New documentary on original Darth Vader actor

TWO Mallorcan born producer/directors, Marcos Cabotá (34) and Toni Bestard (42), will preview their documentary film ‘I Am Your Father’ which is about veteran actor David Prowse MBE (80) during the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, which takes place between November 10 and 16.

Older readers will remember former bodybuilder Dave Prowse as the Green Cross Code man and then the body of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. He was spotted by George Lucas when he appeared in A Clockwork Orange and was invited to play the man from the ‘dark side’ but his voice was not considered appropriate for the character and although he remained behind the mask, all of the vocal work was undertaken by American actor James Earl Jones.

The title refers to the fact that Darth Vader says to Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back: “No, I am your father” but as well as losing his voice, when the time came for Luke to remove his father’s mask in Return of the Jedi the face shown was that of actor Sebastian Shaw, not Dave Prowse, who didn’t even know that this was going to happen.

The film will have its official premiere in Palma later in November and will then go on general release. Any story about the actor who played one of the most famous cinematic villains of all times and explains the twists and turns of the casting is bound to be warmly welcomed by Star Wars aficionados around the world.