MovieChat Forums > La classe américaine (1993) Discussion > English subtitles?

English subtitles?

posted 18 years ago by Kinoks
20 replies | jump to latest

Well.... I got a problem with my foreigners friends, they go crazy when they see that the last movie of John Wayne (as actor) or many of these guyz appearing in Le Grand detournement, played in a FRENCH Film... But I cannot show this movie to my friend, only because of the lack of subtitles... Anyway does anyone think this is possible to make subtitles for this movie?
For sure to translate just the beginning: "Ceci n'est pas un flim sur le cyclimse" show the tricky part!"
But if someone is interessed (and brave enough), I will be glad to work on it with him/her.

"My task i tried to achieve is above all to make you see" [D. W. Griffith]

[–] the_French_DesertFox 18 years ago

could be done but that will be a hell of a work...

[–] Kinoks 18 years ago

Yes for sure... but I think we should do it, if there are some volunteers here, do not hesitate to contact me!

"My task i tried to achieve is above all to make you see" [D. W. Griffith]

[–] the_French_DesertFox 18 years ago

It will be a pleasure to help you but it will be very hard to translate into english some of the jokes.
When do we start and how will we proceed?
I can surely understand all the French stuff and try translating it but I will need your help for the technical aspects of the stuff.

[–] darkwwjd 18 years ago

I was planning to do a translation, so if you like we could make it together. For instance we could compare how we would translate the most difficult parts.
Let me know if interested!

[–] the_French_DesertFox 18 years ago

OK... no problem for me. We can try it. tell me the way you want to do it. don't hesitate to send a mail.

[–] the_French_DesertFox 18 years ago

Some help is required. The translation is on progress but we'll need YOU !!!
Since we are French, some jokes are very difficult to translate. If you could help us for it, it would be great.

Don't hesitate to join me.

Thanks

[–] pilled 18 years ago

I'm french. In all fairness, what you're attempting to do is impossible. but, I appreciate the effort. And as a proof of appreciation, I'm willing to do the best I can to translate what you guys couldn't sort out.

If you can summarize all points where you're "lost in translation", send them to me, and I'll do the best I can to translate the most accurately possible.

Nonetheless I think you have to be fluent in french to understand the whole thing behind this jewel. But heh, we'll see ;)

Good luck,

-pill

[–] Kinoks 18 years ago

Guyz I have the word text in french of the movie... If it make sense, I would like to know if we could hook up together on the internet (as I live in Thailand now).
What do u think? I can take care of the technical aspect of it, the subtitle making once I have the text done... We could also compare each other's work... some jokes about refering to Canal + animators or french stars must be maybe adapted to english or american culture...
Ready guyz?

PS: Sorry for the delay...

"My task i tried to achieve is above all to make you see" [D. W. Griffith]

[–] mr-sorrow 18 years ago

I'm french and I can help you if you want ;-)
Just answer on this topic if you need some help.

[–] Kinoks 18 years ago

Ok thank u mister sorrow, I am working on a translation now, but it is quite hard!

"My task i tried to achieve is above all to make you see" [D. W. Griffith]

[–] lambin 18 years ago

I saw some clips of a subtitled version on a well-known video site. I just wanted to say that you're missing some jokes, but I guess they just cannot be translated. For instance when George Abitbol says "les anglais ont débarqué", it actually means that the woman has her period. Anyway the only best way to do subtitles is by doing like professionals :

1) Manually detect when you can put subtitles. Pros have software that calculate the maximum length (in characters) of each subtitle from their detected duration.
2) A French translates the script into English.
3) An English native speaker understanding French (very important), helped with the translater, adapts the translation to fit in each subtitle's duration.

You can use Subtitle Workshop to do the job. However it lacks the length calculation. From what I could see, I think that your translations are really too long.

Unfortunately I can't help a lot since I'm also French. I won't be able to do really better than you did... And yes, it's a long work. If you work on it everyday with an English native speaker it should take about one full week.

[–] KitKatimdb 18 years ago

I can help. I've already seen the whole script online, so please don't just tell me, "All of it!" If you can send me snippets you're having trouble with, I'd be glad to help. I'm fluent in French, but English is my first language, so I can render English idioms pretty well. I also know little things about subtitles, such as how short they have to be for easy comprehension.

-Katie

[–] elmaxpower 18 years ago

Hello,

If you need someone to translate some extracts in which you need a French point of view, I can help you. :)

I think it could be a nice way to make some Americans discover La Classe Américaine.

Bye and good luck for this project.

[–] bsyphillis 18 years ago

I'm with you too ! If you need help for translation I'll do my very best.

[–] vintage33 18 years ago

Hi guys, i admire all of you to even think about this project, i'm french and i want to show this movie to english speakers.... we had the same idea and you did it before me, i really admire you.
How far are you ? have you finished ? and the most important : where can i find the movie with your subtitles ?? answer me please.

[–] penindias 17 years ago

Hey, same here. How far along are you guys? It's a hell of a tedious work. If I can be of any help, dont hesitate to holler...

[–] Kinoks 17 years ago

hahaha... no... I am so far..
Bloody hell I tried to translate the first 5 minutes and I got a headache... sorry!

By the way if you want to download the script in french, you can find it at http://www.geocities.com/langegabriel/GD.doc

"My task i tried to achieve is above all to make you see" [D. W. Griffith]

[–] chivracq 14 years ago

Hi,.coming.to.this.thread.nearly.4.years.after.it.was.started.and.I.am.wondering.
if.you.all.finished.the.translation.and.synchronisation.of.the.film.with.English.
subtitles,.and.of.course.where.can.I.find.a.(good.quality).version.of.the.
film.as.I.would.like.to.screen.this.film.to.non.French.speaking.people?

I.downloaded.several.versions.of.the.film.on.different.torrents.sites.but.I.
couldn't.find.any.with.subtitles...

Btw,.the.link.in.the.last.previous.message.linking.to.the.script.does.not.work.
anymore...

[–] chivracq 14 years ago

Any.update.somebody.or.some.reply.to.my.last.posting.from.a.few.days.ago?

(+.Personal.message.through.IMDB.sent.to.Kinoks.who.started.the.Thread...)

[–] astralic 10 years ago

Can be found here:

http://www.opensubtitles.org/en/search/imdbid-321715/sublanguageid-all/moviename-la%20classe%20am%C3%A9ricaine