Simply Sci-fi
Jedi Knight
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2014
- Messages
- 428
It's very well known that C-3PO as we know him was not what George Lucas had originally intended. The robot was due to be an "oily, car salesman" type, voiced by a yet un-cast American actor. I had a "light bulb" moment the other day when I realised that all of the actors and George Lucas in Star Wars thought he was going to be an oily American salesman and all of the characters seem to react to him as if he were. Anthony Daniels' "fussy robot butler" altered the dynamic of many scenes, perhaps the entire film, I believe for the better.
When C-3PO tells Luke Skywalker that "R2-D2 is a real bargain. I've worked with him before" there seems to be no doubt that he is telling the truth and that he only wishes to serve his fellow robot and new owner in the proper manner. If he had been a slick car salesman, his actions would have come across as being devious. Later Luke asks C-3PO about his experiences with the Rebel Alliance, the droid replies "Actually there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter and not very good at telling stories." If he had been the car salesman, it might have come across that he could not be bothered to explain. Luke does not press the matter, as if he's been spoken to in a more authorative way. In Ben Kenobi's hut, C-3PO asks if he would be allowed to shut for a while and there seems to be no doubt that he wishes to conserve power. The salesman's voice may have made it appear that C-3PO was bored with the conversation and wanted to go to sleep.
When C-3PO asks in the Death Star control room "What should R2-D2 and I do if we are discovered here?" it comes across as being something logical to ask in circumstances but the salesman's voice may have made the question sound sarcastic. The scripted reply of Luke Skywalker saying "Lock the door" and Han Solo adding "And hope they don't have blasters" comes across as being a reply to a sarcastic comment. It seems an uncaring thing to say to a robot butler who attempting to please. It may have been intended as a little "payback" for the salesman C-3PO who comes across as being obnoxious and selfish. It's easy to see why an obnoxious, loudmouth C-3PO would have been unpopular, with the bar tender not wanting a droid of that model in his cantina. Who wants a robotic loudmouth smutch winding up the customers? Han solo probably pulls a face when he meets C-3PO because he doesn't relish spending time cooped up with him. With people being nasty to the most innocent and helpful droid model in the galaxy, it adds an additional layer, of there being prejudice against all droids.
C-3PO's voice being a loudmouth salesman may have altered his relationship with Luke Skywalker. A parallel between the salesman C-3PO and Luke could be Dr Smith and Will Robinson in the television series Lost in Space. Dr Smith's utterly selfish and conniving character varied widely from cowering subservience to commanding authority depending on the situation he found himself in. Will Robinson was someone naïve enough to trick and cajole but strong enough for Smith to cower behind if any kind of danger appeared. Jonathan Harris may have been an actor who was able to fit a voice performance around Anthony Daniels' movements and I wonder if he ever tested for the role. Harris went on to play the conniving, cowardly robot Lucifer in Battlestar Galactica who was kind of an evil C-3PO.
With the salesman's voice, Luke and C-3PO may have been seen to jostle for authority. When C-3PO suggests removing R2-D2's restraining bolt, it might have been more of an order that Luke jumps too than a polite request. Mark Hamill does seem to jump as if he's received a command. Luke also treats C-3PO as being fairly capable. When he hands the droid the screwdriver and tells him "Here, see what you can do" he was probably talking to the salesman who might have been able to help. Asking the fussy butler C-3PO to take over repairing R2-D2 comes across as ridiculous and to me, a whole lot funnier. When Luke and C-3PO search for R2-D2, C-3PO is driving which seems strange for a soppy butler. The strong, loudmouth C-3PO could have easily driven a landspeeder. Luke Skywalker comes across a much better character dealing with Anthony Daniels, because he seems to treat C-3PO with respect, even though the droid is a soppy, useless butler. Luke is caring when others are not. If he had been seen to be taking orders from C-3PO, or jostling for authority, Luke would have come across as much weaker. Han Solo is given more of an edge in the way he treats the only-trying-to-please C-3PO. Originally he would have been seen to be showing Luke how to deal with a smarmy robot, which Luke copied in the "Shut the door" line.
If C-3PO had ended up as the loudmouth salesman, he might well have been the one sore point in the film for some people – a kind of Scrappy Doo or Jar Jar Binks. I believe that the Star Wars trilogy was provided with many additional layers of detail, with the inclusion of Anthony Daniels' fantastic performance.
When C-3PO tells Luke Skywalker that "R2-D2 is a real bargain. I've worked with him before" there seems to be no doubt that he is telling the truth and that he only wishes to serve his fellow robot and new owner in the proper manner. If he had been a slick car salesman, his actions would have come across as being devious. Later Luke asks C-3PO about his experiences with the Rebel Alliance, the droid replies "Actually there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter and not very good at telling stories." If he had been the car salesman, it might have come across that he could not be bothered to explain. Luke does not press the matter, as if he's been spoken to in a more authorative way. In Ben Kenobi's hut, C-3PO asks if he would be allowed to shut for a while and there seems to be no doubt that he wishes to conserve power. The salesman's voice may have made it appear that C-3PO was bored with the conversation and wanted to go to sleep.
When C-3PO asks in the Death Star control room "What should R2-D2 and I do if we are discovered here?" it comes across as being something logical to ask in circumstances but the salesman's voice may have made the question sound sarcastic. The scripted reply of Luke Skywalker saying "Lock the door" and Han Solo adding "And hope they don't have blasters" comes across as being a reply to a sarcastic comment. It seems an uncaring thing to say to a robot butler who attempting to please. It may have been intended as a little "payback" for the salesman C-3PO who comes across as being obnoxious and selfish. It's easy to see why an obnoxious, loudmouth C-3PO would have been unpopular, with the bar tender not wanting a droid of that model in his cantina. Who wants a robotic loudmouth smutch winding up the customers? Han solo probably pulls a face when he meets C-3PO because he doesn't relish spending time cooped up with him. With people being nasty to the most innocent and helpful droid model in the galaxy, it adds an additional layer, of there being prejudice against all droids.
C-3PO's voice being a loudmouth salesman may have altered his relationship with Luke Skywalker. A parallel between the salesman C-3PO and Luke could be Dr Smith and Will Robinson in the television series Lost in Space. Dr Smith's utterly selfish and conniving character varied widely from cowering subservience to commanding authority depending on the situation he found himself in. Will Robinson was someone naïve enough to trick and cajole but strong enough for Smith to cower behind if any kind of danger appeared. Jonathan Harris may have been an actor who was able to fit a voice performance around Anthony Daniels' movements and I wonder if he ever tested for the role. Harris went on to play the conniving, cowardly robot Lucifer in Battlestar Galactica who was kind of an evil C-3PO.
With the salesman's voice, Luke and C-3PO may have been seen to jostle for authority. When C-3PO suggests removing R2-D2's restraining bolt, it might have been more of an order that Luke jumps too than a polite request. Mark Hamill does seem to jump as if he's received a command. Luke also treats C-3PO as being fairly capable. When he hands the droid the screwdriver and tells him "Here, see what you can do" he was probably talking to the salesman who might have been able to help. Asking the fussy butler C-3PO to take over repairing R2-D2 comes across as ridiculous and to me, a whole lot funnier. When Luke and C-3PO search for R2-D2, C-3PO is driving which seems strange for a soppy butler. The strong, loudmouth C-3PO could have easily driven a landspeeder. Luke Skywalker comes across a much better character dealing with Anthony Daniels, because he seems to treat C-3PO with respect, even though the droid is a soppy, useless butler. Luke is caring when others are not. If he had been seen to be taking orders from C-3PO, or jostling for authority, Luke would have come across as much weaker. Han Solo is given more of an edge in the way he treats the only-trying-to-please C-3PO. Originally he would have been seen to be showing Luke how to deal with a smarmy robot, which Luke copied in the "Shut the door" line.
If C-3PO had ended up as the loudmouth salesman, he might well have been the one sore point in the film for some people – a kind of Scrappy Doo or Jar Jar Binks. I believe that the Star Wars trilogy was provided with many additional layers of detail, with the inclusion of Anthony Daniels' fantastic performance.