A friend to Han Solo and two rebels

Quote of today

"Hello. What have we here? Welcome. I'm Lando Calrissian. I'm the administrator of this facility. And who might you be?”

Lando Calrissian introduces himself to Princess Leia.
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we celebrate...
Billy Dee Williams at his 73th birthday (born 1937)
John Ratzenberger at his 63th birthday (born 1947)

Billy Dee Williams, birth name William December Williams, was born in New York, USA. He played Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but he was originally auditioned for the role of Han Solo in 1976.

John Ratzenberger was born in Connecticut, USA and played Major Bren Derlin in The Empire Strikes Back. You can read more about him at his official website.

Jack McKenzie was born in Scotland, United Kingdom and played the rebel officer Cal Alder in The Empire Strikes Back..

Lando Calrissian is a scoundrel with style and class. He is a man of sophisticated tastes and goes way back with Han Solo.

There are at least three early incarnations of Lando in the script, a leader of a clan of clones, a gambler on a Wookie planet and the smuggler Lando Kadar. The Official Star Wars website's databank declare that contrary to legend, Lando was not intended to have died at the end of Return of the Jedi.

Major Bren Derlin is the rebel officer on Hoth that tells Leia that there's nothing more they can do, the shield doors must be closed when Han is out looking for Luke.

Some EU materials states that Derlin was part of Han Solo's commando team on Endor, though that means he had to be played by a different actor in Return of the Jedi.

Cal Alder is the Deck Lieutenant standing beside Major Bren Derlin.

Princess Leia, C-3PO, Major Bren Derlin and Lt Cal Alder.

They later change their mind

Quote of today

"Master, you were right about one thing. The negotiations were short."

Obi-Wan Kenobi agrees with Qui-Gon Jinn’s prediction.
The Phantom Menace

Today…
year 2000 was the release of The Phantom Menace on VHS

The Phantom Menace: Episode I was released world wide but on VHS videocassette only. It was not being released on DVD format "in 2000 or for the foreseeable future".

Lucasfilm tried to explain why delay DVD release in a news article at www.starwars.com (unfortunate the article is removed). But as we all know they later changed their mind.

In Sweden this day, year 2000, was the last chance to see The Phantom Menace in a theater. It was at the theater Rigoletto in Stockholm at 21:30. In the foajé we could buy the VHS for just 120 SKr.

Oscars won

Quote of today
"Nobody in their right mind thought Star Wars would work."

George Lucas
Today...
1978 Star Wars won six Oscars

This is the six wins
Best Art Direction (John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley and Roger Christian)
Best Costume Design (John Mollo)
Best Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew)
Best Music (John Williams)
Best Sound (Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler and Derek Ball)
Best Visual Effects (ILM: John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune and Robert Blalack)

And a Special Achievement Award to Benjamin Burtt, Jr. for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices featured in Star Wars.

George Lucas was nominated to Best Directing and Best Writing
Alec Guinness was nominated to Best Actor in supported role
Gary Kurtz was nominated to Best Picture

An old hermit

Quote of today

"Obi-Wan Kenobi ... Obi-Wan? Now that’s a name I haven't heard in a long time ... a long time."

Ben Kenobi remembers.
A New Hope

Today we remember...
Alec Guiness at his birthday (born 1914), deceased August 5, 2000

Sir Alec Guinness is widely considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He was a legend in his own right long before he took on the role as Ben Kenobi in A New Hope. Alec Guinness played Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi in the Original Trilogy but he rather want to be remember for some of the other movies and theatrical roles he has done.
Alec Guiness is the only person to receive a Best Acting nomination in any of the Star Wars movies and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959.

This is some personal quotes (from www.imdb.com)

“Science fiction - which gives me pause - but it is to be directed by George Lucas, who did American Graffiti (1973), which makes me think I should. Big part. Fairytale rubbish, but could be interesting.”

[on his first lunch meeting with George Lucas]: “I liked him. The conversation was divided culturally by 8,000 miles and 30 years; but I think we might understand each other if I can get past his intensity.”

“I regret having embarked on the film. I like them well enough, but it's not an acting job, the dialogue - which is lamentable - keeps being changed and only slightly improved, and I find myself old and out of touch with the young.”

“I just couldn't go on speaking those bloody awful, banal lines. I'd had enough of the mumbo jumbo.”

“It's a pretty staggering film as spectacle and technically brilliant. Exciting, very noisy and warm-hearted. The battle scenes at the end go on for five minutes too long, I feel, and some of the dialogue is excruciating and much of it is lost in noise, but it remains a vivid experience.”

Ben Kenobi is an aged general and war hero that after several years on Tatooine became an eccentric and kindly old hermit. He took on to training young Luke Skywalker in the Jedi art.

The original shooting script for A New Hope refers to Obi-Wan's home as "Ben Kenobi's Cave."

The Hero With No Fear

Quote of today

"You're reckless, little one. You never would have made it as Obi-Wan's Padawan. But you might make it as mine..."

Anakin Skywalker accepts his padawan.
The Clone Wars

Today we celebrate...
Matt Lanter at his 27th birthday (born 1983)

Matt Lanter was born in Ohio, USA and voiced Anakin Skywalker in The Clone Wars. Read here about how he got to be The Chosen One.

Anakin Skywalker is a bold Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars.