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Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:31 pm
by Bob Of Burleson
Should an American actor
have been cast to play
Hank Williams?
By Soraya Nadia McDonald
The Washington Post
You probably know Tom Hiddleston as the swaggering, throaty-voiced supervillain Loki from the “Thor” and “Avenger” movies. He revels in Loki’s delicious evilness, but he’ll be slowing down soon to play Hank Williams in the upcoming biopic “I Saw the Light.”
There is a resemblance, not that it matters that much. Part of the magic of show business is that it can take Daniel Radcliffe and make you believe he’s a younger version of Jon Hamm.
Not everyone agrees with the choice of Hiddleston as Williams. “As high as I am on Tom Hiddleston, the idea of him playing all-American country music icon Hank Williams gives me pause,” said critic Anne Thompson at Thompson on Hollywood. “Somehow this role should go to an American actor.”
Thompson cited Hiddleston’s credentials, labeling him a “gifted” actor and singer. “Hank Williams will be an exciting challenge for him,” Thompson wrote. “It just feels….wrong.”
Williams was the country hitmaker responsible for “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey Good Lookin’” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” He became addicted to alcohol and prescription painkillers after suffering a hunting accident and died at 29 from heart failure.MORE
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:13 am
by LibraryLady
The real challenge will be to toss the British accent when he speaks in the movie.
Music will be dubbed in, I'm sure.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:18 am
by BillB
LibraryLady wrote:The real challenge will be to toss the British accent when he speaks in the movie.
Music will be dubbed in, I'm sure.
I read he will do the singing.
He can't be worse than George Hamilton was in the 1963? Hank Williams movie.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:40 am
by GFB
Oh for cryin' out loud..what's the difference?
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:33 am
by Bob Of Burleson
GFB wrote:Oh for cryin' out loud..what's the difference?
You must be one of them city fellers.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:38 pm
by Zelda
We have lots of American actors doing Brit parts so it's only fair you lot return the favour.
I know this was a fictional rather than a real life person but Renee Zellweger made a brilliant Bridget Jones...accent and all.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 1:52 pm
by Chlorine Tinsley
If the product is good, I don't care who plays him, I'll go see it. I wonder if Hank Williams, Jr. is involved somehow?
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 1:55 pm
by BillB
Chlorine Tinsley wrote:If the product is good, I don't care who plays him, I'll go see it. I wonder if Hank Williams, Jr. is involved somehow?
Let's hope not.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:00 am
by GRANDPA
You do know that Damian Lewis, Hugh Laurie & Jack Davenport are Brits? They seemed to talk American quite well.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:53 pm
by Allen
I've heard it's much easier for Brits to do an American accent than Americans to do a authentic British accent. Lets see how he does with a 40's-50's WV accent. I agree with GfB though, it really doesn't make any difference to me. Lots of things bother me when watching movies, especially historical inaccuracies. Accent's don't bother me much except for completely ridiculous southern imitations performed by Yankees.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:40 pm
by Red Oak
Hank Sr. was from Alabama !
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:48 pm
by Allen
Oh. Ok a 40's-50's Alabama accent. Which I guess wouldn't be much difference from a 2014 Alabama accent.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:54 pm
by BillB
Allen wrote:I've heard it's much easier for Brits to do an American accent than Americans to do a authentic British accent. Lets see how he does with a 40's-50's WV accent. I agree with GfB though, it really doesn't make any difference to me. Lots of things bother me when watching movies, especially historical inaccuracies. Accent's don't bother me much except for completely ridiculous southern imitations performed by Yankees.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was the worst ever for overdone, fake southern accents.
Nobody did them worse than Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 2:17 pm
by Zelda
Dick Van Dykes cockney accent in Mary Poppins was hard to beat for getting it oh so wrong.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 2:40 pm
by BillB
Zelda wrote:Dick Van Dykes cockney accent in Mary Poppins was hard to beat for getting it oh so wrong.
Robert Downey's fake British accent in Sherlock Holmes was bad.
I couldn't understand a word he said.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 2:59 pm
by Zelda
Blimey, you are right...I couldn't understand him either and I
am a Brit.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DVJEQEdo-c[/youtube]
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 3:52 pm
by Lannie
Zelda wrote:We have lots of American actors doing Brit parts so it's only fair you lot return the favour.
I know this was a fictional rather than a real life person but Renee Zellweger made a brilliant Bridget Jones...accent and all.
Hugh Laurie played Dr House in a drama over here. I did not know he was British until I saw him on a late night show and he was speaking about it.
Happens all the time it appears.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 5:31 pm
by Dennis
Peter Sellers did in in Dr. Strangelove.
It could happen.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 5:40 pm
by BillB
Richard Dawson was set to play Col. Hogan on Hogan's Heroes.
They replaced him because he couldn't get rid of his British accent.
Re: Brit to play Hank Williams
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 5:41 pm
by Bob Of Burleson
"Longmire" star Robert Taylor is an Aussie as is Simon Baker, who is Jane on "The Mentalist."