Star Wars Storyboards - The Original Trilogy

In Abrams Books latest "Star Wars" art book, J. W. Rinzler ("The Making of Star Wars") has put together the greatest collection of storyboards ever assembled into one collection. "Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy" is exactly what you think it will be, and all the more thrilling for it. Showcasing the biggest actions sequences from "A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi," the 348 page book is a plethora of panels and commentary that include a variety of hidden treasures.

For one, the storyboards reflect certain characters before they were actually realized. So -- for example -- C-3PO looks more Art Deco than he ultimately became, and Darth Vader has an even more menacing quality to him. Even though future director Joe Johnston was one of the first hired (with no experience at all), there are fourteen other storyboard artists represented here, including legendary concept artist Ralph McQuarrie.

Throughout, the storyboard creators give insight into the process of drawing the storyboards, as well as shed light on the filmmaking process. Fascinatingly, some notes are taken from the time they were actually written. For example, in 1979 artist Ivor Beddoes comments that the final assembly of storyboards for the infamous "Luke vs. Vader in the tree" sequence from "Empire" was "agreed upon by Kersh [director Irvin Kershner]" and that the "throw-outs have been put into an envelope." This might seem like a minor note, but it speaks volumes in how things were agreed upon and how commonplace the process was. (Where's that envelope?!) Similarly, when Beddoes was drafting the final Darth vs. Luke battle, only a select few knew the big secret of Luke's lineage. So on the storyboards Beddoes notes simply read, "Beelzebub offering the world... end of dialogue."

For "Star Wars" fans this is a must read. Just to see how the films evolved and to get a peek into what didn't make the cut is fascinating. (There's a frame from "Jedi" of Luke's severed electronic hand crawling along a floor toward his lightsaber.) For up and coming filmmakers it is almost essential filmmaking knowledge to have. In the literally hundreds of frames you get a practical knowledge of framing and perspective -- something indispensable to the future storytellers of the world.

Whether it be for the art, for the filmmaking education, or just to feed the "Star Wars" fandom, this latest from Abrams Books is another wonderful addition to the "Star Wars" art collection.

"Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy"
Hardcover
$40.00
www.abramsbooks.com