Orson Welles and Star Wars

Some thoughts about Welles and Star Wars I've wanted to share for quite a while.

So, as we all know, Lucas initially wanted Orson Welles as the voice of Darth Vader, but he was felt to be "too recognizable". Orson ended up doing that cool voice over in the trailer.

Now, I don't know how many of you are aware of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Peas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhWM4_pIKVg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02mtTO1Y8Q8

The point is, a couple of lines in Star Wars got me thinking. It was the exchange after Luke, Leia and Han get out of the trash compactor:

Princess Leia: I don't know who you are or where you came from, but from now on you'll do as I tell you, okay? 

Han Solo: Look, Your Worshipfulness, let's get one thing straight. I take orders from just one person: me. 

Princess Leia: It's a wonder you're still alive. 

[Pushing past Chewbacca] 

Princess Leia: Will someone get this big walking carpet out of my way? 

Han Solo: No reward is worth this. 

Now, as far fetched as it may sound, look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_ehxdlAlHQ

many lines are lifted, even if they're not word for word, from the Frozen Peas tape. It appears the outtake tape was passed along sound engineers for years. No official date is given, so it could very well have been the late 60s/ early 70s.

Now, let's think about Star Wars. We know some of the dialogue was improved or even improvised by the actors. Alec Guinness added "of course" to "you must do what you feel is right". Mark Hamill improvised that bit about cell block 1138 (much to George's annoyance)

Hamill had already worked as a voice actor previous to Star Wars. Could he have picked up some of those "frozen peas" in the recording booth, and somehow worked those lines into the movie?

What does the shooting script say? Or any of the drafts?