David Prowse

It is, you know, it's like, there needs to be a Criterion-like sub-channel that's just dedicated to restoring... original voice actors, you know, cuts of the movies and getting them out there.

I'm sure Dave Prowse would get on board and be heavily lobbying to have the original version of Darth Vader with his voice released on that label as well.

I mean, if that audio track even exists, like, because the guy that plays Nelson does dub his own voice, and you wonder why they couldn't just use the audio from his actual performance.

Like, why are they dubbing the English actors at all, I guess? And maybe there's, like, a technological reason from, you know, how they made movies in the 60s.

Well, we were also in the same class as Darth Vader, would you believe? [laughs]

Oh, yes, Dave Prowse.

Yes.

He was also in that same class-

Yes, I know Dave Prowse

... apparently.

It's, it's funny you should mention.

It was played by Freddie Jones.

The Horror of Frankenstein, 1970, played by David Prowse.

This is a black comedy, the last one that they made, and it's a remake of The Curse of Frankenstein.

It's called Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, 1974, also David Prowse as the creature.

And you remember who David Prowse is.

He's the actual Darth Vader.

He's the body of Darth Vader.

Welcome back to Off Grid with me, Void.

And me, Dave.

Where it's really not really about crosswords.

But we have had a look at one to fish out some subjects to natter about.

Good to have you back.

It's nice to be back.

We will also each explain, scattered through the pod, the workings of one favourite clue, starting with Dave's choice.

Thank you.

He appeared in all these movie roles.

He was basically like the '60s version of David Prowse, you know? Who would just like-

Right, yeah

... who traded his fame on being a strongman, eventually became Darth Vader because he was a strongman.

They dubbed his voice.

But then something like Star Wars, when you hear David Prowse saying the lines, you're like, yeah, it's it's a good thing.

Hey, Mike, what do you think? And you're like, no, you're not scary.

You know, leave it to me.

Let's run through the cast.

We have Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, David Prowse as Darth Vader, James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Frank Oz as Yoda, both puppeteering and voice, and Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Empire Strikes Back has a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas, and was directed by Irvin Kershner.

Star Wars, you might have heard of it.

When it came to casting, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker all reprised their roles from Star Wars.

Hamill spent four months bodybuilding and learning karate, fencing, and kendo to prepare for the role and the extensive stunts he would perform mostly himself.

David Prowse was hesitant to return as Darth Vader due to the perceived lack of job security being behind a mask.

But he was basically told the role was his, but if he kept delaying a return, they'd have no choice but to give it to someone else.