美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Star Wars,' The Trilogy That NPR Turned Into Radio Drama

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

David, are you a fan of "Star Wars?"

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

My whole life, Steve.

INSKEEP: OK. Whole-life fan of "Star Wars," well, you have an opportunity, once again, to hear this iconic theme.

(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS' "STAR WARS [MAIN TITLE]")

INSKEEP: Yeah, David, "Star Wars: Episode IX" blasts into theaters this weekend. It is sure to bring fans more special effects-filled space battles and lightsaber duels².

GREENE: Yes, but here's something you might not know. Nearly 40 years ago, public radio listeners heard a very different version of the "Star Wars" saga³.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "STAR WARS")

KEN¹ HILLER: (As narrator) A long time ago in a galaxy⁴ far, far away, there came a time of revolution, when rebels united to challenge a tyrannical empire.

INSKEEP: This is from the 1981 radio drama of "Star Wars" produced by NPR.

GREENE: Right. George Lucas generously gave NPR the radio rights for a dollar. And the network partnered with the University of Southern California theater program to produce this. Some of the original actors even joined in to voice their parts. Here's Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "STAR WARS")

ANTHONY DANIELS: (As C-3PO) Have we reached the planet Alderaan, master?

MARK HAMILL: (As Luke Skywalker) There is no Alderaan, 3PO.

DANIELS: (As C-3PO) Oh, I beg your pardon, sir. But I feel it is my duty to point out that you are...

HAMILL: (As Luke Skywalker) It's gone. Somebody's blown it to bits. Now, will you shut up and come on?

INSKEEP: Not everybody could come back. Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo and Princess Leia had to be voiced by different actors - as well as a certain green alien stranger.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "STAR WARS")

JOHN LITHGOW: (As Yoda) Help you, I can, stranger. Yes.

HAMILL: (As Luke Skywalker) I don't think so, little guy. I'm looking for a great warrior⁵.

LITHGOW: (As Yoda) Oh, great warrior.

INSKEEP: Was that Cookie Monster?

GREENE: (Laughter) Well, it's definitely not puppeteer⁶ Frank Oz, who voiced Yoda in the movies. It's actually the actor John Lithgow.

INSKEEP: Well, the producers had to tackle how to tell this story that's known for its visual effects and do it on the radio, so they hired a writer to add more lines of dialogue, like the conclusion of the fight between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "STAR WARS")

BROCK PETERS: (As Darth Vader) What's this? His robes - empty.

INSKEEP: NPR went on to do radio versions of all the movies in the original trilogy.

GREENE: And I know that some of you true "Star Wars" crazy fans are probably wondering - did this production stay true to the original in one important way? And yes, it did.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "STAR WARS")

PERRY KING: (As Han Solo) Over my dead body.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As Greedo, speaking non-English language).

KING: (As Han Solo) Yeah, I'll bet.

(SOUNDBITE OF BLASTER SHOT)

KING: (As Han Solo) Rest in peace, Greedo.

GREENE: Han definitely shot first.

(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS' "STAR WARS [MAIN TITLE]")

1 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

2 duels   

n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争

参考例句：

• That's where I usually fight my duels. 我经常在那儿进行决斗。” 来自英语晨读30分（初三）
• Hyde Park also became a favourite place for duels. 海德公园也成了决斗的好地方。 来自辞典例句

3 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

4 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

5 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

6 puppeteer   

n.操纵木偶的人，操纵傀儡

参考例句：

• Mr. Sullivan is a professional puppeteer.沙利文先生是一位专业的木偶戏表演者。
• One puppeteer controls the doll's head,face,and right hand.一个表演者控制木偶的头部，面部和右手。