MovieChat Forums > The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) Discussion > Kim Novak Dubbing and TCM print comment

Kim Novak Dubbing and TCM print comment

posted 17 years ago by HarlowMGM
5 replies | jump to latest

I admit I skip over the first half hour of this movie as it is very long and Kim is not really in that part - but I don't quite understand certain about the film, particularly "Elsa's" husky accented voice that comes and dissappears in certain scenes - what the hell is that all about? There is no clue that Elsa is anything but a regular American starlet. Is she supposed to be possessed by the ghost of Lylah? And if so, why aren't those around her freaking out when this accented voice speaking in hostile tones comes in? It's obviously dubbed in and sounds suspiciously it may be by one of the other two female leads in the picture, the foreign female assistant or maybe the dress designer.

One of the reviewers claims Turner Classic Movies shows an edited print. I suspect this isn't true because this is (A) a 1968 picture and there wouldn't be much more they could have done that what's in the print (no "F" words or major nudity) and (B) TCM HAS shown unedited prints of much rougher things like PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW in their late time slots. Anyone know if this is or isn't an edited print on TCM?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] preppy-3 14 years ago

"One of the reviewers claims Turner Classic Movies shows an edited print. I suspect this isn't true because this is (A) a 1968 picture and there wouldn't be much more they could have done that what's in the print (no "F" words or major nudity) and (B) TCM HAS shown unedited prints of much rougher things like PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW in their late time slots. Anyone know if this is or isn't an edited print on TCM?"

Hi. I wrote that review but I deleted it. Back in 2001 TCM WAS editing movies (that was when I wrote the review). The cuts were obvious. Also the film did get an R rating back then (for mild swearing and lesbian content) I just saw it again and it's uncut now. Also it would get by with a PG-13 today. Usually TCM shows everything uncut...but I still see edited prints. "The Road Builder" and "Johnny Got His Gun" were shown on TCM and I know those were edited. So it WAS cut originally but is complete now. Sorry if I bothered you.

[–] RRozsa 14 years ago

The dead starlet "Lyla" was supposed to have been a German prostitute prior to going into movies, so I guess we are supposed to believe that is her persona taking over Elsa in those scenes. In my opinion, it doesn't come across so much like Marlene Dietrich as Anne Meara, especially with Novak's hair and makeup! I felt the movie would have been much less "campy" if they had not gone with the dubbing. My only possible explanation for those around her not freaking out was that they believed she was just "getting into character", i.e., a "method actor".

Just because I'm distractable doesn't mean I

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] judith-mcgee1025 12 years ago

Ms. Novak's "Elsa" voice sounded like the wonderful German actress Hildegarde Neff.