- Madame Tussauds Berlin, STAR WARS
Interesting facts about Darth Vader
Once a heroic Jedi Knight, Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force, became a Sith Lord and led the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order. He remained in service of the Emperor - the evil Darth Sidious - for decades, enforcing his Master’s will and seeking to crush the fledgling Rebel Alliance. But there was still good in him… The name of Darth Vader was first introduced as a tall, grim-looking general in the rough draft of STAR WARS. The character of Vader appeared in the familiar form only in the second draft. Vader's fearsome face-mask was more of a coincidence. Concept artist Ralph McQuarrie designed the mask since the early drafts had Vader board Leia's captured starship by crossing the vacuum of space, a circumstance that made a breathing apparatus neccessary. McQuarrie did not realize that the reason for the mask was more deep-rooted than that. For the original trilogy bodybuilder and actor Dave Prowse played the physical body of Darth Vader, filling out the costume with his considerable physique and commanding stature. For Vader's demanding lightsaber combat in Episodes V and VI, stunt performer Bob Anderson played the role, wearing lifts to accommodate for the difference in his height from Prowse's. Vader's voice was supplied by James Earl Jones, who at first went uncredited, feeling that his contribution was too small to receive recognition. In time, the role would become one of those to which Jones was most closely associated. Stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armour, which offers a wide range of survival equipment and temperature controls to allow the soldiers to survive in almost any environment. Along with standard Stormtroopers, the Empire has organized several specialized units, including snowtroopers and scout troopers. The stormtroopers can trace similar thematic origins as the faceless android police officers of Lucas' first feature, THX 1138. Even their processed voices sound hauntingly similar. The faceless ranks of unending soldiers are meant to underscore the inhuman nature of the Empire. This is vividly contrasted by the Alliance ranks, that aren't clad in face concealing armor, and instead bear a human face. The original stormtrooper design came out of Ralph McQuarrie's illustrations. Costume designer John Mollo took McQuarrie's concepts and puzzled together how the pieces would fit based on his knowledge of medieval armor.
Interesting facts about Luke Skywalker, princess Lea and Han Solo
Luke Skywalker was a Tatooine farm boy who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest Jedi the galaxy has ever known. Along with his friends Princess Leia and Han Solo, Luke battled the evil Empire, discovered the truth of his parentage, and ended the tyranny of the Sith. The character of Luke Skywalker changed greatly during the evolving story of STAR WARS. Early versions of Luke were a grizzled war hero of 60, a Jedi Master that would blend the qualities of both the classic-era Obi-Wan Kenobi and the prequel-era Qui-Gon Jinn. The daydreaming farmboy that plunges into a galaxy of adventure was a role filled by Anakin Starkiller in these early drafts. At one point, Luke was even a female character, merging the aspects of both Luke and Leia. Even when he had finally evolved to the recognizable character we know today, he was known as Luke Starkiller. His name didn't change until revisions to the fourth draft of STAR WARS. Smuggler. Scoundrel. Hero. Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, was one of the great leaders of the Rebel Alliance. He and his co-pilot Chewbacca came to believe in the cause of galactic freedom, joining Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa in the fight against the Empire. Han Solo first appeared in the rough and first drafts of Star Wars as a hulking green alien with no nose and large gills. He was a Jedi warrior and friend of General Skywalker. As the story developed, Solo became a burly, bearded Corellian pirate who dressed flamboyantly. By the third draft, Solo became the reckless starpilot we all recognize. Casting Solo was difficult because director George Lucas made a conscious decision to stay away from any actors he had previously used in his films. Still, he needed someone at least to read the part for screen tests of other characters. While a parade of fresh faces read for Luke and Leia, Harrison Ford, who had played Bob Falfa in Lucas' American Graffiti, continued to read for Han, becoming comfortable with the role. Having looked at all the other Solo candidates - which included Kurt Russell and Nick Nolte - it became obvious to Lucas that Ford was the perfect Solo. Princess Leia Organa was one of the Rebel Alliance’s greatest leaders, fearless on the battlefield and dedicated to ending the tyranny of the Empire. Daughter of Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, sister of Luke Skywalker, and with a soft spot for scoundrels, Leia ranks among the galaxy’s great heroes. The early drafts of STAR WARS had Leia as very young girl - a 14-year old princess, the same age as Queen Amidala is in "The Phantom Menace". In these early versions of STAR WARS, Leia is the spoiled daughter of King Kayos and Queen Breha of Aquilae. In subsequent drafts, Leia was said to be the daughter of Bail Antilles, and the name "Organa" was instead used for her peaceful homeworld Organa Major. Later drafts reshuffled the names around so that Leia Organa came from Alderaan instead.
Interesting facts about R2D2 and C3PO
R2-D2 is a resourceful astromech droid. He served Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker. He is a skilled starship mechanic and fighter pilot's assistant and formed an enduring friendship with C-3PO. In early drafts of the script, R2-D2 could speak standard English. Although all of R2's English speech was removed, many of C-3PO's reactions to it were left in. C-3PO is a droid programmed for etiquette and protocol, built by Anakin Skywalker, and a constant companion to astromech R2-D2. Over the years, he was involved in some of the galaxy’s most defining moments and thrilling battles - and is fluent in over six million forms of communication. He was built by Anakin Skywalker, and later served Luke Skywalker. During production, Anthony Daniels and all other actors playing "C-3PO"-type droids had to lean against a board to rest, as his costume was not flexible enough to allow them to sit.
