• NEW! LOWEST RATES EVER -- SUPPORT THE SHOW AND ENJOY THE VERY BEST PREMIUM PARACAST EXPERIENCE! Welcome to The Paracast+, eight years young! For a low subscription fee, you can download the ad-free version of The Paracast and the exclusive, member-only, After The Paracast bonus podcast, featuring color commentary, exclusive interviews, the continuation of interviews that began on the main episode of The Paracast. We also offer lifetime memberships! Flash! Take advantage of our lowest rates ever! Act now! It's easier than ever to susbcribe! You can sign up right here!

    Subscribe to The Paracast Newsletter!

RALPH McQUARRIE Dies

Forums New posts

Free episodes:

M

mike

Paranormal Adept
THE DEATH OF AN ICON: I’m sorry to report that RALPH McQUARRIE, the brilliant concept artist who brought George Lucas’ ideas and story of Star Wars to amazing visual life, died earlier today (Saturday March 3) at his home in Berkeley, California, after a long illness. He was 82 years old. Plans for a memorial service are pending. Ralph was not only a superb artist, but a fascinating story teller. He was quiet and self-effacing, but became the perfect partner for Lucas to get his initial Star Wars movies look as striking as they did. Ralph is survived by the love of his life, his wife Joan, who was always his strongest champion

ralph-mcquarrie-star-wars-011.jpg
 
Man, that's some really great art. I can see how Lucas would be inspired to create that reality. Shit, I really need to honour Ralph by watching Star Wars. Again! I really have no idea how man times I have watched Star Wars in my life - I can remember being around 12 and knowing my count thus far was 27 times. It will be a lot higher now!
Without doubt the picture above is my favourite scene of the movie. The high speed bombing mission along this corridor going round the circumference of the Death Star........Dah Dah Dah doh de Dah doh de Dah.......!
 
Whats interesting is in a genre that usually is a stickler for canon, his concept art has been rendered into merchandise.
For example

this is the RM cover art for the pre movie release novel

P1020270.jpg


And here is a limited release signed version of this alternative Vader, despite the 900 buck price tag, it sold out in hours
Ralph McQuarrie Darth Vader Helmet from E-FX

And that Xwing concept art was also translated into merchandise

1:24 McQuarrie Concept X-Wing built by Chris Kelley

Heres a shot of the model with a lighting kit installed

concept-x-wing-fighter-040-500x375.jpg


concept-x-wing-fighter-006-500x375.jpg


Such was the power of his work

There is no doubt, his was the driving force behind the images we all know so well in the movie

Hi did lots of sci fi cover art, and always read every book right through that he provided the cover art for
bare•bones e-zine: The Ballantine/Del Rey Paperback Covers of Ralph McQuarrie: A Checklist (1976-1987)
 
I remember being someplace in LA in early 90's - kinda place that has movie memorabilia and it had what I believe was one of the real Death Star models. Kid in a candy store? Me? You bet!
 
Back
Top