You might have thought there was an art to the Star Wars film. Well, there certainly is now, reports CHARLES HUTCHINSON

IN the beginning, Star Wars was the dream of just one man: George Lucas. He invented the world of Star Wars, its characters and their stories. So begins this journey into the science-fiction film phenomenon of the 20th century, the introductory words appearing and disappearing on a star-lit screen in the tradition of all Lucas's movies.

Courtesy of the LucasFilm Ltd empire, more than 200 original archive objects have gone on show, seen first at the Barbican in London, and now newly installed in Bradford for six months.

For the first time, there is the chance to see up close the artistic process behind the making of the films, the original trilogy of Star Wars (A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, and last year's return, The Phantom Menace.

Everything stays behind glass, but children will be thrilled to stand by the towering Chewbacca and skeletal battle droids or enter the dark, deathly, red-lit chamber where an original Darth Vader costume is brought to life through sound and light effects. And wherever you wander, his 60-fags-a-day heavy breathing bothers you.

I may be alone in this, but I have always found the Star Wars movies to speed by too quickly to appreciate fully the detail and artistry behind the films. The Art Of Star Wars redresses the balance, paying tribute to the work of the creative talent that realised Lucas's dreams on screen: the graphic artists; model makers; set and costume designers; special effects artists; sound experts and music makers.

The exhibition progresses through the creative process, starting with the artwork: the production paintings by concept designers Ralph McQuarrie, the former graphic artist for Boeing air and spacecraft, and Doug Chiang, visual effects art director at Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects wing of the Lucas world. Stay awhile amid these paintings to appreciate their graphic realism and intense detail.

From storyboards to matte paintings, used to create backdrops for film scenes, the exhibition moves on to Creatures, with concept design paintings and models of Yoda and Jabba the Hutt, and a comprehensive section on the making of the jive-talking, Travolta-walking Jar Jar Bink.

Alas he was the most irritating new arrival in the Phantom movie so, moving swiftly along, watch in admiration the video sequence on the creation of the Pod-racers, arguably the finest achievement of Phantom, and look with boffin excitement at the assorted forms of transportation, the spaceships and vehicles in their various sizes and guises, at last grounded after ripping across the sky or desert terrain in the cause of Star Wars.

The galaxy of costumes is fascinating: Princess Leia's is surprisingly small; Queen Amidala's is as madly bold as anything on a Paris catwalk; C-3PO is gleaming and golden and camp even when not moving.

The Art Of Star Wars moves into the 21st century age of exhibitions by providing interactive "resource areas". These include an animatronic model of Ree-Yees (equipped with a joy stick to move the eyes and mouth); a selection of Pod-racer and Star Wars computer games, and a sound booth with a guide to the use of special effects, music and voices in creating the sounds of Star Wars. Be patient, make the most of the sound section; listen and learn plenty of trade secrets here!

Who should be present on the press day but Anthony Daniels, appropriately seated by the C-3PO armour plating he has worn through the Star Wars years. Describing the Star Wars archive as a "world cultural heritage", he went on to say: "What I like about this exhibition, as a visitor, is that we're all in a theatre experience. The feeling that you get as you walk around is that with all the curves and twists of the exhibition design you keep coming across characters around corners, and all the time you can hear Darth Vader in the distance.

"I love the way they have managed to turn objects that could have seemed dead into being so animated."

Spot on, Anthony, you have summed up perfectly The Art Of Star Wars.

The Art Of Star Wars, National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford, until April 29 2001. Exhibition prices: adults £6; concessions £4.50; saver (one adult, two children) £12; children aged under five free; season ticket (unlimited number of visits) £15, concessions £11.50. Ring 01274 202030.