Anyone else notice this? I realize that sometimes they are being played by British actors, like in HBO's Rome, but even when they're not they always have the accent. Has the British Empire so affected modern society that they have become the stereotypical imperials? Even in Star Wars the Imperial officers have British accents.
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Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
I guess, from my point of view, is that the understandable british accent has this quality to it that makes it sound refined and it has character to it that no other accent has.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
because only monks, language professors, and nerds would be able to understand them if they were speaking latin.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
You already nailed the reason in your post, OP.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
It's very strange, particularily HBO Rome as almost half the cast is Irish and many have thick Irish accents but actually have accent coachs' teaching them how to speak all posh-like.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
You do get people in Ireland who have 'posh' accents and those who do sound just like posh Englishman, I'm English and it's hard for me to tell the difference between a English person and an Irishman talking posh., Pierce Brosnan is a good example.
Originally Posted by Arch-hereticK
Romans are played by English actors for two reason, firstly the accent is associated with imperialism and Empire due to the spread of the British Empire and its impact on the world and as result it's is ideal for when you doing a performance based on the most famous iron age empire as you can associate the two. Secondly a lot of English performers have a grounding in Shakespearian acting which gives you a good experience to play these types of roles.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
It sounds better. It would sound retarded in an American accent and equally retarded in some cheese ball Italian accent. What do you want? Latin? No thanks.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
probably the closest sounding though. Originally Posted by Captain Jin
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Latin would be pretty cool IMO, it would make one realize that they were watching a portrayal of a very ancient and very foreign society.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
indeed, like in mel gibson's 'passion' (let's not get into any religious warfare over it) Originally Posted by Old_Scratch
when romans use latin -
Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
true, i would love to see a movie about ceasers gallic conquest in latin (and gaulish) with subtitles, it would be lovely and add alot to the thematic.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Thing is, we don't really even know what the Romans sounded like, or what their accent was when speaking Latin. We can make guesses, but that's not worth much really.
Fact is, British actors did much of the acting in period pieces back in the day; ergo, they had British accents. Modern cinema just carries on that tradition, even with non-British actors. You have to admit, it does sound better than bland accents like American ones, or retarded accents like the Italian one. -
Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Because the British accent sounds imperial and grand.
When I heard the Romans speak latin in Passion of the Christ I was most dissapointed - sounded like sleazy wops from Jersey Shore.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Because, as Jin already said, they would sound way too cheesy and silly with an American or mock Italian accent.
I don't really have a logical argument against them having an American accent. It just sounds a bit bland and cheesy to me, like the Romans in RTW. British accents are kinda the ''translated'' english in movies. Movies about Greeks, Romans and whatnot generally involve them speaking with British accents. Hence why it's kinda a shock to me to see movies like, say, the Beast, in which the Russians speak with American accents. I can't picture them as Russians and am forced to constantly remind myself that they are Russians in the movie.Last edited by Dr. Croccer; April 10, 2010 at 09:24 AM.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
I always thought it was more of a 'neutral' accent instead of a British one. Just a 'neutral' way of speaking English.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Indeed. In movies such as Gladiator, everyone tries to speak a similar 'British' accent. I don't know if its just because they are all Americans and Aussies trying to do British accents, but the result is that non-Brits sound New Zealand or South African. Originally Posted by Katsumoto
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Stanley Kubrick had the Romans in his film 'Spartacus' speak in an English accent because they are evil slave masters and the slaves keep their American accents because they are rebels fighting for freedom and thus are the good guys. Originally Posted by Old_Scratch
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Italian all the way not only because i m Italian
We have to say that real Italian accent is not the funny one of Italian-Americans or foreigners trying to replicate it
Last edited by DAVIDE; April 10, 2010 at 11:16 AM.
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Love it. Originally Posted by davide.cool
Italian all the way not only because i m Italian
We have to say that real Italian accent is not the funny one of Italian-Americans or foreigners trying to replicate it
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Re: Why do movie Romans always have British accents?
Dubbing always sounds silly. Why didn't they just subtitle it?
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