Book review: The Star Wars Archives – Episodes IV-VI 1977-1983 – Paul Duncan

A galaxy of books has been written about Star Wars and there are some excellent titles covering the development of the original films, such as The Making of Star Wars by J.W. Rinzler and George Lucas – a biography by John Baxter. And there is also the outstanding Empire of Dreams documentary.
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It would be tempting, therefore, to think there’s nothing more to say about the creation of Star Wars but even in this crowded field, The Star Wars Archives – Episodes IV-VI brings fresh perspective and lives up to its billing as the definitive exploration of the original trilogy. 

​Paul Duncan’s book is structured with a series of long interviews with George Lucas – and other key contributors – accompanied with beautifully reproduced concept art, storyboard, stills and much more. As with all Taschen books, the layout and picture quality are second to none, and the sheer skill and creativity of the production and character design – such an important part of the success of the films – shines through. In bringing A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi to the screen, Lucas and his team faced immense difficulties, breaking new ground in film production, especially in the cutting-edge special effects created by Industrial Light and Magic, and Duncan’s book perfectly captures the challenges and eventual successes. 

As well as being a feast for the eyes, extracts from early script drafts provide fascinating insights into the development of the story of each film. I found the story conference discussions around the plot for Return of the Jedi particularly interesting; it’s intriguing to think how differently the final film could have been.

A treat from start to finish and a worthy tribute to the artistic achievements of the original trilogy, The Star Wars Archives – Episodes IV-VI is a must for any Star Wars, but also a great read for anyone interested in film production or the history of cinema.
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Impressive, most impressive…

The Star Wars Archives – Episodes IV-VI 1977-1983 – Paul Duncan (Taschen link)