Question for the non-english speakers

[burntcopper]

Was having a chat about how the 'if they're evil they're played by English people' Hollywood thing. Especially if it's set in a foriegn country and everyone's theoretically speaking another language.

All Nazis and Romans are automatically played with an English accent (even in the rare cases that it's an american actor, they still play it with an English accent - see Stanley Tucci in Conspiracy or the very few americans in Rome). Admittedly in the case of Rome, the producers and directors said most of the American actors they saw just couldn't do the sneer/ self-possession/ outta the way, peasants/ carry off a toga.

So. Curious. Do they give a specific accent for baddies/upper class in non-english dramas where the action is set in another country? In Spanish language productions, do all haughty roles automatically get played with a Castilian accent?

Comments

[sbp.livejournal.com]

Dunno, but I recently watched King Fu Panda and the bad guy was voiced by Ian McShane....

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

the producers and directors said most of the American actors they saw just couldn't do the sneer/ self-possession/ outta the way, peasants/ carry off a toga.

I don't believe this. Seriously. Well, perhaps the toga bit.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

it's what they said in the behind the scenes/making of...

could be several factors. Like the fact that british actors don't have as many hang-ups about getting naked or doing sex scenes. And will willingly play absolutely fucking evil or complete scum and enjoy the hell out of it without attempting to make it look glamourous or sympathetic.

With regard to the self-possession, i remember something one Star Trek actor said about Shakespeare roles, that every british actor is brought up with the belief that one day he could/will play Hamlet. So they're really good at being able to spout forth the big stuff and not look the slightest bit self-conscious about it, so it *fits.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

No.

My thesis was mostly about this use of Brits in Hollywood, and there have been books and articles over the ages, since it still hasn't really changed. (Sometimes there were/are German actors in the baddie roles).

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

so it's essentially 'good god, Hoolywood, grow up?'

interesting....

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

I've often been glad to see my actors - if and when they manage to just use Hollywood and go back doing their good stuff. It's still the case of many films only being watchable for the villains (mmmh, Jason), and that's not even a British thing, just the old adage of good being (portrayed as) boring. But yes, even though Classical Hollywood also used the cliché, they were nearly all immigrants then - today, Hollywood just isn't good enough.