MovieChat Forums > L'espion (1966) Discussion > Is this spoken ENGLISH . . . DUBBED ENGL...

Is this spoken ENGLISH . . . DUBBED ENGLISH . . or FRENCH w/subtitles?

posted 14 years ago by Miss_Chievous
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm just trying to figure out what language THE DEFECTOR was filmed in, and if (any?) English version now available on DVD was the originally-filmed language spoken by Clift . . . or later dubbed English. It's very confusing, since the movie has BRITISH-born actors, with an original title (L'Espion) in FRENCH, filmed at least in part in GERMANY, officially released in the USA . . . and variously reported with ENGLISH subtitles!!

mc

[–] moonspinner55 13 years ago

Many of the actors are speaking English in the film, including Clift obviously. Some of the supporting players are clearly speaking a different language (most probably German) and have had their dialogue dubbed into English, as their lip movements do match the vocal track. This is a common practice among international productions. There may very well be a European print in which the film is subtitled or completely dubbed in German or French.

[–] tbrittreid 13 years ago

Some scenes, such as the first between Clift and Hardy Kruger, are obviously the on-set production track. Others are post-synced. In fact, in the final sequence of the film, one of Roddy McDowall's lines--and only one of them--is not his own voice! There was some technical problem and he was not available to dub it himself, no doubt.

Concerning another comment by the OP, the idea that the "original title" is a French word when the film initially opened in West Germany--according to IMDb's release dates--is absurd. Certainly, I am very surprised to find the IMDb listing France as co-country of origin, since other than the English spoken by the main cast, acknowledged by moonspinner55, it appears to be thoroughly (West) German, which is the other credited nation. If the "France" credit was plausible, it could easily justify the claimed original title, but it isn't and therefore doesn't. Are multiple countries listed alphabetically here? They shouldn't be, because levels of international participation in a film can and do vary. Consequently, that should be reflected here to make the credits accurate, which is our goal, is it not?

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[–] dollvalley 9 years ago

moonspinner, I think the OP didn't ask if there is a completely dubbed version in German on French, which I'm pretty sure exists as I taped it off tv.
I think he means if there is a version where parts there were shot in German or French have been kept in those markets and the additional audio was dubbed. But maybe that's what you also meant?