MovieChat Forums > The Defiant Ones (1958) Discussion > Theodore Bikel's accent

Theodore Bikel's accent

posted 8 years ago by Lovesclassics11
3 replies | jump to latest

I think Bikel did a fantastic job in this film, as he always did in everything I've seen him in. But I wanted to know what everyone thought of his southern accent? Bikel was Austrian, if I'm not mistaken.

In everything else I've seen him in, he tends to keep his real accent, but I think he pulled the southern accent off quite well in this. I think his real accent was quite beautful- he had a very beautiful voice altogether, speaking voice and singing. But it was really interesting to hear him speak with a different accent in
this film.

Thoughts?

[–] McCartney42 7 years ago

That's because Theodore was a master of languages, dialects and accents. Talk about a versatile actor, he could play anything. A phenomenal actor in my opinion.

[–] Lovesclassics11 7 years ago

I absolutely agree! He was simply amazing! They don't make 'em like him anymore, that's for sure.

[–] kgwrote-854-104240 7 years ago

Big problem with his character is when he dismisses the cruelty of rabbit hunting.
Makes him look regressive not progressive that he is so upset about the treatment of criminals but not innocent lives. He is a human supremacist which is not intellectually astute.

This is one of the dumbing down aspects of Hayes code Hollywood. Lots of advanced literature made decades before (Mark Twain did a story on dog and horse abuse, turkey hunting...).

The Most Dangerous Game of 1932 was more forward thinking.