I swear i don't talk like that - The Big Easy (1987) Discussion

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

Actually, the Cajun accent is more likely to be heard in surrounding parishes, not in the suburbs of New Orleans (I'm from Metairie BTW) and the accent in St. Bernard is entirely different than the Cajun accent. If you wan a Cajun accent you would have to go into Lafourche Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and South Terribone Parish.

You are correct in saying that the Yat accent would be heard in those places, though it is only slight in the suburbs of NOLA, it gets much deeper in places like Bunkie, but that is not the accent that is mostly spoken throughout the movie (A Cajun/Creole accent). That's how they sound "down on da bayou."

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[–] cheezyspam 17 years ago

Different areas, cultures and families can lead to different accents, too. Not to mention, back in the 80's accents in general were a little heavier, since life was focused on community, not the entertainment industry, more than it is now.

My dad's best friend is from near New Orleans. I remember him having a VERY strong accent. Also, after Katrina, the city of Memphis, where we lived, was flooded with refugees. The old Cajun accent may be dying, but it sure ain't dead.

"Still, could be worse... my nose could be gushing blood"

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[–] allaboutthevamps 17 years ago

Does anyone know a single man with that accent? It drives me crazy...

I swear if your arm pops like that one more time i'm going to hit you!

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[–] klutzinpink 17 years ago

Uh, thanks for the dialect lesson imp-22, but I believe you may be teaching based on personal theory rather than fact. I'm from California and can't tell you how thrilled I am to learn that I have a television accent! My, my isn't Hollywood wonderful!

The actors in The Big Easy worked with a dialect coach. Although I was born and raised in California, I have family in Missouri, Texas and yep Louisiana, so I'm familiar with dialect from various regions and I thought most of the actors did a fine job. Sounded just like my Lousiana "r'ltivs", most of which now live in or near New Orleans and her surrounding communities, but they originated down in da bayou! There's just that certain sound. Which I thought Dennis Quaid pulled off quite well. Yeah, there were a few who threw it on a little "thick", making the accent seem unnatural, which of course for those not from that area, it was unnatural!! But, as previously stated, Dennis Quaid's accent was definately Bayou based.

And oh my gosh, how hot could he be!! He gave me shivers just listening to him, faked, put on too thick, all men should talk that way!

Come on little pup, stay on the porch and let the big dogs play.

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[–] elizabeth6189 17 years ago

The accents in the movie were terrible. People in New Orleans do NOT speak like that. We do not have southern accents or cajun accents! Hopefully some of the newer movies recently shot here will better depict New Orleans. The only movie I've seen that got New Orleans right was A Love Song for Bobby Long -- not just the accents, but everything else.

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[–] japurai 16 years ago

That’s a good movie,

But your statement is too generalized.

Accents really depend on influence; I grew up in the north but my daddy's from the south, and even though he's shed his heavy accent, I've taken on certain southern traits in my speech.

If you take a look at the film: My fair Lady, the character Professor Henry Higgins was able to tell where certain people were from by the differences in their accents whereas most people would just shrug and say that they were all English accents,

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[–] ceebeegee 14 years ago

My parents lived in New Orleans for a long time back in the '60s and my dad said they nailed the accent in this movie. I'll take his word for it.

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[–] ceebeegee 14 years ago

So...because you don't have an accent, nobody does?

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[–] DogtownGirl 14 years ago

MissLouisiana,

I thought I read somewhere that Remy's "Y'at" accent was heard mainly in NO's 9th ward ... I could be wrong.
Also, it's worth mentioning that although the character lived in NO, his ancestors came from the parishes where the "cajun" dialect was more pronounced and heard, so ... Remy could have just been paying hommage to them, in how he chose to speak (?). You know, he kept referring to his Cajun roots in the film, as well.

The more Ken Loach films I see, the more I think they need English subtitles.

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[–] poettesse 11 years ago

I really don't know about NO accents, but when I visited Baton Rouge & Plaquemine Parish, ALLLLLLL the men had that Remy McSwain accent & I nearly melted whenever one of those men called me 'cher.'
~~sighh~~
The only accent sexier than a Yat's accent is a Scottish accent.

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