MovieChat Forums > Alphaville: Une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution (1965) Discussion > The voice of Alphaville

The voice of Alphaville

posted 17 years ago by russell100uk
10 replies | jump to latest

Cool film, very atmospheric and a great attempt to twist the genre, there was one thing I noticed tho that nobody else on here seems to have picked up on...

Whenever you hear the strange voice of the Alpha 60 computer talking, be it to Lemmy or just as a voiceover, there seems to be an awful lot of breathing, panting etc in the background at all times, almost as if he's sat in a brothel or something, I swear once or twice I even heard moans of pleasure from a male and female! Now, am I mad, was this intentionally there to add to the weird effect (which certainly worked) or is there another explanation?

[–] BoogieTights 16 years ago

The breathing/panting gave the voice a very human-like characteristic (obviously), which almost made me believe that it can from a human (I know it didn't). A similar example would be The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. . . . However, I did not hear the female/male moaning you speak of.

[–] Ankhet1056 16 years ago

I read that the voice was played by a man with a mechanical voice box as a result of cancer of the larnyx. I thought the movie was interesting but I'm sorry I just hated the voice of Alpha 60.

[–] jdowner 16 years ago

I am somewhat relieved to find out that it was just a mechanical voice box. While watching the film I kept thinking it was someone who had mastered the art of belching the alphabet. I thought I was going to be sick by the end of the film.

[–] petwolf 15 years ago

I saw this movie at an "art-house" Sci-Fi mini film festival in Carlsbad, Czech Rep., in ...let's see, about 1980. There isn't much from the story line that I could recite today, but what stayed the longest and firmest is the VOICE. Yes, it definitely sounded like a full English breakfast trying to come back up through the digestive tract, with the egg blocking the way, but what an impact. Just last night I was trying to describe the movie to a friend, and failed miserably. It's a must-see for anyone not lazy to turn on a few neurons. Not for the weak minded. I have to get a copy.

[–] DaniraMoon 15 years ago

While the VOICE was speaking there was also what sounded like a women heavy breathing attached to it, or thats what it sounded to me.

[–] mac_alain 15 years ago

. . . but I'm sorry I just hated the voice of Alpha 60.

Same here. I turned the sound off when it came on, just reading the subs.

[–] Beardos_Film_Watcher 15 years ago

I'm curious about the reasoning behind having the voice that way.

I really disliked it and it made me feel a little sick. :(

It'll be the biggest part of the movie I remember though. I found it a bit disappointing, was expecting a bit more from Godard.

I'd give it an 'ok', not more.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=35080015

[–] arcticmonkeys1987 14 years ago

i thought the voice of Alphaville sounded just like Clive barker.

[–] afriendofken 14 years ago

When studying the film at uni, our lecturer told us the voice was played by a guy who lost his voice box and developed a technique of talking through burping - quite disgusting but impressive nonetheless!

[–] tinywrist 14 years ago

Yes i heard it too that breathing and rumors everytime his voice came in.
To be honest i really enjoyed that voice!
(kinda reminds me of the growling tecnique used by death metal singers haha)