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These Behind-The-Scenes Photos Will Make You Rethink The Star Wars Movies

Darren August 19, 2022

The Very Beginning

Mark Hamill said that he found the prospect of working with Alec Guinness very intimidating. The latter was an established legend while Hamill was at the beginning of his career. However, he said that the veteran British star was always a gentleman and had great patience for his colleagues.

It must have helped that Hamill is one of the most likable people on the planet. He always has a smile on his face and wanted to create a positive atmosphere on the set. The young star had a good relationship with Guinness and this shone through the movie (via CNet).

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Brief Break

The Empire Strikes Back presented some of the most emotional scenes in the original Star Wars trilogy. Here we see Ford, Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams on the Bespin set. This is where Lando Calrissian betrayed his friend because of the threat of Darth Vader.

It’s also where Leia and Han declare their love together for the first time. In this photo, Williams is drinking a cup of Joe between takes while Ford and Fisher goof around. The atmosphere appears to be positive with the director, Irvin Kershner, behind the camera (via Esquire).

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Frozen Face

Harrison Ford didn’t have to deal with the same wardrobe woes as Carrie Fisher. However, some fans thought there was an exception in Episode V when Darth Vader froze him in carbonite. Many people didn’t realize that Alan Harris was the man underneath all of the paste.

Here we can see the costume team caking paste onto Harris’s face. Harris also played the bounty hunter Bossk in the series. This makeup work took a lot of time but it was very effective. It also added emotional depth to one of the most devastating moments in the entire franchise (via Slash Film).

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Why So Serious?

This behind-the-scenes photograph shows the three main cast members in their regular civilian clothes. Ford wears a stylish suit while Hamill’s shirt choice is questionable. Meanwhile, it’s not the most flattering picture of Fisher because it caught her at a strange moment.

A pair of extras dressed in Stormtrooper gear stand guard behind the trio. This may have been a promotional event because their clothing is quite formal. However, Fisher isn’t wearing a dress so it’s not a premiere. Nonetheless, it’s another moment of Star Wars history that fans can remember forever (via NBC).

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The Evil Emperor

Here is a close-up photograph of Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Palpatine. Fans barely see his face in the original Star Wars trilogy because he always wears a cowl. Nonetheless, a lot of work went into his makeup as we can see from the picture below.

The Revenge of the Sith (2005) revealed how he suffered facial disfiguration. However, fans had no idea when they watched the original trilogy. One of the joys of this was that so much was unknown and this allowed viewers to create their own stories (via TCM).

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Star Destroyer

Imperial Star Destroyers are the most terrifying ships in the Star Wars universe because they are a symbol of evil. This behind-the-scenes photo shows the crew working with a model spacecraft as they used practical effects. However, they also have a bluescreen behind them so that they could add the landscape later.

This was incredibly advanced technology at the time and holds up well today. The original Star Wars trilogy aged well because it didn’t over-rely on computers and CGI. They won many awards because of their use of cutting-edge resources and special effects (via Studio Binder).

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Wookie Love

Star Wars would have been a different franchise if Princess Leia had fallen in love with Chewbacca instead of Han Solo. Here is a classic photo of Carrie Fisher pretending to kiss her co-star Peter Mayhew. The pair wear their costumes in one of the most confusing images ever.

It’s a funny moment but it also shows the bond that existed between Fisher and her gentle giant friend, Mayhew. Many fans forget about the latter because he always wore his Chewie outfit but he played a crucial role. He also provided Fisher with an important platonic friendship (via Digital Spy).

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On Location

These scenes show the Star Wars cast and crew on location in Tunisia. They filmed many of the Tatooine scenes in the North African country because of the unique landscape and architecture. It’s a fantastic setting and one that many fans visit today (via Far Out Magazine).

However, it wasn’t the easiest place to bring props and equipment because of the conditions. Spare a thought for Anthony Daniels beneath that C-3PO outfit because of the desert heat. Matt Hamill and Alec Guinness didn’t have it as bad but it was still tough.

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Cool Down

Sir. Alec Guinness suffered in the tough Tunisian conditions because of the heat and sandstorms. Here he attempts to protect himself from the elements with a traditional headdress. However, he was no stranger to this because he worked in Jordan and Syria on Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Here he is deep in discussion with George Lucas about the film. Guinness didn’t think much of the Star Wars universe and didn’t want to return to the franchise. But he felt that he owed a debt to Lucas and that’s why he came back for Episodes V and VI (via Far Out).

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Millenium Falcon

Han Solo claimed that the Falcon was the fastest ship in the Galaxy and completed the Kessel Run in fewer than 12 parsecs. It remains one of the most iconic spacecraft from any sci-fi movie and appeared in many other Star Wars mediums (via CNet).

This behind-the-scenes photograph shows a special-effects expert manipulating a giant model of the Falcon. This was extraordinarily difficult but it worked brilliantly in the movie. This starship has a special place in the hearts of every Star Wars fan.

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The Dark Side

Darth Vader was the main villain in the original Star Wars movie but another man stole several scenes. We’re talking about Peter Cushing’s representation of Grand Moff Tarkin. He was almost scarier than Vader because he was visibly human but acted in a reprehensible manner.

Like Alec Guinness, Cushing elevated the movie franchise. He developed a background in horror movies and delivered his lines with aplomb. Cushing’s drawn cheekbones and menacing voice made him the perfect accomplice to Vader’s brooding presence (via Times).

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Lord Bodybuilder

Many people don’t realize that the man beneath Darth Vader’s costume was a bodybuilder. He became a weightlifting champion in his native UK before moving into the film industry. Then George Lucas spotted him and offered him a choice between playing Chewbacca or the evil Sith Lord.

This photo proves how big Prowse was as he towers over the other man in the photo. Prowse came from a working-class background and never took his fame for granted. He also starred in A Clockwork Orange before he made his Star Wars franchise debut (via Sky News).

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Battle Scene

Lightsaber fights are some of the most iconic moments in the Star Wars franchise. Every movie has at least one that fans remember and recreated. The sound and distinctive bright colors of the laser swords made them a popular gift choice for children around the world.

This photo reveals a clash between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. The real lightsaber battle wasn’t as dramatic as the movies because they used rods. Then the special effects team manipulated the swords and made them appear to be shining lasers. Now they’re a legendary weapon (via Game Rant).

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High Drama

The end of Return of the Jedi saw Luke Skywalker defeat Darth Vader after a dramatic battle. Here we see the young Jedi cast down his father before the Emperor attempts to turn him to the Dark Side. But an immense amount of production went into this iconic moment.

We can easily count 10 people standing around the set as they make this scene happen. This photograph provides an amazing insight into the filmmaking process. A glance at a movie’s credits shows that hundreds of people combine efforts to create a movie (via Space.com).

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All Smiles

There’s nothing quite like being on a Star Wars set because it transports actors to a new world. This photo shows the pure joy on Harrison Ford’s face when he stepped onto the Millenium Falcon. They built a full-size cockpit that enabled them to film realistic scenes with their cast.

Carrie Fisher beams beside Ford as a camera captures the pair’s bliss. It’s moments like these that provide a movie with soul because it means the process was healthy. This scene came from Episode V when the pair spent a lot of time on the Falcon. It’s difficult to separate them from this franchise (via Gizmodo).

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Bar Wars

It’s nice to know that the three main Star Wars actors maintained a good relationship in real life. There are always horror stories about cast members hating each other. But that wasn’t the case in the original trilogy because they had a close connection.

This picture captures the trio in a canteen enjoying some downtime. It’s the eighties because there is an ashtray in front of them. Meanwhile, Ford is enjoying what appears to be a cup of coffee. If we didn’t know that they were famous we’d think they were just regular friends hanging out (via The Things).

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Desert Filmmaking

We’ve spoken a lot about the challenges that the cast and crew confronted in Tunisia during A New Hope. However, the desert landscape entranced Lucas after he read Frank Herbert’s Dune. The latter held a slight resentment toward Lucas because of his success.

Lawrence of Arabia also had a profound impact on the franchise because of the stunning desert shots. In this scene, we see Alec Guinness and Mark Hamill in an early scene from the original movie. The crew is hard at work around them as they capture the perfect shot (via Inverse).

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Dynamic Duo

George Lucas and Mark Hamill are the two most important figures in Star Wars history. The former created wrote and directed significant chunks of the universe. Meanwhile, Hamill played the original trilogy’s main character, Luke Skywalker in a career-defining turn.

Lucas made Hamill a star but he also depended on his actor to bring the character to life. This early photograph shows the pair on set discussing a scene. It’s a fantastic moment and a great insight into their dynamic during the filmmaking process (via The Playlist).

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Jedi Masters

Alec Guinness’s screen time diminished in the latter movies of the original trilogy. But they still provided crucial moments in guiding Luke Skywalker on his journey. Here we see Guinness and Hamill in an intense conversation about the script in a behind-the-scenes photograph.

This was during Return of the Jedi when Luke returned to Dagobah after helping to rescue Han Solo. It’s an emotional moment because Yoda dies and then he reconnects with Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is a defining moment in the young Jedi knight’s life (via Digital Spy).

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Ewok Actors

The Ewoks are one of the most notorious alien species in the Star Wars universe. Originally, George Lucas wanted to create a race of lizard people on Endor. However, the studio pressured him to use a more child-friendly design because they wanted to sell toys.

The cuddly bear-like aliens became a polarizing part of Episode VI. Some people love them but others think that they signaled the beginning of the franchise’s decline. Here we can see the actors who wore the Ewoks’ suits during these noteworthy scenes (via Ranker).

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Falcon in Flight

Diehard fans know that Lando Calrissian owned the Millenium Falcon before he lost it to Han Solo in a game of Sabaac. Here we see Billy Dee Williams, Fisher, and another actor on the ship. Williams has one of the most famous smiles in Hollywood and here it is in full force.

We love the seats that appear as though they came from a DeLorean. It looks like Fisher is right at home as she sits in the co-pilot’s chair. Chewbacca’s presence is notably absent but we can see blue screen around the cockpit. It’s a great insight into life on this iconic starship (via Fascinations).

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