Found while to going through huge Boba Fett search. ;) ...and thought Mark would like to see this...

This is allegedly in the LFL Archives. Is this the actual screen used Vader helmet? I thought Grunberg owned the screen used ROTJ Vader helmet. ...it's in his book.

I seriously can't stop looking at this photo. Wish there matching photos and other angles of the screen used ANH and ESB helmets. LOL

Where did this picture come from?

It's in the title of the thread.

Wow, great photo, I've never seen this.

The wired magazine article

https://www.wired.com/2015/05/ilms-icon ... p/#slide-2

Love this line from the article:
"The truly great stuff, though, that’s forever. Luke’s lightsaber. Darth Vader’s helmet. Indy’s whip. CGI is cool, but give us props. They’re the real source of movie magic—objects built from everyday materials that moviemakers transform into icons."

The book describes The G helmet is a tour helmet. Not screen used.
Evident in a thinner bottom flange to the dome

What a lovely helmet. Tour helmet or not that is really nice.

I was under the impression that used multiple helmets during RotJ, not just one hero.

Wish I could read French. ...So Grunberg's ROTJ Helmet is a tour helmet, and the one above, from the LFL archives, is the screen used helmet. Even better.

Yes, as Mickxc says, Mr Grunberg's awesome book mentions the Vader suit is a promo costume. That's also apparent from the unusual threaded ring on the top of the head, the strapping clasps (the type also used on the Don Post Deluxe mask), the lens colour, mouth and chin meshes and overall paint finish. It looks beautiful all the same though.


I google-translated the text, here's the very literal translation for anyone interested:

The success of Star Wars soon obliged the producers of the film to respond to the various demands of the public. The original costumes (especially Darth Vader and stormtroopers) made numerous appearances as part of promotional operations. In April 1981, at the very beginning of the pre-production phase of ROTJ six complete sets of hard pieces of the Darth Vader costume including the helmet, breastplate, epaulettes, control panel, belt and shin guards were made by the film crew at Elstree Studios. Most, if not all, of these ensembles were entrusted to NJ Farmer (a company specializing in in-store promotions). The latter took care to make the fabric and leather pieces according to the original patterns to complete the costumes and make them turn on the occasion of public appearances of the character. This costume shifted throughout the UK during the 1980s, especially in toy stores; Brought by the actor Robert James Leake, he thus made the happiness of the small and the big ones. Robert James claimed to have made the firguration in ROTJ with this costume. The actor is now deceased and it is difficult to determine whether the least element of the six costumes of 1981 appears in the film. This is the kind of mystery that has intrigued enthusiasts for decades.


I first heard of Farmer Studios over sixteen years ago and wrote to them once, I'll see if I can find their reply.

Craig, thanks you very much for posting that fantastic pic! Carsten's right, various helmets were used in ROTJ, including at least a couple of heroes. As nice as this one is I'm not wholly convinced its screen used, unless its been repainted. The green eye lenses could always be more recent replacements I guess, if they are indeed green, they look like it.

WTF is .... that:

https://assets.wired.com/photos/w_1200/ ... ellite.jpg

Is it possible those lenses have been digitally changed to that green colour?

I'm really loving the look of this helmet, and the bottom of the widows peak isn't too flat like some.

Likely a discoloration with age - very much like the photo of Grunberg's ROTJ helmet.

Wouldn't it be killer if the ROTJ Vader helmet had green tinted lenses - a la the Stormtroopers. LOL

Quite a drastic discolouration from brown/grey to green.

Guys. Photography isn't perfect. It can alter colors depending on the camera. Also, there can be a different colored item holding the helmet up, which then affects the lens color. It can also be reflecting the color of the room - and anyone who knows color, the surrounding color doesn't even have to be green, just a color that reacts with the amber color to generate the appearance of green. You can't judge lens color from picture of a helmet with the dome on - even with the dome off the color of the item behind the lenses can change their color. What I'm seeing is just dark lenses and won't bother thinking what their color is because that is impossible to determine in a picture like that. Frankly it just look like a reflection of the light used that creates that look.