Retroplex Cinema Special Edition: The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 3: Star Wars Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

A year ago TMIAJ presented this series of articles after the initial announcement of the Star Wars Blu-Rays.  Now the discs are in stores this Friday, so we present these articles again as part of our Retroplex Cinema series, so that you can take a look at what may appear on the Blu-Ray discs! 

Articles In This Series:
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 1: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 2: Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 3: Star Wars Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

Retroplex Cinema Special Edition: The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 3: Star Wars Episode VI -  Return Of The Jedi

Luke's Lightsaber

In the beginning of Return of the Jedi, Luke constructs a new lightsaber and hides it inside of Artoo Detoo, along with a message for Jabba the Hutt.

This scene would have set things up for the later action at Jabba's palace, but it also would have given away the surprise element of Luke's hidden lightsaber.  The scene shows up in the novel and radio play as well, but takes place inside Ben Kenobi's hut. From the matte painting and storyboard that exist, it appears the location was changed to take place inside a cave on Tatooine rather than Ben's hut. 
     Until recently rumor was that this scene was never filmed completely.  Anthony Daniels himself even said it was only partially filmed as far as he remembered.  But then at Celebration V Lucas revealed that it had indeed been filmed and showed it to the crowd.  If you were lucky enough last week to see it on You Tube then great, if not you have to wait till the Blu-Ray's hit stores!

Rancor Pit Grate

Luke has fallen through a trapdoor in Jabba's palace, and is now in grave danger inside the Rancor pit. The monstrous Rancor is about to attempt to have him for dinner. In an effort to escape, Luke uses the Force to jump up to a grate above, but he is unable to get out and has his fingers mashed by Jawa gun butts for the effort. He then drops down right onto the Rancor's eye, causing it great pain... but again ends up on the run.

There seems to be no particular reason for this scene being cut, other than for time or because of the difficulty of the special effects regarding the fall onto the Rancor. It would have given another chance to see Luke exercise his Jedi abilities as he makes the jump to the grate.

A single photo from this scene has appeared in the Return of the Jedi storybook, and the scene is included in the novel as well.

Barge Fight

On board Jabba the Hutt's barge, Threepio has found himself an unwilling translator/mediator between a drunken Ree-Yees and Saelt Marae (aka Yak-Face). Salacious Crumb joins in the fun as well. The altercation ends in fisticuffs, just before Threepio bumps into Artoo serving drinks.

This was just a little extra action taking place aboard Jabba's barge, but it was cut from the film as it was non-essential to the storyline.

Pictures from this scene show up all over in various places, including in the photo insert from the novel. Also, the scene is described in the novel, but it is Ephant Mon rather than Saelt Marae who gets in the fight there.

Damn Sand Clogging My Sensors

The Sandstorm

Perhaps Jedi's most famous deleted scenes, after Jabba's barge explodes, our heroes rendezvous once more before taking off and going their separate ways, but they end up having to struggle through a tremendous sandstorm to get to their ships. Chewbacca has been wounded during the battle, and is hobbling along with the help of Luke and Lando. They reach their ships and prepare to part, exchanging feelings and farewells.

I Can't See A Damn Thing

     This scene would explain how everyone got on and off the planet. Parked out in the desert here is the Milennium Falcon and Luke's X-wing. The script also mentions a two-seated Y-wing being there as well.

Ooops, Did I Grab Your Boob

     Although this scene was the first scene filmed for Jedi, none of it made it into the final film. Footage from this scene has shown up so far only as a snippet on one of the trailers for Jedi, as well as in still photographs in various places including the original West End Games Star Wars role-playing game books, the Behind The Magic CD ROM, and the Star Wars Insider.

Goodbye, We Will Rendevous Later

Luke Puts On The Glove Before He Boards The X-Wing

Other known Jedi scenes believed to exist include some info from a scene filmed where General Crix Madine was aboard a Mon Calamari ship during the final battle. These scenes were filmed according to the actor. Actor Dermot Crowley claims to have spent a few extra days filming in a moving chair shouting things such as "Fire!". There are also cut shots of rebel gunners aboard the Millennium Falcon. It was rumored that the B-Wing fighters would be given more to do during the battle in the Special Editions but have yet to see the light of day on film. 

A scene now confirmed to appear on the Blu-Ray's includes additional filming inside the bunker on Endor.  The image to the left feature's Han Solo in the bunker and you can see the complete scene on the Blu-Ray disc! 

Retroplex Cinema Special Edition: The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 1: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

A year ago TMIAJ presented this series of articles after the initial announcement of the Star Wars Blu-Rays.  Now the discs are in stores this Friday, so we present these articles again as part of our Retroplex Cinema series, so that you can take a look at what may appear on the Blu-Ray discs! 

Articles In This Series:
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 1: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 2: Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 3: Star Wars Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

Retroplex Cinema Special Edition: The Force Is With Cut Scenes Part 1 - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Luke Sees the Battle In Space

This particular scene happens right after the Imperial Star Destroyer has overtaken the Rebel Blockade Runner and the Imperial troops begin boarding the ship, and right before Darth Vader first makes his appearance on the rebel ship. Luke, out in the desert working on a vaporator with the help of a Treadwell droid, looks up and happens to notice the two ships firing on each other in the sky. He then jumps in his landspeeder and races off to tell his friends. 

Though this scene was never shown publicly, it still showed up in the novel, the comic book, and still photos published in various places. The scene was finally made available in 1998 on the Behind The Magic CD ROM, much to the delight of fans. The version included was from the legendary Lost Cut of Star Wars, which is in black and white with no sound or special effects.

Luke Hangs Out With Friends

This scene was to come right after Artoo-Detoo and Threepio have ejected from the Blockade Runner in their escape pod, and right before Princess Leia is led captive before Darth Vader. Luke zooms into Anchorhead in his landspeeder to tell his friends about the battle he's seen. He is momentarily distracted when he finds that his best friend Biggs Darklighter has returned from the Academy, but then pulls them all outside to check out the battle. At this point the battle is over, so everyone thinks Luke is making it up

For years this scene remained unseen, with only a few still photos and references in the comic book and novel showing that it ever actually existed. Despite people's claims that they had seen the footage in early prints of Star Wars, this scene was never shown to the public. The sound mix had never been completed, and the footage was not included in anything but rough editor's cuts (such as the legendary Lost Cut). In 1997 at the San Diego Comic Con, mega-collector and Lucasfilm employee Steve Sansweet gave fans an incredible treat by showing the Biggs footage publicly for the first time 

Luke & Biggs  

This scene was to come right after Threepio spots the Jawa sandcrawler in the desert, and catches their attention, and right before Artoo gets zapped by the Jawas in the rock canyon..

Here, Luke's relationship with Biggs is established, and Biggs reveals his plan to join the Rebellion to Luke. We are given a better understanding of why the Empire is such a tyranny, and the threat of even Luke's uncle's farm being taken over for their benefit. We also see how Luke is struggling between his responsibility to his uncle and his need to go on to greater things.

For years this scene remained unseen, with only a few still photos and references in the comic book and novel showing that it ever actually existed. Despite people's claims that they had seen the footage in early prints of Star Wars, this scene was never shown to the public. 

Commander Bast

This scene was to come right after the scene where Han Solo encounters Jabba the Hutt in Docking Bay 94, and right before our heroes enter Docking Bay 94 for the first time. Here we see Darth Vader and Commander Bast talking together regarding the missing droids, Leia's resistance to her interrogation, and Governor Tarkin's "foolish plan". It is here we see also that Vader may not feel so confident in Tarkin's command, since he seems to go along with Bast's bold criticism of Tarkin.  The novel and the comic book both include this short scene. Photos from it have appeared on Topps trading cards as well as in various other locations. This entire scene was actually included in the Star Wars Holiday Special, and can be seen there featuring overdubbed dialogue to fit the story from that TV feature. A couple of the shots here are actually taken from the Holiday Special.

The Search For Artoo

This small scene originally was to happen while Luke and Threepio are rushing off in the landspeeder to search for Artoo-Detoo.

Here we have Threepio driving the landspeeder while he and Luke discuss Artoo and how much trouble Luke will be getting into.

You can see remnants of this scene in the final version of the film: a distant shot shows Luke talking to Threepio and gesturing, but the dialogue does not seem to match what is shown. The part that is cut has close-ups of their extended conversation, and a shot of the landspeeder's display showing where Artoo is. The scene appears in the Lost Cut with a rather unconvincing effect of Tatooine landscape going by outside the speeder, done with rear projection of moving footage.

Lukes Poncho

Well, it's all about Luke's mysterious poncho. There are a number of still shots where Luke is wearing this poncho, but in the finished film the poncho is nowhere to be seen. The poncho actually only appears in these scenes in the final version of the film: when our heroes enter Docking Bay 94 to start their fateful trip on the Milennium Falcon and Luke puts on this poncho (for some odd reason) just before they go through the doorway, when Leia wraps it around Luke to comfort him on their flight away from the Death Star after Ben has been killed, and after the arrival at the Rebel base when Luke is wearing it as he gets off the small transport in the hangar.

It seems likely that some of the other scenes may have actually been filmed as alternate versions with Luke wearing his poncho. In fact, a good explanation of the Docking Bay 94 scene with Luke wearing the poncho would be that it was the only version of that scene available or that it was the best one to use, and so Luke had to be shown inexplicably putting on the poncho as they reach the bay doorway, just before there is a cut to the inside of the bay--and then not wearing the poncho again once they're on board the Falcon. In any case, this is merely an interesting look at alternate or missing scenes of Luke and his beloved poncho 

Here's is a collection of other scenes that will found on the new Blu-Rays!

Part 2 - The Empire Strikes Back