CLASSIC IMAGE: A VISIT TO THE EMPEROR!

The final movie of the Classic Trilogy boasted many superb original sets created by UK production designer Norman Reynolds, but the atmospheric and dripping with technologically evil Throne Room on the Death Star II was one of the finest, so vast in scope. Built on two levels, with an additional third underlayer that would lead into the space station's core, the setting proved perfect for the later intense lightsaber duelling between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. 

Seen in this full-length shot is the elevator centre, of which Vader, in an earlier scene, makes an unexpected visit to see The Emperor regarding an important family matter. The shadowy galactic leader is protected by two impressive and highly trained crimson-robed royal guards (one played by Quentin Pierre, who previously appeared as a Bespin Guard in The Empire Strikes Back).

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DEADLY LIGHTSABER DANCE!

 

Luke has tried to resist The Emperor's goading, but no longer, soon having retrieved his lightsaber blade yet blocked from destroying the monster by Darth Vader, to whom the young Jedi is now locked in mortal combat. A great image from an unseen part of their Throne Room duel in Return of the Jedi. Once again, Bob Anderson dons the special stunt Vader costume which allows for more practical movement and helmet visibility.

EPISODE IX: PAST IS FUTURE...

In the wreckage of the Emperor's throne room, within an equally wrecked Death Star, Rey once more confronts the Dark Side influenced Kylo Ren, for what will surely be another pivotal moment from The Rise of Skywalker.

J.J. Abrams confers with Adam Driver during filming.

J.J. Abrams talks about the new movie:
https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/star-wars-jj-abrams-secrets-of-skywalker-912362/

https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/25/rise-of-skywalker-running-time/

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-script-leak-jj-abrams-ebay-1203415430/

BEHIND THE SCENES: LUKE WHO?

Donning a blonde wig, the Classic Trilogy's resident stunt man and Luke Skywalker lightsaber duelling double Colin Skeaping films some critical moments for Return of the Jedi that Mark Hamill is not allowed to do, mostly for insurance reasons, as the sparring conflict between Luke and Vader (played once more by British fencing champion legend Bob Anderson), is renewed, during filming on the Throne Room that on and off continues from March until early April 1982.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ACCORDING TO HIS DESIGN...

"I had complete freedom to create the character. I found the voice, which was a deepening of my own, and this slightly humorous interpretation. What was most interesting was to try and get a hold of the satanic side in a broad, simple way. I thought: "My task is to go one step beyond Vader, and see how black and uncompromising I can be'."

               Ian McDiarmid - STARLOG magazine interview (1984)


STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends its best regards out to Ian McDiarmid on his Birthday today!

CLASSIC IMAGE: DARK SIDE SKYWALKERS!

Deliberately lured by Darth Vader into channeling the full power of the Dark Side, Luke Skywalker completes his brutal lightsaber retaliation attack on his father, literally bringing the servant of the Emperor to his defeated knees, in an iconic image from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

For more on the "other" EPISODE VI, don't forget to check out our archive site: STAR WARS AFICIONADO ARCHIVE - 'REVENGE OF THE JEDI'

DELETED SCENE: THE DUEL BEGINS...

Having successfully blocked Luke Skywalker's fast reflex attack on his "Master", The Emperor, Darth Vader and the young Jedi back away from the seated evil to begin their intense final lightsaber duel, in an angle and moment lost from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

The Emperor watches as Luke and Vader manoeuvre to fight in this unused footage.

Father and son lock lightsabers.

An overhead greebly catches fire from the duel.

This classic battle between good and evil is superbly recreated at MADAME TUSSAUDS STAR WARS EXPERIENCE. If you haven't gone yet, get tickets here: Madame Tussauds London - Star Wars

BEHIND THE SCENES: IN WITNESS TO THE FALLEN!

Mark Hamill and Bob Anderson get ready to film a vital scene on the massive set of the Emperor's Throne Room, at Elstree Studios in March 1982. Considering how RETURN OF THE JEDI had such a need for trilogy-ending plot secrecy, it's surprising to see so many crew on set watching Luke ultimately defeating Darth Vader! Supervised by director Richard Marquand, getting the camera ready is seasoned British cinematographer Alec Mills, a veteran of blockbuster movies, with a number of Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton era James Bond films to his past and future credit.

Out now from THE HISTORY PRESS, Mills has a brand new autobiography- SHOOTING 007 AND OTHER CELLULOID ADVENTURES - detailing his incredible and diverse time in the film industry, covering a vast range of behind the scenes experiences and memories on worldwide film sets and in exciting locations, with Bond and ROTJ getting some noteworthy attention.

Purchase SHOOTING 007 here: Shooting 007 | 9780750953634

And look out for our book review in the not too distant future...

CLASSIC IMAGE: JEDI PATRICIDE!

The tragic lightsaber duel battle between father and son escalates within the spacious and evil environs of the Emperor's Throne Room, for this dramatic and exciting scene from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC DESIGN WEEK. PIC FOUR - THE EMPEROR'S THRONE ROOM

Out in the UK this week is the long-awaited, new nice price edition of the lavish and informative STAR WARS: BLUEPRINTS hardcover book by J.W. Rinzler, available from TITAN BOOKS.
In celebration of the must-have title, we're having a week-long tribute to some of the six film's classic production designs.

If you're going to be the "Emperor of the Universe", you need a pad that reflects your considerable status, and Production Designer Norman Reynolds detailed, expansive Throne Room set, built for the finale of the Classic Trilogy-RETURN OF THE JEDI (here inspected by director Richard Marquand and George Lucas in Feb/March 1982), more than exemplifies the dark and twisted mind of its sole occupant, the insane genius Palpatine- a two-level gothic labyrinth arena of industrial technology showing the full power and clarity of the Empire he has created, and its nightmare dark alcoves and shadows-where worlds of tragic past and present collide. There is no better place to lure young and innocent Jedi hero Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force than here.

Home to several key, highly-charged dramatic moments, and two lightsaber duels between father and son Skywalkers, including the rousingly epic moment when an anger-fuelled Luke eventually slays Darth Vader, this superb set, with its deliberate continuity/tribute echoes of John Barry's original Death Star designs from STAR WARS, ends the Original Saga on a layered and sad, yet exciting note.

Get hold of STAR WARS: BLUEPRINTS here: Star Wars - The Blueprints: Amazon.co.uk: J.W Rinzler: Books

BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGE: STUNTMAN LUKE!

In real life, there's no way that Mark Hamill, as Luke Skywalker, is going to be seen having a fiery inferno of detonated explosions and sparks launched all around him, or be sent crashing down a collapsed bridge gantry. So, here's stuntman Colin Skeaping, his film double throughout all three classic trilogy adventures, naturally doing it for him instead, in this great freeze frame still grab that someone managed to capture at just the right time and place from RETURN OF THE JEDI's end duel between Luke and Vader in the Emperor's Throne Room.

Great image, though the wig could have been a lot better!