To Dub Or Not To Dub

ET telefono casa

If you go to the cinema in Italy to see an English speaking movie, you won’t hear Clark Gable saying, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” He’ll say something like, “Francamente cara, non me ne frega”, and I guess it would be, “Ma dici a me?” with Robert De Niro instead of “Are you talking to me?” Italians dub. They dub everything.

I have gone on record as one who is opposed to all the dubbing, but I am starting to rethink this stance. After all, maybe the movies are just more accessible if they are dubbed. My husband can’t watch an Italian movie with me unless he is 100% fully rested because the subtitles make him fall asleep otherwise. Maybe he’d have more luck if Italian movies were dubbed into English for us?

It seems cheesy, but honestly, dubbing has become an art for Italians – I have to admit they do a pretty good job. It seems a shame to not hear Clint Eastwood’s voice saying, “Go ahead, make my day”, but if that’s what it takes to get people watching, does it matter?

So I’m posing the question, and in the top right hand of this blog there’s a poll:

If Italian movies were dubbed instead of subtitled, would it make it easier for you? Would you watch more Italian movies – actually more foreign films in general – if they were dubbed?

Thank you in advance for your participation.