The original Star Wars trilogy’s production was nothing short of a miracle. The cast and crew photographs below clearly demonstrate how the making of these legendary films was just as fascinating as the plot itself.
Making The Models
When George Lucas created Industrial Light & Magic in 1975, it appears that he was looking far beyond his Star Wars stories. Lucas was at the vanguard of visual effects development in Hollywood through this business, and ILM played a significant role in the famous effects of Star Wars, both real and digital. Before CGI, Lucas built almost all of the space stations and vehicles in Star Wars by constructing illusions with miniature models.
Alec Guinness’s 62nd Birthday
Despite the numerous issues that plagued the production of Star Wars: A New Hope, Sir Alec Guinness was one of the few actors who believed the film would succeed at all. The first shot shows the Obi-Wan actor celebrating his 62nd birthday on-site in Tunisia with Mark Hamill in between takes. Guinness is the only actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for a role in a Star Wars film to this day.