Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Encyclopedia
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi is a television documentary, first broadcast on PBS
in 1983. It is a look behind-the-scenes of the creation of the various alien creatures from the third Star Wars
film Return of the Jedi which was released that year. The documentary was presented by Star Wars actors Carrie Fisher
and Billy Dee Williams
, and directed by Robert Guenette who had directed the previous television specials The Making of Star Wars
(1977) and SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
(1980).
creator George Lucas
who elaborates on the evolution of the Ewoks, Sy Snootles (or "Miss Snooty" as Carrie Fisher calls her) and Jabba the Hutt
, which required six people to operate. It also includes location footage from the redwood forests of Northern California
(where the Endor scenes were filmed, Buttercup Valley in the Yuma Desert
in Arizona
, where the sequence aboard Jabba's sailbarge was shot, and various scenes on the soundstages at Elstree Studios
near London
where the interiors of Jabba's palace were filmed. Over 60 alien creatures were created for Return of the Jedi which were operated by a variety of techniques old and new. Footage from earlier films illustrated the various methods used, including using actors in costumes (as in The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Godzilla
), stop motion
miniatures (as seen in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
and King Kong
), and large scale mechanicals (as seen in Them!). Some of the creatures (such as Yoda
and the Rancor) were mainly puppeteered but also contained animatronic devices that could be controlled remotely. The documentary also includes scenes from more recent "creature" films from the era such as E.T., The Dark Crystal
(along with a brief interview with its director Jim Henson
), and Dragonslayer
(which pioneered the use of "go-motion" techniques in which a miniature creature and the camera are simultaneously computer controlled).
Much of the documentary was later included in the special From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
.
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in 1983. It is a look behind-the-scenes of the creation of the various alien creatures from the third Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
film Return of the Jedi which was released that year. The documentary was presented by Star Wars actors Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher is an American actress, novelist, screenwriter, and lecturer. She is most famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, her bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, for which she wrote the screenplay to the film of the same name, and her...
and Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams
William December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer.-Early life:Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta...
, and directed by Robert Guenette who had directed the previous television specials The Making of Star Wars
The Making of Star Wars
The Making of Star Wars is a television special produced by 20th Century Fox, which aired on the ABC Television Network on September 16, 1977. It was written by Richard Schickel and directed and produced by Robert Guenette.-Synopsis:...
(1977) and SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back is a television documentary special which originally aired on CBS on September 22, 1980. Hosted by actor Mark Hamill, it is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the special effects in the second Star Wars film, which was released that year...
(1980).
Synopsis
Hosted by Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Wiliiams, the special includes an interview with Star WarsStar Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
creator George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
who elaborates on the evolution of the Ewoks, Sy Snootles (or "Miss Snooty" as Carrie Fisher calls her) and Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt is a fictional character in George Lucas's space opera film saga Star Wars. Designed as a large, slug-like alien, his appearance has been described by film critic Roger Ebert as "Dickensian," a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat....
, which required six people to operate. It also includes location footage from the redwood forests of Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(where the Endor scenes were filmed, Buttercup Valley in the Yuma Desert
Yuma Desert
The Yuma Desert is a lower-elevation section of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and the northwest of Mexico. It is in the Salton basin. The desert contains areas of sparse vegetation and has notable areas of sand dunes. With an average rainfall less than 8 inches each...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, where the sequence aboard Jabba's sailbarge was shot, and various scenes on the soundstages at Elstree Studios
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where the interiors of Jabba's palace were filmed. Over 60 alien creatures were created for Return of the Jedi which were operated by a variety of techniques old and new. Footage from earlier films illustrated the various methods used, including using actors in costumes (as in The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
), stop motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
miniatures (as seen in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 science fiction film directed by Eugène Lourié and stars Paul Christian, Paula Raymond and Cecil Kellaway with visual effects by Ray Harryhausen. The film is about an atomic bomb test in the Arctic Circle that unfreezes a hibernating fictional dinosaur, a...
and King Kong
King Kong (1933 film)
King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
), and large scale mechanicals (as seen in Them!). Some of the creatures (such as Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
and the Rancor) were mainly puppeteered but also contained animatronic devices that could be controlled remotely. The documentary also includes scenes from more recent "creature" films from the era such as E.T., The Dark Crystal
The Dark Crystal
The Dark Crystal is a 1982 British-American fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Although marketed as a family film, it was notably darker than previous material created by them. The animatronics used in the film were considered groundbreaking. The primary concept artist was the...
(along with a brief interview with its director Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
), and Dragonslayer
Dragonslayer
Dragonslayer is a 1981 fantasy movie set in a fictional medieval kingdom, following a young wizard who experiences danger and opposition as he attempts to defeat a dragon....
(which pioneered the use of "go-motion" techniques in which a miniature creature and the camera are simultaneously computer controlled).
Much of the documentary was later included in the special From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga is a 1983 television documentary special that originally aired on PBS. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the original Star Wars trilogy, with particular emphasis on the final film, Return of the Jedi.Narrated by actor Mark Hamill, the...
.