A Jedi Tribute To Richard Marquand

Featuring rare audio and video interviews with the Return of the Jedi director, Richard Marquand. This tribute also shows behind photos and videos from the set of the Star Wars movie. Richard Marquand was born in Cardiff Wales and unfortunately four years after Return of the Jedi hit the big screens the director at the age of 49 died. He has often been overlooked in his contribution to the Star Wars universe. I hope this short video helps in some way to rectify that. www.thebeardedtrio.com

[@jediknightgeo]

I think Richard did a wonderful job with Return of the Jedi.

[@DayTripperrr]

He did do a wonderful job with Jedi

[@jaquen1977]

So thankful to him for directing my favorite Star Wars film.

[@JoefromNJ1]

mine too. although admittedly not the best.

[@squamish4244]

I recognize ROTJ's flaws, but it was by far my favourite Star Wars film when I was a child, as with many children, so I think it will always truly be my favourite. Objectively Rogue One has beaten it in my head, but not subjectively.

[@DayTripperrr]

valar rogue one just had boring characters and a really uninteresting plot.People didn’t go into rogue one with much expectation but with return with had tons.For me Return of the Jedi has the better story and characters.Objectivity rogue one was pointless and with uninteresting characters and story that’s why the ceo forced a Vader seen last second.

[@jaquen1977]

The Kingslayer You nailed it. Rouge One is a well polished, but ultimately vapid, piece of licensed fan filmmaking. It’s utterly pointless.

[@motherrussia5066]

@@jaquen1977 your lives are pointless

[@leejones66]

So weird him talking about episodes 1,2,3,7,8 and 9 and sad he did not get to live to see them R.I.P Richard you did a great job on Return of the Jedi

[@MrLozza70]

The cast loved Richard. Great film, a shame we didn't see more from him.

[@amaxamon]

If you go back to interviews before the Cult of ESB took over SW fandom, the cast all praised RM and complained abt IK. Now they do the opposite because they know they'll get instant applause and cheers for saying that ESB was the best.

[@nagudelomusic]

Well, not in my mind. I'll always prefer ROTJ. Is a fun ride, is epic, the scale of events is overwhelming. And also brings back a bit of the light humor that made the original Star Wars so remarkable. ESB is well overrated, in my opinion.

[@cjaquilino]

amaxamon The actors like one director better than another doesn’t translate to one movie being better than another.

[@mariobabbo3497]

Mr. Marquand will be missed.

[@squamish4244]

I read the Making of Return of the Jedi book that was released a few years ago. (I highly recommend the book to any uber-fans, although it took me about a month to read over dinner lol) This movie was a monstrous undertaking and a very difficult shoot in parts. Making a film like this in the 1980s, without CGI, took insane next level talent and hard work, literally up until *hours* before the completed film reel was delivered to Paramount. Marquand handled all the press for the movie, as an exhausted George Lucas dropped everything and left for Sri Lanka where shooting on Temple of Doom had started.

[@silverwheel]

I love Richard Marquand, and I think this movie reflects him and his talents more strongly than is often assumed. He frequently gets dismissed as George's avatar, but I think he contributed much more than that. Watching his previous film Eye Of The Needle, it's a fine spy film with good suspense but it really stands out because its characters all have strong arcs and Marquand handles all of them very well. It ends up being a lot less superficial than it could have been. I think Marquand brought a similar kind of depth to ROTJ, and it's why the scenes with Luke and Vader work so well. Of course I would love to see what David Lynch could have done with the movie, but I also very happy that we got the movie that we did. As impressive as its spectacle is, it really boils down to the characters and Marquand made those themes of reconciliation and redemption very potent and emotional.

[@gaiusflaminius4861]

You read my thoughts!

[@LukeLittleboy]

Simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[@ashleywhite9858]

I've always loved Episode VI, never understood why people didn't like it as much as the other two...

[@gaiusflaminius4861]

+MJJ AEW So true, man. I never was able to stop at watching just TESB, I needed a doze of triumphant relief and watched ROTJ more times than TESB. A fantastic movie, and I love how characters are treated, especially Leia and Solo (my fans of all time).

[@gaiusflaminius4861]

Ewoks were cool, I liked them (would like some reference in the new Trilogy), Solo matured, Gary Kurtz not a big loss since script was written by Kasdan anyways and Kazanian did the job splendidly. Anyone is rescindable, there no irreplaceable. Rubber puppets in laughably great quantities were present in Episode 4 also in Mos Eisley Cantina.

[@CalmaxFilm]

Thank you very much for sharing this. Return of the Jedi is an extraordinary movie.

[@jediknightgeo]

@Rob Wainfur thank you SO MUCH for uploading this video. I've been trying to get ANY information on Richard for a LONG time. People always kind of tend to forget ROTJ.

[@Thebeardedtrio]

You are welcome. Thank you for the kind words - Rob

[@Thebeardedtrio]

In response to Shonaripa's comment. I met David Prowse a few months back and asked him about Marquand. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then the next person behind me asked him a general question about Star Wars. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. I guess he resents Star Wars due to being left out of the points bonus. Although he's happy to attend every convention and make money off Star Wars. Just saying. In regards to Marquand and Prowse. They didn't get on but not everyone will see eye to eye and get on with everyone. There will always be personality clashes in life and I think this is one of them - Rob

[@WalesintheMovies]

+The Bearded Trio Nice post Bearded Trio. Richard Marquand seemed like a real nice fella.

[@davids2254]

​@WalesintheMovies for real "I knew the first two movies end to end" dude was a fan and knew how the characters were the main draw to it all. It was the drama that we all wanted then and now and even though it was a contrast to ESB. A real fan and model to the rest of us.

[@mariobabbo3497]

Mr. Marquand was a great man and filmmaker. This Welsh director was far to young to die and he will always remain in the production history of Star Wars.

[@johnbleakley4125]

I was 11 years-old when the first movie came out so I grew up with the original trilogy of movies. It's those three movies I grew up with and loved so much and still do! 🙂

[@shepherdstar14]

1, 2, and 3 we have known and certainly have seen the fruits of, but now heralds 7, 8 and 9 and what a perfect way to start in the middle, then go back to the past, as cumbersome as it was, then back way into the future a true sequel to the original trilogy.

[@crisfrey2753]

ROTJ is my favorite, I'm glad this genius directed it

[@Hyperuniverse1]

David Prowse hates this guy. He says that today Richard is somewhere up there (pointing up to heaven) or down there (meaning hell obviously). He would never talk to Prowse, arrogant and conceited according to many. Prowse says ROTJ was the worst moviemaking experience for him of the entire trilogy. Largely because of this guy. I like ROTJ though, very good film, however it's clear it went down a bit in quality since ESB.

[@cripplehawk]

I guess Lucas and Marquand got along well. Sources say that they did not like each other. However Lucas admitted Marquand needed help with some of the special effect shots etc (keep in mind special effects on a grand scale were not common back then. Now we get them all the time).

[@scrutinizer0136]

"Sources say that they did not like each other" - what sources? Rinzler's "Making of ROTJ" - the most comprehensive research to this day - says nothing on that.

[@cripplehawk]

imdb

[@scrutinizer0136]

cripplehawk imdb is not a reliable source and doesn't belong to the category of prime priority sources. Furthermore, it's not a source at all since it in turn uses other sources often not credible enough.

[@Cloud-dt6xb]

I knew Irvin was gone by now but learning about him too was a bummer although this does answer why I have'nt seen him in interviews regarding Star Wars as I just learned about this today.

[@amaxamon]

Awesome! RM did an amazing job, much better than IK IMO.

[@T3Daioh2003Azumanga]

fun fact: this is the same individual who voiced one of the psychopathic interrogator droids in jabba's palace (character is EV-9D9 - i can't stand that droid. just nuttier than a fruitcake, and a horrible female droid)

[@sleazymeezy]

Reddit gang rise up

[@j.b.9260]

No Welsh accent, though.

[@sleazymeezy]

Accents arent set until around 16, if you move to another part of the world before then your accent may change. I dont know this guys story but it may be an insight *shrugs*

[@assclappinsomeonerightnow]

Rip Richard marquand:(