SLANG IN THE FILMS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 10

SLANG IN THE FILMS

PLEA FOR ENGLISH DIALECT Lord Lee of Fareham, who is eou nected with the British film industry, had a word to say recently about film slang’’when speaking at a luncheon of tlie ; American Chamber of Commerce 'at? Hotel Victoria-, it is reported in tho Morning Post.. ‘‘Slang has become English and American currency,” he declared. “There is hardly any self-respecting British schoolboy- who does not know the difference between ‘O.K.’ and ‘Oh, yehh,’ or does not understand about .‘stepping on the gas,’ being ‘bumped off’ or being ‘taken for a ride.’ I rather, regret that our English slang has made so much less headway in America. That largely because, with our usual habit of inferiority, complex,

we have been endeavouring to vul- 1 garise and doll up the English dialect in our British films, with the idea that we shall make them more popular in the' American market.

• “I disapprove in that theory,” he added. “If once you take away the national tang and individuality from a picture you have made a profound mistake.” Dealing with particular instances, Lord Lee said: “If you are talking about head-gear I would call it a hat* instead of a ‘bowler’ or a ‘Derby,’ neither of which are well understood on the other side. Otherwise, I hold strongly that makers of British films, both, with regard to their subject and their treatment, and above all their background, should be 100 per cent. British if you want to send them to America.”

Lord Lee said that' lie foresaw the day when statesmen on each side would hold conversations on . important international topics with the whole world sitting back listening.

The six best money-making directors of last year in America were : W. S. Van Dyke, Frank Capra, Norman Taurog, Lloyd Bacon, George Cukor and Victor Schertzinger. The best money-making pictures were: “Little Women,” “I’m No Angel,” “Judge Priest/’ “Dinner at Eight,l.” . “It Happened One Night ’ and “The Bowery.”