The legend that is Ralph McQuarrie left this blighted planet recently, the better for him having graced it.
For those who are unaware of McQuarrie's work (you may not know the name but you will know the imagery) he is solely responsible for many of the iconic images that underpinned George Lucas' "Star Wars" trilogy. My favourite McQuarrie story though, is a one that Lucas tells often.
George was shopping his "The Star Wars.The Adventures of Luke Starkiller" all over Hollywood, and had been rejected at every turn. Not one Hollywood exec could "see" his vision, let alone believe in it enough to invest the $9 million (yep $9 million!!) required to realise it.
In desperation Lucas turned to industrial designer Ralph McQuarrie (who was working for Boeing at the time) and commissioned him to produce some conceptual paintings illustrating the script. This McQuarrie duly did and, in doing so enshrined a look (particularly for Vader) that would be adopted as lore for the entire series.
With McQuarrie's work tucked under his arm Lucas set up a meet with Alan Ladd Jr at Twentieth Century Fox. The script met with the same raised eyebrows but, when Lucas showed the paintings...well, let's just say that the film-making landscape changed irrevocably...and forever.
I love this story for two reasons. Firstly: it illustrates that Lucas has ALWAYS relied on the visual skill and imagination of others to bring his hackneyed concepts to life, Frequently standing on the shoulders of genius' like McQ to make himself artistically "Taller". Secondly: it confirms, as if confirmation were needed, the POWER of illustration. The crystalline simplicity of communication that is visual imagery and it's ability to stir the blood of the viewer.
Sail on McQ. Godspeed to you, sir...your immortality is assured.
Excelsior Out!
