Portugueus
Two questions: 1) is the language Spencer Tracy is speaking really Portugeueus, and 2) is that really Spencer Tracy speaking Portugeueus--it sounds distant and chopped up in some way.
shareYes, it is really Portuguese and I think that yes, that was really Spencer Tracy speaking it though with a bit of american accent. But he did quite a good effort in sounding convincing in my opinion.
shareThank you, shala1979. That's really good to know. I appreciate your telling me.
shareCan someone give a translation of what Tracy said? The cook character said he was telling a joke. What was it?
shareHi. Well, I´m from Galicia (northwest Spain) and Galician is quite similar to Portuguese so i can get what he says . It goes moreless like this:
"hey Doc, let me tell you a funny thing about a blonde I met... She said:Manuel, Would you give me a kiss?, I said: no, no I don´t give kisses. She said: but wouldn´t you give me a little kiss? I said: I don´t want to kiss you... She said :but why don´t you want to kiss me? I said: because there is only a kiss without danger, and that is the kiss of the toothless old women"
Well, moreless...
i think this little moment is quite related to the other later in the movie wh en he and the boy talk about his girlfriends.
Oh, thank you so very much, what a wonderful translation!
shareif you look closely, I don't think this scene with the joke in Portuguese told to the cook was "live" -- you hardly ever see his lips move and when they do they seem totally different. I always assumed this was done "offline" and overdubbed onto the soundtrack, probably so they could get it right in an audio studio without filming the scene for a week!
I agree, it was "Looped" or dubbed post production and probably intended to be when on that rant. It's all heresay now cuz everyone is dead. 6/2011 ....Robert Osborne has said twice i've heard personally that Tracey tried his best at the accent but could never get it correct. Remember this film took almost a year to make. S.Tracey did a great job and Freddy was perfect. Rooney's character was made to be low key. He was in the film to draw more crowds cuz of name recognition. Still and always a classic. Love it.
What do you mean, Mickey Rooney was in the film to draw more crowds because of name recognition? He wasn't even a big star yet!
shareHe wasn't Andy Hardy yet but had like 20 films in his buckle. What do you think those people did for entertainment back then. No radio no TV Rooney was well known at the time. I do take back that "name recognition" deal but he was a well known actor at the time. Thanks for catching me on that.
I agree that he was well known, but not enough to be put into a film for name recognition. Besides, you wouldn't need to put someone else in just for name recognition when you've got Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, and Freddie Bartholomew.
shareAgreed, and admitted I was wrong, but the character was so lame hence I first saw it; I understand now how the Captain must have had a son to connect the movie. No 'diss on Rooney, but a requirement for the plot to sum things up.
No offense to Rooney fans. I was wrong thanks for the correction.
Brian C./
Hello Shala, In did Manuel (Spencer Tracy) is talking portuguese and singing also in portuguese, a very, very good accent, it's not perfect but very good...
I'm from Madeira Island were the characther of Manuel came's from, and it's very difficult to know whos the best fisherman!!! Know we're around 300.000 people in the island, back then probably, 150.000, more or less. I never seen the movie from begging till end, probably, next weekend.
Very good preformance anyway...
Adeus e até uma proxima oportunidade.
Marco
Hi Marco! I agree regarding the accent and besides that Spencer Tracy gives one of t he most touching performances in cinema history in this movie. So, what are you waiting for! See it now! You´re gonna love it.
Adeus! :D
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Thanks for the answer! I've loved this movie for years and always wondered what the joke was.
share