Facebook.

Note: to get the best viewing results from the Google PDF, it would be best to download the file directly to your desktop.

2015 feature on the lost Jerba creature: Beasts of Burden: The Last Original Dewback | Prop Store – Ultimate Movie Collectables

Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet given to country squire goes up for sale for £180,000 | Daily Mail Online

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