007: We Meet Threepio and Artoo
Film Notes
Today we finally meet the adorable Threepio and Artoo!
See-Threepio
Isn’t it wonderful when a filmmaker – and an actor get it so right? Could you make the world fall in love with a tin-can? This was yet another magical scene when I saw it as a youngster – and still is actually. There’s a wonderful quality to the imagery of the two droids shuffling along the stark white corridor.
The image quality and colour is beautiful. It was even impressive, following those dramatic opening shots in space – to behold the sparkling C-3P0 and his companion, and hear the unusual soft sound of his voice amongst the mayhem. Just terrific how once again, the young Lucas gives us the bare minimum that we need: a couple of droids, one speaking – the other beeping – simple tracking full-length and medium shots, a pure hospital-white set that lit the metallic characters beautifully. I also must praise young George for his use of gauze on the lens to soften the images. He decided to do this throughout the film to give it a lovely fantasy feel and it makes 3P0’s flashing gold surface look all the more magnificent.
Artoo-Detoo
In a decade that gave some good but gritty, raw looking movies – and lots of appalling looking ones, this stuff really stood apart. And seriously, it must be said once again that it’s a marvel how the droids personalities are so charmingly conjured up in these few seconds of screen time.
Art Notes
The most likely source of my wobbly drawing! [1977 trading card]
Gangsta-Rap Threepio!
Art of Understatement
The Stormtroopers burn through the door and the the Rebel exclaims “UH OH!”. Surely that should that read “HOLY EFFING CRAP!”
Interesting speech balloon: jagged at the bottom.
Next: something stinks!
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The droids Artoo Detoo and See Threepio are in the white corridor of the Tantive IV . Behind them are another cone-headed, R4-D4-ish looking astromech droid and a droid similar to 3PO but with a purple colour. "Come on - hurry!" says 3PO to R2-D2. "Bloop bloeep!" replies Artoo.
Panel 2
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Smoke and flames fill the end of the corridor, where the entry hatch is - watched by increasingly anxious Rebel Soldiers. "Uh oh" says one.
The Imperial Soldiers burn through the starship!
The gangsta pose is absolutely spot on! LOL
It also looks like you have three colored lasers for the rebels. Sweet!
Quoting Blue Milk:
“It also looks like you have three colored lasers for the rebels. Sweet!”
Well, when you’re young – as they say: “More is… more!”
Samuel L. Jackson was grown up back then. He was about 30 years old in fact, as he was born in 1948.
You’re right! His contribution to Star Wars could have been interesting after all!
I like the details of alternate R2 and 3PO type droids that are included in the frames. Also, your comments were very interesting about how George Lucas created a very nice image quality and colour effects in the film.
Thanks Jim! It’s quite a minimalist style and really focuses us on the characters and the story—I think. Not many distractions.