SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 10: "LUKE'S RESCUE"

It's an oldie but a goodie-first picture released by LUCASFILM in 2000. We really want to see the footage of the safety tethered Lando Calrissian's dramatic rescue of the injured Luke Skywalker, after he collapses onto the Falcon from the under vane of Cloud City. It may have been only partially completed at the time due to Mark Hamill's sprained thumb injury during EMPIRE's long and arduous filming at ELSTREE, but it'd be nice to one day see the blue screen background scene, possibly one day replaced with an exciting new ILM Bespin vista behind it, too, for an upcoming Blu-ray release...

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 7: ANCHORHEAD GRAFFITI!

At Tosche Station, inside the Fixer's garage/work area in the small town of Anchorhead, the man himself (as played by Anthony Forrest), snuggles up for some quality time with his girlfriend Camie (played by almost Princess Leia-to-be, Koo Stark) whilst their friends Deak (Jay Benedict) and Windy (actor unknown-no one seems to know who played him! UK fan Jason Joiner probably knows but no doubt he's keeping the info to himself so as to try and get the person for an autograph signing!) engage in an intriguing and highly competitive electronic game with the newly returned to Tatooine Biggs Darklighter (Garrick Hagon). In a few scant seconds time, "Wormie" aka the young and exuberant Luke Skywalker, will burst into the room with enthusiastic stories of an overhead space battle-which no one will believe- that will be the starting point of an epic journey that will send young Luke into a bigger adventure than he could ever have dreamed possible...

Here's the sequence:YouTube - ‪"Star Wars" (1977) - The Deleted Scene Of Luke's Friends‬‏

For years the stuff of legend, this deleted scene raw footage, cut from the film by Lucas and Alan Ladd, Jr. because it was seemingly too similar to the kind of material explored by Lucas in his previous AMERICAN GRAFFITI, has only been shown twice officially by LUCASFILM, first as part of a special event held by Steve Sansweet at the San Diego COMIC CON in 1997, and second at a STAR WARS actors panel (which included Anthony Forrest) at CELEBRATION IV in 2007. In 1998 it made its way onto the famous STAR WARS: BEHIND THE MAGIC CD-ROM, where fans have since tried to clean it up and put it online in better quality for all to see and enjoy. It seems likely that this footage will be included, hopefully, in an even better, officially cleaned up state for the September Blu-ray release.

NEW BLU-RAY DELETED SCENE CLIP: CHASM CLASH!

Another welcome little deleted scene snippet from the upcoming Blu-rays has turned up online: this time its a slightly different version of the chasm battle from STAR WARS (Episode IV), incorporating the famous, for years debated, was it or wasn't it filmed moment in which Luke throws the grappling hook and misses the first time around.

Here it is:  STAR WARS Blu-Ray New Deleted Scene‬‏ - YouTube

We're sure there will be more hotly debated scenes like this to come on those shiny discs!!

UPDATE 2/8/2011: Turns out it was all just a clever hoax from the YOUTUBE poster. But, I'm sure you'll agree a nicely done one at that!

Also, here's an apparent Russian trailer for the Blu-rays. We don't think it's the real deal, though it's well put together: ‪Star Wars Blu Ray HD [Russian]‬‏ - YouTube

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 5: REBEL INFILTRATION!

General Han Solo and Princess Leia, with Chewbacca and their Rebel Commando squad, continue their uneasy journey into the dark and dangerous corridors of the Imperial energy shield bunker so as to find and neutralise its command and control area for the incoming "surprise" fighter attack on the Death Star II.

This action sequence, which involves the group accidentally running into a Stormtrooper patrol and getting into a firefight, is probably one of the most desired deleted scenes from RETURN OF THE JEDI, after the infamous Tatooine Sandstorm, that I hope will be included on the Blu-rays. So far, those talented people at ORIGINAL TRILOGY.COM have found a foreign Blu-ray/DVD classifications source (FSK - FSK Suchergebnis) confirming that the deleted/extended scenes for both trilogies will have a running time of up to 45 minutes each, so it looks like we'll get a worthy selection of material to enjoy...

Here's an early look at the box sets from a LUCASFILM STAR WARS MEDIA DAY press event last week: A Destiny Revealed: Star Wars Media Day Brings Blu-ray and More to New York City: BigPictureBigSound

CLASSIC IMAGE: GOLDEN "GOD"!

Celebrating the arrival of their Golden "deity" to the forest of Endor, the Ewoks carve out a wooden throne in his honour and take him to their tree top homestead. The others in Threepio's party aren't so lucky, tied to stakes and carried in a most undignified way by their captors. The majority of this scene, filmed at the Californian Redwoods in April/May 1982, in which the Ewok party traverse a large log/bridge, didn't actually make the final film. It looks as if this scene may be linked to the one and only sequence that famous Stuntman Vic Armstrong actually worked on for JEDI, as he confirmed to AFICIONADO contributor Ian Trussler last month at the launch of his new book on his incredible career in the stunt industry:

"I asked him to say exactly what he did on JEDI and he said he only did the long shot of the heroes being carried on the poles by the Ewoks, he doubled for Harrison/Han as Harrison had a bad back that day.

I then double checked and said, "that was it, you didn't do the Yuma shoot on the skiff?", to which he replied, "Sadly no, I did not do that."

So there you have it. Decades of speculation ended direct from the horses mouth."

For even more detailed info on the making of JEDI, check out our informative and exhaustive special issue, here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO ISSUE 14 - THE MAKING OF "RETURN OF THE JEDI"

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 3: THE SANDSTORM

This has to be the most famous and most desired deleted sequence shot for RETURN OF THE JEDI that fans worldwide want to see-in fact, this scene was the first sequence captured on film for the movie in January 1982 and one of the most difficult to realise at ELSTREE studio, as the STAR WARS actors, braving unfriendly conditions, were re-united for the first time in three years for their final Classic Trilogy movie.

For my thoughts on the famous sequence, head over to the main site: REQUIEM FOR A SANDSTORM

And don't forget, the exhaustive AFICIONADO back issue devoted to the making of the film is still available on PDF here: BACK ISSUE PDF CATALOG

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 2: ANAKIN'S JEALOUSY

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's subtle but deadly turning of Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force was originally even more multi-layered than what was eventually seen in REVENGE OF THE SITH. Darth Sidious's use of jealousy, like Iago's deliberate and vicious fracturing of Othello and Desdemona's tragic love in William Shakespeare's classic play, was expected to be one of the main dramatic elements to have been seen in EPISODE III. Indeed, a similar sub plot was filmed in which Anakin, meeting Palpatine on the landing pad outside the senate building, is told by his respected father figure leader that Obi-Wan's decisions are being influenced by a "female senator" (whom an anxious Anakin realises is Padme Amidala). An earlier scripted element of jealousy by Anakin was cut from a prior scene in the film just before Padme tells him that she is pregnant. Sadly, though this Palpatine/Anakin scene can be found in script form in J.W. Rinzler's ART OF EPISODE III book, the actual shot scene, which also featured a brief "Hello" cameo from Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, never made it to the finished movie, though I'm sure we'd all like it to appear on the Blu-ray!

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY: FIGHTER PILOT TALK

It'd be great if we could finally see on Blu-ray the complete version of the pre-Death Star battle talk between Luke, Biggs and Red Leader (as played by Drewe Henley), where the latter mentions having previously flown with Luke's father- a line of dialogue omitted by a sneaky Rebel trooper walk past edit in THE SPECIAL EDITION of STAR WARS in 1997 (but available to read in its entirety in the MARVEL comic of 1977) presumably so as not to contradict anything that might have been coming up concerning Anakin Skywalker in the then to be filmed Prequels. As we now know, the line didn't clash at all- Red Leader, who's in his early forties at least, could have been a young pilot fighting in the Clone Wars near the end of the conflict somewhere in the galaxy, so I say it should be re-instated in full!

Let's also hope that, with the newly revised (?) version of the original film they can at least bother to get Drewe Henley and Denis Lawson's names spelt correctly this time on the end credits-a mistake that has endured on the film since 1977!

CLASSIC IMAGE: FALCON DUDES!

Here's a scene from STAR WARS that I want to see included on the upcoming Blu-ray release no matter what-I don't care if it turns out good or badly realised, I just want to see it. It's the moment after the TIE fighter battle where Han and Luke congratulate themselves on their laser gun targeting skills. There's a real "Whoa, look what we did!" expression on Luke's face. Classic.

CLASSIC IMAGE: JAR JAR'S BIG ADVENTURE!

In one of the first live action scenes shot for THE PHANTOM MENACE at the UK's LEAVESDEN STUDIOS, Ahmed Best settles into his role as Gungan representative Jar Jar Binks in a corridor waiting area within Senator Palpatine's office on Coruscant. A brief sequence where Anakin (Jake Lloyd) and Jar Jar try to eavesdrop on Queen Amidala's first conversation with Palpatine about the invasion of Naboo was filmed but cut for time reasons from the finished film.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SITH SWORDSMANSHIP!

An interesting EPISODE II image used online for a devoted STAR WARS fans desktop wallpaper, showing Christopher Lee as the evil Count Dooku flexing two lightsabers for part of a filmed but ultimately deleted duel sequence between the Sith Lord and Yoda in the Geonosian Hangar. Let's hope that one day the entire action sequence will appear on Blu-ray.

Outside of playing Count Dooku, our best wishes go out to Christopher Lee on his accepting his BAFTA fellowship award for his life and career in movies this weekend in London. It's well deserved and great to see him properly acknowledged.

CLASSIC IMAGE: HERO IN A HALF SHELL!

On a green screen FOX stage in Australia, resident STAR WARS icon Anthony Daniels takes a breather between filming his next EPISODE III scene-where Threepio, Captain Typho and Padme arrive by shuttle at the landing platform housing the latter's Naboo diplomatic craft.

The sequence, which leads into the as seen in the movie moment where Obi-Wan stows away on the vessel as it makes its journey to Mustafar, was ultimately cut from the film.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "FIRE AT WILL, COMMANDER"

Under orders from The Emperor, Moff Jerjerrod (Michael Pennington) prepares to use the Death Star II battle stations primary weapon against the trapped Rebel fleet in this rare RETURN OF THE JEDI image, previously supplied to KENNER TOYS in 1982/3 in scratched reference form so that it couldn't be copied.

For more on Moff Jerjerrod's lost scenes in JEDI, head over to our previous article here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/raceagainsttime.html

And don't forget, our comprehensive MAKING OF RETURN OF THE JEDI special issue is available in PDF form here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/backissuepdfcatalog.html

"THE CLONE WARS": THE WELCOME RETURN OF QUI-GON JINN!

Qui-Gon returns to THE CLONE WARS in January/February 2011!

The most unexpected, and also quite wonderful!, news has come in that actor Liam Neeson has returned to voice the noble Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in spectral form for two upcoming episodes of THE CLONE WARS, in a tale linked to the destinies of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY broke the exclusive scoop.
Check out the link here: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/20/liam-neeson-star-wars-clone-wars-exclusive/

Presuming the voice over work was done a year ago, we're wondering if the upcoming EPISODE III Blu-ray release might just possibly finally have a re-constituted scene involving the voice of Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn talking to Yoda, as was originally planned and scripted by Lucas but dropped in the 2005 post production phase? Let's hope so, as Neeson's non appearance at the end of the film was, I feel, a much missed opportunity which could have added even more completeness to the two trilogies.

Thank you for coming back to the Saga, Mister Neeson!

CLASSIC IMAGE: WIOSLEA THE SPEEDER DEALER!

Would you buy a used Landspeeder from this alien?

A close-up shot of the barely seen Landspeeder dealer Wioslea, working within the Mos Eisley spaceport, whom Luke sells his speeder to for much needed currency. In the STAR WARS Expanded Universe, the alien is a she from a race called the Vuvrian. Though at least one close image was photographed showing Luke and Obi-Wan with the creature (below), it's unknown so far (though I might be proved wrong by the upcoming Blu-ray cut scenes!) as to whether any extra footage was filmed with it, played by UK extra Barry Copping, bar the long shot moment ultimately seen in the film. Obviously, dialogue for the bartering scene would eventually be created by the late Brian Daley's for his acclaimed NPR dramatisation of the film.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the main image.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "EMPIRE"s UNSEEN SEEKER DRONES

An intriguing design of one of the seeker drone balls (similar to the one from STAR WARS) used by Yoda in training Luke Skywalker on Dagobah during THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Sadly, these scenes, in which the Jedi Master would use them against his Padawan in unsuspecting moments, were cut from the script shortly before filming on the ELSTREE Dagobah sets, so as to keep the scenes on the planet tight story-wise, and to further help reduce the already escalating production budget. As far as we're aware, neither of the two seeker drones were ever constructed.

STAR WARS: BEHIND THE SCENES FILMING NOTES FROM "THE ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA SHOW" 27th/28th NOVEMBER 2010

Compiled by Ian Trussler and Scott Weller

It’s that time of the year again, and here’s some more rare STAR WARS behind the scenes info gathered from the event (previously known as COLLECTORMANIA) for you to enjoy:

Vivienne Chandler (X-wing fighter pilot (pictured above): EPISODE VI): Spent 3 days working on ROTJ. She only filmed scenes in the cockpit set, which she thought looked a bit cardboard, against bluescreen, and had at least a page and a bit of scripted dialogue. All the days she filmed she was with just one other actor, a male pilot, whom sadly she cannot remember the name of. She doesn't recall any other women filming as Rebel pilots. She enjoyed her time on the film and also stated that she attended a screening of the movie that did contain her scenes and was philosophical about their subsequent deletion. This was her first ever convention/signing and she found it fascinating and awesome.

Trevor Butterfield (Bossk, other roles – EPISODE VI): He spent 38 days working on ROTJ, much of which was spent as Bossk within Jabba’s Palace and within the Sail Barge interior sets. He was wearing the same Bossk costume as Alan Harris had previously worn on EMPIRE, he was lucky that it fit him. The well known photo of Boba Fett and Bossk from Jabba’s palace was not a posed publicity shot but was an actual scene he recalls filming. He also believes that in that photo/scene it may well be Alan Harris wearing the Boba Fett costume as he remembers Harris did some stuff as Fett on JEDI. Sadly, most of his Bossk footage was cut from the movie. Also on JEDI he played an Endor Rebel soldier in the Falcon cockpit scenes with Lando and Nien Numb, another Rebel during the Ewok Celebration and was also a Klaatu guard who escorts Luke from the Rancor pit. He previously had worked on EMPIRE for 3 weeks playing Stormtroopers and Imperials.

Matt Doran (Elan Sleazebaggano- EPISODE II): The very pleasant Matt recalled that he worked on AOTC for only one day. He got the job as he was originally in the casting process for various voice-over work on the film (though he was not involved in any of the auditions for Anakin Skywalker (later played by Hayden Christensen)), but then ended up being involved in the live action where he and several other selectees were slotted into certain parts of the film. Matt was lucky enough to have one of the classic scenes early on in the movie, and recalled enjoying working with Ewan McGregor.

Paul Weston (various stunt aliens – ROTJ): A long experienced stuntman and co-ordinator with credits as far ranging as TV's SPACE: 1999 and the JAMES BOND films, Weston worked on JEDI for about 4 weeks, filming only in Yuma location. He was contracted via Peter Diamond to shoot the whole movie in ELSTREE and Crescent City locations but broke his leg in Yuma doing the stunt where Lando and the Nikto guard fight and fall off the skiff. Prior to the accident, he played a variety of Jabba's alien henchmen for the Sail Barge scenes. The actual stunt he broke his leg on was performed with Billy Dee Williams stunt double. After the accident LUCASFILM honoured his contract despite his inability to work and he enjoyed a holiday in the Beverley Hills hotel after leaving Yuma.

John Coppinger (various aliens in EPISODE I, part of the Jabba the Hutt operating team for EPISODE VI): For EPISODE I he was working as part of Nick Dudman’s creature workshop re-creating aliens for the Mos Espa scenes. He was approached to play the part of the Wookiee Senator in the Senate scenes because he was the tallest of the crew. For the scene he wore a vintage archive Chewbacca suit that was modified with white hair and had a rebuilt face mask as it was in a fairly poor state of repair. He spent a day on the blue screen senate pod set being filmed by second unit, so George Lucas was not present. He was filmed in three separate segments so the composite shot could be created, so he actually appears as all 3 Wookiees in that scene. For JEDI he was hired by Stuart Freeborn who he knew from working on the SUPERMAN movies. Freeborn particularly liked the fact that John had previously worked at the Natural History Museum, recreating dinosaur skeletons. He was principally the clay sculptor for the Jabba puppet and went on to operate the remote control eyes as part of the team who bought Jabba to life.

Ahmed Best signs for the fans. Image: Ian Trussler.

Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks – EPISODEs I – III, THE CLONE WARS): The actor revealed that he will be in more Season Three CLONE WARS episodes upcoming, and has recently finished recording duties for Season Four, too. It was fans negative reaction towards the previous voice over work from another actor portraying Jar Jar (who didn’t want to do any more episodes for the character after his original commission expired anyway) that saw LUCASFILM cave in to pressure and bring Ahmed back – they realized that the character didn’t work without his unique voice skills. When making EPISODE I back in 1997, Ahmed had no idea how much a distinguished and popular actor Brian Blessed, playing Boss Nass, was, continually referring to him as “the Bird Guy” from the FLASH GORDON film that he had always enjoyed as a kid! He confirmed that there were other Jar Jar related scenes from EPISODE II that had been filmed but cut, but only one extra scene with him was filmed but deleted from EPISODE III, where he says “hello” to Anakin and Palpatine at the Senate Building as they are conferring about lies concerning Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padme.

Gary Kurtz (Producer - STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK): Gary revealed that he has not been involved at all on anything to do with the upcoming STAR WARS films on Blu-ray, though on the extras front, as far as he is aware, apart from the deleted scenes, the additional material will pretty much be all the documentaries and supplemental features found on previous releases in other formats.

WAMPA: SAVAGE BEASTS OF HOTH!

Our penultimate feature celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of EMPIRE can now be found on the main site, this time linked to the filming of the Wampa ice creature sequences.

Check out the rare photo feature here:

http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/the_wampa_beasts_of_hoth.html

And don't forget, for all other things behind the scenes related to the film, our two EMPIRE special issues (from 2005 and our current BEHIND THE SCENES COMPANION) are still available as PDFs from the main site's BACK ISSUES area.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the above image.

CLASSIC SCENE: ENCOUNTER WITH A JEDI!

"You will take me to Jabba now." Luke trades Force-ful words with Bib Fortuna.

Newly arrived at Jabba's Palace, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) confers with the Hutt's Major Domo, Bib Fortuna (Michael Carter), who tries to prevent him from an audience with his master. This scene, for reasons unknown, was ultimately re-filmed a short time after, on the steps leading to the creature's Throne Room instead.

This image, which was originally provided to KENNER TOYS for reference in 1982 (note the scratches made by LUCASFILM to prevent copying), was sold online recently at an auction by the website ENTERTAINMENT EARTH.

CLASSIC IMAGE: GENEVIEVE O'REILLY AS REBEL LEADER MON MOTHMA

Legendary Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma makes her first appearance in EPISODE III.

In 2003, fans were overjoyed at George Lucas's plans to integrate more classic elements from the original STAR WARS Trilogy into the final part of the STAR WARS Prequel Trilogy, further bringing in the bridge from one side of the Saga's history to the other. As well as Vader at the films finale, we were to have Chewbacca and the Wookiees, spaceship cameos from what would be one of the Rebel Blockade Runners and the Millennium Falcon. But one of the most important links in III would be the birth of the Rebel Alliance to fight the Empire, shepherded into existence by a core group of players including Bail Organa, Padme Amidala and new (later to be RETURN OF THE JEDI figurehead) Mon Mothma. Originally played in 1982 for JEDI by distinguished British actress Caroline Blakiston, this time around the younger incarnation of Mothma would be portrayed by the lovely actress Genevieve O'Reilly. I met a Miss O'Reilly a while back at a UK collectors show at Cheshunt, and she recalled how, despite the scenes being cut from the film (though later released on DVD), she greatly enjoyed working on EPISODE III, loved hers and the others costumes and seeing the aliens, and liked George Lucas. She also remembered how one scene involving the DELEGATION OF 2000 had to be shot without Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa (Smits had not yet arrived in Australia for the filming), so a double was used saying his dialogue and in costume (with the actor re-filming the scene individually and later superimposed over the long shot).

Mon Mothma, as played by the lovely Genevieve O'Reilly

Having already made a small appearance in both THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (as a Xion technician) prior to STAR WARS, Irish born, Australia raised O'Reilly would come to the UK and US and work in a variety of successful film and TV projects (including playing the late Princess Diana in DIANA: LAST DAYS OF A PRINCESS, a regular role as American Operative Sarah Caulfield in the hit BBC spy series SPOOKS (known in the US as MI5) and in the enjoyable political thriller THE STATE WITHIN (with HARRY POTTER's Jason Isaacs). Other film work would include the recent period drama THE YOUNG VICTORIA. She's also had a very good career on the London stage, working with Kevin Spacey at the Old Vic and more recently opposite young star in the making Ben Barnes (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA) in the hit play BIRDSONG (based on the acclaimed book by Sebastian Faulks), at the London COMEDY THEATRE until January 15th 2011). Below is a nice image of the pair linked to the start of the plays run, in a photo shoot taken for the London EVENING STANDARD magazine in 2010 by Nicky Emerson.

 

STAR WARS AFICIONADO wishes Genevieve continued success in all areas of her acting career.