With the exception of a person or two with a non-American accent, everybody in this film appears to be and speaks American English, never uttering a word in another language. This is what drives me crazy every time I see this. It makes me wonder, "Is there some area of Budapest where thousands or millions of Americans live, inexplicably?" If they set the movie in New York, the only difference would be... there'd be more non-Americans.
shareAnd they never even used any Budapest landmarks. I question why it even took place there.
shareIt's just a movie. It takes place in Budapest because that was the setting in the book, and Lubitsch wanted to give the film a European flavor in tribute to his father's clothing store in Berlin.
And would it have made you feel better if Jimmy Stewart and the other actors had put on a fake Hungarian accent? It would have sounded like some cheap phoney TV show such as Hogan's Heroes.
Or perhaps you would have preferred it if they all spoke Hungarian with subtitles, so instead of millions loving the film only a few hundred would ever watch it?
^ well explained. there's always someone complaining about something like this
And would it have made you feel better if Jimmy Stewart and the other actors had put on a fake Hungarian accent?
Or perhaps you would have preferred it if they all spoke Hungarian with subtitles, so instead of millions loving the film only a few hundred would ever watch it?
Imagine a movie that takes place in the USA where everyone speaks German or everyone has a German accent and the setting has nothing to do with America?
that's daft. loads of films are set in foreign countries but the actors don't speak with foreign accents - look at all the many versions of The Three Musketeers for instance. putting on fake french accents wouldn't have improved those at all, it would just be silly.
shareThen they're not good actors if they can't do an accent. Or they should cast people who can do it. I'm not going to cast Denzel Washington to play Hitler in a movie because, well, he would be miscast.
Unless they're dyslexic or something, if people aren't going to watch a film because it's subtitled, then they're not smart enough to enjoy a movie like this. Those who are willing to watch a subtitled movie shouldn't have to deal with inaccuracies to appease the "dumber" audience.
Imagine a movie that takes place in the USA where everyone speaks German or everyone has a German accent and the setting has nothing to do with America?
What a drag! You thought you were getting a documentary on the life of a small shop in Budapest and you wound up with this. How disappointing for you!
shareYou must have this issue with an awful lot of movies, which have exactly the same "problem":
Dr Zhivago, A Song To Remember, Ninotchka, All Quiet on the Western Front, Queen Christina, The Life of Emile Zola, All This and Heaven Too, Letter From an Unknown Woman, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables (including them most recent version), Hamlet.... that's just a couple of minutes off the top of my head, there must be hundreds.
Yes, it's a silly complaint. The movie is a classic, and it's a classic because Jimmy Stewart could drawl out such great lines as, "Now if I were a girl and had to choose between a young good-for-nothing with plenty of hair and a good, solid, mature citizen, I'd pick Mathias Popkin every time."
Now imagine him trying to say it in Hungarian.....
The film is based on a Hungarian play, Illatszertár (Parfumerie), by Miklós László. Hence the setting.
But this work and at least one other play by László, Liliom, were adapted for various media and given other settings, with Illatszertár becoming in turn In the Good Old Summertime, She Loves Me, and You've Got Mail and Liliom providing the inspiration for Carousel.
As for the language, I grew up among Hungarian immigrants and have always enjoyed Hungarian actors in classic Hollywood movies, but don't see the point of using accented English for effect in a story like this one. Ben Hur and Spartacus don't use ancient languages, and all the variations on Robin Hood aren't acted in Middle English.
Well said. It is a classic. It's one of our Christmas favorites. It's on again, Sat the 19th on TCM and we will be enjoying it yet again.
Some of the posters just seem to have to find something to complain about with any good movie. Too bad for them...
It is a pleasure to see The Shop Around the Corner, especially as we celebrate the Christmas holidays. As the year draws to a close, I wish all the best to everyone on this board.
It would be foolish for them to be speaking with accents. The assumption is that they are speaking in their native language, and we are merely hearing it as English. It's called the willing suspension of disbelief. You should try it sometime.
Earth without art is just "eh."
First, let me say I like this movie. I just saw it for the first time and I did not know the movie was supposed to take place in Budapest when I watched it. I thought it was a little strange that half the people spoke with accents and half the people spoke perfect English. I figured the movie was set in a first generation ethnic area of America. However, it's not that big a deal.
sharespin73 replied Jan 16, 2016
First, let me say I like this movie. I just saw it for the first time and I did not know the movie was supposed to take place in Budapest when I watched it. I thought it was a little strange that half the people spoke with accents and half the people spoke perfect English. I figured the movie was set in a first generation ethnic area of America. However, it's not that big a deal.
It's a MOVIE! During war movies the''bad guys" don't talk in native language. When Sophia Loren is in an Italian movie she speaks English
Would you go see all the movies with sub titles?
It's called a conceit.
sharePosted Dec 14, 2014 by mikebos
Everyone in Budapest speaks perfect American English
With the exception of a person or two with a non-American accent, everybody in this film appears to be and speaks American English, never uttering a word in another language. This is what drives me crazy every time I see this. It makes me wonder, "Is there some area of Budapest where thousands or millions of Americans live, inexplicably?" If they set the movie in New York, the only difference would be... there'd be more non-Americans.
Thanks to all of those who are laughing along with me here. However, the ones complaining about the observation? You are the reason that people make movies like "Mall Cop". I forgot there are so many of these simps on IMDB boards. You are the reason that ISIS wants us all dead.
share