Kid's World: a child interviewer questions Darth Vader.

Introduction

Kid's World, a early morning news-type program for young children was broadcast (I think) on WBNS Channel 10, a CBS affiliate, in Columbus Ohio.

This program aired in either the summer of 1977 or 1978 (most likely 1977). I could tell it was summer from a weather report (omitted from the transcript) at the beginning of the recording. I'm not certain if it was locally produced in Columbus or if it was syndicated.

The name of the young boy who is the host is unknown. The interviewer, another young boy, is only listed as "Jimmy" and the voice of Darth Vader was certainly neither David Prowse nor James Earl Jones. Prowse was probably not in the costume either. Any adult would look towering over a 10 year old boy. The setting was a outside on in a park or playground - perhaps they sat at a picnic table? Vader seems to be trying to sound very authoritative. His answers to the questions are very interesting. Jimmy's voice has that memorable pre-adolescent squeak.

Lucasfilm certainly coordinated on this. If anyone knows anything about this or if you recognize the voice of Vader (or Jimmy), please let me know.

BTW - the quote was specifially chosen to offer some support to an unconfirmed missing scene from Star Wars where Princess Leia is tortured. This is noted in the Compendium chapter entitled Cut footage from Star Wars. See Vader as sadist.

I'll have to check my novel of the first film and some references in Splinter of the Mind's Eye on this. Sorry, but the note in the Compendium reminds me of an interview with Carrie Fisher involving the sandstorm scene in ROTJ. She also described the sandstorm as one of the hardest days of acting.

Update

Fisher was thinking of a scene from the third version of the script in which she is tortured to the extent that Chewbacca has to carry her for several scenes following her rescue. This was not in the film.

Transcript

Host:
. . . interview the person who created such havoc in STAR WARS - 
the one and only Darth Vader.  But Jimmy was up to the challenge 
and here's his report.

(Threepio in the desert music.  Star Wars incidental music is 
used throughout)

Jimmy:
I've been brought to this spot in a place long ago and far away 
to report on a very special guest for Kid's World, part of the 
force of STAR WARS: Lord Darth Vader.

(Vader approaches and his breathing is heard)

Jimmy:
What is the force?

Vader:
The force is an energy field created by all the lifeforms in 
the galaxy.  It surrounds us and penetrates us.  We who are 
knowledgeable and strong of mind can use it to persuade those 
who are weak-minded.  It has it's light side and it's dark side.

Jimmy:
Why did you turn to the dark side of the force?

Vader:
Because I feel it is stronger than the light side of the force.  
Those who follow the dark side of the force are not limited by 
the ethical codes observed by those who follow the light side.  
That is why the Jedi Knights are no more.  Obi-Wan Kenobi was 
the last.

Jimmy:
You were trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Why did you kill him?

Vader:
The question should instead be asked: Is Obi-Wan Kenobi really 
dead?  I found no corpse when I struck him down.

(Cut to a brief clip of the saber duel on the Death Star)

Jimmy:
Why did you lock up Princess Leia?

Vader:
She was part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor.  She was 
withholding information of vital importance to the Empire.

Jimmy:
What did you do to the Princess?

Vader:
I tried to extract the information she was carrying.  I used a 
mind-probe aided by the administration of truth drugs plus the 
administration of electrically induced pain.

(Cut to a brief clip of the Princess' cell on the Death Star as 
the torture droid enters) (38.1 KB)

However, she was much too strong to be broken in such a short 
time.

Jimmy:
How many kinds of robots are on the Death Star?

Vader:
More than you can possibly imagine.

(Some sort of a collage scene of droids  C-3PO's voice is 
over-dubbed)

C-3PO:
I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations and this is my 
counter-part . . .

And then, my cassette recording ends.

If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know.

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