Misdelivered lines

[PHArchivist]

This forum takes the cake for the most obscure angles on threads "Movies that you like, but only on Thursdays when everyone else likes them on Sundays" - that sort of thing...

Here's one I hope is not quite as out there.

Misdelivered lines.

Lines the actor delivers with the correct words, but tone, inflection, or emphasis is offered incorrectly by the actor, indicating he/she doesn't really understand the writer's true meaning.


Example:
In Sherlock Holmes, after being informed Lord Blackwood has apparently risen frm the dead, Watson and Holmes share an exchange. Abbreviated, with Watson's line paraphrased:

Watson:
"Are you actually taking this seriously!?"

Holmes:
"Yes - as you should"

Downey clearly places the emphasis on "should" when, really, the line should play as "As YOU should..." since Watson's reputation is at stake having been the physician to have pronounced Blackwood dead. Emphasis on you, aluding to the fact that watson in particualrly should be taking it more seriously than anyone else.

 

[PHArchivist]

Another example:

Open Range - the big fat guy goes to town (alone) to get supplies. He is attacked and beaten. Costner, not quite getting it, says his line to Duval as:

"You should have sent me!"

Emphasis clearly on "sent", when I firmly believe the writer voiced it as:

"You should have sent me!" where the emphasis on me supplants the unspoken sentiment of "Me, not him!"

 

[Kerr Avon]

I'm sorry. I can't criticize any acting that Robert Downey Jr has done. The man is a god.

 

[PHArchivist]

These things drive me nuts.

I realize such interpretation is a bit subjective, and I don't REALLY know what is in the writer's head. But I OFTEN see actors delivering lines with an emphasis or inflection that doesn't "fit"...

Does this bug anyone else?

What examples do you have?

 

[Kerr Avon]

"Jiggawatts." FROM A SCIENTIST. 'nough said.

 

[robn1]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture:
Decker: "What's our next move?"
Kirk: "Question Mr. Decker, is there a next move?"

I always felt it should be "...is there a next move?"

 

[Nexus6]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture:
Decker: "What's our next move?"
Kirk: "Question Mr. Decker, is there a next move?"

I always felt it should be "...is there a next move?"

+1 for ^this^. Always bugged me.

 

[Krel]

In "Forbidden Planet" Walter Pidgeon, as Edward Morbius, calls a Krell machine in the lab, a Plastic Educator. The actual name is Plasmic Educator. But Walter Pidgeon was on medication due to an injury, and distracted so he mispronounced plasmic as plastic. For some reason it was never fixed in post production.

David.

 

[Sigma-LS]

Watching twelve monkeys yesterday.

"It's an advertezmint Mr. Cole. You know an advertezmint.":facepalm

 

[Celtic007]

I don't have one, but this thread is like a scene from Seinfeld, where George is telling the actor playing Kramer how to say the lines

George: "Your saying 'They fooled ME Jerry". You want to hit 'fooled' more. 'They FOOLED me jerry!, see?"

 

[tonykch]

"Jiggawatts." FROM A SCIENTIST. 'nough said.

Gigawatt - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Both pronunciations are correct.

 

[JD]

Watching twelve monkeys yesterday.

"It's an advertezmint Mr. Cole. You know an advertezmint.":facepalm

ad-vur-tis-muhnt is an acceptable pronounciation of advertisement.

 

[nickytea]

With RDJ, I think it less likely that he mis-judged the textual intent and more likely a byproduct of the peculiaries he consistently built into his Holmes dialect. He even seems to purposefully mispronounce words to massage them into the lyrical cadence he created, which seems to be inspired by the unique cadence to the British dialect.

Listen to the swooping inflections of native British accent.
"Week-END."

The final-syllable stress can sound strange to a US ear.

 

[PHArchivist]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture:
Decker: "What's our next move?"
Kirk: "Question Mr. Decker, is there a next move?"

I always felt it should be "...is there a next move?"

Perfect example...

 

[Robert412]

With RDJ, I think it less likely that he mis-judged the textual intent and more likely a byproduct of the peculiaries he consistently built into his Holmes dialect. He even seems to purposefully mispronounce words to massage them into the lyrical cadence he created, which seems to be inspired by the unique cadence to the British dialect.

Listen to the swooping inflections of native British accent.
"Week-END."

The final-syllable stress can sound strange to a US ear.

My brother in law is from the UK, and, because of this, I'm constantly confused if he's asking a question or making a statement.

 

[PHArchivist]

With RDJ, I think it less likely that he mis-judged the textual intent and more likely a byproduct of the peculiaries he consistently built into his Holmes dialect. He even seems to purposefully mispronounce words to massage them into the lyrical cadence he created, which seems to be inspired by the unique cadence to the British dialect.

Listen to the swooping inflections of native British accent.
"Week-END."

The final-syllable stress can sound strange to a US ear.

Possibly...

I think another factor to the dynamic I'm harping on is the film production process in general.

For example if its a scene with two actors across from a table, and they shoot ALL of actor A's lines first, then actor B's, the conversational element and continuity is lost, since the actors are not truly responding to each other...

Still, I feel the best and most professional actors should be able to "get it" on their initial read-throughs, remember it, and stay focused on the bigger picture of the dialogue exchange, even if not shot as a flowing conversation.

Make sense...?

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Christopher Walken is notorious for them although at this point I think he just parodies himself. Example:

This is not over, BEARS! - YouTube

 

[Zombie_61]

Christopher Walken is notorious for them although at this point I think he just parodies himself.

When it comes to "interesting" inflections, Walken is in a class by himself.

 

[Treadwell]

I think it also has to do with actors, by necessity (especially in television), learning only their lines instead of all of them in a scene. Sometimes context is lost that way.

Used to happen a lot on TNG, and I hate to mention it because I admire him so, but often with Patrick Stewart.

WORF: I haven't had cause to complain, captain.
PICARD: Mr. Worf, you would't complain even if you had CAUSE.

It makes sense out of context, but in context the emphasis should be on IF or HAD. One could argue, I suppose, that it was instead a legitimate artistic decision, though.

It happens bunches in animation, where the delivery of lines is even more separated from context. It takes a voiceover recording director who's really on the ball to catch this stuff on the day.

It helps if the screenwriter underlines such words. But you have to be careful not to look like you're telling your talent how to act.

 

[WinstonWolf359]

Uhura's delivery of "It's all how we all feel" instead of "It's all how we all feel" from The Motion Picture has always been my standout line.