# Changing a movie's title for a foreign audience? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [June 20, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122 "2024-06-20T15:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/121 "2024-07-08T21:20:52Z")
It’s a scientific fact that Maradona AND Messi where born here, QED. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/122 "2024-07-08T21:25:21Z")
True that. And they both played for Barça. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/123 "2024-07-08T21:28:03Z")
Wait – there’s an “American Beauty” rose? So the title is has a double meaning of sorts? Is this common knowledge? I’m not sure I know the name of any rose cultivars. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/124 "2024-07-08T21:37:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Wait – there’s an “American Beauty” rose? So the title is has a double meaning of sorts? Is this common knowledge? It’s at least well-known enough to have a Grateful Dead album named after it. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Grateful_Dead_-_American_Beauty.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Grateful_Dead_-_American_Beauty.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/125 "2024-07-08T21:40:48Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It’s at least well-known enough to have a Grateful Dead album named after it. I know the film (and the iconic picture of the naked whatshername covered in red roses, though I never saw the movie) and I know the Grateful Dead album and like it very much, but I never knew that it was the name of a sort of rose. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/126 "2024-07-08T23:11:15Z")
In 1998, the New York Times [published an article](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/15/weekinreview/november-8-14-lost-and-gained-in-the-translation.html) about funny movie translations around the world. It turned out that nine of the ‘translations’ were actually from a spoof website, including: > The Cantonese title for ‘‘Leaving Las Vegas’’ translates to ‘‘I’m Drunk and You’re a Prostitute.’’ ‘‘Field of Dreams’’ was '‘Imaginary Dead Baseball Players Live in My Cornfield.’ and > But there’s no arguing with the Chinese take on ‘‘Babe’’: ‘‘The Happy Dumpling-To-Be Who Talks and Solves Agricultural Problems.’’ Or ‘‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’’: ‘‘Help! My Pretend Boyfriend Is Gay.’’ Or ‘‘George of the Jungle’’: ‘‘Big Dumb Monkey Man Keeps Whacking Tree With Genitals.’’ Or even ‘‘Batman and Robin’’: ‘‘Come to My Cave and Wear this Rubber Codpiece, Cute Boy.’’ Whenever _Leaving Las Vegas_ is mentioned anwhere, I can’t help but think _I’m Drunk and You’re a Prostitute_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/127 "2024-07-09T00:09:22Z")
I read about the change in this book about 25 years ago: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51lN3jXwcDL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51lN3jXwcDL.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/128 "2024-07-09T00:17:21Z")
It seems to me that the Russian title was originally _ **Amerikanskaya krasavitsa** _ and then changed to _ **Krasota po-amerikanski** _, the former indicating a beautiful woman. But that just might be my mind playing tricks on me. ---
**Author:** ![Xocomil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xocomil/32/14927_2.png) [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/129 "2024-07-09T05:05:45Z")
Same boat, man. That’s a clever title, actually, linking to the rose imagery in the movie. Too clever, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/130 "2024-07-09T10:06:57Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Interestingly, Gardner also got the job of writing the novelization for the film (the first since Wood’s _James Bond and Moonraker_, so he wrote _License to Kill_ as well as _Licence Renewed_, and this became the only Bond novelist to have “License/Licence” spelled two different ways in his titles. As far as I can tell, the Bond film (and Gardner’s novelisation) is titled Licence To Kill in the US as well as the UK. License to Kill seems to be a Denzel Washington movie. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/131 "2024-07-09T12:20:41Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > License to Kill seems to be a Denzel Washington movie. [1984 TV Movie](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087617/) Never heard of that film, but it may have been more aptly titled _License Revoked_. The plot revolves around a drunk driver who causes a fatality and tries to avoid punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/132 "2024-07-09T12:27:56Z")
I went to see the movie “Alive!” in Guatemala. The title there was "_Superviviantes de Los Andes_. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/133 "2024-07-10T13:49:37Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > > [@CalMeacham](#): > > > > Gardner also got the job of writing the novelization for the film (the first since Wood’s _James Bond and Moonraker_, so he wrote _License to Kill_ as well as _Licence Renewed_, and this became the only Bond novelist to have “License/Licence” spelled two different ways in his titles. > > As far as I can tell, the Bond film (and Gardner’s novelisation) is titled Licence To Kill in the US as well as the UK. Note, Cal got it the wrong way round. Gardner’s books were _[Licence to Kill](https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Licence_to_Kill_(novelisation))_ and _[License Renewed](https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Licence_Renewed)_ ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/134 "2024-07-10T15:43:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Note, Cal got it the wrong way round. Gardner’s books were _[Licence to Kill](https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Licence_to_Kill_(novelisation))_ and _[License Renewed](https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Licence_Renewed)_ Ah, thanks – that makes more sense. Though the book was Licence Renewed in the UK, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/135 "2024-07-10T15:48:25Z")
But was there ever a UK release of [License to Drive](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/License_to_Drive)? ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/136 "2024-07-18T16:42:38Z")
The original 1960s “Avengers” TV series was called “Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir” (bowler hat and leather boots) in French. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/137 "2024-07-18T16:49:20Z")
That is a good one! It was “[Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mit_Schirm,_Charme_und_Melone)” in German. Literally: With umbrella, charm and bowler hat. Just wikilearned that it was **Rewolwer i melonik** in Polish; it seems the bowler hat impressed the translators! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/138 "2024-08-03T22:55:04Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The Germans retitled _ **Star Trek** _ and _ **Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea** _ as _ **Raumschiff Enterprise** _ The German episode titles were sometimes a straightforward translation and sometimes, not > **[Raumschiff Enterprise](http://space-doubt.blogspot.com/2012/09/raumschiff-enterprise.html)** > > When German television bought Star Trek , the series was dubbed and retitled Raumschiff Enterprise (Spaceship Enterprise). It's easy to ... Morgan ist Gestern - Tomorrow is Yesterday - very straightforward Tödliche Spiele auf Gothos - Deadly Games of Gothos - pretty obvious Pokerspiele - Poker (Corbomite Maneuver) - ok Horta rettet ihre Kinder - The Horta saves her children - kind of a giveaway! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/139 "2024-08-04T00:02:00Z")
Oh. That explains this parody of Trek, Star Wars and Fifth Element: > **[Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumschiff_Surprise_%E2%80%93_Periode_1)** > > Bullyparadeby Michael Bully Herbig > (T)Raumschiff Surprise – Periode 1 ("Dream/Spaceship Surprise — Period 1") is a 2004 German comedy film by Michael "Bully" Herbig. It is a spoof of the 1960s American television series Star Trek and parodies several science fiction films. > As a spiritual successor to Der Schuh des Manitu, the film is based on a recurring skit from Herbig's TV show Bullyparade, "Unser (T)Raumschiff". The title and plot allude to Raumschiff Enterprise, the German title of Star ... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122/140 "2024-08-04T01:58:53Z")
As I said above, _ **Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea** _ was retitled _ **Mission Seaview** _. The Flying Sub was called _das Flugelboot_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-a-movies-title-for-a-foreign-audience/1003122.md?page=8)