Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

An original matte concept used in the production of the 1977 science fiction picture Star Wars, the first instalment in the classic franchise directed by George Lucas.

This is believed to be an early concept for a matte painting of the Jawa Sandcrawler featured in the movie. The Sandcrawler was designed by Colin Cantwell and revised by prolific conceptual designers Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. For the live action sequences to be shot on location a full size prop was required which resulted in the base and tracks being built from blueprints developed by production designer John Barry, a miniature was also constructed by Industrial Light & Magic. In the scene in which the Jawas approach the Sandcrawler it is in fact a matte painting rendered by talented matte artist Harrison Ellenshaw.

The concept consists of a 10" x 8" photographic print of a shot of the full size Sandcrawler base and tracks on location in Tunisia which is contained within a period plastic sleeve. The sleeve has been sketched on in red marker pen drawing the outline of the missing elements of the Sandcrawler, likely a concept for a potential matte shot of the complete Sandcrawler using the base from the live action footage with a painting to fill in the top half of the vehicle.

The concept in plastic sleeve measures approximately 11" x 8.5" and remains in excellent production used condition with some light wear to the sleeve and some age related scent to the photographic print. Very fine.

A displayable and recognisable production artefact from one of the most influential and highly regarded franchises in cinematic history.