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Dodgy British accents in American programmes

211 replies

rugbychick1 · 23/06/2023 14:04

I'm currently recovering from surgery and binge watching "Bones" for the first time. Why do the accents for any British characters all sound the same? Now I've noticed it, why can't I un notice it?

OP posts:
Pallisers · 24/06/2023 20:54

I remember all the outcry about the Truly Execrable 'Wild Mountain Thyme'. The director's defence was that this was the kind of Ireland and Irish accents that the Americans wanted and so that's what they were getting.

That defence is as bad as the film. It was slated in the US.

CarolinaInTheMorning · 24/06/2023 21:02

It wouldn't surprise me that the only mistakes he [Hugh Laurie] made where when the emphasis was on a different syllable.

This was the case as I recall. One word was "placard." It's a somewhat subtle difference in emphasis, but he used the British English pronunciation. He was really good overall, though. I think the cadence of speech that was part of his characterization helped.

CarolinaInTheMorning · 24/06/2023 21:08

One thing that I think is very interesting is whether actors stay in "voice" character between takes when they are making a film or TV show. Supposedly Renee Zellweger did. I've heard Hugh Laurie say he didn't. I think it would be very challenging to switch back and forth, but an actor probably might think it's a bit weird to speak like the late Queen at the craft services table when your natural accent is from Texas.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

EarringsandLipstick · 24/06/2023 21:09

That defence is as bad as the film. It was slated in the US.

Oh really? That's good - I hadn't known how it was received.

I'm glad that's the case & there isn't a collection of Americans rhapsodising over this 'version' of Ireland!

EarringsandLipstick · 24/06/2023 21:11

CarolinaInTheMorning · 24/06/2023 21:08

One thing that I think is very interesting is whether actors stay in "voice" character between takes when they are making a film or TV show. Supposedly Renee Zellweger did. I've heard Hugh Laurie say he didn't. I think it would be very challenging to switch back and forth, but an actor probably might think it's a bit weird to speak like the late Queen at the craft services table when your natural accent is from Texas.

Yes, Dómhnall Gleeson did for his role in About Time.

Thurgie · 25/06/2023 04:56

Paul Scofield did a much better upper-class American accent than Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show. In a scene where they were eating cake, Scofield also remembered to twist the fork back into correct position after cutting it so he could put it into his mouth the American way. Ralph didn’t. I remember thinking that Scofield was much more observant as an actor to notice this where Fiennes didn’t.

Thurgie · 25/06/2023 04:58

Also I can’t stand Nicole Kidman’s or Naomi Watts’ “American” accents. They must have the same voice coach who taught them to speak in a nasally way.

pinkginfizz9 · 25/06/2023 05:51

StillWantingADog · 23/06/2023 15:34

I’m not sure I have ever heard an American do an authentic English accent well.

both Renee zelleeger and Gwyneth Paltrow can do a nice “cut glass” English accent but nobody actually speaks like that!

Yes, they certainly do!My sister speaks exactly like that! I will have tell her that she sounds like an inadequate American actress
I am sure that will confuse her!

pigalow27 · 25/06/2023 11:23

Meryl Streep's English accent is excellent (in The Iron Lady and French Lieutenant's Woman.) Michael Sheen can do all accents perfectly and thought the English actor who plays Chuck Bass in og Gossip Girl was convincing,

Tendu · 25/06/2023 12:09

greglet · 24/06/2023 19:52

@Tendu Mark Darcy is a barrister (family clearly from money). Bridget's family mix in the same social circles - they're slightly below the Darcys in the pecking order but not so much that they wouldn't socialise together.

Money isn’t the primary class determinant!

Bridget Jones is based on Pride and Prejudice — Mark Darcy is ‘above’ Bridget’s family of origin as Fitzwilliam Darcy is ‘above’ the Bennets. Lizzy says to Lady Catherine de Bourgh that she doesn’t think she would be ‘quitting her sphere’ in marrying Darcy, because he’s ‘a gentleman’ and she is ‘a gentleman’s daughter’, but there’s considerable difference in status between the Darcys, who are established landowners, an ‘old’, though not titled, family with a big estate that has clearly been in the family for generations, and the genteel ‘small rural gentry’ Bennets (and Mr B has to an extent compromised his own class status by marrying the daughter of a small town attorney, as Darcy is aware.)

Similarly, both Bridget and Mark are middle-class, but from different niches within the middle class, but, like the Bennets and Darcys, not divided enough not to socialise together occasionally, whether at Assemblies or Turkey Curry buffets. But Mark is definitely recognised as a cut above the rest at the buffet, by the LMC characters, as Darcy is at the Assembly ball. Both Mark Darcy and Fitzwilliam socialise with people ‘below’ them — Darcy befriends the ‘new money’ Bingleys, whose money was made by their father in trade, and who don’t have their own country house and land.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 25/06/2023 13:04

Thurgie · 25/06/2023 04:56

Paul Scofield did a much better upper-class American accent than Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show. In a scene where they were eating cake, Scofield also remembered to twist the fork back into correct position after cutting it so he could put it into his mouth the American way. Ralph didn’t. I remember thinking that Scofield was much more observant as an actor to notice this where Fiennes didn’t.

The children in The Sound of Music all eat the American way. Once you notice it, it's very difficult to stop.

MuserDame · 25/06/2023 13:09

@tendu that's really interesting, the film got the social distinctions just right so

ChocChipHandbag · 25/06/2023 13:56

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 25/06/2023 13:04

The children in The Sound of Music all eat the American way. Once you notice it, it's very difficult to stop.

Question is, what is the Austrian way?

ChocChipHandbag · 25/06/2023 13:57

ChocChipHandbag · 25/06/2023 13:56

Question is, what is the Austrian way?

Cos the fact that everyone in the film was speaking English (and breaking into song!) kind of gave a clue to it not being a hugely authentic portrayal…

pinkginfizz9 · 25/06/2023 18:35

Tendu · 25/06/2023 12:09

Money isn’t the primary class determinant!

Bridget Jones is based on Pride and Prejudice — Mark Darcy is ‘above’ Bridget’s family of origin as Fitzwilliam Darcy is ‘above’ the Bennets. Lizzy says to Lady Catherine de Bourgh that she doesn’t think she would be ‘quitting her sphere’ in marrying Darcy, because he’s ‘a gentleman’ and she is ‘a gentleman’s daughter’, but there’s considerable difference in status between the Darcys, who are established landowners, an ‘old’, though not titled, family with a big estate that has clearly been in the family for generations, and the genteel ‘small rural gentry’ Bennets (and Mr B has to an extent compromised his own class status by marrying the daughter of a small town attorney, as Darcy is aware.)

Similarly, both Bridget and Mark are middle-class, but from different niches within the middle class, but, like the Bennets and Darcys, not divided enough not to socialise together occasionally, whether at Assemblies or Turkey Curry buffets. But Mark is definitely recognised as a cut above the rest at the buffet, by the LMC characters, as Darcy is at the Assembly ball. Both Mark Darcy and Fitzwilliam socialise with people ‘below’ them — Darcy befriends the ‘new money’ Bingleys, whose money was made by their father in trade, and who don’t have their own country house and land.

If you live in a small village though you do tend to socialise with people outside your class.

Thurgie · 25/06/2023 21:43

Mrs. Bennett made sure to let the Bingley sisters know that they dined with twenty families!

Bunnycat101 · 25/06/2023 22:08

I think Renee Zellweger was really good actually. I hated Emily Blunt’s accent in Mary poppins returns. It’s the worst accent from an actual Brit.

TomPinch · 25/06/2023 22:12

WorstBJever · 23/06/2023 15:03

Apart from Frasier, where Daphne's brothers each had wildly different accents (played by Richard E Grant, Antony la Paglia and Robbie Coltrane) and not one of them Mancunian! Drives me mad every time 😅

This is just as great a sin, I reckon.

Same in Harry Potter. Ron Weasley sounds like he's from the South, Fred and George from the North, and the other one from public school.

TomPinch · 25/06/2023 22:15

Peter Dinklage's voice as Tyrion Lannister was right up there with Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins

(Also a wonderful performance otherwise)

CarolinaInTheMorning · 25/06/2023 23:04

Thurgie · 25/06/2023 04:56

Paul Scofield did a much better upper-class American accent than Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show. In a scene where they were eating cake, Scofield also remembered to twist the fork back into correct position after cutting it so he could put it into his mouth the American way. Ralph didn’t. I remember thinking that Scofield was much more observant as an actor to notice this where Fiennes didn’t.

Well, I had to watch the movie as a result of this thread. (I've always loved Paul Scofield ever since a Man for All Seasons). I also did a bit of googling of the backgrounds of Mark and Charles Van Doren.

I wouldn't call Scofield's accent "upper class" American, which is a bit difficult to identify because most all American accents are regional to various extents. I would call it an educated accent. Mark Van Doren grew up on a farm in Illinois, the son of a country doctor, a very middle class background. Of course, he became through education and his work, one of the intellectual giants of the 20th Century, but his accent remained essentially mid-western with some New England touches (I watched several videos). Scofield's accent is very good in the movie, by the way, more so than Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes uses quite a bit of non-rhotic pronunciaton, which is not how Charles spoke and that makes him sound a bit more mid-Atlantic than American.

As to the eating, Charles Van Doren studied at Cambridge. Many Americans who study in the UK adopt some of the eating style because it is more efficient and keep it for a lifetime, even if they are in the US. I don't know if that bit was intentional, but that's a possible explanation.

Thurgie · 26/06/2023 04:13

CarolinaInTheMorning · 25/06/2023 23:04

Well, I had to watch the movie as a result of this thread. (I've always loved Paul Scofield ever since a Man for All Seasons). I also did a bit of googling of the backgrounds of Mark and Charles Van Doren.

I wouldn't call Scofield's accent "upper class" American, which is a bit difficult to identify because most all American accents are regional to various extents. I would call it an educated accent. Mark Van Doren grew up on a farm in Illinois, the son of a country doctor, a very middle class background. Of course, he became through education and his work, one of the intellectual giants of the 20th Century, but his accent remained essentially mid-western with some New England touches (I watched several videos). Scofield's accent is very good in the movie, by the way, more so than Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes uses quite a bit of non-rhotic pronunciaton, which is not how Charles spoke and that makes him sound a bit more mid-Atlantic than American.

As to the eating, Charles Van Doren studied at Cambridge. Many Americans who study in the UK adopt some of the eating style because it is more efficient and keep it for a lifetime, even if they are in the US. I don't know if that bit was intentional, but that's a possible explanation.

Well, you certainly did your homework. I concede your points.

LibertyLily · 26/06/2023 04:50

I think both Renee Zellweger and Gwyneth Paltrow do convincing English accents. And David Tennant's is brilliant (I too am ashamed to say I originally believed he was English!)

Otoh, as much as I loved Line of Duty and like him as an actor, I didn't find Martin Compston's English accent that great.

My (English, as am I) DH made me laugh when he criticised Jason Hughes 'terrible' Welsh accent in The Pact...Jason is from Porthcawl 🙄

Slightly off topic, but something that gets my goat as much as crappy and poorly researched accents is writers who don't research the correct terms when writing a book not set in their native land. I've read numerous novels by American authors who insist on their British characters referring to 'sidewalks', 'shirtwaists' and 'elevators' to name but a few.

GreenwichOrTwicks · 26/06/2023 06:02

WorstBJever · 23/06/2023 15:03

Apart from Frasier, where Daphne's brothers each had wildly different accents (played by Richard E Grant, Antony la Paglia and Robbie Coltrane) and not one of them Mancunian! Drives me mad every time 😅

This!!!!!!!!

IsisoftheWalbrook · 26/06/2023 08:21

I thought RZ was entirely convincing as Bridget Jones. I’m glad someone has mentioned Robert Carlyle - he is just brilliant.

I am from the West Country and always assumed that Hagrid was from around here when reading the books.

I listen to a lot of audio books. Kobna Holdbrook Smith can do an impressive range of accents that sound convincing to me.

evilharpy · 26/06/2023 08:35

Always thought Jonny Lee Miller did a decent job of a Scottish accent in Trainspotting.

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