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Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi

  • TV Movie
  • 1983
  • 49m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
306
YOUR RATING
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Documentary

A behind-the-scenes look at the visual effects of Le Retour du Jedi (1983)A behind-the-scenes look at the visual effects of Le Retour du Jedi (1983)A behind-the-scenes look at the visual effects of Le Retour du Jedi (1983)

  • Director
    • Robert Guenette
  • Writers
    • Robert Guenette
    • Greg O'Neil
  • Stars
    • Carrie Fisher
    • Billy Dee Williams
    • Kenny Baker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    306
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Guenette
    • Writers
      • Robert Guenette
      • Greg O'Neil
    • Stars
      • Carrie Fisher
      • Billy Dee Williams
      • Kenny Baker
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos5

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    Top cast22

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    Carrie Fisher
    Carrie Fisher
    • Self - Host
    Billy Dee Williams
    Billy Dee Williams
    • Self - Host
    Kenny Baker
    Kenny Baker
    • Self…
    David Alan Barclay
    David Alan Barclay
    • Self
    • (as David Barclay)
    • …
    Anthony Daniels
    Anthony Daniels
    • Self…
    Warwick Davis
    Warwick Davis
    • Self
    Mike Edmonds
    Mike Edmonds
    • Self…
    Stuart Freeborn
    Stuart Freeborn
    • Self
    Jim Henson
    Jim Henson
    • Self
    Howard G. Kazanjian
    Howard G. Kazanjian
    • Self
    George Lucas
    George Lucas
    • Self
    Richard Marquand
    Richard Marquand
    • Self
    Peter Mayhew
    Peter Mayhew
    • Self…
    Dennis Muren
    Dennis Muren
    • Self
    Frank Oz
    Frank Oz
    • Self…
    Toby Philpott
    • Self…
    Jack Purvis
    Jack Purvis
    • Self…
    Tim Rose
    Tim Rose
    • Self…
    • Director
      • Robert Guenette
    • Writers
      • Robert Guenette
      • Greg O'Neil
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.0306
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    Featured reviews

    Chip_douglas

    Ewok Propaganda

    Of the two documentaries promoting Return of the Jedi, this is the one without the deleted footage of the original Jabba (Declan Mulholland). Although it starts and ends with space battles, a husky voice over by Carrie Fisher explains that Star Wars is no longer just about hardware, but about rubber creatures and monsters too. Therefore this show focuses on the creation of the Ewoks and Jabba the Hutt's menagerie of monsters while offering a nice retrospective of movie monsters of yesteryear from 'King Kong' to 'Dragonslayer' in between.

    Looking slimmer than ever before (or after), Carrie is wearing a mismatched jacket and T-shirt in what is supposed to look like her dressing room. Meanwhile Billy Dee Williams does some schtick with Salacious Crumb (Tim Rose) surrounded by maquettes. Both the stars are bothered by Gammorean Guards and other creatures and later there is more clowning around with people in costumes going to the airport. Remember, this was in an earlier age when 'The A-team' and 'The Dukes of Hazzard' were considered prime time entertainment. Like them, Star Wars has always been aimed at ages 10 and up, something a lot of fans seem to have forgotten when they grew up and the prequels didn't.

    Classic Creatures reminds us of the days when we could do without all that newfangled CGI. In 1983 a blue screen and a set were two separate things and all the creatures were right there in front of you. It is revealed that Jabba was born in a bakery and we meet all the men who operate him (including medicine Ewok Mike Edmonds in the Hutt's tail). The incredible Sail barge/Sarlac Pitt is still a sight to behold (before they went and stuck Audrey II in it's mouth). Meanwhile this documentary goes out of its way to mention all the men beneath the rubber by name, while Han and Luke are passed over. Even though none of the supporting cast is interviewed on camera, at least they don't insist Threepio and Artoo are completely mechanical any more.

    Toy collectors will be thrilled to get a good look at many of the more obscure aliens like Cane Adiss, Wol Cabasshite and the Spider droid (later dubbed B'Omarr Monk). Likewise regular convention goers will recognize many familiar faces. We even see Amanaman (Alisa Berk) unmasked for a split second (and a Jawa too). The 1985 documentary "From Star Wars to Jedi: The making of a saga" featured most of the same material (plus some added footage) and George Lucas' observation that a good SF film does not need to dwell on the environment for too long. Shame he didn't remember that when adding all those establishing shots to the Special Editions and the Phantom Menace DVD.

    What was not repeated in the latter documentary was the sight of little people having to endure Carbon freeze plaster casts and being otherwise tortured in order to create Ewoks magic (blink and you'll miss superstar in the making Warwick Davis). We also learn there were 153 sketches rejected before they finally decided on the rather unoriginal teddy bear look. No special about movie creatures would be complete without mentioning Jim Henson, and footage from the Dark Crystal's own making off feature is neatly edited into this one. E.T. is also mentioned, but in 1983 it was still strictly forbidden to show any moving images of him outside the cinema, so we have to make do with the Halloween sequence and little kids wearing E.T-shirts.

    Many fans are hoping to see these shows released on DVD (Not to watch of course, just to keep them wrapped up in mint condition). But since this one features some stuff that according to the Special Editions simply does not exist anymore, namely disco number Lapti Nek (Huttese for "Working out"), the odds are against it. They may reuse bits and pieces in new retrospectives (Lucas always includes at least one unique segment in every release), but the CBS/Fox "All Time Greats" video releases of these specials will probably remain the only available copies. If only their slogan 'Yours to keep forever' was a bit more accurate. Shot on and transfered from video, the special already began to deteriorate by the time it hit the market (and that includes the music tracks).

    8 out of 10

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Included as one of the documentary special features on Bonus Disc 3 of the 2011 Star Wars The Complete Saga bluray box set release
    • Connections
      Edited from Le Monde de 'Dark Crystal' (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Working out
      (Original English version of Lapti Nek)

      Music by John Williams

      Lyrics by Joseph Williams

      Performed by Joseph Williams

      Arranged by John Williams, Joseph Williams and Ernie Fosselius

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Star Wars: Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
    • Production company
      • Lucasfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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