MovieChat Forums > Diabolique (1996) Discussion > Is it because north-americans ...

Is it because north-americans ...


Why did Hollywood have to remake this movie and why did they always have to “Americanize” masterpieces from other countries?

Is it because north-americans:

1] Are too lazy to read subtitles
2] Don´t want to deal with foreign culture
3] Fend subtle clues, jokes or thoughts that aren´t telegraphed three minutes in advance
4] Don´t want to think when they watch a movie
5] Are incapable to understand new concepts
6] Don´t deal with foreign country views and places
7] Don´t cope with characters who don´t prove themselves to be beautiful, loveable or stereotyped
8] Think that only USA is able to make good movies and they will improve the original masterpiece


What do you think ?

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[deleted]

[deleted]

Number 1

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There's no need to insult the American film industry by saying it's lazy or doesn't like foreign movies. How many American films and actors has France nominated to its movie awards? The U.S. regularly nominates foreign actors for the Academy Awards, and has a category for foreign films. Does France?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the foreign version, was a big hit here in recent years. With subtitles and all. AND America remade that movie, too, with mainly American actors.

America welcomes foreign actors. Isabelle Adjani, in this movie, is French, isn't she? She was also nominated for an Academy Award previously.

Here are the answers, though:

1. The original is pretty old. Time for a remake if the original was good, which it was.
2. Because the original is old, moviegoers won't know the actors.
3. There may be distribution issues with old versions.
4. The quality of film itself is not as good in older versions.
5. Yes, many Americans don't like subtitles (I don't mind them at all, but that's me)
6. America makes so many films, and it makes films to make money (not for art, usually), so that it's helpful to make money to use a successful old film to remake and update.
7. America doesn't just remake old foreign films. It remakes successful old American films. "An Affair to Remember" is a remake of a remake of a remake, for example.
8. It's tradition in America to remake old, successful films. We like it. Nothing wrong with that.


What country are you in? Does your country not remake successful old movies? If not, why not?

I suspect some foreign countries don't make that many films and/or don't make films mainly to make money. That changes a production board's view of things.

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yes it's all of the above but what were they supposed to do about it>?? Re-release the original Diaboliques? It's a 1955 film. If it had been a 1992 french film I would understand your complaint but it's a remake of an old movie, it's not like they could have released the original one to american audiences.

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I think two things:

1] To make money
2] you come across like an arrogant prig

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