James Earl VADER
- Thread starter RobertScorpio
- Start date
I don't know. Chain-smoking Lucille Ball could have done it.
"THERE ARE FOUR JEDI!"
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Luke, I have to tell you some news that might disturb you. Let me say again, I am very sorry to have to be the one to tell you this; but I am, indeed, your father.
PicardVader
I think Orson Welles was Lucas' other choice to voice the role. His is a fairly distinctive and menacing voice too. Had he played it, I've no doubt that there'd be a post now saying how irreplaceable he was. Though, I don't know what Lucas would have done for Ep III, given that Welles died in the 1980s ...
But I think JEJ has the edge. Every time you see him in anything, you think of Vader as soon as he opens his mouth - or even beforehand. Well, I do, anyway.
Respectfully, that is total bollocks. Dave Prowse was a former champion bodybuilder and knew the power of a good stance and pose. The hand on the hips, the pointed finger the head fixed at an imperious angle and the imposing stature - that's all his. Sure, his voice would have been laughable as Vader (Vader is - a Wurzel?!) but Vader is all about the package - sight and sound.
But I think JEJ has the edge. Every time you see him in anything, you think of Vader as soon as he opens his mouth - or even beforehand. Well, I do, anyway.
Respectfully, that is total bollocks. Dave Prowse was a former champion bodybuilder and knew the power of a good stance and pose. The hand on the hips, the pointed finger the head fixed at an imperious angle and the imposing stature - that's all his. Sure, his voice would have been laughable as Vader (Vader is - a Wurzel?!) but Vader is all about the package - sight and sound.
Vader: "Report!"
Moff Tarkin: "My Lord. We believe we have found the Rebel base."
Vader: "All senior staff in my Ready Room in 5 minutes!"
MeanJoePhaser
Admiral
Lurch...Ted Cassidy, which would've messed things up since he passed away in 1979.
I like those youtube videos where Vader's lines are dubbed over with Jones's lines from other movies...there's something about Vader talking to minions about baseball.
I like those youtube videos where Vader's lines are dubbed over with Jones's lines from other movies...there's something about Vader talking to minions about baseball.
Voicewise, I think James Earl Jones would have been tough to beat
If you had to go with an alternative (Though it would definitely been different), how about Brian Blessed?
If you had to go with an alternative (Though it would definitely been different), how about Brian Blessed?
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Voicewise, I think James Earl Jones would have been tough to beat
If you had to go with an alternative (Though it would definitely been different), how about Brian Blessed?
Not bad....what about Richard Harris? I always liked his voice. Not menacing enough, perhaps.
Rob
I remember reading that Lucas didn't write in much if any in the way of directions/instructions for how Vader was portrayed on screen and that what we saw - as you say above - is all Prowse.
This I might have gone with. But James' voice has more timbre - Welles is an excellent actor but even as Arkadin he doesn't growl such sheer menace.
Well, Ralph McQuarrie's design of the Darth Vader costume is absolutely vital to his exuding of menace. Indeed I think it's why we needed a voice actor in the first place - IIRC, it was originally designed to be the spacesuit he wore when boarding the Tantive IV, but it was just so damn cool looking it became his face (presumably he would have been a normal actor otherwise).
That said Temis is right; as good as he was, Prowse could not have saved the role.
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I completely agree...while also adding Bob Anderson to the list. He's the fencing coach and stuntman who did all the lightsaber dueling in costume as Vader for Empire and Jedi.
That is correct. The concept art of Vader's original look is amazing. He was also to have had a blaster holstered on his hip.
I think that each person who made up Darth Vader (and I will add Ben Burtt to the mix) were essential for the character. It really was one of those rare characters that is greater than the sum of his parts.
Ah I guess that would be those pictures of Vader where the two tubes are coming out of the helmet?
Ah, but that's not what she said. Read it again. And I didn't say Prowse alone made it. But to dismiss his input - and that of Bob Anderson and the costume creator (McQuarrie) - and say that JEJ created Vader does the rest a total disservice.
Jim Varney. "Know whut ah MEAN, Vern?"
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