# That movie character's name is wrong -- Change it! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103 "2019-04-27T00:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/1 "2019-04-27T00:31:48Z")
Sometimes when they adapt a book or a story or a play, the Powers That Be in charge of it decide that the name’s just WRONG. It’s too long, or it sounds too silly, or it has Bad or Inappropriate Associations. So they change it. 1,) Too long – In John Farris’ novel **The Fury** the Bad Guy is named _Childermass_. For the movie they shortened it to _Childress_. 2.) Too silly-sounding. – James Fenimore Cooper introduced the character of Natty Bumppo in his novel **The Pioneers** , where we see him as an old, somewhat comic guy. When he later wrote about him in his youth, where he’s an Action Hero and a Crack Shot, he usually avoided the name and called him by one of his nicknames – _Hawkeye_ or _Deerslayer_ or _Leatherstocking_. But that’s not what I’m pointing out here. When Daniel Day-Lewis plated him the 1992 version of **Last of the Mohicans** they cleaned up _Natty Bumppo_ to _Nathaniel Poe_ 3.) Too Political – in the Philip K. Dick short story **We Can Remember it for You Wholesale** the lead character is _Douglas Quail_. When Paul Verhoeven cast Arnold Schwartzenegger in the part in **Total Recall** , Dan Quayle was the Vice President, so they changed the name to _Douglas Quaid_. When they remade Total Recall in 2012, Quayle was long out of office, and they could’ve gone back to Quail, but they kept the same name. 4.) Too unpronounceable – In Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s first thriller, **Relic** , the monster known to the Kothoga tribe in South America is called the _Mbwun_. When they turned it into the 1997 film, they must’ve figured that nobody likes a name that starts with three consonants that are never together in English, so they appropriated the tribe’s name for the monster and called it the _Kothoga_. (As I recall, they simply never named the tribe) 5.) Sounds incorrect – In Harry Bates’ science fiction story **Farewell to the Master** the giant robot is named _Gnut_, which sounds kinda Scandinavian. For the movie **The Day the Earth Stood Still** , he became _Gort_, giving us the classic line “Gort, Klaatu Barada Nikto”. True to form, when they remade the film in 2008, they kept the name _Gort_. I know that there are plenty of other cases where they changed the names for the movie or TV show, sometimes for No Apparent Reason. Whaddaya got? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/2 "2019-04-27T00:57:30Z")
Bruce Banner became David Banner for the TV version of _The Incredible Hulk_, reportedly because the original name sounded too gay. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/3 "2019-04-27T01:09:03Z")
In the original **Black Mask Magazine** version of **The Maltese Falcon** , Dashiell Hammett named Sam Spade Sam Coon Ass N\*\*\*\*r. No one knows why. It was changed for the films. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/4 "2019-04-27T01:10:19Z")
In the live-action TV _Incredible Hulk_, Bruce Banners’ name is changed to David, leading to [a Mad Magazine panel](https://hugelolcdn.com/i/368537.jpg) that doesn’t quite play the same way today. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/5 "2019-04-27T01:19:26Z")
(To defend myself against charges of racism, this is a tribute to the great and forgotten and hilarious 1970s film **The Black Bird,** in which George Segal played Sam Spade Junior. In the opening scene, Segal walked through the dilapidated streets of his dad’s old office area, and the black derelicts hailed him with “Hey, spade!” When he gets to the police station, the (black) chief says “When did we start letting _spades_ in here?”) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/6 "2019-04-27T01:23:28Z")
When they adapted Ross McDonald’s novel _The Moving Target_ to film, they changed the detective’s name from Lew Archer to Lew Harper. It was partly because the producers had only bought the book and not the Lew Archer series, so didn’t want someone else to cash in. Plus, star Paul Newman liked movies with character names beginning with “H.” The movie was thus named _Harper_ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/7 "2019-04-27T01:28:56Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > In the live-action TV _Incredible Hulk_, Bruce Banners’ name is changed to David, leading to [a Mad Magazine panel](https://hugelolcdn.com/i/368537.jpg) that doesn’t quite play the same way today. I love this so much. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/8 "2019-04-27T01:44:39Z")
When Universal made their version of _Dracula_ in 1931, they apparently thought that the name “Lucy Westenra” had too many syllables, or something. They changed her to _Lucy Weston_. Even for the parallel Spanish version, filmed at the same time, the name was _Lucia Weston_. For a 1968 TV version starring Denholm Elliot (Yes! Marcus Brody as Dracula!), Susan George played _Lucy Weston_. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/9 "2019-04-27T01:52:59Z")
Speaking of Universal horror, it’s always seemed weird to me that _Victor Frankenstein_ and his friend _Henry Clerval_ in Mary Shelley’s novel \*\* Frankenstein\*\* became _Henry Frankenstein_ and _Victor Moritz_ (with a last name stolen from the nursemaid, _Justine Moritz_, in Shelley’s novel). I suspect they thought that Americans would have a hard time relating to as European a name as “Victor”, but would be just fine with bucolic, homey “Henry”. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/10 "2019-04-27T01:58:51Z")
I’m not too surprised to find that there’s a TV Tropes page devoted to this – \* Adaptation Name Change\*: > **[Adaptation Name Change - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AdaptationNameChange)** > > Alice Andrews in the books becomes Alice Allen in The Movie then Annie Adams in The Series. This is when a character or group has a name change between adaptations. The Name Change of The Character can be their first name, last name or both; that … ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/11 "2019-04-27T02:02:54Z")
Shouldn’t Indiana Jones at least have been named Oklahoma Jones, if not something like Montana, Wyoming, or Texas Jones? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/12 "2019-04-27T02:08:27Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Shouldn’t Indiana Jones at least have been named Oklahoma Jones, if not something like Montana, Wyoming, or Texas Jones? I knew an archaeologist named John Jones who used to call himself Ohio Jones. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/13 "2019-04-27T02:10:14Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Shouldn’t Indiana Jones at least have been named Oklahoma Jones, if not something like Montana, Wyoming, or Texas Jones? Because those are not good names for a dog. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/14 "2019-04-27T02:33:15Z")
The novel _Build My Gallows High_ (1946) was adapted by its author as the classic film noir _Out of the Past_ (1947). The femme fatale’s name in the film was Kathie Moffat. Her name in the book was Mumsie McGonigal. The change was certainly for the better. In the first three AIP Beach Party movies, Jody McCrea plays “Deadhead.” For the last two films, he is “Bonehead.” Not sure why, but the change having a connection to the Grateful Dead’s fans is not implausible. > [@Colibri](#): > > I knew an archaeologist named John Jones who used to call himself Ohio Jones. John Jones? The name sounds kind of Martian. > **[Martian Manhunter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_Manhunter)** > > The Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in the story "The Manhunter from Mars" in Detective Comics #225 (November 1955). Martian Manhunter is one of the seven original members of the Justice League of America and one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe. > He has also been featured in other DC Comics products, such as video games, tel... ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/15 "2019-04-27T02:44:32Z")
> [@Cal each am](#): > > Speaking of Universal horror, it’s always seemed weird to me that _Victor Frankenstein_ and his friend _Henry Clerval_ in Mary Shelley’s novel \*\* Frankenstein\*\* became _Henry Frankenstein_ and _Victor Moritz_ (with a last name stolen from the nursemaid, _Justine Moritz_, in Shelley’s novel). I suspect they thought that Americans would have a hard time relating to as European a name as “Victor”, but would be just fine with bucolic, homey “Henry”. Considering that Colin Clive paid so little attention to the relatively hot Mae Clarke in _Frankenstein_ and the totally hot Valerie Hobson in **Bride,** Universal could have called him “Baron Limp Wrist.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/16 "2019-04-27T02:58:12Z")
When originally introduced in the _Batman_ comics, the villain Two-Face was named Harvey Kent. After a few years, the name was changed to Harvey Dent, probably to avoid the questions as to whether he was related to Jonathan and Martha Kent. Speaking of the Kents, the first episode of _The Adventures of Superman_ (possibly using footage from one of the serials) called them Sarah and Eben Kent. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/17 "2019-04-27T05:05:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Bruce Banner became David Banner for the TV version of _The Incredible Hulk_, reportedly because the original name sounded too gay. Kenneth Johnson’s (the producer’s) version is that he hated all of the alliterative names in the comics, like Reed Richards, Matt Murdock, Peter Parker, and yes, Bruce Banner, so he decided to buck the trend by changing Bruce to David. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/18 "2019-04-27T13:48:04Z")
Grease the musical’s leading lady was Sandy Dubrowski. Grease the movie’s leading lady was Sandy Olsson, because how could Australia Olivia Newton John have a Polish last name. Totally destroyed the “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” joke. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > In the live-action TV _Incredible Hulk_, Bruce Banners’ name is changed to David, leading to [a Mad Magazine panel](https://hugelolcdn.com/i/368537.jpg) that doesn’t quite play the same way today. I hadn’t thought of Caitlyn Jenner in reference to that panel. Thanks for the laugh. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/19 "2019-04-27T14:14:34Z")
In Raymond F. Jones’ novel **This Island Earth** the lead alien is named _Jorgasnovara_, which sounds like the result of an Indian-Scandinavian cross. For the movie they changed it to _Exeter_, which sounds British and classy (thereby revealing a bias by the filmmakers). There was no Metaluna in the book, by the way, which is way more mature than the stupid movie (although the novel sort of peters out, rather than having a distinct end). Jorgasnovara’s people are the _Llanna_\*, not the Metalunans, and their opponents in the interstellar war are the _Guarra_, not the Zaygons. “Zaygons” has that Flash Gordonish sound that I suspect the guys who made the film were going for – it sounds “science fiction-y”. I suspect a similar desire for “science fiction’y” sounding names lead the folks making **When Worlds Collide** to change the names of the two new, catastrophe-bringing planets from the rational names _Bronson Alpha_ and _Bronson Beta_\*\* to the pointless _Bellus_ and _Zyra_. Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie wrote the novel. - is there a three-L-Lllanna? \*Well, after all, Bronson discovered them. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103/20 "2019-04-27T14:16:55Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Shouldn’t Indiana Jones at least have been named Oklahoma Jones, if not something like Montana, Wyoming, or Texas Jones? “Now, I don’t know much about anything, but I think some of American’s best young men served in this war. There was Dallas, from Phoenix. Cleveland, he was from Detroit. And Tex was, well, I don’t remember where Tex come from.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-movie-characters-name-is-wrong-change-it/833103.md?page=2)