EPISODE IX: THE LAST JEDI CONFER...

The emotionally troubled Rey's uncertainty as a Jedi in the light of the recent revelations of her parentage, and of her Grandfather, sees a return to the legendary world of Ahch-To, where she is soon helped back on her path to good and light by the spirit of her former mentor, Luke Skywalker, in a nice, and most welcome, moment between the two characters during The Rise of Skywalker.

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.

BEHIND THE SCENES: 'STAR WARS' BEGINS!

Lucas coordinates with John Stears on the little Astro Droids.

A momentous day in the past and for the future, as March 22nd, 1976 saw the commencement of filming of a certain quirky, so-called low-budget space fantasy adventure called The Star Wars at the out there Salt Flats of Nefta, Tunisia, in which a small group of actors mingled with droids and small Jawas (and a relatively unenthused British crew) to bring writer/director/visionary George Lucas's very special enduring fantasy saga to life.

And the rest is history...

Star Wars: A New Hope Began Filming 50 Years Ago Today | StarWars.com

A sci-fi/fantasy universe like no other begins filming at Nefta.

Conferring with George Lucas on a busy. difficult first day for the film-maker.

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE CELL BAY!

"This is not gonna work!"

Now disguised as Imperial Stormtroopers, Luke's plan to rescue Princess Leia from the Death Star Cell Bay begins, much to the weary chagrin of Han Solo, in a classic scene of humour from the original Star Wars.

Some of the dialogue scenes linked to the Cell Block would be improvised or enhanced by Hamill and Ford during May 1976 filming.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE ONE-MAN ARMY!

Above the infamous and dreaded Sarlaac Pit of the Dune Sea, the unstoppable force that is Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker fights on against Jabba's mercenaries, jumping from one sand skiff to another, in a superb aerial shot from the classic action sequence of Return of the Jedi.

EPISODE IX: REUNITED JEDI!

It's a time of darkness and emotional trauma for Rey, having now discovered the truth about her shocking bloodline from Kylo Ren. She looks ready to give it all up on the far off world of Ahch-To. Fortunately, a friend and teacher from the past returns to guide her back on the right path against the oncoming firestorm that is the Dark Side, and the return of Palpatine.

A memorable scene from The Rise of Skywalker.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: DESTINATION: JEDI!

The mythical Luke Skywalker revealed.

Having resided in isolation and contemplation on the mysterious Ach-To, home to the first unique Jedi Temple, after a terrible experience with his former disciple Kylo Ren that has now left the galaxy in pieces and open to attack and invasion with the arrival of the dreaded First Order, Luke Skywalker has finally been found by the Resistance, of which Jedi-to-be Rey has boldly gone to the mostly water world to recruit his help back in the fight against good and evil..

But will he accept both the return of his father's lightsaber, previously thought lost forever, and newcomer Rey's request for help?  

It's both a story, and a momentous decision, that will be continued in another film...

Great posed shots of Mark Hamill taken at Skellig Island.

Will Luke accept the return of his lightsaber and call to help from Rey and the Resistance?

J.J. Abrams and company film Luke's finale reveal.

Filming the earlier flashback of Luke's sorrow at the destruction of his new Jedi Order.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: MEANWHILE, ON THE COMEDY VARIETY SHOW PLANET!

Taking their first steps on a comedy variety show planet!

Frank Oz helped bring the magic of Yoda to the Star Wars saga, so it was only fair that the compliment was returned back to him, Jim Henson and the Muppet Show, as Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and the remote controlled Artoo Detoo made an hilarious special appearance on the UK/international comedy hit during 1980, filmed at the nearby ITC Elstree Studios. Hamill, notably, would get to stretch his comedy muscles in a double role (himself and Luke Skywalker) alongside Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear and the legendary Miss Piggy, give a notable 'Gargling Gershwin' rendition, and even indulge in a little bit of musical variety!

Hamill and Daniels rehearse the finale with Kermit.

Luke and Threepio discuss the bizarre universe they are in!

Mark/Luke with his new porky Princess!

Original preview press cutting, from the files of the Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE MAGIC OF YODA!

900 years old and as wise as ever: the inimitable Yoda.

“I wanted for him to be the kind of character you can find in fairy tales and mythology. A character that is usually a frog or a needy old man. In his path the hero sees this poor, insignificant person. The lesson the hero must learn is that he had to respect everybody beyond their physical appearance, since there may be the key to his success. He's a weird creature with a froggish look, half a meter tall. I wanted the public to see him as a funny creature, not as the most powerful of all the Jedi. I was looking for the opposite of anyone you would expect, since the Jedi based their beliefs in a philosophical idea, instead of a physical concept.” 

George Lucas on Yoda - 1997 interview

Inside Yoda's small home interior at Elstree, Lucas observes a dummy version of the character manipulated by Oz. 

Oz confers with Lucas, Kershner and Kurtz about the puppet.

The detailed puppet created by Stuart Freeborn and his team, though another was also created by Nick Maley and equally used on screen.

Oz manipulates the puppet with his small team at Elstree during August/September 1979.

Mark Hamill's acting skills help bring further believability to the character of Yoda, especially in this important scene with Luke, which also features the spectral voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Continuity Polaroids taken for reference.

With the film's release from May 1980 onwards, Yoda's visage is no longer a secret, with a special press release and photos sent out fully introducing the unique new character to the saga.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: GOING SOLO IN NORWAY!

He hadn't yet landed the role of the devil may care Indiana Jones, but Harrison Ford was certainly doing some globe-trotting of his own with The Empire Strikes Back, swiftly dispatched from Elstree to Norway to shoot scenes in real snowy climes, amidst avalanches and dangerous white-outs. Certainly adventures in filming that Ford would never, ever forget.

Filming Han's discovery of the injured Luke, literally shot outside the snowbound hotel at Finse during March, 1979. 

Han checks on Luke's delirious condition.

Han prepares to fire at the Imperial Probe Droid.

Posing for press publicity with Carrie Fisher.

"I hadn't anticipated being there (in Norway) at all. My snow scenes were supposed to be shot at the sound stage at the studio. I had just arrived in England as they left for Norway, and in no time at all, I found myself whisked away to join them in Norway, with no preparation, wearing a costume built for conditions on the stage. Another one of those bizarre life experiences."

Harrison Ford - Bantha Tracks interview - 1980

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE NAME'S SKYWALKER... LUKE SKYWALKER!

Mark Hamill gives a very heroic James Bond-esque pose, holding what would later become Princess Leia's distinctive blaster, in this classic Summer 1976 publicity shoot for Mark Hamill with legendary photographer Terry O'Neill, taken for the original Star Wars.

Other images from the shoot...

Image: Star Wars Archives.

Hamill reminisces about his career to Frank Oz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNYdNM3mIyM

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