British Accents In American Movies

Discussion in 'Movies & Entertainment' started by Bess Barber, Jul 29, 2019.

  1. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    After House became a hit, I saw Hugh on a talk show and I was actually shocked to hear his "natural" speaking voice. I'd had no idea he was British.
     
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  2. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    he's been a big TV personality (comedian) here for decades, and at one time he and Stephen Fry were a Duo.. we remember reading that his first hit film, the American's fell for him, and we all laughed because to us he was just a comedy buffoon... but little did we know behind that painted smile, and goofy voice and face was a good looking man who could act his socks off.. that came to him later in life.. :D
     
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  3. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    What do the Brits here think of John Hillerman's accent? He played Higgins on Magnum PI and a number of other things. According to his bio, he learned his accent from listening to Laurence Olivier play in Shakespeare plays. He was born in Texas and once had a thick Texas drawl. In Magnum PI he was supposed to be an English aristocrat, although he was a Sergeant Major in the Brit army. I would have thought a person with an aristocratic background would have been an officer.
     
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  4. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    So this week I've been re-watching "The Crown" on Netflix in preparation for Season 3 that will premier on Sunday. (woo hoo!!) Naturally the British accents are perfect since the cast is British, but the episode where Michael C. Hall played John F. Kennedy was nothing short of tragic. (I am a big fan of Hall, especially his series "Dexter" and "Six Feet Under," but he is no JFK.)
     
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  5. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
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    I wonder how it will feel with a whole new cast? I can't believe they changed the ACTORS instead of just using makeup for them to look older. The new series starts in 1969, Apollo moon shot. It will feel like a different show, instead of a new season of the original.
     
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  6. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I'm quite bummed because of the new cast thing... really weird. But hopefully it will still be great to watch. I must say, if Prince Phillip is half the jerk he's portrayed as, I can't believe she has put up with him all these years.
     
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  7. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    I don't watch it, but I can imagine. My gripe always has been that if a part calls for an American or Australian, or anyone of another nation, then use an authentic actor from that nation. An accent impersonating another nations accent may sound good enough to the home crowd , but it's never correct for the nation of where it's supposed to be representing.

    I just don't understand why this goes on...

    I'm Scottish from Irish heritage as well as being a Brit and living in Southern England .. I know every accent on the whole of this Island.. In this country accents change quite dramatically in some places even as close as 10 miles away... and hugely different between England , Scotland , Ireland & Wales... so when a non British ator for example in an American show attempts a British accent, it's not only usually quite bad, but they always either get the country wrong, and sound Irish when they should be Scottish... or they get the wrong dialect for the area..

    Easiest thing would be to use a genuine British actor for the part..there's plenty around... o_O
     
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  8. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
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    WEll, if you were Queen of Texas, your husband may act like an A$$ also. How else would a man feel 'manly'? He's not even a King. :D
     
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  9. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    ... my husband worked with PP very closely for several months.. so close that PP would drive my o/h and others around wherever they needed to go during the course of their work , and according to my o/h aside from not suffering fools, PP was one of the most decent human beings he's ever met. Interested in everyone, remember everyone's names , and asked after their families . Worked very hard alongside the others, and didn't expect any special treatment at all.

    A very clever man in very many ways too...
     
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  10. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I suppose that if my "king" was a spoiled womanizer, his ass would be in the wind. :D I certainly wouldn't be bestowing titles on him because he's sulking.
     
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  11. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Oh yeah... and I thought John Lithgow did a good job as Winston Churchill.
     
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  12. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
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    John Lithgow has never gotten the accolades he deserves. He always does an excellent job!!
     
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  13. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I agree. I loved him in Terms of Endearment, and Dexter, and.... just about everything.
     
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  14. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
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    WOW...I thought everyone from the UK would be watching it!!!
     
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  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have read that many British don't like it at all. Including the Royal Family. :D
     
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