BEHIND THE SCENES: JENNY AND THE MONSTERS!

Another day of fun and danger in the Mos Eisley Cantina! Image: Kurtz/Joiner Archive. 

Lovely "Local Girl", and occasional smooching partner to Han Solo, Jenny (as played by Jenny Cresswell, also known in sci-fi circles for her background appearances in many numerous episodes of the also shot in the UK series SPACE: 1999), watches goings-on on the Mos Eisley Cantina in this in-between shots image taken in April/May 1976 at Elstree Studios. In front of her is one of the Rodian "Alien" creatures- we presume Greedo, played by Paul Blake. Note that the alien's masked hands have not yet been properly attached to the costume. Next to them are a variety of aliens and humanoids including several suited spacemen (one wearing a stock yellow outfit previously used in 60's and 70's DOCTOR WHO, presumably pulled in from the costume warehouse), and a Mosep creature.

Script Supervisor Ann Skinner's costume continuity notes for Jenny Cresswell's character- "Long hair forward over shoulder. Terra-shirt lapped over from right to left- gaping to show boobs. Tied on her left side. Brown suede knee boots. Brown suede skirt (to knees)."

Bald alien female Leesub (Pam Rose) with a Mosep and several humanoid extras (including a later seen Jabba thug played by Tommy Weldin). Image: Ann Skinner/ BFI.

Unseen continuity Polaroids from Miss Skinner currently held by the BFI's Special Collection include one B/W faded full-length image of Cantina aliens towards right of the bar in the smoky environment: pipe-breathing Dannik in corner relaxing by bar tip, Dr. Evazan nearby with Walrus Man, and Luke Skywalker. Another B/W towards left side of the the bar shows Dannik and the multi-armed alien bug third along in shot. Theres' also one colour Polaroid three-quarter length of Doctor Evazan (without gun) and Kabe (aka Bat creature).

Skinner's handwritten notes refer to Walrus Man as "Walrus", with a "piggy monster" (presumably Dr. Evazan (played by Alfie Curtis)). In a small list of creature notes, she lists for front of the bar: "Gas Mask", "Flash Gordon" (the small person later seen running about in the street, played by Marcus Gilbert), "tall man with wrinkly nose", and "hyad" (spelling incorrect here- hard to decipher from the handwriting). Plus: "Gilda (Cohen) - left of matron" (or Marion?)/ "Jenny (Cresswell) behind Gilda."

Walrus Man (Tommy Ilsley) makes an adjustment to his mask between filming scenes. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

Other vague aliens or humans handwritten described by Miss Skinner are "Pixie", "Goggles" (presumably Tommy Weldin), "2 girls" (presumably the space hookers- Tonnika Twins), "Man in black anorak", "Pipe" and "Mantis" (presumably the massive fly/stick-insect/ Preying Mantis figure seen at the back of the right side of the bar).

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI Special Collection.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: BEHIND THE SCENES: WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME...

The space pilot now named Boshek. Image: STAR WARS ARCHIVES Facebook page.

The identity of an important background extra in the Cantina sequence, the space pilot who recommended Obi-Wan to Chewbacca (as heard in the later SW audio drama), has also finally been revealed, played by UK artist Basil Tomlin: Billy Jensen - Storytelling, Product Building, Crime Solving, Money Making

BEHIND THE SCENES: WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME...

This is one bar where, when you walk into it, nobody is going to shout out, "Norm!"

In charge of the Mos Eisley Cantina, Wuher (Ted Burnett) confers with a host of intergalactic patrons, including, far left, an unknown actor- who'd also be seen in 1976 for the second season episode of SPACE: 1999 - The Metamorph - as the small pig-nosed alien once known in the production notes as "Little Aunt Beru", originally to have been female and played by Gilda Cohen; Angela Staines and Christine Hewett as two "space hookers/aka Star Whores" who would become the more politically correct and child readership friendly Tonnika sisters in the Expanded Universe, and, right at the back with the goggle hat, Tommy Weldin as one of Jabba the Hutt's thugs, Gela Yeens.

In a 1977 interview, Carrie Fisher recalled that many of the unusual looking actors chosen to play aliens for the first movie came from a very distinct London casting agency, called Uglies, Inc. Before filming her first scenes as Leia, Fisher visited the Cantina set briefly, and enjoyed it.

Another great rare polaroid from the recent BFI exhibition collection of STAR WARS' 1976 Continuity Supervisor, Ann Skinner.

(3) BEHIND THE SCENES OF 'STAR WARS' AT THE BFI - DECEMBER 2014

Meet the Humans from the Mos Eisley Cantina | StarWars.com