Speaks no French?!
The trivia section for "The French Connection-1971" stated director
Friedkin almost fired Rey because he did not speak French. Obviously he
spoke fluent French in this picture a year later--What a fast
learner!!!
The trivia section for "The French Connection-1971" stated director
Friedkin almost fired Rey because he did not speak French. Obviously he
spoke fluent French in this picture a year later--What a fast
learner!!!
Something tells me his voice was dubbed, but I can´t know for sure.
Good evening, I am the Devil. But you can call me Toby, if you like.
No, in the original French version Rey speaks with his own voice in a rather good French. He was fluent in French, so there must be some misunderstanding on this issue.
shareThe confusion arises from the fact that Fernando Rey spoke French, but not well. Sometimes he mouthed the words in Spanish, sometimes in French. His parts were then dubbed by a French actor speaking with a strong Spanish accent. The result is that the synching is usually good, but with occasional lapses.
shareI know that Mr Rey is a very fine actor, but was it worth Bunuel struggling through four or five French language films with him instead of using a French actor??
shareDid he really spoke French?
His accent was so enormous, with the tonic accents all wrong, that I really thought he learned his lines phonetically 30 seconds before each scene.
The person you responded to already said he was dubbed by someone speaking French with a strong Spanish accent.
shareI really don't think this is the case, because the voice acting is so bad (tonic accents and all that) that they could've easily chose a better voice actor.
Fernando Rey was Bunuel's favorite actor, so I understand he chose him. But for the voice, anyone could do. That is why I think it's really Rey's voice.
I take it Bunuel himself was fluent in French, having also started his career in France with Un Chien Andalou & L´Age d´Or?
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan