CLASSIC IMAGE: THAT STRANGE REALM OF DAGOBAH!

Now arrived on the bog planet of Dagobah, Luke and Artoo's journey of discovery there has so far been wet, grimy and unpleasant, as the duo survey their surroundings in this memorable image from The Empire Strikes Back.

 

"It gets very lonely when you're acting with only a piece of machinery. Kenny does play Artoo, but it's sort of a misnomer because there were so many Artoo units and they all look the same. I remember several times saying hello to the radio-controlled robot and then noticing Kenny over in the corner sitting there with a newspaper, drinking a tea."

Mark Hamill - Questor magazine - 1980

'JEDI' AT 40: DELIVERING MASTER LUKE'S MESSAGE!

As an impatient Jabba the Hutt and his monstrous entourage looks towards them, Threepio has Artoo play the special message to the crime lord from Luke Skywalker - Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. Jabba is surprised to see a Jedi Knight, but is ultimately not impressed with him, refusing to give up his favourite wall decoration in Solo's carbonite form. On a more shocking note, Threepio discovers that Master Luke has given him and Artoo away to Jabba as an offered gift of service!

Luke's hologram message was filmed at then end of shooting at Elstree Studios. For some reason, the footage was shown in flipped form-note Mark Hamill's reversed hair style.

Conceptual art by Joe Johnston for Luke's hologram message scene at Jabba's Palace.

The sequence as captured in the film's Marvel Comics adaptation - art by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon.

A busy time between scenes on the palace throne room set at Elstree.

On a packed set full of technicians and industry related visitors, the message scene is filmed with multiple cameras - January, 1982.

Alec Mills handles the cinematography as several stills photographers take images from floor level.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: TOGETHER FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE...

More on set and behind the scenes of the final scene's filming on the Medical Frigate set at Elstree Studios, with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, plus Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker, as they watch their friends depart...

Mark and Carrie have fun behind the scenes.

More fun captured from an alternate angle.

The droids are fully cleaned and repaired.

Filming the separate reaction shots of the golden Threepio and Artoo (heightened for a better camera position) on the set.

A rare moment of humour between Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker between takes.

The second unit prepare to film a shot with Kenny Baker inside the Artoo shell.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: A WINDOW TO GOODBYES...

It's a time of bittersweet reflection by Luke and Leia - in many ways the pair have now become different people to the ones we saw at the start of The Empire Strikes Back - and a short break to re-gather their strength before they begin their mission to rescue Han Solo from the clutches of both Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt on the far-off desert world of Tatooine...

Storyboard for the reshot Medical Frigate final scenes by Joe Johnston - November 1979.

At some point, once the original filming on the set was completed (which we presume was originally July 1979?), Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker would be recalled back for some additional shooting for the film’s finale (likely some point between August and December 1979). Daniels recalled to Starburst magazine in 1983: “Oh, I hated that (ending to EMPIRE). I know I didn’t pay for the ticket but I said, “Wait a minute” as it ended in outer space…we all had to do that shot again. That very final shot (in EMPIRE) I said they couldn’t shoot it like that. They said, “Oh yes, we can!” I said, “No, we’ve all got to be standing on the set.” I’m such a know-all. About a month later I got a phone call (laughter). The film had wrapped by then. Fortunately they had saved that one set.”

The heroes gather to watch the Falcon's departure.

Adjusting to his new hand, Like joins the trio.

A specially created publicity image (presumably by Terry Chostner at ILM) with the Falcon and a red nebula art image superimposed. The nova image would be used in other Star Wars related merchandise publicity.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ARTOO TO THE RESCUE (AGAIN!)

Threepio may be irritated that his friend hasn't fully put him back together again, but Artoo's skillsets are vitally needed elsewhere, primarily helping Chewbacca get the Falcon's hyperdrive re-activated in this critical and humorous scene. The droid is ultimately successfully, in the nick of time (again!), as Chewbacca, working in the maintenance pit soon receives an unexpected and heavy visitor landing on him from the ship's fast hyper-launch response!

In an old behind the scenes trick, Anthony Daniels' left leg is hidden inside the box the droid is sitting on, with only the golden stump shown on screen.

Earlier scene as Chewbacca open the floor grill of the main hold.

Thankfully, Artoo's trusting the Cloud City computer's hyperdrive information saves the day! 

One of the Artoo shell's is pulled along on barely noticeable piano wire to fall into the hold pit. The moment would be further speeded up in post production editing.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: LEVITATION - PHASE TWO

Luke's training reaches its next stages and is proving successful to the watching Yoda, before visions of Han and Leia in trouble, in pain, shatter the boy's powers of control and concentration.

A blonde-wigged Colin Skeaping and Peter Diamond watch over the supported Mark Hamill on set.

Hamill's legs would be supported over a scaffold prop, watched over by on set resident stuntmen Colin Skeaping and Peter Diamond, whilst a Kenny Baker-less Artoo shell, with a remote control operated dome, would be lifted into the air, followed by a lightweight version dropped when Luke accidently releases his Force power.

B/W image variation publicity image from 1980.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: "I DON'T... I DON'T BELIEVE IT!"

Stunned by Yoda's abilities in the Force and the rescue of his X-wing fighter, Luke discovers that his belief in the Force and his potential gifts for using it still have a very long way to go, in this classic scene.

A selection of scenes showing Luke examining the X-wing alongside Artoo (who starts hose watering the ship down in a filmed but deleted follow-on moment). 

Deleted alternate footage, intriguingly showing reaction shots of a more surprised (and a more shocked) Luke towards Yoda and his abilities:

More behind the scenes images from the August, 1979 filming.

Frank Oz with Yoda in between takes.

Rehearsal or alternate take footage shot of a non-jacketed Luke reunited with his X-wing fighter.

George Lucas on set during the filming of the sequence.