The Phantom Menace - London Premiere

On Wednesday 14th July 1999 I happened to be in Leicester Square, London, with my camera. I joined the crowds gathering outside the Odeon, waiting to catch a glimpse of some of the stars of the new Star Wars movie, The Phantom Menace. This would also be a great opportunity for me to get some ideas for the premiere for my own movie, Foiled. Well, maybe not on this scale...

While we waited the press were keeping busy. A Darth Maul lookalike was photographed from all angles fighting with a double-bladed lightsaber that seemed to fall apart every time it hit something... people all around me were interviewed for news channels, camera flashes were going off everywhere, and guys with video-cameras kept running up and down the lines of fans.

First arrivals were Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2D2), who were immediately pounced upon by a swarm of interviewers. They spent some time outside before vanishing into the cinema. Kenny later reappeared on the balcony with a microphone in one hand, saying "may the force be with you" and waving to the crazed people below.

Shortly after this, people began to arrive thick and fast. I tried to get pictures of all the main actors, but because of the jostling crowds around me many of the photos came out blurred. I've put some of the best here on this page. After the bulk of the attendees had arrived and were waiting for Prince Charles to turn up, Queen Amidala herself put in an appearance on the balcony! She tried her best to maintain a straight face but with all the attention from below she couldn't help but give us a big grin.

Enough of the descriptions, here's what you've been waiting for, the pictures...