The Spanish Dancers
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bccoolj — 19 years ago(August 14, 2006 08:03 AM)
Yeah, I'm trying to find out too. I've rewinded that scene over and over, increased the volume, anything to try to understand what she's saying. I can't make anything out. Plus, as she finishes her line, she gets quieter to the point of just her mouth moving.
If it's not Spanish, could it be Portuguese? Any takers on this inquiry? -
Professor_Fate_86 — 19 years ago(August 31, 2006 03:13 AM)
Because I am incredibly bored, I pulled out the dvd and went to the scene. According to the subtitles, she says:
"ese gitana de cordoba, o sea que eres unico, arsa, mira"
Using Babelfish it translates to
"that gypsy of cordoba, that is that you are unico, arsa, watches"
Doesn't make sense, I know. But it's the best I can do, short of learning Spanish.
Stop staringI'm not learning Spanish -
bccoolj — 19 years ago(September 18, 2006 06:15 AM)
Congratulations! You win the electric toaster! Where can I send you the prize? I must have listened to that line at least 2 dozen times trying to pick up on what words she was saying. I know how to translate Spanish, but just trying to figure out the spanish words was difficult.
Thanks a bunch. That solves the riddle. And thanks for the Babelfish tool too. Good link to have! -
bccoolj — 19 years ago(September 22, 2006 06:47 AM)
I don't think she was pissed. I described the scene to a co-worker who knows her spanish culture, and she said that flamenco dancing is taken very serious. The facial expressions are never smiling or laughing, but serious almost hateful looks. What the woman was doing in her dialogue was praising the male dancer for his dancing as well as that he was "a gypsy from Cordoba, and he is unique."
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DwightFry — 15 years ago(February 10, 2011 07:34 AM)
I'm a native Spanish speaker, and what she says sounds a lot to me like "Arsa, Hurtado de Crdoba, arsa que eres nico, arsa, mi alma". It can't be directly translated, particularly "arsa", an Andalusian gypsy interjection very much like "ole". Hurtado de Crdoba is the name of the dancer, he even gets a screen credit in the end cast list, "eres nico" is "you are unique", "mi alma" is "my dear", and the general meaning is what has been already suggested, that the woman is praising the dancer.
What I don't know is why that pointless moment made the final cut. Probably Edwards thought it sounded exotic, or just wanted the audience to wonder!
Account inactive till original titles are back as default. Or Hell freezes over. What happens 1st. -
Laura Milagros5446 — 8 months ago(July 16, 2025 04:50 AM)
7/15/25 Happened to be watching this tonight. Not seen it since the 1980s! I, too, am a native Spanish speaker & to me … she is speaking gibberish. I knew she wasn't speaking Portugues & thought it sounded like Russian or Spanish with a Russian accent bc of her odd accent. Bc of all the killings I thought she might be a Russian spy bc it was the Cold War era.
Im Puerto Rican (& Cuban) & most of the Spanish ancestry of Puerto Ricans comes from Andalucía. If the dancer/actress was really from Andalucía - then to my surprise, I still don't understand her! lol!
My opinion & guess: She may be speaking Catalán, Galicían or Basque. (lotta Basque "gypsies" in Spain & France.) My bet is on Basque. I plan to watch the movie again later bc I had way too many interruptions first time around today. -
Laura Milagros5446 — 8 months ago(July 16, 2025 07:29 AM)
7/16/25 THE DANCER (FROM YOUTUBE):
Genial Narciso Hurtado de Córdoba (1927 - 2019). Bailarín y coreógrafo madrileño, pero realmente poco conocido en España. Triunfó especialmente en Argentina, donde en los años 50 fundó la compañía "Ballet Español Hurtado de Córdoba".
Translation:
He was a dancer & choreographer from Madrid. He never became famous in Spain but was beloved & very popular in Argentina in the 50s. He founded his dance company, "Ballet Español Hurtado de Córdoba."
?si=g8fsXiEu83WGfDYU -
Laura Milagros5446 — 8 months ago(July 16, 2025 12:44 PM)
7/16/25 To Professor Fate 86: Incorrect translation, but not bad for a newbie on Babelfish
! She most likely is speaking Basque. And the verb MIRAR means TO LOOK, not to watch. Another person here guesses that at the very end of the sentence she calls him "mi alma" (not mirar) – which literally means "my soul" but translates English to "my love", "my beloved", etc. The use of tbe word "arsa" is a Basque expression similar to the English "OMG!"
Espero que esto le ayude
(I hope this helps you)