Alec Guinness was a Serious Actor with plenty of impressive film appearances und...

ErikCorry · on Sept 12, 2011

Maybe the fact that people would have noticed if they had replaced him in the sequels also strengthened his bargaining position.

officemonkey · on Sept 12, 2011

I don't think Sir Alec ever thought there would be sequels. Especially since he dies in the first movie.

I think it's just a matter of good bargaining. At the time, Guinness had been in the movies for three-plus decades. Prowse's career hovered just above the "extra" category. Prowse probably signed whatever contract they gave him; Guinness probably dictated terms.

JonnieCache · on Sept 12, 2011

>Prowse's career hovered just above the "extra" category.

At the time, Prowse was most famous as the Green Cross Code Man, from the UK's pedestrian safety public service films of the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRUBMBi_lp4