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Excerpt from the film poster of »Das turbogeile Gummiboot«: Doubts about the language skills of those responsible
Localization is a tough business: Ever since international films have been shown in Germany, there has been a need for people in charge to give them a new name. Nowadays, the trend is towards the original, especially English film titles are often adopted one-to-one for the German market. A few decades ago, however, when the Germans' knowledge of English was still poor, nonsense sometimes reigned.
Producers and marketers sometimes translated completely freely, sometimes referring to real storylines, sometimes to perceived ones, or simply choosing the title that sells best. The result was movie titles that became iconic, even though (or precisely because) they often didn't make any sense at all.
In any case, the following 15 examples will make you doubt the language skills of those responsible – and sometimes even their common sense.
»Two Glorious Scoundrels« (1966)
The Italian title »Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo« (translated: »The Good, the Ugly, the Evil«) became »Two Glorious Scoundrels« in English. Is there a villain missing from the German version? Or could the person in charge not count to three? The English version did a much better job with »The Good, The Bad and the Ugly«.
Fun fact: There are several versions of this film with different lengths. That's why there are different German dubbed versions. In a film version from 2005, three differentdubbing actors voice the role of Eli Wallach (Tuco, »The Ugly«).
»Quigley the Australian« (1990)
In this entertaining but not particularly imaginative Western, Tom Selleck aka Matthew Quigley is many things: an outstanding sniper, a defender of Aborigines, a gunslinger. What he's not: Australian. That's why the film is called "Quigley Down Under" in the original, because Selleck plays an American who travels to Australia for a job.
Fun fact: The role of Matthew Quigley was initially offered to Harrison Ford, who turned it down, supposedly because it had too many parallels to "Indiana Jones". The role of Indiana Jones, on the other hand, was originally offered to Tom Selleck, who had to turn down the role because of his engagement for the TV series »Magnum«.
»Play Me the Song of Death« (1968)
In the opening scene of this film, Charles Bronson plays a composition by the legendary Ennio Morricone ("Man with a Harmonica") on the harmonica, then shoots three men. So the title makes perfect sense – at least during the first twelve minutes. After that, the brutality gives way to the farewell to the Wild West, hence the original title: »C'era una volta il West«, to German »Es war einmal der Westen«.
Fun fact: The German dubbing also intervened in the film in terms of content. Actor Henry Fonda is put into the mouth of the phrase "Play me the song of death", which does not exist in the original. Dialogues have also been altered in other scenes, changing the tone of the film. In one scene, a character says, "My men don't commit massacres." In the original, on the other hand, it says: "My men don't get killed."
"I think I'm being kissed by a moose!" (1981)
Complete nonsense: In the original, this comedy with Bill Murray, John Candy and Harold Ramis is called "Stripes", based on the American flag with its "Stars and Stripes". The film is about two friends who decide to join the army.
Fun fact: There is no moose in »Stripes«. Not a smooching one either.
»Frankie and His Companions« (1960)
»Ocean's 11« is one of the films in which the legendary Rat Pack around Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. has starred. The name of the main character in this gangster comedy is Danny Ocean, played by Sinatra. In Germany, this was apparently the most important selling point. So Danny Ocean became Frank Ocean in translation. And in order to leave no doubt about what is worth seeing about this film, Frank(ie) had to be included in the title.
Fun fact: When the remakes were released in cinemas in Germany in the noughties, the Germans were expected to do a little more. After »Ocean's 11«, »Ocean's 12« and »Ocean's 13 « were also decided to adopt the original title. » George (Clooney) and his cronies« just doesn't sound nice either.
»The Incredible Journey in a Crazy Airplane« (1980)
"Airplane" was probably not descriptive enough for the translators. To ensure that everyone understands what to expect when going to the cinema, the "plane" was extended without further ado.
Fun fact: "Airplane" was Leslie Nielsen's breakthrough. Eight years later, the actor played his way into the hearts of German moviegoers in the much more successful comedy »The Naked Gun«, which was steeped in similar slapstick humour.
»Tremors – In the Land of Rocket Worms« (1990)
Shortly before his big breakthrough with »Footloose« (German title »Footloose« – it's possible!) Kevin Bacon starred in »Tremors«, a classic of the horror comedy genre. The film is about giant creatures that bore through the earth and look like worms. So far so good. Why should it be rocket worms? Unclear.
Fun fact: The film was not a success in the cinema, but »Tremors« grossed much more as a (rental) video, as it achieved cult status as one of the first horror comedies.
"My Bride, Her Father and I" (2000)
»Meet the Parents« is the original title of the film. The comedy owes its charm mainly to the congenial duo of Ben Stiller (clumsy son-in-law-to-be) and Robert De Niro (hard-shell-hard-core-father of the beloved). To make sure that German viewers notice this before they sit in the cinema, the title makes it clear which constellation will be responsible for the gags.
Fun fact: The film is a remake of the largely unknown independent film »Meet the Parents« from 1992.
»96 Hours« (2008)
An English title? It was obviously okay here – just not the one the makers of the film had come up with. So »Taken«, which in the context of the film can be translated as »Abduction«, became »96 Hours«. In »96 Hours«, the protagonist – played by Liam Neeson – has three days (i.e. 96 hours) to find his kidnapped daughter before she is sold by a girl trafficking ring. For this, Neeson beats and tortures his way through half of Paris, including a showdown on the Seine.
Fun fact: Neither »96 Hours – Taken 2« nor »96 Hours – Taken 3«, the two sequels to the film, are even close to a time frame of 96 hours.
"Don't forget me!" (2004)
Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, this film is about the question of whether it is better to endure grief over a lost love or to erase the memories of the relationship from your mind after the fact. The original title »Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind« is just as philosophical as the entire work and admittedly difficult to translate. » The eternal sunshine of the immaculate mind« would probably only arouse the curiosity of arthouse fans.
Fun fact: With this work at the latest, Jim Carrey proved that he can do more than make funny faces. Anyone who sees the film will not forget it – in keeping with the German title.
»The Babynator« (2005)
The original title »The Pacifier« is based on a play on words: Pacifier can mean both peacemaker and pacifier. Not the worst choice for a movie in which Vin Diesel plays both a protector and a babysitter. Why »Babynator«? Probably because lead actor Vin Diesel is quite muscular, reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Fun fact: In principle, the recipe for success of »Kindergarten Cop« was repeated one-to-one for this film. Arnold Schwarzenegger again played the leading role.
»The Turbogeile Gummiboot« (1984)
Even in the original, this college comedy from 1984 has an ambiguous title: "Up the Creek." In German, the film finally sounded like soft.
Fun fact: The film was also shown in Germany under the alternative titles »Den Letzte schnappen die Fische« and »Studentenfutter U.S.A.«.
»Coffee, Milk and Sugar« (1995)
The film is actually called "Boys on the Side", which could be translated as "Boys are a secondary matter" or "Boys as a side dish". How the German title of this tragicomedy came about will probably remain a mystery forever. Was it based on the skin color of the main characters? Their personalities? How well do they fit together? If you know, feel free to write to me.
Fun fact: In 1996, the film won the GLAAD Media Award (an award for representing the LGBT community) for "Best Film".
»The Stupid Chatterbox« (1997)
A gossip tells a lot of nonsense, but not necessarily the untruth. Unfortunately, the film »Liar Liar« is about a notorious liar. Carrey plays a lawyer who has swindled his career and fails to keep his promises to his son. After all, a birthday wish forces him to always tell the truth – at least for 24 hours.
Fun fact: Supposedly, Jim Carrey had to turn down another one for the role in »Liar Liar« – namely that of Dr. Evil in »Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery«. In the end, Powers actor Mike Myers played the role himself.
»Die Hard« (1988)
The film that made Bruce Willis an action star and was supposed to guarantee Alan Rickman several more roles as a villain is actually called »Die Hard«. Roughly translated, this means "hard to kill", but the original title is also a reference to the term "diehard", which describes a stubborn person or fanatic.
Fun fact: In the original, the criminals who take on Bruce Willis alias John McClane are mostly German terrorists. In the German version, it was turned into a European group of criminals. And the "motherfucker" in McLane's "Yippie-ya-yes" line didn't survive the translation either. In German, it became the well-behaved "pig's cheek".