Commemorate May the Fourth with these 50 behind-the-scenes pictures from Star Wars.

Commemorate May the Fourth with these 50 behind-the-scenes pictures from Star Wars.

      Happy May the Fourth! Here are 50 behind-the-scenes images from Star Wars, dating back to the mid-1970s, when a young filmmaker named George Lucas began crafting a masterpiece.

      May the fourth be with you — always.

      Visionary

      20th Century Fox

      George Lucas looks particularly cool as he stands with young star Mark Hamill in the desert, working on a film neither could have imagined would become one of the greatest and most cherished of all time.

      Before it was called Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, it was simply known as Star Wars — a gritty, intergalactic tale about good versus evil that transformed Hollywood's filmmaking forever.

      Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, and Peter Mayhew

      20th Century Fox

      The actors portraying Han Solo, C-3PO, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca share a laugh in one of the many behind-the-scenes images released to promote the film in 1977.

      Greedo and George Lucas

      20th Century Fox

      In the original Star Wars, Han Solo shoots Greedo first. Little did Greedo (Paul Blake) or writer-director George Lucas know that twenty years after the film's premiere, Lucas would alter it to show Greedo firing first.

      He still meets his end, though. Sorry, Greedo.

      Hold on to Your Helmets

      20th Century Fox

      If only an Ewok were nearby, he could perform a fantastic drum solo. This joke is only amusing if you've seen Return of the Jedi.

      Say Cheese

      20th Century Fox

      Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) states that there's no worse hive of scum and villainy than the Mos Eisley spaceport, but honestly, some of the regulars there are quite nice.

      Wonder If He Means Old Ben Kenobi

      20th Century Fox

      George Lucas, on the right, with Alec Guinness, the only cast member who was a legitimate screen legend before Star Wars was released, having won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1957's The Bridge on the River Kwai and being one of the biggest stars of the 1950s and 1960s.

      He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Star Wars. The film itself was nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Lucas, ultimately winning eight.

      Shine On You Crazy Protocol Droid

      20th Century Fox

      The amazing Star Wars crew assists Anthony Daniels in looking his best as C-3PO.

      Mark Hamill, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford

      20th Century Fox

      Ford, who starred in Lucas’ American Graffiti and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation, famously landed the role of Han Solo while helping audition other actors for the film.

      Landspeeder for Sale

      20th Century Fox

      To this day, we still can't figure out how Star Wars achieved the floating landspeeder effect. Are those guys in the back lifting it? We don't see any wires. Is it The Force?

      No, This Man Is Not a Giant

      20th Century Fox

      Let’s take a moment to admire the brilliant miniature work on the Star Wars vehicles, including the Jawas’ sandcrawler. Well before the CGI era, the film made it and numerous other vehicles appear authentic, imposing, and lived-in.

      The artist in the photo is the talented Lorne Peterson, who rightfully won an Oscar a few years post-Star Wars for Best Visual Effects for his work on 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

      Jedi Maestro

      20th Century Fox

      John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra as they perform his Oscar-winning score for the film, with an image of Mark Hamill providing inspiration.

      Stay Cool, C-3PO

      20th Century Fox

      Ensuring Anthony Daniels remained as comfortable as possible in a hot costume during filming in Death Valley, which served as the backdrop for Luke’s planet Tatooine, was a genuine concern. Star Wars also filmed many Tatooine scenes in Tunisia.

      The Ceremony

      20th Century Fox

      The award scene was an even bigger event than we realized.

      The dress code? Denim.

      Darth Vader Knows How to Make an Entrance

      20th Century Fox

      Knowing this is David Prowse in the costume doesn’t lessen his imposing presence — or diminish Darth Vader’s effectiveness.

      He may be the greatest screen villain of all time. The voice of James Earl Jones only enhanced his gravitas.

      A Tie Fighter Pilot Is Ready for His Close-Up

      20th Century Fox

      Speaking of imposing figures, consider the bravery of X-Wing and Tie Fighter pilots: If they need to eject, they have nowhere to go. Respect.

      Chewie

      20th Century Fox

      Facing the Empire is courageous, but so is checking a Wookiee’s teeth.

      That’s Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew with the brilliant makeup artist Stuart Freeborn, who also designed the apes in the

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Commemorate May the Fourth with these 50 behind-the-scenes pictures from Star Wars.

Happy May the Fourth! Here are 50 behind-the-scenes photographs from Star Wars taken a long time ago — specifically in the mid-1970s — featuring a young filmmaker named