CLASSIC IMAGE: DESTROYING THE SENTRY SHIPS!

 

The TIE fighter sentry attack on the Death Star-escaped Millennium Falcon intensifies as the smuggling vessel takes multiple blast hits. Thankfully, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo soon get into their stride within their gun turret pods and demolish the four fighters with ingenuity and spirit.

Richard Chew talks to the Hollywood Reporter (March 4th, 2022) on his editing work for the original Star Wars: 

"It was a walk in the dark, really. When you think of it, it was fabricated in the pre-digital age. Our editing team was up in San Rafael, which is where the initial Lucasfilm headquarters and Industrial Light & Magic were based in a warehouse. [Fellow editors] Marcia Lucas and Paul Hirsch and myself were working on different sections of the film. George [Lucas] assigned to me the sequence where Han and Luke and Princess Leia, along with Chewy, jump onto the Millennium Falcon and try to escape, and they have to shoot the TIE fighters. Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford were in separate shots against a greenscreen. Princess Leia and Chewbacca are looking out the cockpit windows, and that’s also greenscreen. They’re reacting to directions from George from offscreen on which way to turn and which way to look up. When George asked me to put it together, I had to follow the cues of the direction. It was a pretty crazy exercise for me, having come off straight dramatic films."

"It was my third “movie movie” — it was a job, it wasn’t trying to create something iconic. I remember after one screening, we were looking at a couple of reels that included the robots. I’m a much more literal guy than George, and George has this fantastic mind. After the screening, I remember making some crack to George, like, “Well, you know, if it doesn’t work out, you could also market some toys based on what these guys look like.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/richard-chew-ace-eddies-lifetime-achievement-1235097465/

CLASSIC ART: IN PURSUIT OF THE FALCON!

That cranky but reliable Millennium Falcon never seems to get a break from being pursued by swarms of deadly TIE fighters, as seen in this lovely merchandising art of a few years back promoting the iconic vehicles seen in the Original Trilogy, and especially those seen in The Empire Strikes Back.

If anyone knows the artist/s of this gorgeous art series, please get in touch.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: DARTH VADER's DEATH FLIGHT!

In his advanced prototype TIE fighter and with loyal wingmen nearly an equal to his considerable piloting skills, the Lord Darth Vader has successfully destroyed two prior bombing flights of Rebel fighters that had penetrated a potential weak spot in the Death Star's defences. But with this final flight trio of X-wing fighters to whom he's now pursuant, Vader senses something unusual about the lead Rebel pilot and his latent skills in the Force. The Dark Lord's near successful attempts to shoot down Luke Skywalker soon come to no avail, however, thanks to the last minute arrival of a certain Corellian smuggling vessel...

Originally, it was planned that Darth Vader would be housed within a standard TIE fighter during the fast paced trench run chase/battles, but Lucas decides in post production that his craft should ultimately stand out to viewing audiences in the sequence alongside his wingmen, with money being made in the ILM model budget to see-in the necessary change requirements.

Various storyboards.

Revised storyboard to incorporate Vader's new TIE design.

Side angle design by Joe Johnston.

Middle section final construction.

Gorgeous final detailing.

Two storyboard art pieces by Joe Johnston.

One of Vader's wingmen is suddenly taken out by the arriving Han Solo.

Early prototype for revised Vader TIE design.

Steve Gawley working on the model in varying stages.

In the model shop...

Ready for filming.

Various angles of the finished model.

Joe Johnston checks one of the model's fin's prior to filming.

Lorne Peterson and Grant McCune during filming on the ILM blue screen stage.

Classic BTS image of Dennis Muren with the models.

Filming the trio's departure from the Death Star hangar.

More filming images.

David Jones making some attachment checks to the model.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: THE TIE FIGHTERS ATTACK!

Terrific model reference image of the TIE fighter. Note the intriguing red marking to the left top cockpit side.

The fast-moving and agile TIE fighters have launched from the Death Star and are soon swooping down to attack and annihilate as many Rebel ships as they can. Despite early victories, the better trained and more daring Rebel X-wing starfighter pilots of Red squadron ultimately prove victorious against the TIEs, whilst their fellow Y-wing bombers continue on in their mission to the space station's main reactor trench.

The TIE squadron attacks the X-wings.

A TIE quickly destroys Red Four (John 'D').

Another attacks Red Three (Biggs) but is destroyed by Red Five (Luke Skywalker).

Another TIE bears to down to attack Red Five...

... and continues its dogged pursuit until ultimately surprise-destroyed by Red Two (Wedge Antilles).

Originally created in prototype form by Colin Cantwell from the most basic of visual motifs provided by George Lucas, artistic geniuses Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston, like they would also do with the Rebels' X-wing fighter and other specific models, would refine the enemy ship design into the iconic classic it is today...

The TIE fighter model filming would be accomplished by ILM over January and February 1977, whilst the distinctive sound cry of the vehicle created in post production would be the combining of an elephant call with a car driving on a wet pavement- another unique entry for the film from legendary sound designer Ben Burtt.

Colin Cantwell's prototype model for the TIE.

Early sketch for Colin Cantwell TIE fighter concept.

TIE fighter completed blueprints for revised design by Joe Johnston.

Creating the TIE wings.

Lorne Peterson with in-development TIEs in the model shop at ILM.

Several models awaiting additional paint scheme work.

Paul Huston at work on the wing structure support for a model.

A completed model in the ILM model shop.

Steve Gawley and colleague inspect a finished model at ILM.

Byron Weaver with a completed TIE fighter.

Two final model reference images.

Cockpit close-up!

Test filming for the craft's final colour scheme in blue screen filming.

Unknown ILM crew member with a model for blue screen filming.

Classic image of John Dyskstra with model on the ILM blue screen stage.

Close-in movement filming.

Image by Mark West/Strange Tales.

Unused TIE detonation scene.

Miniature TIE on rod.

Presumably an early optical composition test shot.