The 'N' word in the film 'Dambusters'.

[Archie_tect]

I think they should call the dog "Bugger"

+1

 

[Andy in Sig]

If the change is just for the American market, then they can simply get the actors to dub the word for the American release whenever it comes up.

 

[PaulB]

If the change is just for the American market, then they can simply get the actors to dub the word for the American release whenever it comes up.

And get Woody Allen to direct it. Hey, I think we're on a rootin' tootin' winner right here boy!

 

[Andy in Sig]

Apparently Peter Jackson intends to use relative unknowns as many of the crews were young men in their very early 20s. While they were predominantly British there were also New Zealanders, Australians (I think) and Americans in the crews.

 

[aberal]

Don't want to disappoint you, but it was not a "tale", it was a true story, it did happen.

Lord of the Rings etc and other fictional stories, their tales

tale (t

l)n.1. A recital of events or happenings; a report or revelation: told us a long tale of woe.2. A malicious story, piece of gossip, or petty complaint.3. A deliberate lie; a falsehood.4. A narrative of real or imaginary events; a story.5. Archaic A tally or reckoning; a total.

And it's "they're". "They are" - not "their".

 

[Archie_tect]

This thread perhaps should be moved to P&L before it descends into chaos.

 

[Arch]

To be honest, I'd imagine the relatives of all concerned are just embarresed the dog was called that in the first place.

I don't imagine they are. Back then, it was also just a word refering to dark colour. My Gran would refer to a specific colour of yarn as nigger brown. I don't know, but I suspect it had more negative connotations in America than over here at the at time. I seem to recall hering that British people were amazed when GIs came over, to find that there was segregation among them.

 

[marzjennings]

Read in the news yesterday that Steven Fry has kow-towed to demands from above to change Guy Gibson's dog's name in the screenplay he's writing for 'Dambusters' from n***** to 'digger'! Can that be right? Okay, the word can't be said (by non-blacks) NOW but it was said, in some cases without prejudice, in the 40s.

This hero's dog was called n***** and the word was used as code for a successful breach of one of the target dams. In the original film, Barnes Wallace was to be seen punching the air when the word 'n*****' was received from one of the bomber crews.

In my opinion, if they change a basic like that, the film has no credibility as what else can they have changed? It should have stayed as it was or not been re-made.


What is the opinion of the good people of this forum on this issue?

Times change, word's meanings evolve, sometimes for the positive and sometimes for the negative. N***** is now a word of hate whether it's used by a black or white person (my daughter will not be using that word). And it needs to be out of the movie.

If you don't understand why this word is so offensive then you need to evolve and go study.

 

[Hover Fly]

Apparently Peter Jackson intends to use relative unknowns as many of the crews were young men in their very early 20s. While they were predominantly British there were also New Zealanders, Australians (I think) and Americans in the crews.

If you count Canadians as "Americans" there was a plurality, but there was just one USAnian, Joseph McCarthy who had joined the RCAF to come and fight. There was a high proportion of "Colonials" in the crews because the British minor aristocracy and middle-class "Brylcreem boys" preferred to fly fighters for the thrill of dog fights, leaving bombers and such for the NCO pilots and colonials.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

the film's screenplay is/will be a work of fiction; it isn't a documentary. countless facts will be re-presented in ways other than how things actually happened, countless details will be made up, so why stress about a call-sign/dog's name?

 

[MontyVeda]

Changing the dogs name is necessary for the remake i feel... it's a very insignificant detail to wont actually affect the story in any way, shape or form.

however the press release is publicity. Remember the very minor tabloid drama a few years back "RDJ plays black man instead of a 'real' black man" shocker... nobody was offended, just a little nugget of publicity for the film.

 

[slowmotion]

I suppose that the soundtrack will be by Diggaz with Attitude?

 

[Yellow Fang]

Perhaps they should just leave the dog's name out.

 

[TheDoctor]

Could just leave the dog out.

 

[Noodley]

Could they not make a movie about something else completely? And call it The Great Escape with the tunnels Tom, Nick and Harry?