There seems to be some confusion among our readers. A number have written in to claim that the Brits were the evildoers in Star Wars. Ridiculous. That implies that audiences were meant to root for that rebellious rabble led by the insipid Skywalker. Surely no-one can have done that.

Others have written in with explanations for British bad guy syndrome. These have included the suggestion that contemporary Hollywood primarily recruits actors for their looks and thus it’s too much to expect its stars (at least in the early years of their careers) to attempt the complexities of a truly wicked character. That’s a huge generalization, of course, but there may something to it (although anyone who thinks that American actors can’t do evil need to check out a few Christopher Walken videos).

Another correspondent puts it down to accent:

“It’s the accent, no question. Bad guys tend to wax philosophical and give spectacular dressings-down to their lackeys and other subordinates, all…while taunting the hero. Come ON — is any of that going to fly with an Alabama drawl? “

There’s something to that too. Part of the answer, however, must be (and I hate to use this jargon) that we like to see villains as ‘the other’, and in our PC times the English are the last acceptable ‘other’.

Now I have to go out lunch with Vader. ‘The Darth’ is always such good company.