CLASSIC IMAGE: A 'BELEAGURED' POLTICIAL FORCE FOR GOOD

Though sadly underused in his role as Supreme Chancellor Valorum during the political Coruscant-set events of EPISODE I, the casting of iconic sixties/seventies actor Terence Stamp in the role was nonetheless a welcome one, with the character thankfully going on to appear in The Clone Wars animated series, too. Posed character reference shots, also used for merchandise and publicity, taken at Leavesden Studios Summer 1999, by Keith Hamshere.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS...

As Palpatine 'persuades' Queen Amidala to initiate a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Valorum, due to his seeming lack of power, influence and apathy in their continuing crisis, amidst the packed and angry stadium of senators, the visibly stunned leader, flanked by aides Mas Amedda (Jerome Blake) and Sei Taria (Kamay Lau), returns to his senate podium seat, soon realising (in an ultimately deleted moment) that his old friend Palpatine has betrayed him.

A decisive moment for evil as the political events of EPISODE I play out.

"George (Lucas) was looking for something visually interesting and dynamic for the senate chamber scene, so we pulled the unused idea of the flying platforms from Tatooine, put them on Coruscant, and refined the designs to make them look big, bowl-shaped enclosures."

Doug Chiang - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: UPDATING THE CHANCELLOR

Newly arrived on Coruscant, described as ' a giant city in space' by pilot Ric Olie, the Jedi and the Royal party disembark on a floating landing platform, flanked by arrived Royal Guards in the presence of a concerned Chancellor Valorum and Naboo representative Senator Palpatine. As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan report to Valorum on what happened with their secret dispatch to Naboo, Queen Amidala and her retinue, including an at first unsure where to go Anakin Skywalker, enter a transport that will take them to Palpatine's spacious political office/apartment block.

"The situation has become much more complicated."

Specially requested to appear in EPISODE I by George Lucas, respected British actor Terence Stamp, best known to sci-fi/fantasy fans for playing the malignant General Zod in the early Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve, flew in to Leavesden Studios from Australia for four days work, barely knowing what his small role was about, and, apart from this one scene, of which practically the film's entire cast were assembled (on 2nd July, 1997), did most of his remaining work against blue screen for later senate chamber scenes, a scenario that Stamp ultimately found boring to do, especially as Natalie Portman, whom the actor was impressed with in The Professional, was having a well-deserved day off!

For the scene where the Jedi confer with Valorum, note the sly use by John Williams of several bars of his theme for Stamp's General Zod from the 1977 Superman film!

Stamp on set with Lucas and producer Rick McCallum in the background.

"(Valorum) is the President of the Universe. Lucas said, "Well, he's a good man, but he's beleaguered- a bit like Bill Clinton."

"He (George Lucas) loves movies, and the child in him is unselfconsciously present, but he's very charming-he's just a guy doing what he loves to do and having a ball. I liked him."

Terence Stamp - Empire magazine interview - 1999

CLASSIC IMAGE: A TIME OF POLITICAL CRISIS!

Being all too far, far away from the galactic events taking place with the Naboo blockade initiated by the greedy Trade Federation's Nute Gunray, Coruscant's Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine are keen to meet and discuss the building hostile situation with Queen Amidala's newly arrived fugitive party, in this elegantly framed, scene-setting moment from EPISODE I, and our first proper look at the man who will soon become Emperor.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "ORDER! ORDER!"

Within the massed gathering of an atmosphere charged Senate on Coruscant, a shocked Chancellor Valorum slumps back in his seat after hearing Queen Amidala's declare her "No Confidence" vote against his leadership, in an all too brief appearance in EPISODE I from distinguished actor Terence Stamp.

BEHIND THE SCENES: KNEEL BEFORE STAMP!

On set for only a couple of days (mostly for filming against blue screen), but providing subtle, vital story drama as the STAR WARS saga's first Chancellor of the Republic, Finis Valorum- a good man betrayed and ousted from his position by his "friend" Palpatine, iconic British actor Terence Stamp (perhaps best known to fantasy fans as the evil General Zod in the Christopher Reeve SUPERMAN films) makes a quiet impression in the all-important first Prequel film, and on set with George Lucas.

Backstage at Leavesden with Natalie Portman and Ian McDiarmid.

Check out the AFICIONADO original fiction story leading up to the events of EPISODE I- Prelude to Armageddon- here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRc3g5TENGaXYza0k/edit?usp=sharing

In the Expanded Universe, Valorum was ultimately murdered in a terrorist incident-schemed by Darth Sidious, though he will be making an appearance of some kind in an upcoming completed Season Six episode of THE CLONE WARS.