LONDON — Christopher John “Kit” West, the mechanical special effects ace behind such films as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” for which he won an Academy Award, and “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi,” died April 16 at his home here. He was 80.
MSTies will recall that he did special effects photography for the movie in episode 111- MOON ZERO TWO.
The Hollywood Reporter has the story here.
Thanks to Timmy for the initial catch and to Paul for noting the THR story.
My students recently saw Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time and as the credits started to roll, I noted Kit West’s credit. R.I.P. sir, you did indeed move up in the world.
Is he wearing a Legion flight ring? He was from the 30th century!
For what’s it worth, Moon Zero Two was a pretty nifty movie says I.
Moon Zero Two is indeed a pretty good film in it’s own right. Honestly, most of it’s hokiness is due the era in which it was made. They did a decent job on the science behind the plot..not so well in projecting future tech.
damn! this guy was probably where jack black got his “face-melting” heavy-metal routine for “school of rock” at least… no doubt the source of many of my childhood nightmares. (thanks to an overly-religious family, i took the ending a bit too seriously at the time.)
i never need much prompting to go back and try “moon zero two” again; i dig it’s hinky late-sixties/early-seventies-ish vibe. it must’ve had a sountrack album out someplace; i know i’ve heard it sampled in a “future sound of london” track once (the saxophony bit just past the “hero” and mz. von schell jumping out of the mining car before it explodes in the last quarter-hour).
terribly movie… terrible haircuts. nice, albeit dated soundtrack +moonbebes!