Those British Accents
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svenrufus — 11 years ago(August 21, 2014 04:49 PM)
or if the actor can't keep it going here and there
I watched One Day last night. Anne Hathaway had a stinker in that respect. Cringeworthily embarrassing.
This on the other hand - well I noticed the accents briefly at the beginning, (more so with the kids than anyone else to be honest), and then that was it, and I got on with the film.
The criticisms may be technically accurate in what they say about weaknesses, but as you say, are overdone because they do not/need not impair the enjoyment of the film one iota.
Not sure if you're British or not, but I am and I don't worry too much about the accent on the whole, and it's daft to criticise Americans doing bad English accents, when I've heard plenty of Brits doing lamentable versions of some of our regional accents over the years. Once you have a certain minimum standard, consistency is the bedrock of a good performance in that respect. -
garyedgecombe — 11 years ago(September 23, 2014 04:35 PM)
I think you meant to comment about the inability of the cast to mimic an ENGLISH accent!
You cannot really refer to a British accent, as it can mean a Welsh, Scottish, or Northern Irish dialect as well. All of the above countries, along with England, come under the name of Great Britain. The United Kingdom (UK) means the same thing! (confusing isn't it?) Incidently, over here we prefer to be known as English, Welsh, ScottishBritish is a catch all term, and we like to identify with our country of birth. It would be like calling someone from Chile 'American' and explaining that since that country is in America, (South America) a Chilean is from the US! Annoying for the person concerned!
I digressyou're right about accents..but most of us Limeys couldn't master a convincing US accent if our lives depended on it, so we've no room to talk! -
john-3422 — 11 years ago(February 22, 2015 03:35 PM)
The United Kingdom is NOT the same as Great Britain. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the geographical entity (island) that now contains the three countries England, Scotland and Wales. Since 1922, when (southern) Ireland became independent, the United Kingdom has consisted of the island of Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales) together with the province of Northern Ireland. Between 1801 and 1922 the United Kingdom consisted of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland. The United Kingdom did not exist before 1801. Between 1707 and 1800 Great Britain was also the name of a Kingdom, covering the same area as the island of Great Britain, following the union of England (and Wales) and Scotland in 1707, but before the union of the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801.
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kaydie-fee — 11 years ago(October 24, 2014 08:31 AM)
I thought Walter Pidgeon's character was supposed to be an American or Canadian, I think the youngest kid's accent was the weirdest of the lot, I can't even place that accent. Not that It really matters, the film was pretty good, I don't expect a film like this to be super realistic - as long as it's entertaining .
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joystar5879 — 11 years ago(October 24, 2014 04:57 PM)
Christopher Severn (Toby) was born in the US, the son of British Immigrants from South Africa. Since babies learn to speak from what they hear at home, young Chris probably heard a combination of British, South African and a wee bit of "Yank". Little Children are like sponges: They pick up EVERYTHING.
I do hope he won't upset Henry -
steve-taylor17 — 11 years ago(October 25, 2014 12:47 AM)
All British accents portrayed in film and television productions made in Britain at almost any period before 1970 were "weak". Certainly in 1942 the only "accent" used would be either, Received English or a poor imitation of cockney or some other regional accent. The former is a bizarre concontion of sounds rarely heard outside of the theatre world, the latter, an attempt at portraying working class accents. So to complain of accents used by actors in Mrs Miniver is to nit-pick.
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bubab2 — 11 years ago(February 10, 2015 01:51 PM)
I'm English, and am watching it now. What got me was how the Miniver family are portrayed as "Middle Class"; and yet they have seemingly 3 servants at the beginning of the film. A cook, and 2 maids!!!! Crikey!!!!!
Another hysterically funny scene (at the beginning) is when Greer Garson is feeding her two youngest children and telling them to go to bed: "Because I must get ready for dinner." And then in the next shot we see her all coiffed up and dressed up at a dinner table with Walter Pidgeon; complete with maid service; and coffee in a silver-service coffee-pot. All of that fuss just to have dinner with her husband of presumably 18 plus years. Did people really used to live like that in the 1940's? With maids and such finery? -
Charlot47 — 11 years ago(February 12, 2015 11:30 AM)
It is hard for us, over 70 years later, to decide how far the film was (i) trying to show a slice of life at the time (ii) satirising the uncaring rich or (iii) just fantasy. The Minivers were certainly well off. He could afford a smart new car, presumably paying cash, while she, with no need to work, could waste her days shopping in London. I would guess, only a supposition, that the formal dinners and the multitude of servants were reasonably authentic for upper middle class households in the home counties of England in 1939 and were shown because both would rapidly become historic.
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spookyrat1 — 11 years ago(March 02, 2015 01:23 PM)
So to complain of accents used by actors in Mrs Miniver is to nit-pick.
Agreed, especially considering the enduring popularity of the film over 70 years. I find the indignant tone of some of the above posts far more humorous than the accents on show in the film.