Dutch Scene Translated
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FredGailey — 17 years ago(February 13, 2009 07:30 PM)
Thanks, jarrodmon, for posting this. I always wondered what was being said. What a beautiful scene, far more touching and more subtle than the whole contrived sign language scene in THE REMAKE!Its so sappy I feel the need to take insulin after watching it.
Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. -
jackboot — 16 years ago(August 30, 2009 10:16 AM)
Hey jarrodmon-1, I just tried to view that page for which you provided the link, but I was presented with a log-in page.
Any chance you could post the content on here? I would love to read the translation. I can think of few scenes on film that have moved me more than this one!
Thank you! -
jarrodmon-1 — 16 years ago(September 07, 2009 09:56 PM)
Okay, here is the translation from that link. Apparently you do now have to be a member to get to the page, but as I am, here we go:
Heres the scene, with the dialogue between Kris Kringle and the little Dutch girl translated into English:
Kris Kringle:
Well, young lady, whats your name?
Mother:
Im sorry, she doesnt speak English. Shes Dutch. She just came over. Shes been living in an orphans home in Rotterdam ever since Well, weve adopted her. I told her you wouldnt be able to talk to her, but when she saw you in the parade yesterday she said that you were Sinterklaas, as she calls you, and that you could talk to her. Well, I didnt know what to do
Kris Kringle to the little girl:
Hallo! Ik ben blij dat je gekomen bent!
(Hello! Im glad you came!)
Girl:
O, u bent Sinterklaas!
(Oh, you are Sinterklaas!)
Kris Kringle:
Jazeker!
(Sure!)
Girl:
Ik wist dat u het zou begrijpen!
(I knew you would understand!)
Kris Kringle:
Natuurlijk! Zeg maar wat je zou willen hebben.
(Of course! Tell me what youd like to have.)
Girl:
Niets. Ik heb van alles. Ik wil alln maar bij deze lieve dame zijn.
(Nothing. I have everything. I just want to be with this nice lady.)
Kris Kringle:
Wil je een liedje voor me zingen?
(Would you like to sing me a song?)
Kris & Girl:
Sinterklaas kapoentje,
Geef wat in mijn schoentje,
Geef wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank u, Sinterklaasje!
(Sinterklaas [untranslatable term of endearment],
Give me something in my shoe,
Give me something in my boot,
Thank you, Sinterklaas!)
In the remake of Miracle on 34th St., the little Dutch girl was replaced with a deaf girl, and Santa spoke to her in sign language. While this was touching, I think the whole idea of having Santa speak Dutch and sing the Sinterklaas song was to demonstrate that he was the real Santa Claus, who of course would know the languages and cultural traditions of every country where children believe in him, even a very small country like the Netherlands, which coincidentally (or perhaps not) is an important source of the American Santa Claus tradition. -
jackboot — 16 years ago(October 04, 2009 09:43 PM)
jarrodmon-1 ~ Okay, here is the translation from that link. Apparently you do now have to be a member to get to the page, but as I am, here we go:
Thank you so much for posting this!!
You know, I couldn't stand the suspense, so I had to register to join the site myself so that I could read it.
Thank you again! -
grendelkhan — 15 years ago(December 25, 2010 03:08 PM)
Everything about that scene makes me cry. It is so beautifully performed, right down to the reactions of other characters. It has even more meaning if you know something about the toll WW2 took on Holland, both through the German occupation and the Allied push through the country.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."-Groucho -
madjew_2000 — 14 years ago(November 24, 2011 01:58 PM)
seriously i am watching that scene now as i read these posts same effect. man father hood has made me a softy,nah thats a lie schmultzyness has always been a weakness for me
When you got to shoot,shoot. Don't talk.-Tuco -
hickph — 14 years ago(November 24, 2011 07:08 PM)
Certainly one of my favorite scenes ever, going back to when I first saw it as a child in the early 1970s. Watched the movie today with my aging father. Couldn't help but tear up when this part came along. Simply a beautiful moment in cinematic history.
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avadonella-697-251567 — 11 years ago(December 13, 2014 06:51 PM)
And this is why I can't stand the version from the 90's. It doesn't make sense to me. I may be young (45) but I've watched this movie from the time I was young and it is one of my favorite movies in the world. The whole orphan dutch girl being able to communicate with Santa Claus in her own language is priceless and it makes sense since it happened right after the war. I figured it was a Christmas song about santa claus since she said sinterklaas when I was a kid and yes the look on Natalie's face is priceless. You can't duplicate that with a remake.
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mlaiuppa — 10 years ago(December 21, 2015 12:12 PM)
I speak no Dutch and only basic German but I got a sense of this.
Thank you so much for posting the actual translation.
This is one of the reasons this version is my favorite. In one way or another, all of the remakes fall short. -
fiveforme — 11 years ago(December 22, 2014 01:20 PM)
I watch both this version and the ninety's version, whichever one is on TV. While I agree that the little Dutch girl's scene is moving, the ninety's version is moving, too. The little Dutch girl doesn't speak English, but Santa can talk and sing with her. The little Dutch girl will learn to speak English fairly quickly. But the little deaf girl will never be able to speak English or Dutch. She will never know what Jingle Bells actually sounds like, not the song or the actual jingle of bells. She knows Santa says "Ho, ho, ho!" but she doesn't know what that sounds like. Her only means of communication is through ASL (American Sign Language) which is not easy to learn as an adult. That's what gets me every time. Her mother tells Santa that the little girl can't speak as if she realizes that it's hardly worth her time or Santa's time. But when Santa starts signing to her, her little face lights up because Santa can speak "sign LANGUAGE."
Except for that one scene, if they were both on at the same time, I'd choose this version, especially when it's aired in black and white. -
Greenteeth — 15 years ago(December 26, 2010 10:33 AM)
This is a great thread. I've seen this movie many times and that scene still blows me away. It's not only fun to watch Kris and the Dutch girl, but seeing little Susan's (Natalie Wood) reaction is priceless.
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clonehater101 — 14 years ago(November 23, 2011 08:52 PM)
For those interested in what the shoe part means, it is the dutch equivalent to hanging up stockings. The kids put their shoes in front of the fire place during the gift giving season, which begins in midnovember and ends on Dec. 5th ("Sinterklaas Daag" or St. Nicholas Day) and is supposed to be the day before his birthday. Most will leave hay and carrots in their shoes for his horse.
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ludances — 12 years ago(November 28, 2013 04:33 PM)
Those are all great responses with great information, thank you to all. I read sometime back what they were saying in that scene, it made me cry then and I'm teared up now, reading this and watching it now.
Knock if off Napolean make yourself a dang quesadil-la!