It takes a lot for an accent to bother me with all the films I've seen and all the bad ones that I've heard. But Carroll Baker's accent in this movie has to be the most annoying one that I have ever heard. Any time she says a word with an "r" in it, her voice sounds New York or Brooklyn instead of Southern. It's just really irritating.
shareThe accent was a bit difficult to decipher. I was focused on what sounded like a tiny speech impediment on some words (intentionally baby-ish?). Perhaps it was with the "r" words as you say. Regardless, and to the converse, I found it incredibly adorable and sexy.
Martha Washington was a hip, hip, hip lady, man.
Her drawl in this film is weird—it sort of sounds Southern, but sort of not. I know Baker is from Pennsylvania, and later lived in Florida and New York. It may be just an Easterner's inadequate take on a Southern accent, but it's hard to tell. I've always thought it sounded cute too, whether or not it was accurate.
shareOff and on, she sounds sort of like Elizabeth MacRae (Gomer Pyle's girlfriend, "Lou Ann Poovie") who is supposed to be from North Carolina, so I guess at least someone down there sounds like that in real life.
- I know a Robert Lovelace by the way!
My god , I haven't heard the name Lou Ann Poovie in a long time
shareI'm not from the US and English is not my first language, so I can hardly discern accents, but she sounded truly sexy and playful, IMHO.
Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop
I don't know how accurately she replicated it, but the cast got to the location weeks before filming began to rehearse in the house and soak up local color, and there was an old lady in town Carroll Baker chose to spend many afternoons with, as she thought her particular accent and manner of speaking were perfect for the part of Baby Doll.
Baker was also surprised to be told that "Baby Doll" was actually quite a common name there...from women down to cows!
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