When today's toy manufacturers launch a new action figure with myriad variations it's hard not to smile ruefully and picture the board meeting in which that decision was made and to hear the Kerching! of the cash register ringing in one's head as collectors scramble to add every version to their set. It's fun, therefore, to look back at vintage action figures with genuine oddities or variations depending on their country of origin or for reasons which are hard to explain. Kenner's Star Wars action figures practically invented band wagon film tie-in merchandising and this smiling Lando Calrissian is an excellent example of the variations out there.
Darker skin colour on neck
Lando Calrissian, the card playing gambler and smuggler friend of Han Solo, eventually becomes one of the original trilogy's heroes and this figure was released in 1980 to coincide with his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. The "smiling" version or "white teeth" variety shown here is actually a pretty good likeness of actor Billy Dee Williams who played him in the movies – more so than the alternative issue of this figure which Kenner released at the same time, the "non-smiling" or "no teeth" version.
COO and copyright information
My Lando comes with his original cape, albeit slightly torn under the armpit, as well as his blue Bespin blaster weapon and is in very good condition bar a little paint wear on his gun hand (a common play injury!) In addition to the very obvious full set of dazzling choppers, there are a couple of minor curiosities to note with this figure too. The skin colour on his neck is considerably darker to that of his face and the copyright information is spread over two legs, with China, the country of origin, stamped on a raised bar on the back of his left leg and the date and L.F.L. (Lucas Film Ltd) stamped on the right leg.
A welcome addition to the Star Wars collection!
 |
 STAR WARS VINTAGE 1980 Lando Calrissian 3 3 4 Loose Figure C9 C9+ Complete $9.99 Time Remaining: 11h 8m Buy It Now for only: $17.99 |
 Vintage Lando Calrissian smiling 1980 Star Wars Figure $6.02 Time Remaining: 11h 15m |
 Star Wars Lot LANDO CALRISSIAN and LOBOT Kenner 1980 Loose $1.49 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 21m |
 Star Wars VINTAGE Lando Calrissian 1980 COMPLETE $10.50 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 42m Buy It Now for only: $10.50 |
 Vintage Loose 1980 ESB Lando Calrissian Figure $5.99 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 24m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 Vintage Loose 1980 Star Wars ESB Lando Calrissian No Teeth AFA 90 HIGH GRADE $124.99 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 24m Buy It Now for only: $124.99 |
 1980 Lando Calrissian Complete Vintage Star Wars ESB $15.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 40m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 |
 Star Wars Vintage Lando Calrissian LFL 1980 2 $5.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
