EPISODE I: JOHN AND JAR JAR!

Amidst the 100 degrees-plus heat of their Tunisian location filming, John Knoll uses the reference head of unique comedy Gungan Jar Jar Binks for the camera/lighting rehearsal of an upcoming Episode I scene linked to the Homestead, and our heroes readying of Anakin's repaired podracer.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: A TATOOINE DAY IN THE LIFE...

At work within the distant vaporator fields, Luke Skywalker is soon distracted by a sight in the skies above.

With a very young Luke Skywalker at the Lars Homestead now revealed in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series, here's a look back to the icon hero's originally planned introduction in the original Star Wars of 1977- the memorable sequence, now a legendary deleted scene, that would see a bored Luke working to repair a moisture vaporator, with help from a soon malfunctioning Treadwell droid buddy, out in the Tatooine wilderness. Shot at the Tunisian salt flats of Nefta between 23rd and 25th March, 1976, Luke's task is interrupted via a mysterious sight in the clouds...

Luke, wearing a floppy goggle hat that would not be seen in the completed film, adjusts a control box linked to the malfunctioning vaporator.

Great deleted establishing image.

Temporary lens flare for visual reference -it was planned that ILM would provide an optical insert replacement had the scene not been deleted relatively early in the film's US post production phase.

Looking up, distracted.

Another scene from the deleted footage.

Posed publicity image from the scene.

Close-in posed image of Luke using his macrobinoculars.

Luke leaves the now malfunctioning Treadwell to its own devices.

Publicity image taken linked to the scene.

A great behind the scenes shot captured between takes. Note the technician attending to the Treadwell droid. Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive.

Treadwell droid photo image taken on Death Star set at Elstree during Summer 1976- presumably for later potential magazine publicity linked to John Stears' work on the film.

The blue Treadwell would also return for active duty in The Empire Strikes Back, presumably the original version built by John Stears and his UK practical effects team (held in storage after prior 1976 filming?), for a fun little moment atop the Millennium Falcon, where it would confer with an irritated Han Solo within the Hoth Rebel base.

The deleted scene as rendered by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin for the original Star Wars Marvel Comics adaptation, published from the end of 1976 onwards.

And here's several posed images linked to Luke at the vaporators.

Luke poses for some repair work.

A shot not originally released in the seventies, showing Luke without his leg 'wrappings'.

This posed image of Luke wearing his poncho was likely taken during a filming break at one of the Lars Homestead vaporators, later in the Tunisian filming.

EPISODE IX: SCAVENGER STOPOVER!

Always on the lookout for their next profitable exercise in salvage hunting (as seen with their splendid appearance in the second episode of The Mandalorian), the scavenger Jawas make a stopover in the desert environs of Tatooine for this great post-Classic Trilogy release created painting from the much-missed Ralph McQuarrie. A lovely scenescape homage to it recreated in live-action - a special tribute to the important artist and his cherished SW work by Lucasfilm/ILM/J.J. Abrams - during the emotional Lars Homestead finale to The Rise of Skywalker.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: ENTERING MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT

Having cleared the Stormtrooper check-point, our heroes enter the main hub streets of Mos Eisley spaceport, as filmed in the small sea port area of Ajim, Tunisia, decorated with an incredible universe of props and set dressings, on April 2nd, 1976 (of which Sir Alec Guinness' birthday was also celebrated). This is a great image showing the geography of the area - note the far end location of the check-point for a distance shot coming in that never made the finished movie. Director of Photography Gilbert Taylor can be seen top of the scaffold wearing the blue cap, as well as an obscured Lucas wearing his trademark check shirt.

Getting ready to drive in.

Behind the scenes angle.

Deleted establishing shot-alternate take, seen in what was once called The Lost Cut.

DELETED SCENE: WASTELAND CHORES!

Working on the South Ridge with the Vaporators proves the most boring and mundane of tasks for young Luke Skywalker, in his daily life on the dustball that is Tatooine. But things are about to get a lot more interesting in very quick time, in this deleted scene image from the original STAR WARS.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends Birthday Greetings out today to that eternal Star Warrior, Mark Hamill.