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Break Time

Adam Rowe

• 3 min read
C-3PO drinks through a straw on set for 'Star Wars,' 1976.

In my last email, I said the topic for this next one would be "medieval computers" – I planned on showcasing a 80s/90s retro tech magazine illustration trend for combining the then-cutting edge personal computer with medieval and fantasy themes.

But it turns out that I really needed the Internet Archive in order to research. The Archive is not just a vital cultural resource that's still recovering from a hack a couple weeks ago; it's also particularly great for old tech magazine scans.

Hopefully the site will make a full recovery. Until then, none of the 20 links I need are working.

So I figured "taking a break" would be a good theme to cover instead. Not only are we taking a quick break from artwork itself this issue, but we'll be looking entirely at photos of other people taking breaks. Specifically, people on the sets of famous fantasy and sci-fi movies.

Everyone who never knows what image to use for the final "Q&A" slide of a PowerPoint presentation... this one's for you.

The alien from 'Alien' sits meekly on a stool.

You can check the alt text for quick descriptions of the actors and films.

Actress Kim Hunter, who played Zira in the first three Planet of the Apes, smokes while getting into costume.
A cyberman from Doctor Who has a smoke.
A guy tips a Dr Pepper towards the Michael Myers mask that's pulled up on his own forehead, as if giving it a drink.
A bald guy in a Xenomorph costum smokes while talking to someone else.
Brigitte Helm cools off on the set of Metropolis by drinking something with a straw, 1927.
Michael Dorn reads 'Yachts' magazine while in costume as Worf from Star Trek.
Chewbacca gets his hair combed
Kurt Russel plays around with John Carpenter while in costume as Snake Plissken.
Joan Crawford drinks Pepsi with a kid and someone in a monster costume while on set for her final film, 1970's 'Trog.'
Boris Karloff (I think?) drinks from a tea cup with his pinky out while in costume as Frankenstein's monster.

Alien (1979) has quite a few appearances – Here's a few more, including one of my favorites: This one featuring a bearded Ridley Scott and, to the right, designer HR Giger, both watching as another guy gives the Xenomorph a smoke.

'Alien' director Ridley Scott and designer HR Giger watch as another guy gives the Xenomorph a smoke.
Tom Skerritt and Veronica Cartwright take five on the set of Alien.
This one's via humanoidhistory on tumblr

Of course, the original Star Wars trilogy pops up a lot, as well. These next three are all from the Return of the Jedi set.

Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams hang out while Ford is upside-down for that one scene when he almost falls into the alien pit.
A green hog alien pretends to pick its nose.
A weird Muppet-like alien holds a rife while sitting on a crate.
Someone in costume as a kid ape for a Planet of the Apes movie gets their fur brushed.
A raven holds a match that Tippi Hedren uses to light her cigarette in a promo for Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds,' 1963.
via @darylandfilms on Twitter

Finally, an honorable mention goes to this image, which I screened out after realizing it's actually depicting a cool miniature, designed by this creator.

A Xenomorph sits on a couch playing with a Rubik's cube.

Next Time: Alien Landscapes