CrosswalkX's profile

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Saturday, December 17th, 2022

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John Wayne is in Star Wars IV A New Hope 1977 and I can't add his credit name.

To the IMDB staff members. Recently I came across an article involving the deceased actor John Wayne before his death in 1979 his archive voice was used in the Star Wars IV A New Hope as Garindan ezz Zavor archive voice as seen in this Slash Film news link article

The John Wayne Cameo In Star Wars You Probably Never Noticed (slashfilm.com)

I tried to add John Wayne in Star Wars IV A New Hope and I have a problem here, the IMDB Star Wars IV 1977 page has been locked down, likely due to past credit vandalism. So, I'm unable to add John Wayne's credit in Star Wars IV A New Hope IMDB page as seen in this link

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb

Please add John Wayne as Garindan ezz Zavor archive voice to Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope Full Cast & Crew actor section. I can't add it since the page is locked since this is his final role 2 years before his death. I'll be sure to add John Wayne to the Lego Star Wars IMDB video game pages LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga.

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Crosswalk: See the discussion at https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/star-wars-a-new-hope-misc-edit/5f4a7a2b8815453dba9bb7fc where this came up before. I don't believe that this counts as a proper credit for John Wayne, and he should not be listed in the cast of Star Wars.

According to the article at https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-john-wayne-garindan/, sound designer Ben Burtt explained how the character Garindan's voice was generated:

And I was wondering back a few months ago how I did it – because I keep notes and tapes – and I discovered it was an  electronic buzzing which had come off of my synthesizer that was triggered by a human voice. And I listened to it and realized it was John Wayne – I had found some loop lines in the trash from the studio that had been thrown away. So  the buzzing was triggered by some dialog like ‘All right, what are you doin’ in this town’ or something like that.

(Emphasis added.) So it doesn't sound like it was Wayne's actual voice, even distorted, but a synthesized buzzing which was triggered by Wayne's voice. That's pretty far from Wayne having his own voice in the film.

Uncredited voice roles are normally not eligible for IMDb cast listing, but if John Wayne's actual undistorted voice had been used, the exception for voice cameos by high-profile actors would apply (Wayne is one of the highest-profile movie actors of all time). In this case, though, with a synthesized buzzing sound merely triggered by Wayne's voice, I don't think it should count. If Wayne himself had watched Star Wars (and he well might have, since he lived until 1979), I doubt he would have been able to guess where his voice had been used for a sound effect in the film if Ben Burtt didn't tell him.

(edited)

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@gromit82​ Very thorough and helpful explanation. 

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But still I think John Waynes actor credit needs to be added to Star Wars IV A New Hope because his archive voice was altered and used for the alien characters voice Garindan ezz Zavor and I still think he needs to be credited in Star Wars A New Hope as that was technically his final role, even though he was never truly involved in Star Wars A New Hope, I'm not sure if back then in 1976-1977 if they ever got his permission to use his voice or not. But his voice has been used for the character Garindan.

I also found a Screenrant article link on John Wayne's voice being used in Star Wars IV A New Hope which explains that John Waynes voice was used in Star Wars and yes, he was uncredited as they never gave him credit Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope film.

Also here are 2 youtube video link examples which show how John Waynes voice was altered for the alien character Garindan.

John Wayne's Final Ever Role Was In... Star Wars?! (Yes, Really) (screenrant.com)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrjOqoWdRn0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGiX6qXPwI0

Anyways let me know if the IMDB staff can add John Wayne in the credit of Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope Full Cast & Crew actor section since that was truly his final film role before his death in 1979.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb

John Wayne John Wayne ... Garindan ezz Zavor (archive sound)

because he needs to be credited since his voice was used and the official Star Wars 4 A New Hope 1977 end credits never showed John Waynes name as they never bothered to credit him.