How ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Lion King’ Made James Earl Jones the Voice of Generations

As a child of the ’90s, James Earl Jones was always a mysterious figure to me, a voice that echoed through my dreams as Mufasa and Darth Vader. But delving deeper into his life story, I realized this man was more than just a voice – he was a trailblazer, a pioneer who shaped the way we experience cinema.

In more casual language, the phrase “voice of a generation” is frequently used, but if we consider fame and familiarity as the key factors for this title, it would be challenging to find someone more suitable than James Earl Jones, who passed away on Tuesday. However, the important question arises: To which specific generation does he belong?

Based on whether you were born before or after 1990, listening to Jones’ deep, rolling voice might immediately bring to mind one of two characters: Mufasa from “The Lion King” or Darth Vader from “Star Wars.” In other words, when Jones speaks, you either picture a cosmic sage and loving father who returns as a ghost to encourage his self-doubting successor, or the most wicked father in the universe, a villain intent on corrupting his son with the Dark Side.

The two ventures, Disney’s reimagining of Hamlet on the savannah and George Lucas’ science fiction epic, became cultural behemoths – the former earning close to $1 billion, and the latter inspiring a near-religious devotion among fans. As a result, it goes without saying that Jones left an indelible impression without being part of either series. However, there’s much more about the legendary voice you might not be aware of.

During the 1960s and ’70s, Jones was a common sight on New York’s stages. He graced both Broadway productions and Shakespeare in the Park. It was during his performance in “Shakespeare in the Park” that Stanley Kubrick recognized him, specifically in a rendition of “The Merchant of Venice.” Interestingly, Kubrick had initially gone to see George C. Scott in the same show, but Jones’ acting skills left an impression on him too, landing Jones his debut film role in “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

You might come across Jones, who was part of the Air Force team responsible for deploying the H bomb. Although his youthful visage may not immediately stand out, his distinctive voice certainly does. No one else possesses a sound quite like his, characterized by deep, authoritative tones that resemble a blend between Paul Robeson and Orson Welles.

Well before George Lucas had an idea for “Star Wars,” one of the initial people in Hollywood to recognize Jones’ talent was Andrew J. Kuehn, a brilliant marketing prodigy who transformed the approach to movie trailers. Notably, he was responsible for the promotional work on “Dr. Strangelove,” which showcased groundbreaking editing techniques and typography designed by Pablo Ferro.

For decades, movie previews had been shrill, huckster sales pitches with screaming carnival-barker narrators and overblown claims made in garish type. Kuehn thought trailers might work better if they followed Madison Ave.’s lead, so he tapped a young Black stage actor to perform a different kind of voiceover in a stylized preview for “The Night of the Iguana.” Jones came in to record the tagline — “One Man… Three Women… One Night…” — and the rest was history.

Jones’ decision not only demonstrated the industry the capability of his pipes, but it significantly influenced the approach of film advertising from then on. Jones was among the pioneers who introduced the mysterious, omnipotent narration style that captivates listeners – a style still prevalent in modern movie trailers today.

In essence, Lucas was searching for a specific quality in “Star Wars,” and he initially chose British actor David Prowse for the role. However, since Prowse’s face was always concealed, his selection didn’t really matter. Lucas wasn’t satisfied with Prowse’s voice for the role, so he sought a more commanding voice. He offered James Earl Jones $7,000 to re-record all of Darth Vader’s lines over just a few hours, which was an easy task given that there were no lips to synchronize with the dialogue.

For quite some time, Jones consistently argued that the agreement was reasonable: The individual in the suit was Prowse, making it his performance. It wasn’t even Jones who came up with the distinctive breathing sounds, but rather a unique feature added later by sound designer Ben Burtt, who recorded himself breathing through a scuba mask.

In the original “Star Wars” movies, “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back,” Jones didn’t initially receive screen credit for his role as Darth Vader. This recognition came later when he reprised his role in other projects, most notably revealing the iconic line, “I am your father,” to Luke Skywalker. Is there a more well-known phrase in the series, or perhaps in the past 50 years of Hollywood, than this revelation?

Contrarily, Mufasa’s bond with Simba was undeniable due to Jones’ portrayal in “The Lion King.” His powerful voice accentuated Pride Rock’s grandeur, making it evident through the dialogue that Simba would find it challenging to emulate his father. In fact, even a tiny cub could see the vast difference between their paw sizes, emphasizing Mufasa’s authority. Unparalleled in his role, Jones was the sole cast member who reprised his character in Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake.

In those films, Jones’ face was never seen, but his presence certainly was, with over 100 appearances in both movies and TV shows throughout his career. These roles showcased the versatility of the actor, combining his deep voice, towering height exceeding 6 feet, and distinctive gap-toothed smile. Some memorable performances include a boxer challenging racial prejudice in “The Great White Hope,” earning him his only Oscar nomination; Alex Haley in the original “Roots” miniseries; and African king Jaffe Joffer, father of Eddie Murphy, in “Coming to America.

Across almost every character he portrayed, there was a commanding air of dignity and power. Even minor roles seemed significant with Jones’ performance. Moreover, when his role represented the leader, like Mufasa or the most malevolent space villain, the timbre of his voice spoke volumes.

2024-09-10 17:17

How ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Lion King’ Made James Earl Jones the Voice of Generations

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