MovieChat Forums > Swimming to Cambodia Discussion > Censored?

Censored?

posted 17 years ago by TunnelofGloves
11 replies | jump to latest

At exactly 55 minutes and 31 seconds into the film there is a moment where Spadling Gray's words are dubbed out. He is describing the coalition of the man that led the slaughter of the Cambodia people. Spadling says "... so many people would rather have seen him back in Cambodia with his [NATIONALIST] coalition rather then the Vietnamese."

The word "Nationalist" is obviously dubbed. I showed this scene to a friend and he said that he thought it was because Spalding's head was turned from the microphone, but he says half the sentence with his face turned up to the map, away from the microphone.

Does anyone know what was really said and why the change of dialog was dubbed over?

[–] schneider-cindy 17 years ago

On the DVD that I have, there is no dubbing whatsoever. He clearly says "Nationalist".

[–] TunnelofGloves 17 years ago

I happened to be watching it on my laptop with the headphones on which made it easier for me to originally notice. I probably would not have noticed if not for that. But when I played it back two or three times is clearly is not his voice. The word "nationalist" is definitely dubbed. Check one more time and tell me what you think.

EDIT: Also, do you have the Region 1 DVD?

[–] breno_k 16 years ago

It's true, there's definitely some dubbing in there.

[–] TunnelofGloves 16 years ago

Thanks. You're the first person I've ever heard that agrees with me. Even though I started this thread over a year ago. I would still like to know what he originally said. I've never been able to effectively find information on it from Google.

[–] geckobros 15 years ago

I just watched an old VHS copy I got at the library and it totally seems like that word is dubbed. But like you originally said I think it has to do with him being away from the microphone. I mean, what word could have been possibly dubbed in there that was sooo much more controversial than copious recreational drug use and sex parlors. He also doesn't mince words about what he feels about the subject of the movie he was filming. I could be wrong, but all signs point to an honest dubbing in my book.

[–] TunnelofGloves 15 years ago

I can't agree with that because it's clearly not his voice though that says the word "Nationalist." If in the post-production process the filmmakers discovered that the word was obscured in recording they would have had Spadling to re-dub his own dialog. Re-dubbing is a major part of filmmaking and unusable set dialog is a common problem. That's why actors are required in their contracts to be available for re-dub.

Since making that first post I have actually worked with people in film sound and I realized that the mic in front of him may have just been a prop. They could have had any number of microphones on set to cover his dialog. Having his head turned no longer seems that likely (though again I admit I would need to see the shot again).

[–] alexisdetroit 13 years ago

He was awfully chummy with the Khmer Rouge, aye? Washington had its odd moment of tacit support for the Rouge after the Viets invaded. Sihanouk is still kicking, right? So is Madame Nhu of Saigon, I hear. She's living in the south of France and loving it. But no one will pay her for an interview, something she demands.

Where is Sihnanouk living most of the time?

[–] SSteveL 11 years ago

At 5:28 of this YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taEO500A3Oo&t=5m27s.

It sounds like a microphone issue to me.

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[–] markbowen 10 years ago

Interesting, I've had the DVD for ages, and I never noticed that before. The word "nationalist" is definitely dubbed. It's very difficult to lip-read from the side, but he is certainly not saying "nationalist." Anyone who has a copy of the book of the same name, which is the written version of this monologue, can find out what he originally wrote and meant to say. (I can't find my copy, dammit!)

It seems more likely to me that he either flubbed the word or changed his mind about what word he wanted to use, and it was dubbed -- rather sloppily, now that I listen to it -- in post-production. I believe that's even his voice, just rather poorly miked and mixed.

I can't buy the theory that it's a case of censorship, because the entire subject matter of the film is so raw, why would it come down to one word? What other word might he have used in that sentence that would have made sense? "Communist" or "Maoist." Both words are used elsewhere in the film.

Whatever the case, thanks for pointing it out!

[–] baeksu 10 years ago

There's another spot as well- when he's talking about the beach at Phuket, describing how beautiful it was, the word "perfect" is dubbed in for some reason.

He says:

"It was a number nine on the scale of one to ten for *perfect* moments."

[–] SpanishFlyman 9 years ago

Just watched this movie, and it didn't really sound editted to me. Definitely and odd tone to the way he said "nationalist" but I think its just his voice was strained when he said it.

Wasn't paying as close attention to the "perfect" moment...I'll check that out next time I watch it.