This year marks the 40th anniversary of Labyrinth, one of the most visually imaginative films ever made — and one that was forged through British studio craft and artistry at Elstree Studios.

Directed by Jim Henson, and Exec Produced by George Lucas, Labyrinth brought together puppetry, performance, design and practical ingenuity on a fantastically imaginative scale. The art department crew worked at Elstree Studios to bring the sets to life including forests, endless maze walls, the bog of eternal stench, and the Goblin City.

On The Elstree Project website, we’re proud to share a short documentary exploring exactly that:

Building Invisible Walls: Making Jim Henson’s ‘Labyrinth’:

A collection of first-hand stories from the people who helped bring the film to life:
• Martin Baker – Producer
• Ken Baker – First Assistant Director
• Barry Wilkinson – Props Master

Their recollections offer a rare insight into how Labyrinth was actually made by members of the production crew.

Watch the film here.

As ever, The Elstree Project is entirely independent and unfunded. If you value this kind of recorded history — and want to help us preserve more stories like these — your support makes a real difference.