May the Norwegian be with you! Behind-the-scenes photos of the filming of Star Wars hit The Empire Strikes Back in Norway have been discovered 44 years later
- Photos emerged showing Star Wars crew members playing in the snow
After 44 years, stunning photos have emerged from the filming of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, in a snowy Norwegian village.
The small, sleepy village of Finse was used as the location for the icy planet Hoth, where Luke Skywalker and the Rebels hid from the Empire.
The cast and crew of the Star Wars sequel took over the mountain village in March 1979 to film the dramatic opening scenes.
While the big screen version featured exciting storylines such as Luke being attacked and nearly eaten by a Hoth Wampa and the Empire’s devastating attack on the Rebel base, the real life production was a much more relaxed affair.
The photos show the model of a Tauntaun, a large mammal. Luke and Han continued to move around the snowy planet
The lot includes a Star Wars Christmas card. Behind the scenes photos from the filming of the snow scenes in The Empire Strikes Back
Set props including a laser cannon and Rebel soldiers battling the Empire in the opening scenes
Some of their more serious work was also captured on a Kodak camera, such as the crew firing explosives
The color photos show cast members having snowball fights, building igloos and driving snow plows.
Some of their more serious work was also captured on a Kodak camera, such as the crew setting off explosives for the scene where Han Solo destroys an Imperial probe droid.
There are also photos of the model of a Tauntaun, a large mammal. Luke and Han continued to move around the snowy planet.
The cast and crew of the Star Wars sequel took over the mountain village in March 1979
Color photos show cast members having snowball fights, building igloos and driving snow plows
In one photo, the entire crew can be seen posing for the camera outside the Finnish Hotel where they were staying.
The photos have now been put up for sale at London auctioneer Propstore for £2,000.
Included in the same sale are design drawings for a Snowspeeder craft seen in the 1980 film and R2-D2 action notes.
The drawings and notes come from the collection of special effects engineer Roger Nichols.
A shot list with the behind-the-scenes choreography of the classic science fiction film
In one photo, the entire crew can be seen posing for the camera outside the Finnish Hotel where they were staying
Included in the same sale are design drawings for a Snowspeeder craft seen in the 1980 film and R2-D2 action notes
Tim Lawes, consignment director at Propstore, said: ‘Both auction lots offer a very rare insight into the filmmaking process.
‘The level of thought and detail required to create the props seen on screen is often not appreciated by cinema audiences. These types of drawings go through countless iterations before the construction process begins.
‘The behind-the-scenes photos are a candid look behind the scenes. Very few crew members ever get to document the filming process and these precious moments would otherwise be lost to time.”
The sale will take place on Saturday.