The film contains a fantastic sequence where the pilot searches for the Little Prince. It takes in canyon, dunes, salt flats and oasis.
A quick dash through the Star Wars canyon. Seen here dashing past the rocks from which Mark Hamill spotted the Tusken Raiders then past exactly the same spot that Alec Guiness and George Lucas sat out in their directors chairs between takes 2 years later.
Out onto the large dunes but no sign of C3PO.
The large fish skeleton predating the Krayt Dragon by 2 years is placed out on the Chott.
"Over here !"
Prototype Krayt Dragon perhaps ?
Unknown Tunisian location
Bob Fosse (Director of Cabaret) as the Snake. In this dance number he shows us (and probably Michael Jackson as well) how to do the Moon Walk.
The Little Prince arrives on Earth, and what a place to pick. Maybe he just spotted a runaway droid? The shadows suggest he landed at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
George and Alec chill out (look at that coat - it must be cold) between takes. The same spot as seen in 'The Little Prince' above.
Mark Hamill hanging out by Sidi Bouhlel above the Star Wars canyon. A great reference shot showing the exact location of the sandcrawler in the parking lot outside the canyon, also notice the R2D2 rock down in the canyon below. Also worth mentioning is that the track in the upper right leads to the Raiders' Tanis digs and truck chase locations.
R2D2 trundles along little realising just what's in store for him, best check behind the rock before you set up for your picture! Probably THE most famous rock in the Star Wars universe, and still in good shape today despite being soft sandstone.
For Attack Of The Clones, Lucasfilm dressed up the Sidi Driss hotel (in Matmata) to look just as it did when they last filmed there back in 1976. This time the film set stayed behind after filming, minus the Vaporator. The manager allows tourists to tour the set and can even be 'persuaded' to allow you to dine in the filming area.
Tusken Raiders hiding above the canyon watch Luke approach in his land speeder searching for R2D2.
Among a small cluster of large rocks Luke searches for R2D2, imagine not seeing the Tusken Raider crouched down right in front of him!
Down in the canyon atop one of the large rocks Luke fights for his life. Notice how around the large rocks the craftsmen have constructed safety platforms (complete with mattresses) for this scene.
A view of the battle from the viewpoint of C3PO after he fell from the rock and lost an arm.
Our first sighting of 'Old Ben'. This shot is facing North, notice how the sun rising in the East leaves the East wall of the canyon in shadow. Showing that this scene was filmed in the morning.
Atop the Mos Eisley lookout there's rather a different scene to that in the movie. Looking back down into the valley at the rocks where Luke was attacked by the Tusken Raiders and was later found by Ben, also where Indiana Jones slipped away from the procession of the Ark.
"These aren't the droids we're looking for". In the village of Ajim on the isle of Jerba the scenes outside the Cantina were filmed. On this street corner Luke and Ben were stopped at a checkpoint before proceeding on to the Cantina.
"Stop that ship. Blast them". Just around the corner in Ajim stormtroopers turn and watch the Falcon leave Tatooine. Back in April 1976 the area was not very built up and you could see the checkpoint from here. Now however, nearly 30 years of building and alterations mean the area is hardly recognisable.
Inside the medina at Sousse (in the Ksar Er-Ribat) this courtyard served as the Roman soldiers garrison and where Jesus (Robert Powell) was flogged.
The external walls of the Sousse medina portray the walls of Jerusalem, as they did two years later for the Monty Python gang. The exterior of the kasbah, museum and the Phare tower. This area is now built-up. The open area used for filming is now an ampitheatre.
The Ribat at Monastir filled-in as part of the Temple in Jerusalem. The approach ramp and upper walkway is genuine but the Temple gateway is all film set.
In the opposite corner of the Ribat the crew constructed the offices of Pontius Pilate. The tower really gives this location away. Quite a lot of set was constructed on the first level.
Inside the exterior walls of Sousse medina was used as part of the route of the crucifixion. Visible at the back is the Phare tower.
Keith Moon (drummer - The Who) was to have flown out but sadly died just before filming started.
George Harrison (The Beatles, Handmade Films) played a small part.
Spike Milligan was on holiday nearby and was asked to play a small part.
Source: Michael Palin, Diaries 1969-1979
The external walls of the Sousse medina portray the walls of Jerusalem. The exterior of the kasbah, museum and the Phare tower. In the intervening years the area has been turned into an amphitheatre with nearby houses and shops. Even the gateway Brian uses to flee the city has been bricked up!
The other side of the gateway Brian uses to flee the city has been bricked up! On the other side, what used to be an open, undeveloped area has been turned into an outdoor theatre.
The Ribat at Monastir also filled-in as the office of Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin). Back in 1977, in the infancy of Tunisian tourism, the Ribat was in a dilapidated state of repair. The monies raised from the 2 movies and increased tourism in general have meant that much needed restoration and preservation work has been performed on this building.
In the opposite corner of the Ribat stands the tower that Brian (Graham Chapman) leaps from before being picked up by a friendly passing alien.
The colosseum scenes were not filmed at El-Jem (as most would suppose) They were filmed at the ampitheater at Carthage, near Tunis. Source: Diaries: 1969-1979 by Michael Palin.
The crucifixion scenes and the sermon on the mount were filmed at El-Haddej, near Matmata. Source: Diaries by Michael Palin and Sahara by Michael Palin.
Indy goes for a walk with Marion.
Location in Kairouan at two of the four gates at Bab Tunis.
Marion is kidnapped and about to be taken for a ride.
Location in Kairouan at Bab Tunis. From Av. 7 Novembre take an alleyway
that opens out into this yard, use the tower as your guide.
Marion makes her escape. Although it might look like a square this is just part of the main street running through the middle of Kairouan. Actually if you pause the DVD just where the German agent is looking out of his balcony window you can make out this doorway.
Indy goes after the basket.
Many alleyways around Av. 7 Novembre were used for the fleeing kidnappers.
You could easily spend a whole day wandering around Kairouan spotting the
individual alleyways. In any case it doesn't matter if you don't find one
as the city is a wonderful place to explore, with the sounds of shoe-makers
and carpenters, the smell of spicy food, the colours and architecture all
to take in. This one is located next to the famous camel powered well 'Bir
Barouta' and is now a music / photo store.
After losing Marion Indy goes for a drink to drown his sorrows. Though in reality this is an alcohol-free zone. Now a pizza cafe on the. Av 7 Novembre near Bab ech Chouhada, a few years ago it was a typical Tunisian pottery shop.
Indy goes chasing after the German truck convoy,
he's in for more than he bargained for!
Photo taken from the narrow approach road to Sidi Bouhlel.
Indy goes chasing after the German truck convoy,
he's in for more than he bargained for!
This track eventually leads to the sandcrawler parking lot and is a
continuation of the track in the photo below. This section of the
track is a river in the rainy season (as is the Star Wars canyon)
and is disused and overgrown now with grasses and bushes.
Indy goes chasing after the German truck convoy,
he's in for more than he bargained for!
This track eventually leads to the sandcrawler parking lot.
Having re-taken the truck Indy makes it back to Cairo
and a useful garage.
Location in Kairouan at Place Zarrouk. The Mosque Of The Three Doors can
be seen in the background in certain shots taken in this open square.
This is the same square Indy shot the sword twirling assasin earlier
in the movie.
The procession gets underway, little knowing they are
being tailed!
This location is a little further down the canyon than all the original
Star Wars locations so maybe that's why it doesn't get many visitors?
There's that ledge from The English Patient in the centre of the picture.
If you do ever visit this canyon don't just stop at the Star Wars locations,
walk on it's a wonderful place!
The procession carries on yet somehow they seem to have got themselves closer to the entrance to the canyon! That's editing for you. Here they are about to parade in front of George Lucas' directors chair.
The same scene from a different angle. Recognise that rock outcrop at the top centre and those large jagged rocks just to the right of it?
Indy tries to bluff the Germans. About half way along the canyon a small trench in the centre opens out into another little canyon. This taken from the floor of the second canyon looking up at the first canyon by the large jagged rocks.
The same scene from the reverse angle.
For this shot Harrison Ford had to step back from the ledge about 10 paces so the camera could get in tight and low. Notice how Sidi Bouhlel was just out of camera shot on the right.
The view on the second canyon floor.
Toht (Ronald Lacey) takes a rest - well wouldn't you dressed like that in the heat? Kevin dresses more sensibly. Along the canyon ridge just above Toht's head is the ledge where Ralph Fiennes carried Kristin Scott Thomas into the cave (The English Patient).
The survey group's base camp at Angejemel (Camel Rock) in the Chott-el-Gharsa 35km outside Tozeur.
The rock of the 'lady laying on her side' that Count Laszlo (Ralph Fiennes) sketches. Here you can see which bits were CGI'd in.
In this scene Lazlo gives Katharine a silver thimble of saffron which she secretly wears throughout the film. This was filmed in the medina in Sfax in the Blacksmith's Souk close to Bab Jebil. The medina is a huge producer of shoes.
Another angle of the same scene. As they emerge through an arch and climb the steps back to the hotel they are filming back in Italy.
Lazlo discovers the Cave Of Swimmers. Nothing remains of the fake cave entrance except the original surrounding rocks, a block of concrete (presumably used for mounting the camera on for the photo below) and a line of resin on the remaining rocks where the cave was stuck on.
Lazlo discovers the Cave Of Swimmers. This reverse shot was from the back of the cave in Tunisia showing how small it really was on location. The cave was built of fiberglass for the shoot and was removed (presumably) immediately after filming completed.
After discovering the Cave Of Swimmers the party set about documenting it. The cave entrance was made of fiberglass over the existing rocks in the canyon. The interior cave scenes were filmed in the studio in Rome (Cinecittà Studios).
The natural rocks just outside the cave are distinctive yet typical of this part of the canyon.
Count Laszlo carries the injured Katharine (Kristin Scott Thomas) along the ledge toward the cave.
Count Laszlo on his journey to find help for Katharine. This location filmed in the canyon at Midés (a short distance from Tozeur).
The German army parachutes into Tobruk. This location filmed in Mahdia on the main beach. On the point of land that juts out into the Mediterranean is the Muslim cemetery and another filming location.
"Halt!" screams the guard and Moose (Willem Dafoe) can kiss his thumbs goodbye. This location filmed in Mahdia out toward the Muslim cemetery and lighthouse. The Mediterranean sea is directly behind the camera.
The 2nd unit prepare to film a Tusken Raider taking aim at the pod-racers. Kevin gets set to blast any passing pod-racers, but with a camera tripod!? Coincidentally those rocks on the canyon floor are the very ones on which Luke Skywalker was beaten unconscious by a Tusken Raider in Star Wars 1976, and a certain Indiana Jones stood in front of to exclaim "I'm going to blow up the Ark".
Filmed on the floor of the Star Wars canyon at Sidi Bouhlel near the well in the middle of the canyon.
On the top of the canyon wall just behind Sidi Bouhlel. Compare this with shots from The Little Prince and Star Wars, obviously a popular directors choice.
The crew built a small cave entrance in the canyon for this scene. Unfortunately, after it was removed, visiting fans always assumed that the remnants were the cave from The English Patient and reported it as such. Visiting fan Mitch Darby was lucky enough to see it still intact in 2000, though he did not know at the time which film it had been built for.
View of Sidi Bouhlel from the approach road.
About 7 km NE of Metlaoui on the C122. The same bus is still running the same route.
The salt factory on the road crossing the Chott el Jerid.