USE OF SLANG IN FILMS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21411, 1 March 1935, Page 5

USE OF SLANG IN FILMS

PLEA FOR ENGLISH DIALECT REMARKS BY LORD LEE, OF FAREHAM Lord Lee of Fareham, who is connected with the British film industry, had a word to say recently about film slang when speaking at a luncheon of the American Chamber

of Commerce at Hotel Victoria, it is reported in the "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, yeah,' 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 is largely because, with our usual habit of inferiority complex, we have been endeavouring to vulgarise and doll up the English dialect in our

British films, with the idea that we shall moke them more popular in the American market. "National Tang" "I disbelieve in that theory," he added. "If once you take away the national lanjj 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 he foresaw the day when statesmen on each side would hold conversations on important international topics with the whole world sitting back listening.