CLASSIC IMAGE: PRISONER AND ESCORT!

Breaking through Jabba's palace enforcers on Tatooine, the mysterious bounty hunter Boushh arrives at court with his captured prey, the mighty Chewbacca. But how was this possible? And what surprise lays in store for the Hutt slug?

A great atmospheric image from Return of the Jedi. 

CLASSIC ART: TO ESCAPE AN APOCALYPSE!

The Empire has been defeated, the Death Star is ready to destroy itself, and a son, who has prior rescued and helped redeem his late father from darkness, rushes to escape with his armoured body, in this superb art celebrating the emotional ending to Return of the Jedi, in 1983. An emotional death scene that brought the cinema houses down with tears worldwide.

A super art piece by Michael Heath.

ILM BEHIND THE SCENES: COMEDY SHOWCASE!

Back with its first brief appearance in 1983's Return of the Jedi, cinema audiences got a good laugh watching the belly-burping, cave snuggly Rock Wart creature residing outside Jabba's Palace. It certainly made for a quirky creation too, whose comedic moment was filmed and re-developed again during ILM's Post Production period for the ambitious movie, supervised by the ever-reliable creature feature specialist, Phil Tippett.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

https://variety.com/2021/film/global/star-wars-phil-tippett-mad-god-1235029166/?

ACTION HEROES! THE REBEL COMMANDOS OF 'RETURN OF THE JEDI'

Two of the Rebels' finest commandos work alongside the small but indomitable Ewoks of the Endor forests to attack an approaching AT-ST, during the epic battle finale to Return of the Jedi - a great deleted scene image (likely improvised/planned during filming) from the photo collection of ILM veteran Stuart Ziff that was recently put on auction. I think it was a great shame that the shot footage of the Commandos was cut down to the bare minimum in the final film. I would have preferred a bit more screen time rewarded to them rather than the Ewoks during the battle, as they bravely brought cover fire to Han and Leia at the back door to the Imperial bunker. It would have been nice to have had a supporting character role for the Commandos squad leader too, liaising with Han and Leia, or for the specialist group to have had their own scene/s in the forest before rendezvousing with Han and Leia for the bunker conflict.

Enjoy this selection of images featuring the Commandos, primarily from the Redwoods location filming circa May, 1983....

Tracey Eddon, Dickey Beer and an unknown actor with the droids on the newly arrived Endor.

Capturing a Speeder Bike Trooper guarding the Imperial Bunker back door.

One of the seasoned warriors wears the captured Imperial disguise so as to buy time for Han, Leia and the others to infiltrate the bunker.

Close-in shot of several commandos used for marketing and merchandising from 1983 onwards.

It's a trap! Han, Leia, Chewbacca and the commandos (including Larry Holt and Dickey Beer) are caught by the Imperial legion.

Our heroes (including Tracey Eddon) briefly captured by the Imperials.

A great posed capture shot (also featuring Tracy Eddon) used for early magazine pictorial promotion.

A terrific posed shot for the battle at the bunker.

Primarily appearing in the UK filming deleted scene.

Cliff Alliston at the location.

Other extras captured in continuity reference polaroid images during location filming.

Costume continuity image.

CLASSIC ART: THE WEEKLY ADVENTURES CONTINUE...

Our heroes assemble for the climactic action/adventure chapter of the Original Trilogy, as the dominant evil of Darth Vader looms large, in this lovely art I hadn't previously seen before that graced one of the later issues of the MARVEL UK's Return of the Jedi weekly comic back in May 1985, before the saga went fully into limbo. If anyone knows the artist/s of the piece, please let me know, though I suspect Tom Palmer's work on the faces of Lando and Chewbacca.

And does anyone out there still have the free Ewok transfers?

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.

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.

CLASSIC McQUARRIE: LUKE VS RANCOR!

Luke Skywalker has effectively fallen into Jabba the Hutt's creepy hands and now finds himself in the sights of the loathsome crime lord's special 'pet', the Rancor, in this great concept art painting by Ralph McQuarrie for Return of the Jedi, which effectively shows the size of the underground vault housing the ferocious and always hungry beast! 

CLASSIC ART: 'RETURN' OF THE HEROES!

It's amazing how much concept commissioned movie poster work for a Star Wars film is commissioned and rejected, and all by such great talents. This is a fun all-action reworking of the original Hildebrandt Star Wars poster of 1975 for Return of the Jedi, with the iconic John Alvin adding Han Solo to the original but more seasoned Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia pairing amidst a Death Star backdrop. And all three atop the gross Jabba the Hutt, no less!

DELETED SCENE: A GATHERING OF VILLAINY!

The time of the Emperor's arrival on the new Death Star has come.

Darth Vader's prior work at motivating the building teams of the Death Star II has yielded effective results. Now the Dark Lord gathers with his top Imperial officers for the newly arrived, fearsome Emperor, who is eager to see the space station and test its supreme firepower. 

A well-known deleted scene from Return of the Jedi cut for time and pacing reasons, and sadly one of only a very few sequences filmed showcasing Dave Prowse as Vader...

Imperial officers await Vader by the elevator entrance to the hangar bay as the Emperor makes his arrival.

Vader and Moff Jerjerrod (Michael Pennington) lead the assembled senior officers to the hangar bay.

A Stormtrooper (Gerry Sherard) keeps watch in the corridor.

GOODBYE, BARRIE HOLLAND...

Barrie Holland, in one of two Imperial roles for Return of the Jedi's filming at Elstree Studios.

Sad news for the end of the year, and the closing celebrations of Return of the Jedi's landmark 30th Anniversary, as the announcement was made today of British background artist legend and cult favourite Barrie Holland's passing, at the age of 85. Holland played the now legendary Jedi Imperial figure Lt. Renz, who captured Han and Leia inside the Imperial Shield Generator bunker on Endor and delivered to them the classic, nay infamous, line that was, "You rebel scum!" Though his voiced line was later dubbed in post production, it was nonetheless a moment that the artiste was thrilled to do and which enjoyed an hilarious on-set response from Harrison Ford in one classic 1982 scene outtake that surfaced onto Blu-ray in 2011. 

Lt. Renz confronts the now captured General Solo and Leia Organa.

Especially a lover of classic films and selected TV, Holland enjoyed his background artist career to the full, and was to appear within a wide variety of classic films made in the UK, including the likes of The Shining, Batman (1989), Chariots of Fire, several James Bond adventures, Superman III and Raiders of the Lost Ark, amongst many other greats. He always enjoyed telling lots of anecdotes to fans about his time in the industry (plus the many luminaries he met along the way) and would certainly be quite the signing attraction of the Official Pix autograph table at the Los Angeles Celebration IV event when making his first surprise convention appearance there in 2007, followed by further success a few months later at London's Celebration Europe, followed by a smaller 2008 German event, Jedi Con, that proved to be enormous fun for fans and guests. Further conventions worldwide would follow for years to come, of which Holland's autograph was always a must-have for fans.

Holland's often-seen portfolio image.

R.I.P., Barrie. If there is indeed a heaven (or Force netherworld), we hope you're having a helluva good time up there chatting with all the classic stars of Hollywood and beyond...

Lieutenant Renz Actor Barrie Holland Dies, Aged 85 - Jedi News

'JEDI' AT 40: A JEDI REDEEMED...

The faith that Luke Skywalker had in his father Anakin, that he could indeed be turned back to the good side of the Force, ultimately pays off, with the late Darth Vader's destroying of the cruel Emperor Palpatine leading to the former Jedi's deserved redemption, alongside Anakin's happy reuniting with his once friend Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda within the netherworld of the Force.

A lovely art pin-up piece for the Marvel adaptation of Return of the Jedi from 1983, by one of the modern comic era's greatest artists', Bill Sienkiewicz.

'JEDI' AT 40: SPEEDY PURSUITS!

The chase is on for Luke and Leia as they commandeer a speeder bike to pursue and stop Imperial Scout Troops from giving away the Rebels secret arrival on Endor, during one of the many highlight action sequences beloved by fans worldwide from Return of the Jedi.

Check out this great from-animatics-to-shooting comparison of the exciting sequence from filmmaker Luke Asa Guidici. 

'JEDI' AT 40: INTRODUCING SY SNOOTLES...

The most popular and acclaimed alien singer on the star circuit, it can only be the memorable big-lipped Sy Snootles, belting out the popular 'Lapti Nek' hit track to the delight of her audience within Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine.

Created by the ILM Creature Shop, Sy Snootles would become a popular monster by the time she reached the Elstree Studios set in early 1982, with extended red lips deliberately inspired by the iconic singer Mick Jagger. It's frame was operated by thin piano wire and rods from under the floor by puppeteers, whilst it's unique lips would sing to the microphone via a thin piece of piano wire that could pull them forward.

Maquette polaroid image by Phil Tippett.

Early under panel tests at ILM by Phil Tippett.

The fully conceived creature operated in more test filming by Tim Rose, presumably at ILM.

Some kind of test/rehearsal material. Close-up shots of Sy singing would also be performed by a puppeteer above set.

'JEDI' AT 40: PARTY TIME WITH MAX REBO AND THE BAND!

Slightly different outtake to the standard publicity released image.

Every night is party night at Jabba the Hutt's palace, and what better way to celebrate his ongoing criminal activities and continuous profit-making than a performance from Max Rebo and his music trio, performing the sensational and irreplaceable number 'Lapti Nek' to the great worm ridden filth of a gangster, alongside a special dancing performance to her master from his number one Twi'lek slave girl, Oola.

Created by the ILM team in California across Summer to Winter 1981, Rebo, horn/saxophone player Droopy McCool and singer Sy Snootles would be shipped to England for filming at Elstree for mid to late January 1982 onwards.

Original Max Rebo maquette.

Maquette with his electronic organ equipment.

The creature costume under construction at ILM.

Getting a paint job from Phil Tippett.

The costume and prop organ now arrived at the UK.

Positioned ion set for filming within Jabba's Palace.

Phil Tippett at Elstree supervises the puppet.

Filming the band on the Throne Room set at Elstree in January/February 1982.

Close-up filming.

With a drunk Bib Fortuna in a deleted scene moment conceived by David Tomblin with a second unit.

Richard Marquand gives on-set instructions.

Droopy McCool (Deep Roy) and Max Rebo (Simon Williamson) on the Throne Room set between takes.

Droopy McCool- a true musical talent!