Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi is a television documentary, first broadcast on CBS on November 21, 1983. It is a look behind-the-scenes of the creation of the various alien creatures from the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, which was released that year. The documentary was presented by Star Wars actors Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, and directed by Robert Guenette who had directed the previous television specials The Making of Star Wars and SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back.
Synopsis
Hosted by Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, the special includes an interview with Star Wars creator George Lucas who elaborates on the evolution of the Ewoks, Sy Snootles and Jabba the Hutt, which required six people to operate. It also includes location footage from the redwood forests of Northern California, stop motion miniatures, and large-scale mechanicals. Some of the creatures were mainly puppeteered but also contained animatronic devices that could be controlled remotely. The documentary also includes scenes from more recent "creature" films from the era such as E.T., The Dark Crystal, and Dragonslayer.Much of the documentary was included in the TV special From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga that was made the same year.