Vader's helmet changes?

I don't know if this has been raised before, but I must ask - was the helmet of Vader redesigned between 'ANH' and 'TESB'?
I was first prompted to this thought by looking at the publicity stills on teh packaging of Kenner's 1998 'Electronic Darth Vader'. The 'ANH' mask seems less protruding, heck, less ape-like than the mask as seen in 'TESB' and 'ROTJ'. There's also the small point of the lenses in the mask changing from red to black by the third film in the classic trilogy.
Has there been any official confirmation of this occurring? Help!!!!!

 

Can't remember where I read it, but the helmet was redesigned between ANH and ESB. They had problems with Dave Prowse being able to see (or not!), so they had to redesign it. Tell tale signs of this are that Vader's lenses in ANH have a distinct red tinge to them and are more convex, but in ESB they're darker and flatter.

 

I can't say for certain, but it seems to me that his entire suit -- mask, shoulders, chest plate, and cape -- definitely appear to evolve throughout the movies.

 

The most striking change in his helmet is it is filthy in ANH, very clean in ESB and bleeding filthy again by ROTJ! - This has alway bugged me.

 

I forgot all about that! Vader's helmet is filthy, covered in the greasy fingerprints of crewmembers or something. All that money on special effects and they couldn't fork out cash to buy a cloth to wipe the fingerprints off his helmet.

 

That or Vader didn't mind people playing catch with his helmet.

Yeah, the lenses to his mask were a change that I definitely noticed. An improvement, in my opinion.

 

In a star wars point of view whose fingerprints was it. The emperor's, DV's mistress' or the mechanics who serviced him?

 

I read somewhere that during the scene in ROTJ where Luke was being fried by the Emperor, Vader's eyes were made bigger to make him appear more innocent.

 

Yes, the lenses were changed between ANH and ESB, they were red in ANH, which is funny, because while in his Tie, you can actualy see through the lenses.

Ans in ROTJ they were also cvhanged to make Vader look like he cared for his son being fried

 

I wouldn't like Palpatine messing with my helmet!

 

Vader's eyes were made bigger to make him appear more innocent.

Never knew that

 

In ANH you can see his eyes through the lenses in the Death Star attack scenes.

I believe his filthy helmet in ROTJ only appears after he has been defeated by Luke in lightsaber combat. I'm not sure how it would have actually become dirty but perhaps it was done to add a dramatic touch to Vader's defeat.

At the start of the film his helmet is very reflective and shiny.

 

I always thought there was something different about the helmets in ANH and ESB.

 

Vader's entire suit changed between all three movies...as probably David Prowse gained a few pounds.

His shoulders got wider (pads)

His chest got larger

He didn't look as tall as he did in the first movie. Perhaps because he looked "wider" and the actors may have been taller. But Vader has always supposed to have been 7'2" tall.

As for his helmet, it also got wider than in ANH when it looked longer and thinner. It also wasn't as shiny as it was in ESB and ROTJ.

IMO, they made Vader look like a badass in ROTJ. I like the wider look they gave him, and his armor was extremely polished.

in the throne room, Vader's helmet and armor look trashed because he just got rolled by the Emperor's lightning...i wouldn't look too hot either.

 

Anyone got some pics to compare?

 

When Vader is watching Luke getting zapped by the Emperor his helmet is not very clean at all and looks much worse later on after he saves Luke.

 

But Vader has always supposed to have been 7'2" tall.

Actually, if you look on the official site, it lists Vader's height as 2.02 meters, which converts to 6'7" or 6'8".

Sorry...I couldn't help myself.

 

If I were Vader, I wouldn't much fancy having my helmet manhandled by Palpy either.

If you want an in-universe explanation for how Vader's helmet could have gotten dirty during the duel, maybe some plaster fell on him while he was under the catwalk or something.

 

If I were Vader, I wouldn't much fancy having my helmet manhandled by Palpy either.

*lifts eyebrow*

Moving along ( ), maybe in ANH and ROTJ, Vader didn't have as extensive medical facilities available as he did on board the Executor. Then, in order to remove his helmet, he had to use his gloves - which were probably pretty grimy. (Honestly, how often do you think Vader washes his hands?)

 

Vader's entire suit changed between all three movies...as probably David Prowse gained a few pounds.

Even the cod piece?

 

I believe the Star Wars album narrated him out at 7'2'' when he made his entry onto the RBR in the beginning.

Kudos Viari, there's always one. hehe

Lightsabre, you sicko!

 

Well, I think the Star Wars Album was a little generous with that one. What was Luke, 6'4"?

I believe his filthy helmet in ROTJ only appears after he has been defeated by Luke in lightsaber combat. I'm not sure how it would have actually become dirty but perhaps it was done to add a dramatic touch to Vader's defeat.

Mmm, I agree with D_K. When he's standing by Palpatine, his body language and general appearance is like a whipped dog. His armour looks very scuffed up etc. and you particularly see this in the close-ups just before he grabs Palpatine.

 

A NEW HOPE

 

In the scene where Darth Vader watches Luke being attacked by The Emperor it is the first time in the OT you can honestly say that Vader looks utterly helpless - his physical appearance has lost all it's menace and he looks truly defeated. He virtually drags himself to be by the Emperor's side. The dusty, scuffed up armour and dirty helmet really add to his defeated appearance.