h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a pity that such a well-crafted article, though it may hold much to recommend it, fails in several rather basic ways.

It is natural to be sensitive to one's own cultural group. Being pro-English, pro-American, pro-Black, pro-Japanese, etc. is a natural extension of one's identification with a peer group. It should come as no surprise, shock, or demerit that American films tend to cast American accents in lead roles. But this article makes some generalizations and uses proofs that are weak or worse.

As an example of the kinds of errors regarding the proofs, or examples:
In Mrs. Doubtfire, Pierce's character wasn't a bad guy. He was just a guy who like Sally Field's character quite a lot. He did not contend against Robin Williams, because (as far as he knew) he had no competition. Poor examples tend to weaken one's case, not strengthen it.

There were attempts at fairness when the author mentioned that in many "historical films" that both the good and bad used English accents; but why would this point even have to be raised in a film where all the characters are in England and of English descent? Faint praise, at best.

The generalization that the good guy never has an English accent, and the bad guy an American one, can be disavowed by the success of three Austin Powers movies filmed in America. Of course, no characters in these films is really meant to be viewed as "intelligent", there is a case to be made for some representing "sophistication".

If you don't care for that example, take the "Arthur" movies where the American businessman wants to destroy the poor-little-rich Englander.

Finally, the generalization that the evil masterminds' accents are largely British, flies in the face of the many films with German, Russian, Asian, and Arabic evil geniuses. Of course, some of these are because of historical venues as well. One can't very well have a German WWII commandant speaking with an Scottish burr.

I do not want to close without saying the the article was enjoyable, and had some valid points. And, any article that creates controversy, can only help to bring some reason to light.

Thank you.

Oh, and Magneto (in X-Men) is supposed to be a German-Jew, remember? His accent either reflected this; or, if you feel it was an English accent, then he isn't that good at accents. Either way, he was not an Englander.

"Finally, the generalization that the evil masterminds' accents are largely British, flies in the face of the many films with German, Russian, Asian, and Arabic evil geniuses. Of course, some of these are because of historical venues as well. One can't very well have a German WWII commandant speaking with an Scottish burr."

Might I draw your attention to Sean Connery's role in 'The Hunt For Red October' perhaps?

F

Also, it's wrong to put Tim Curry from 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' in the list. He played the part on the West End stage - which is where the whole franchise began - for ages before being cast in the film. We're just lucky that the film producers didn't insist on giving the part to, say, Steve Martin!