Friday 2 January 2015

BEHIND THE SCENES: DEAD MAN TALKING!

Captain Antilles (Peter Geddis) is threatened by Darth Vader (Dave Prowse) on the captured Blockade Runner (aka Rebel Starfighter) - filmed at Elstree Studios in July 1976. Image: Ann Skinner.

From the Revised Fourth Draft Script of 15th March 1976, for THE STAR WARS:

INT: REBEL STARFIGHTER - COCKPIT CORRIDOR

The evil Darth Vader stands among the broken and twisted bodies of his foes. He grabs a wounded rebel officer by the neck and holds him high above the ground. An Imperial officer rushes up to the Dark Lord.

IMPERIAL OFFICER: The information retrieval system has been wiped clean.

Vader squeezes the neck of the rebel trooper, who struggles in vain.

VADER: Where is the data you intercepted? What have you done with those information tapes?

REBEL OFFICER: We intercepted no information! This is a consular ship... didn't you see our markings? We're on a diplomatic mission...

VADER: (Angry) Where are those tapes?

REBEL OFFICER: Only... only the commander knows (that)...

VADER: This ship carries the crest of Alderaan? Is any of the royal family on board? Who are you carrying?

The rebel refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the Dark Lord begins to squeeze the officer's throat, creating a gruesome snapping and choking., until the soldier goes limp. Vader tosses the dead soldier against the wall and turns to his troops.

VADER: Start tearing this ship apart piece by piece until you have those tapes. Find the passengers of this vessel. I want them alive. 

The Stormtroopers scurry into the sub-hallways.

All of the dialogue for this scene -used and unused- was filmed and voiced by Dave Prowse as Vader, in July 1976.

Darth Vaders Voice Before Voice Over - YouTube

If you're in the UK and haven't yet visited the lovely exhibition of Ann Skinner's behind the scenes polaroids and continuity script pages for the original filming of STAR WARS, on display in the Atrium Gallery at the London Waterloo BFI, you've got until this Sunday, 4th January 2015. It's free admission.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF 'STAR WARS' AT THE BFI - DECEMBER 2014
On the set of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope | BFI

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